The Brides of Funkenstein - Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy: 8.5 (high A-)

One of my favorite P-Funk releases.

Various Artists - Go Go Crankin': 8 (A-)

Never been a huge fan of go go. In fact, this is all I have. I have this on vinyl. There is a CDr with remastered tracks available as an official CDr (pictured above), which I will think about purchasing. I don't think I've ever knowingly purchased a legit "CDr" (meaning one that is not bootleg), so that might be interesting. Either way, I'll keep the vinyl. Christgau gave this what I would call an 8.5 (high A-), and I've lived in DC for almost two decades now, so I feel obligated. Finally, I believe it's considered the definitive go go comp. Well, there is a various artists comp called The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip Hop, but it's ridiculously expensive used and not streaming anywhere.

Definitive albums seem to be Livin' Large by E.U., Bustin' Loose by Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, and Drop the Bomb by Trouble Funk. All these artists are represented here, presumably by their best tracks. Update (2024): Bought CDr, to check out CDr's and because it's remastered.

True West - Hollywood Holiday: 7 (B+)

This compiles their self-titled debut EP with three other tracks. Here's what the EP cover looked like (Christgau gave the EP what I would call an 8.5 (high A-)):

This was a 12" EP. As it is, I have the comp on vinyl and will just keep that. Update: Found the EP at a good price and went for it. The cover on the comp is terrible, and the three extra songs drag the EP down. I would give the EP an 8.5 (high A-). I will put the comp on the sell pile.

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic - Magnetic Flip: 7 (B+)

Normally, this would be #experimental, but I own a pristine vinyl copy, and I don't feel like selling it. Same would no doubt be said for Sonic Geology (which is also #bestof), which I shelved on CD before the streaming era and don't have the motivation to play and double-check to grade. On Magnetic Flip, I note it was on Christgau's year-end list, but by the time he published his '80s book, it had been demoted to Subjects for Further Research. Faultline is on my listening list.

Ali Farka Toure - Voyageur: 7 (B+)

# [desert blues]

Killah Priest - Elizabeth [honorable mention]

:-) [Docked a notch for bloat. Used copies selling for thousands (?) anyway.]

Kool Keith - Spankmaster: disliked

There’s a very good EP in there.

Fanny - Charity Ball: 7 (B+)

All of their first four albums seem to have about equal support. This is the one Christgau picks. I could listen to some of the others, but I’ll stop here, since no one seems to think any of them tower above the others. There are also no decent short-ish comps that I could find, so that will be the end of that. #bluesrock

Andy Fairweather Low - Mega-Shebang: 7 (B+)

#pubrock

Two Fingers - Two Fingers: 7 (B+)

# [dance/electronica]

Da Beat Terrorists/Big Willie Smith [Kool Keith] - Big Willie Smith [EP]: 7.5 (high B+)

Totally unavailable for reasonable prices, plus vinyl-only. Outstanding track “If You See, What I See.”

Dream Club [Justin Warfield] - Dream Club

:-(

The Young Fresh Fellows - The Men Who Loved Music: notation

Sampled a half-dozen tracks. Because I wasn't much into what I heard, Christgau and Hull had this only at B+, and I couldn't find anywhere to stream it or download it for free to give it a good listen, I'm just going to leave this notation. If I ever do see it, I'll give it a few full plays.

Thurst - YSFC: 7 (B+)

No physical, that I could find anyway.

Thurst - Project Isle Demolition [EP]: 7.5 (high B+)

No physical, that I could find anyway. Standout track: “Meet Me in the Cop Car.”

Thurst - I'm Gen X: 8 (A-)

Cassette-only (huh?) [Love the title. So am I.]

DJ Finale - Mille Morceau: 7 (B+)

Vinyl-only

Dr. Octagon [Kool Keith] - Dr. Octagonecologyst: 9 (A)

R.E.M. - Reveal: liked

:-)

R.E.M. - Around the Sun

:-(

Bright Eyes - There Is No Beginning to the Story [EP]: 7.5 (high B+)

Finally, an EP without any throwaways. Actually, the hidden track is a throwaway, but at least it's at the end, short, not a total throwaway, and hidden. Plus, I found a sealed copy for $8.50 shipped. I also note that neither Christgau nor Hull seem to have reviewed this, but both AllMusic and its users like it, and in the New Rolling Stone Album Guide, it gets 4.5 stars. Actually my favorite Bright Eyes release.

That Petrol Emotion - Babble: 7 (B+)

Ornette Coleman - In All Languages: X (X)

I'm not going to pretend that I can make much of anything out of this. But I do note that Christgau gave this the equivalent of 9.5 (high A), and so did Tom Hull, since he gave it a full A and put it on his 1000 best albums list. Anyway, I have this on vinyl, have listened to it more than half-a-dozen times over the decades without experiencing a second of real pleasure, and am shelving it. For better minds than mine. Ask me to play it next time you're over at my place and I will. Maybe you can explain it to me.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Golden Butter: The Best of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band: 8 (A-)

I have this on somewhat beat-up vinyl (rated "very good") but will be selling it off. I bought it just to hear it, because, at least when I bought it, it wasn't on streaming services. Too much for my tastes. There are no one-disc comps on the market that I can see. There does appear to be a listing for Born in Chicago: The Best of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, but there are some indications that this is not an actual best of, and it's unavailable anyway. Update: Upped from 7.5 (high B+) upon further listening and shelved (upgraded to the nice Wounded Bird CD).

Culture - More Culture [a/k/a Culture] [honorable mention]

:-) [4 listens]