Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites [EP]: 7.5 (high B+)

I would get it anyway, given its influence, but the “EP” release is cluttered up with two remixes of one track and one remix of another at the end (which I dutifully listened to - they add nothing of substance, unless you’re into those kinds of things). # [electronic]

The Go-Betweens - Before Hollywood: 7 (B+)

Kronos Quartet/Laurie Anderson - Landfall: 7.5 (high B+)

More of a Kronos Quartet album, featuring Laurie Anderson, if you ask me. Six listens. # [string quartet music]

Prince Paul - Psychoanalysis (What Is It?): 7 (B+)

I'm certain I got this when it came out in 1996, all those 30 years ago, but I think I sold it off. In any event, I can't find it now. Anyway, this is less music than # [skits]. I'll keep it if I find it, otherwise....

Prince Paul - A Prince Among Thieves: 8 (A-)

Handsome Boy Modeling School - So... How's Your Girl?: 8 (A-)

Handsome Boy Modeling School - White People: 7 (B+)

Kaito [U.K.] - Montigola Underground [EP]: 7 (B+)

# [indie pop]

Sally Timms and the Drifting Cowgirls - The Butcher's Boy Extended Player [EP]: 7 (B+)

I've got this on my wantlist (it's essentially the Mekons) but doubt I will ever get a copy, given the prices it sells for.

The Fleshtones - Up-Front [EP]: liked

:-)

The Fleshtones - Living Legends Series: 7.5 (high B+)

# [best of]

James Brown - There It Is: notation

"Who Am I," "I Need Help," and "Never Can Say Goodbye" are the songs not on Star Time (at least in part, or in some version or other). I think this is the only place to hear “I Need Help,” which is decent, but certainly not worth buying the whole album. "Who Am I" and "Never Can Say Goodbye" are forgettable ballads.

Horace X - Sackbutt [aka Sackbutt Folk Spoil Sunday]: notation

Not streaming anywhere I could find, except for two or three songs. I listened to those and am not prepared to go out-of-pocket to hear the full album based on what I heard, but I would really like to give the full album some listens if I ever run across it.

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller): 9 (A)

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band - Doc at the Radar Station: 8.5 (high A-)

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band - Ice Cream for Crow: 8 (A-)

Buddy Guy - The Very Best of Buddy Guy: 7.5 (high B+)

Apparently, I got this more than 25 years ago and must have sold it off, because I cannot find it. Presumably it was 7.5 (high B+). This one is multi-label, unlike Buddy’s Blues (Chess), and has a lot of overlap with The Definitive Buddy Guy on Shout Factory. I will try the former.

Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Night Moves: 8 (A-)

Various - Classic Rock Gold: 8.5 (high A-)

I stupidly de-shelved this for some reason and then realized I'd made a mistake. So I rescued it. Melomania. Anyway, Christgau said it best, as usual: "Yes, children, there really was a time when whole radio stations were devoted entirely to brawny-sounding [hairy] white guys bellowing, moaning, and even singing over electric guitars, electric guitars, and electric guitars."

The Clovers - Down in the Alley: X (X)

I don't even know anymore if what I have by these early vocal groups (the Clovers, the Drifters, the Coasters, etc.) is rational. But I have what I have I guess.

The Drifters - The Very Best of the Drifters: X (X)

Rescued this from the de-shelve pile. This contains all of Golden Hits.

Ray Charles - Ultimate Hits Collection: X (X)

Such a great collection. Superb. It came to my attention because Christgau called it the "budget alternative" to the titanic, five-CD, 102-track Genius and Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection [1997] box set. I also have Rhino's Anthology [1998] for some reason. That one appears to be a single-disc, 20-track amalgamation of their vinyl-only Greatest Hits albums issued that same year in two volumes, each with 13 tracks. So I guess it has six less tracks than those two.

Tammy Wynette - Greatest Hits: X (X)

I probably should be able to grade this. I just don't have the courage of my convictions.

The Marvelettes - Greatest Hits: X (X)

Please see post re: The Temptations Greatest Hits. Same thing, with the major exception being when they remastered the Temptations one in 1998, they did not appear to do the same for this, unfortunately.

First Generation CD-Era Compilations De-shelved

At some point, I made the determination that these are the kinds of things that don't make sense to keep hanging around in the streaming era. They are essentially singles artists and/or these are just early CD-era comps that no longer hold their allure for some reason. Maybe one day I will reconsider or regret this.

Jerry Lee Lewis - 18 Original Greatest Hits (Rhino)

Little Richard - 18 Greatest Hits (Rhino)

Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers - The Best of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (Rhino)

The Coasters - 50 Coastin’ Classics (Rhino)

The Rascals - Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits (Atlantic)

Jimmy Reed - Bright Lights, Big City (Chameleon)

Bobby Bland - Greatest Hits Volume One: The Duke Recordings (MCA)

Various - Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 3:1955-1958) (Atlantic)