Tom Verlaine - Flash Light: 9 (A)

It took a very long time for this to grow on me. But over the years it's gone from a sell-back to a full A.

Tom Verlaine - Tom Verlaine: 9 (A)

For me, it goes Marquee Moon, Adventure, and then this, with a brief final flicker with Flash Light. I happen to have this on beautiful vinyl, as well as the Collectors' Choice reissue. I shouldn't have bothered with the latter, since it wasn't even remastered. I guess I just wanted the small thrill of acquiring it again in a fresh format.

Tom Verlaine - Dreamtime: 7 (B+)

Aesop Rock - Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives [EP]: liked

:-)

The Baby Namboos - Ancoats 2 Zambia: 7.5 (high B+)

Kanda Bongo Man - Kwassa Kwassa: 8 (A-)

Diblo Dibala on lead (with Rigo Star). Contains all tracks from the following two releases:

 

Kanda Bongo Man - Non Stop Non Stop: 8 (A-)

Diblo Dibala on lead. Contains all tracks from the following two releases:

 

Kanda Bongo Man - Amour Fou/Crazy Love: 4 stars

Diblo Diabala on lead. Contains all tracks from the following two releases (except the track "O. Eternal" from the second, yellow one, which I dutifully listened to three times on YouTube):

 

Big Youth - Dreadlocks Dread: 8 (A-)

Funkadelic - Free Your Mind. . . and Your Ass Will Follow: liked

Some sources praise this (Allmusic critics and users, Spin guide, Pitchfork) but others pan it (Christgau, Hull, Rolling Stone guide). I could be completist and get it, but that would mean I'd end up having to get America Eats Its Young and god knows what else. The undeniable songs are on the compilations. Five plays.

Gene Clark - No Other: liked

Could be a 7 (B+), but I'm not going to sweat the distinction because it's # [folk; folk rock] anyway. "Lady of the North" is an outstanding track though.

The Clash - Live at Shea Stadium: liked

Almost bought this, mostly because I saw them on this tour, I think on August 18,1992 at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, with my brother. That would have been about two months before this recording. I remember thinking they were a huge disappointment live. But it was an important moment in my life with my brother, and so I was tempted. This album kind of supports the idea that the show was bad, because this is bad, although by the last few songs they end up killing it. It is also the only full-show live album by the band, and it's kind of a historic event, opening for The Who. But even after all that, I'm trying to keep down the physicals, I can stream this anytime, and it's really not an essential document. Not going to buy it just for nostalgic reasons.

Sam Mangwana - Aladji: 3.5 stars

Will buy this if I ever see it for a reasonable price. [And I did.]

Poly Styrene - Generation Indigo: 4 stars

Kanda Bongo Man - Zing Zong: 7 (B+)

Here's where I stop with him (other than the live Soukous in Central Park). Sango appears to be a remix album. This album has all the tracks from Isambe-Monie and more. That one looks like the following, and is the last of the many albums he put out with two songs as the title (see my other reviews of this artist):

The Rapture - In the Grace of Your Love [honorable mention]

:-) [Generally seems to be regarded as the least good of their three studio albums. I agree.]

Jon Hassell - Power Spot: 8 (A-)

Have a great vinyl copy, even though it was originally issued on CD too (1986). I think at that point I was still primarily collecting vinyl.

Tapper Zukie - Man Ah Warrior: 7.5 (high B+)

Max Romeo - Open the Iron Gate: 8 (A-)

[aka Revelation Time] I have the vinyl with the cover depicted. I also have the CD called Open the Iron Gate 1973-1977, which has a few bonus tracks. Here is the alternative cover:

Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, "Waldstein" (Pletnev)

[Placeholder for three listens. Nice work.]

Singers & Players - War of Words: liked

Many songs meander for too long

Liz Phair - Supernova [maxi-single]: notation

In making sure I had heard it all from her, I noticed this with some good grades on AllMusic. Played it to see what that was about. From Wikipedia: "Fragments from "In Love With Yourself", "Johnny Sunshine," and "Money" appeared on the "Supernova" single, condensed into one track called "Combo Platter (Girlysound)." The "Johnny Sunshine" fragment is played backwards." So that's why the good grades, no doubt. I dutifully listened to "Combo Platter" three times. I'm done with Girly-Sound now.

Girly-Sound [Liz Phair] - The Girly-Sound Tapes: liked

Never released in physical on their own, this is her first three home demos, before Guyville, under the name Girly-Sound (titles in image, which was included for that purpose). They have to be bought with the remastered anniversary Guyville (Girly-Sound to Guyville). I won't be doing that, considering the honorable mention grade and the extent to which many of these songs have been collected or rerecorded elsewhere. I listened to whole collection 2 or 3 times, and then listened to the songs that are not on Juvenilia or re-recorded on other albums. That is, I gave an extra listen to the ones on disc 2 of Funstyle included here, which I give honorable mention, and the remaining tracks, which I also give an honorable mention. Those remaining tracks are:

6 Dick Pimp (Girly-Sound Version)
Don't Holdyrbreath (Girly-Sound Version)
Miss Lucy (Girly-Sound Version)
One Less Thing (Girly-Sound Version)
Hello Sailor (Girly-Sound Version)
Easy Target (Girly-Sound Version)
Ant In Alaska (Girly-Sound Version)
Thrax (Girly-Sound Version)
Love Song (Girly-Sound Version)
Gigolo (Girly-Sound Version)
Slave (Girly-Sound Version)
Open Season (Girly-Sound Version)
Suckerfish (Girly-Sound Version)

If you're paying attention (and I got this right), these 13 songs are the only pure reason to buy this anyway. And if you want the other 10 that aren't rerecorded, or on Juvenilia, you have to pick up Funstyle.

Liz Phair - "Carnivore" b/w "Carnivore (raw)": 7 (B+)

Just being complete with her. Single between Guyville and Whip-Smart. Doesn't appear to be collected anywhere else, so I found it on YouTube and played it three times. One side is a "raw" solo acoustic version, and the other is a studio rendition. Not paying $10 for used copies, but I'm glad to have heard it. I might break down and buy it though, because it looks so great. We'll see if the mood strikes me.

Red House Painters - Red House Painters [a/k/a "I" or "Rollercoaster"] [honorable mention]

:-)