6/29/2026

The Holmes Brothers- Speaking In Tongues (2001) ****

Bruford/Borstlap- Every Step A Dance, Every Word A Song (2004) **1/2

Traffic- Far From Home (1994) **

The Holmes Brothers- Where It's At (1991) ****

Elvis Presley- Spinout (1966) ***

Roy Harper- Valentine (1974) **1/2

Rush- Roll The Bones (1991) ***1/2

Yes- Steven Wilson Remixes: A Personal Compilation (2018/2026) ***1/2

Shaun Cassidy- Wasp (1980) ****

 

 

A few records caught my eye as I scrolled through various websites, blogs and social media accounts this weekend, and I included them on my daily playlists.

I was a bit of a Holmes Brothers fanatic for a while, and their records from 1991 through 2007 got tons of play at NYCD and at home. But it's been years since I thought about them, so going to fix that this week.

I had totally forgotten about the Traffic reunion record and four songs in, I realized why. It's a Traffic record in name only. What it sounds like is a mediocre Winwood solo record. Traffic would never have used that awful 80's synthesizer sound and Steve shouldn't have been using well into the 90's. This record is a bore and sounds more dated than Traffic's classics sound now. I shut it off after four songs.

Also still in a Rush phase thanks to this tour. Nothing will beat the run from "Fly By Night" to "Moving Pictures," but the records I've dismissed for years are sounding much better these days, including "Roll The Bones." Those later records aren't bad, they are just different. 

There was a Shaun Cassidy post on Power Pop today, so of course I had to listen to the "Wasp" record. A few of the covers on this record teeter on the unlistenable, though the cover of The Who's "So Sad About Us" is sublime, regardless of what a few Power Pop readers had to say. The Todd originals written for this project are actually terrific, and if you are a Todd diehard, you will recognize riffs and melodies on these songs that became other songs on follow-up Utopia records. This is a fun record...if you're a Todd fan. And I actually love this record now. I didn't for a long time.

6/28/2026

Cimafunk & La Tribu- Te Toca (2026) ****

Fela Ransome-Kuti & His Africa 70- Fela Fela Fela (1970) **1/2

Nigel Hall, Ari Teitel & Terrence Higgins- Maple Leaf Bar, New Orleans: 3/17/2026 (2026) **

Neil Finn- One Nil (2001) ****

Sly & The Family Stone- Woodstock (1969/2019) ***1/2

David Bowie- Lodger (1979) ****

Spirit- Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus (1970) ****

Nick Curran & The Lowlifes- Reform School Girl (2010) ****

AC/DC- High Voltage: U.S. (1976) ***1/2

Cheap Trick- Special One (2003) ***1/2


 

I caught a little bit of Cimafunk live in New Orleans back in 2018 or 2019. There was a lot going on on stage and he was clearly playing to the crowd as bands do in New Orleans. Lots of audience participation. "Let me hear you scream!" That kinda shit. So it didn't leave a good impression. But I keep hearing good things so I went in on the new one and I am sure glad I did. I think this record sounds like what I had hoped Bad Bunny would sound like. It's more musical. It's played well. It's sung beautifully. It's organic, which I don't feel with Bad Bunny. Some of it rocks and some of it is just truly wonderful music.

And speaking of New Orleans, this Nigel Hall & Friends jam from the Maple Leaf didn't translate well to just audio at home. A cocktail and a crowd at the club, and this stuff works wonders.

Between the Fela, the live Maple Leaf jam and Sly at Woodstock, I needed to get back to basics. Both "Lodger" and "Dr. Sardonicus" were as a good as ever. And as much as I enjoyed the Neil Finn, that record could use an edit.

Nick Curran! Gone way too soon. This record kicks ass! And it ends with an AC/DC cover, which took me to "High Voltage."




 

 

6/27/2026

Fela Ransome-Kuti & Africa-70- Fela's London Scene (1971) ****

The Paragons With Roslyn Sweat (1974) ****

Fela Kuti & Africa 70- Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana (1976) ***1/2

My New Band Believe- S/T (2026) ***

The Bluerunners- Honey Slides (2005)- ***1/2

Bob & Marcia- Pied Piper (1971) ***1/2

v/a- Todd/A True Star (1997) ***12

Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Afrika 70- Ikoyi Blindness (1976) ****

Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons- 25th Anniversary Collection: Single Disc Edit (1987/2026) ****

Barry Manilow- 11 Songs: Personal Playlist (2026) ****

The Lords Of The New Church- S/T (1982) ****

Tages- Studio (1967) ****

I acquired the complete works of Fela Kuti this week, a little over 40 records. So, he's been the centerpiece of today's listening. I only knew a few of his records and haven't listened to those in some time, so I decided to randomly pick titles. This stuff is great and worthyof its reputation. 

