Willie Nelson - Stardust: 9 (A)

Willie Nelson - batch review of some early albums

From Willie's Stardust and before period, I've only got Phases and Stages and Red Headed Stranger (as well as Stardust of course). All of following, I give a B plus, although I think I like To Lefty from Willie best of them all, and might even rate it an A minus, but for the songs being overly familiar even to a non-country adept.

Yesterday's Wine
Shotgun Willie
To Lefty from Willie

After this, I've only happened to collect those Willie solo albums that Christgau has rated a full A, plus his collabs with Webb Pierce and Hank Snow. On collabs, I de-shelved his collaboration with Asleep at the Wheel, Willie and the Wheel, and his collaboration with his sister Bobbie, December Day.

Willie Nelson - Me and Paul: 7 (B+)

#country

Willie Nelson - Spirit: 7 (B+)

Great album cover. #country

Willie Nelson - Face of a Fighter [Lone Star, 1978]: neutral

Similar demos collection recorded in the early '60s -- I Let My Mind Wander [Kingfisher, 1997] -- I have not heard because it's not available, and listening to this showed me I don’t really care to hunt it down.

Becky Warren - Undesirable: 7 (B+)

# [country]

Becky Warren- War Surplus: liked

:-)

The Knife - Shaking the Habitual: 4 stars

The Knife - Silent Shout: 4 stars

Fever Ray - Fever Ray: 4 stars

Keeping this as the noteworthy debut, but not the follow-up. Also keeping the two big Knife releases, which are rated elsewhere.

Mandy Barnett - Strange Conversation: liked

And I de-shelved her album I've Got a Right to Cry.

Nolan [Porter] - No Apologies: 7 (B+)

# [soul]

Pile - A Hairshirt of Purpose

:-|

My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade: disliked

:-(

Britney Spears - Blackout: 7 (B+)

Upped from honorable mention, with provisional grade. Will update/confirm prior to shelving.

Mary Gauthier - Rifles and Rosary Beads

:-( [so irritating: “I’m a bruttthhhaaaa toooooo”]

Maria Muldaur - Don't You Feel My Leg: The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker: 7 (B+)

# [folk?]

Gilberto Gil/Jorge Ben - Gil e Jorge: liked

:-)

Gilberto Gil - Gilberto Gil [aka Gilberto Gil (Frevo Rasgado)]: liked

Originally released in 1968, looks like it was reissued in 1998 and 2008, and maybe more. As Christgau notes, sounds like show tunes via Brazil.

Manuel Göttsching - E2-E4 [honorable mention]

:-)

The Three Johns - The Death of Everything: liked

:-)

Curtis Mayfield - Curtis/Live!: liked

Eventually collected as part of Original Album Series.

Dua Saleh - Nur

:-( They is annoying.

Perfecto - You Can't Run From the Rhythm: 3.5 stars

Vinyl and digital-only ridiculousness.

Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die: 7 (B+)

Update (November 2025): Upped from disliked on fourth or fifth listen. I think I was being unfair. #experimental