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.
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Joni Mitchell - Hits [Reprise, 1996]: 8 (A-)
I wavered over 7.5 (high B+), since it's concentrated seriously on only her early, solo guitar material, but then thought that would be churlish. Plus it sells for extremely reasonable prices.
Sunday, July 26, 2026
Augustus Pablo - batch review
I have had the following shelved for years and will post on them individually as I replay them:
The Great Pablo [compilation]
East of the River Nile
King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
Youssour N'Dour - batch review
I have had the following shelved for years and will post on them individually to the extent that I replay them:
Joko (The Link)
Nothing's in Vain
Egypt
The Rough Guide to Youssou N'Dour & Etoile de Dakar
Rokku Mi Rokka (Give and Take)
Blackalicious - batch review
I have had the following for years and will post on them individually as I replay them, but they are all 7 (B+) to 8 (A-):
The Craft
Nia
Melodica [EP]
I also have Imani, Vol. 1 on the final listen shelf.
Ass Ponys - Electric Rock Music: 8 (A-)
Unlike Christgau and his fanboys, I like this band better than Cleaver's next one, Wussy. I like Wussy quite a bit, just not as much as those guys seem to. I think this was the better band.
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Beats International - Let Them Eat Bingo [Elektra, 1990]: 8 (A-)
I admit to rebuying this. Took me a long time to catch up with it. I guess Norman Cook is a little ahead of me. The curse of melomania. This may even be the second time I've bought it over the last three and a half decades.
Friday, July 24, 2026
The Apples in Stereo - batch review
I de-shelved all of the following, as #indiepop, even though I at one point thought I should keep them, so they must have hit me as 7 (B+) or 7.5 (high B+), probably the former:
Tone Soul Evolution
The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone
New Magnetic Wonder
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral: 7 (B+)
Docked a notch for bloat. Btw, normally this band would be #electronic, but since they are essentially a cross-over, I don't give them that designation and collect them at B-level grades.
Peter Laughner - Take the Guitar Player for a Ride: neutral
Docked a notch for bloat. His best Dylan impersonation - as far as the solo tracks. The Friction, Finns, and Rocket From the Tombs tracks are a different story. Good cover of Richard Thompson's "Calvary Cross."
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