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.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Buck 65 - Weirdo Magnet: 8 (A-)

Upped from honorable mention. Perhaps I was not listening very well when I designated it as that. This is the Warner's CD reissue version. The original cassette version is very long, and not as good in my estimation (I have the digital files). I may have been playing the original cassette version in fact when I gave it an honorable mention, I don't remember. At that time, I don't think I was aware of the whole "totally different Warner's reissue version" problem with Buck 65. That would make sense because I do think that original cassette version is only an honorable mention. This is in contrast with Synesthesia, where the original version (in that case also on CD) is better than the Warner's CD reissue version. Although, to my mind, the Warner's CD reissue version of Synesthesia is also worth having in its own right.

Patti Smith - Horses/Horses: 4.5 stars

Got this not only for the remaster of the studio album, but also for the live set with Tom Verlaine.

Bill Callahan - Apocalypse: liked

Number 39 on the Pitchfork list of 200 Best Albums of the 2010s.

Red House Painters - Red House Painters [aka "II" or "Bridge"]: liked

:-)

Bonnie "Prince" Billy [Will Oldham] - I See a Darkness: liked

:-)

Sun Kil Moon - Benji: 3.5 stars

My one Kozelek, to add to two Callahans, and zero Oldhams.

Sun Kil Moon - April [honorable mention]

:-) [“Tonight the Sky” is a great song]

Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway [honorable mention]

:-) [“Duk Koo Kim” is a great song]

Abba - The Visitors: disliked

Listened because it's on Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s." Not sure how they came to that conclusion, but it calls the list into serious question.

Ian Hunter - You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic: 7.5 (high B+)

Only available in a bloated, 2-disc "special edition" -- with used copies of single disc versions being ridiculously over-priced, or first generation CD transfers, etc. For instance, there's a nice remastered version from 1999 with no bonus tracks. Sells for around $25 in decent condition. [4 listens]

Magazine - Real Life: 7 (B+)

Originally thought this might be an 8 (A-), but I realized that this was due to the outsized impact of “Shot by Both Sides.” Anyway, I would get it even at this grade due to its underground influence, but it is ridiculously overpriced. [5 listens]

Sleater-Kinney - All Hands on the Bad One: neutral

I repurchased this recently, and the grade may change after another play or two.

Rapsody - Eve

:-|

Black Midi - Schlagenheim

:-| [at least four listens]

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Willy and the Poor Boys: 7.5 (high B+)

"Effigy" is their best song in my opinion.

Future Bible Heroes - Memories of Love, Eternal Youth, and Partygoing: liked

Entire original FBH catalog. In addition to the three full-length albums, includes fourth disc that compiles the band’s three EPs—The Lonely Robot, I'm Lonely (And I Love It), and Lonely Days—plus several tracks from outside compilations.