12/11/25

Psi-Psonics- Expanding To One (2025)- ***
(I was expecting "spiritual jazz" a la Pharoah Sanders. This was nice but I wanted something heavier.)

The Ting Tings- Home (2025)- **1/2
(I guess a record that sounds like a good Fleetwood Mac record can be a good thing. But for me, it was an unpleasant distraction. It sounded too much like Fleetwood Mac. I'd rather listen to "Rumours.")

Pink Floyd- Wish You Were Here 50 (2025)- ****

Molly Tuttle- So Long Little Miss Sunshine (2025)- ****
(Lovely record. So many earworms. Really great songs, too.)

Paul Carrack- Suburban Voodoo (1982)- ****
Judy Mowatt- Black Woman (1980)- ****

Jimmy Cliff- Hard Road To Travel (1967)- ***
(First time hearing this one. There is nothing reggae about this record. This is more like a Northern Soul record from the U.K.. Not bad, but doesn't need a second spin.)

Winterpills- This Is How We Dance (2025)- ***1/2
(I haven't thought about these guys in years. This was pretty great. Smart arrangements, sweet harmonies, like the Mamas & The Papas meet Midlake on at least three or four songs.)

The Lemon Twigs & Friends- Written By Ronnie D'Addario (2025)- ****

Kim Wilde- Closer (2025)- **1/2
(I wouldn't have listened to this if it wasn't for BW's friend Shriner's review. I loved "Chequered Love" and "Kids In America" back in the day and tried, but failed, to stay in the Kim Wilde world. This record though, doesn't work for me. It feels like two backing tracks- danceable new wave and HBO promo drama ballad. Kim sings fine over both, but it's so manufactured, read: contrived, I couldn't appreciate the nostalgia.)

12/10/25

The Move- Shazam (1970)- ****
The Move- Split Ends (1972)- ****
Electric Light Orchestra- On The Third Day (1973)- ****
Motorhead- S/T (1977)- ***
Aimee Mann- Whatever (1993)- ****

 

12/9/25

Simply Red- Recollections: Personal Edit (2025)- ****
(Faithful new recordings of 40 classic tracks for the band's 40th anniversary. Nothing groundbreaking, but I really enjoyed it. They were a great live band who I saw a few times at the legendary Bottom Line.)

v/a-Tribute To The Beatles Reggae Style: Personal Edit (2001)- ***

The Cops 'N Robbers- S/T (1997)-***1/2
(The entire output of this 60's beat group from Britain. Some great stuff, some average. But all of it is fun. Think Yardbirds with less of a focus on guitars, and more on the organ and harmonica.)

Ricky Byrd- NYC Made (2025)- ****
Sweet- Action: The Sweet Anthology, Personal Edit (2009)-****
Deep Purple- Personal Playlist (2025)- ****
Dead Boys- We Have Come For Your Children (1978)- ****
Drive-By Truckers- A Blessing & A Curse (2007)- ***
Thin Lizzy- Derby College, 11/21/75 (2025)- ***1/2




 

12/8/25

Herlin Riley- Cream Of The Crescent (2004)- ***1/2

Nicholas Payton- TRIUNE (2025)- **1/2
(Smooth jazz noodling and wordless vocals over bland arrangements. I lasted four songs. A major disappointment from Mr. Payton.)

Todd Rundgren- Up Against It (1997)- ***1/2
Led Zeppelin- Madison Square Garden, 7/29/73: Highlights (2015)- ***

Del Shannon- The Further Adventures Of Charles Westover (1968)-****
(A very convincing psych record from a man whose early hits would never let you believe he had this in him. Check it out!)

Cheap Trick- All Washed Up (2025)- ****
Suede- Antidepressants (2025)- ****

12/7/25

Miles Davis- Sketches Of Spain (1960)- ****
(Never not stunning.)

Luiz Bonfa- Uma Prece (1955)- ***1/2
Ken Boothe- Freedom Street (1970)- ****
Irma Thomas- Time Is On My Side: The Best Of (1992)- ****

Del Shannon- And The Music Plays On (1967/1978)- ****
(Del's 1967 London sessions with Andrew Loog Oldham released in 1978. Great stuff.)

Genesis- Selling England By The Pound: Nick Davis Remix (1973/2008)- ****
Joni Mitchell- Wild Things Run Fast (1982)- ***

Steely Dan- Katy Lied: UHQR (1975/2025)- ***
(This is being touted as one of the greatest sounding records ever. Maybe you need a $100,000 stereo to appreciate it. I thought it was a bit muddy and lifeless.)

Del Shannon- Move It On Over (2011)- ****
(One of my very favorite compilations courtesy of Norton Records, this covers Del's Amy and Berlee sides. Every track a great record.)

The Lemon Twigs & Friends- Written By Ronnie D'Addario (2025)- ****
The La's- S/T (1990)- ****

Motorhead- Rock 'N' Roll (1987)- ****
(Their last truly great album, though "1916" from 1991 is pretty solid. If Dave Edmunds, who produced Motorheadby the way, recorded the title track, it'd be a crowd pleaser. Maybe it's Lemmy's growl. Who knows? This band has been kicking my ass for almost 50 years.)

12/6/25

Joni Mitchell- Turbulent Indigo (1994)- ****
(After going 30 years without playing it, I've listened two days in a row. What a fantastic record!)

Paul Weller- 66 (2024)- ****
The Meters- S/T: Kevin Gray Master (1969/2023)- ****
Syl Johnson- Is it Because I'm Black (1970)- ***1/2
Roxy Music- For Your Pleasure: Abbey Road HSM (1973/2022)- ****

Joni Mitchell- Chalk Mark In A Rainstorm (1988)- ***
(This sounds more like a Peter Gabriel record. Some nice stuff, but horribly dated. And do we really need Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, Thomas Dolby, Benjamin Orr and Don Henley on a Joni record? How about Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Wayne Shorter, Wendy & Lisa and Peter Gabriel? They are here, too. I guess Madonna, The Buggles and Saga were busy.)

The Beatles- VI: MONO (1965)- ****
Yes- 90125 (1983)- ***1/2

10cc- The Original Soundtrack (1975)- ****
(Geniuses at work.)

The Dukes Of Stratosphear- 25 O'Clock (1985)- ****
(More geniuses at work!)

Mott The Hoople- All The Young Dudes (1972)- ****
Queen- A Night At The Opera (1975)- ****
Ike & Tina Turner: Personal Playlist (2025)- ****

12/5/25

Joni Mitchell- Turbulent Indigo (1994)- ****
(It's been ages since I listened to this and it sounded better than ever.)

The Velvet Underground-Loaded (1970)- ****
Lou Reed- Live In Italy (1984)- ****
Jimmy Cliff- The Ska Singles: 1961-1962 (2015)- ***

v/a- I Believe To My Soul (2005)- ****
(I forgot about this one. This is a Joe Henry produced project featuring the voices of Mavis Staples, Irma Thomas, Ann Peebles, Allen Toussaint and Billy Preston, though Allen Toussaint plays piano on all tracks as well as doing all the horn arrangements. Really a solid listen.) 

 

 

The Allman Brothers Band- A Decade Of Hits: 1969-1979 (1991)- ***1/2
Omaha Diner- The Cutting Room, 3/1/13 (2013)- ***1/2
David Bowie- Station To Station (1976)- ****
Cro-Mags-The Age Of Quarrel (1986)- ****