Son Volt - Trace: 7.5 (high B+)

Not sure why all the irrational hate from Christgau and other establishment rock critics on this (most of the latter of whom are probably just following his lead like sheep). Probably upped a notch subconsciously from 7.5 (high B+) to counteract this, and also for general impact.

Rilo Kiley - batch review

Not inspired to go back and individually grade and post these, since I shelved them several years ago. They range from 7 (B+) to 7.5 (high B+) to 8 (A-). I prefer Jenny Lewis solo. I note that Christgau gives these all a full A and Hull all an A-, except for More Adventurous, which he gives a full A.

The Execution of All Things
More Adventurous
Under the Blacklight
RKives

Rilo Kiley - Rilo Kiley [aka The Initial Friend EP]: liked

Album cover included to avoid future confusion.

Garbage - Version 2.0: 8.5 (high A-)

The Cure - The Walk and/or Japanese Whispers: liked

I'm posting this as the same album, because the six-cut mini-LP version of The Walk (which also comes in two- and four-cut versions) has all the songs on Japanese Whispers except for "The Love Cats" (on Staring at the Sea) and "Speak My Language." So it's really just the latter. Also including cover art, so there's no confusion on my own part in the future.

The Cure - Wish [honorable mention]

:-)

Slint - Spiderland: 7 (B+)

I was kept off this for many years by Christgau who brutally, and in my opinion unfairly, panned it.

Slint - Tweez

:-| 

Chrome - Half Machine Lip Moves [honorable mention]

:-)

Merle Haggard - Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard: 8.5 (high A-)

Definitely the best Hag comp I've heard.

Wussy - Buckeye: notation

Europe-only comp. I actually only listened once, since I have all the individual albums from which the tracks on here were drawn.

Baba Commandant - Sonbonbela: 8 (A-)

Digital and vinyl only.

M.I.A. - Mata: 8 (A-)

Digital-only

Melvins - Houdini [honorable mention]

:-)

Squeeze - Singles - 45's and Under: 7.5 (high B+)

#bestof

Old 97's - Hit by a Train - The Best of Old 97's: 7.5 (high B+)

I don't buy best-ofs at this grade.

Old 97's - batch review

This band seems mostly beloved by Christgau and Hull. Pitchfork and Allmusic users don't seem too crazy about them. Very few reviews on AOTY. I never really got into their work, but ended up buying alot of the albums based on Christgau's rave reviews, before the streaming era when I couldn't listen to them first, and then hung onto them because I didn't dislike them. They all sound good when being played, but then don't sound familiar the next time. Here are the key albums graded by Christgau and Hull:

Wreck Your Life [Bloodshot, 1995] B+/B+
Too Far to Care [Elektra, 1997] B+/B
Fight Songs [Elektra, 1999] A/A-
Satellite Rides [Elektra, 2001] A/A-
Blame It on Gravity [New West, 2008] A-/A-
The Grand Theatre Volume One [New West, 2010] A-/B+
Most Messed Up [ATO, 2014] A/A-

I've listened to them all at least three times, and have them all except Wreck Your Life. I would rate all of them either "liked" or 7 (B+), except Most Messed Up would be 7.5 (high B+) or even 8 (A-). Wreck Your Life is probably a neutral for me. Normally, I would not get Too Far To Care, but I have it, and it's the Allmusic site and user's favorite so I'll keep it. It's also on a lot of "alt-country" lists.

ps, also listened to Mimeograph [EP] three times. Either "liked" or 7 (B+), but not getting it either way because it's #covers.

Various - Jit - The Movie: 8.5 (high A-)

Standout track: "Wapunza Musha" by Leonard Chiyangwa. 

Iamdoechii [aka Doechii] - Oh the Places You'll Go [EP]: liked

Four plays

The Feelies - No One Knows [EP]: liked

Tempted to get used vinyl (it's a 12", and was never reissued on CD), but it's expensive, plus two of the four songs are on The Good Earth and the other two are covers. Not crazy about the Beatles original. Of course I love the Neil original, but the cover is unspectacular. So really no compelling reason to get this, other than pure completism.

The Trypes - Music for Neighbors: liked

I would buy this just for the EP with Mercer/Million -- The Explorer's Hold -- but the rest of it is just too slight. And the EP, which I would rate 7.5 (high B+), is selling for way too much used. [Purchased and awaiting final grade]

Missy Elliott - Under Construction: 7.5 (high B+)

Oriental Brothers International Band - Oku Ngwo - Di Ochi: 7 (B+)

# [highlife]

Various - Tropicalia: Ou Panis et Circencis: 7.5 (high B+)

#tropicalia/multiartistcomp

Eric Church - Mr. Misunderstood [honorable mention]

:-)