Diary of a Melomaniac

Before 11/2020, grades range from 5 to 3.5 stars. After that, grade range is: 10 (A+), 9.5 (high A), 9 (A), 8.5 (high A-), 8 (A-), 7.5 (high B+), and 7 (B+). Ungraded albums are noted as liked :-) (honorable mention), neutral :-|, and disliked :-(. At least 4 listens per graded album and 3 listens per ungraded album. Search "Grade Post" for more info. I sold/shelved ~10,000 albums after at least 3 or 4 listens, respectively, before starting this blog and will add entries for those as they arise.

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Joy Division - Substance: 8 (A-)

The Specials - The Singles Collection: 8 (A-)

The Specials - The Specials: 8.5 (high A-)

The Specials - Ghost Town/Why?/Friday Night Saturday Morning [Chrysalis EP, 1981]: 9 (A)

Bauhaus - 1979-1983, Vol. 2: liked

:-)

Muddy Waters - The Best of Muddy Waters: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: X (X)

I'd feel like a cad giving this anything other than 10 (A+), so I'll employ my usual dodge and leave it ungraded. I like to use that grade only for things I play obsessively, for a long period of time. In fact, that's pretty much what the grade means to me. I would never do that with this. But I do love it. Why when we want to listen to blues/oldies/etc. do we always have to take them in massive doses? I don't want to always hear an hour plus of Muddy. If fact, I almost never do, and when I do, it's more of an exercise in scholarship than a pure listening pleasure. I feel like that with most of the albums in the genres I noted earlier. On the other hand, this one's perfect: 11 songs, 32 minutes of some of the most core blues there is. I had this in the sell pile until I realized this one day looking at it. Now it's back on the shelves and is what I would most likely play when I just want to hear some Muddy. I also love this 20th Century Masters series.