I was reminded by an old friend/Todd Rundgren fan, of a 1997 CD featuring Japanese artists, almost all unknown to me, covering some really deep cuts a few obvious choices. It's all so weird and different, but some of it is truly inspired. Anyway, that was a lot of fun. And weird. 

My pal hpunch suggested listening to My New Band Believe, the new solo record from Cameron Picton, singer and bass player of Black Midi. When I told him I wasn't really on board with Black Midi, he said he wasn't either and that's why he likes this solo record. A bit uneven, but when it's good, it's like a solid Roy Harper record, at least to my ears.

As for Barry Manilow, a friend of mine went to see him on Friday night and it reminded me of how much I love good ballads that modulate. Solid record making on these hits, and I enjoyed this playlist more than I expected to. "This one's for YOOOOU!"

 

 

6/26/2026

John Coltrane Quartet- Plays (1965) ***1/2
Stranger Cole- "Forward" In The Land Of Sunshine (1976) ***1/2
Book Of Love- S/T (1986) ***
Joe Jackson- Hope & Fury (2026) ****
v/a- CamPark: On The Northern Side, Vol. 1 (2002) ***1/2
Mountain- Climbing! (1970) ****
Van Halen- For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991) ****
Tages- Studio (1967) ****1/2
The B-52's- Wild Planet (1980) ****
The Jaded Hearts Club- Live At The 100 Club (2020) ***
Blossom Toes- We Are Ever So Clean (1967) ****

The new Joe Jackson gets better and better. Also, I can't remember the last time I listened to Mountain. "Climbing!" is fantastic. 

That VH album is their best with Sammy. I love the production on that record. 

Back in the early 80's, when my band Pep In The Cat was playing regularly and I was working at the copy shop, Susan Ottaviano would come in and get copies made of flyers for her band Head Cheese. We had a few fun chats. Three years later, Book Of Love came out on Sire. Def a better band name than Head Cheese. Fun record that I haven't heard since 1986.

Steve Simels' Friday question over at Power Pop was "Best Opening Song" on an album. I won't say "Party Out Of Bounds" on "Wild Planet" is the best, but Fred Schneider's "Surr-PRIZE" is pretty damn hilarious. 

That Stranger Cole album is super rare and today was the first time I got to hear it. Really wacky in the best way and it will most likely end up "Reggae Album Of The Week" on Monday.

But the Tages record "Studio" takes the cake today. That one hit the spot. It also put me in the mood for the Blossom Toes, which is a close second to Tages. Thanks, Mr. Maida.

6/25/2026

The Breaks- Live At The Toulouse Theater, New Orleans: 4/22/2026 ***1/2
(Very nice capture and a solid performance which you can listen to HERE.) 

The Stooges- Fun House: Kevin Gray Master (1970/2026) ****

The Beatles- Let It Be...Naked (1970/2003) ****
(It's Global Beatles Day!)

The Lemon Twigs- Live a Fip (2026) ***

Deep Purple- Burn (1974) ****
(An Ian Paice tour de force!)

The Wild Tchoupitoulas- S/T (1976) ****
Traffic- Heaven Is In Your Mind: Rare U.S. MONO, Kevin Gray Cut (1967/2021) ****
Lloyd Price- Specialty Profiles (2006) ***1/2
Ultravox!- S/T (1977) ****
Ultravox- Systems Of Romance (1978) ***1/2
The Slits- Cut (1979) ****
Thin Lizzy- Bad Reputation (1977) ****

6/24/2026

Sonny Rollins/Don Cherry- The Complete 1963 Paris Concert (2008) ***
XTeeHee- Fossil Fools (2024) **

v/a- Loggins & McDonald: Personal Playlist (2026) ****
(Had to tweak this a bit, but those changes made it even better.)

Dennis Bovell- Brain Damage (1981) ***1/2
David Bowie- Aladdin Sane (1973) ****
Crabby Appleton- S/T (1970) ***

Todd Rundgren- The Dream Set List: Personal Playlist (2026) ****

Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel
Unloved Children
Long Flowing Robe
It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference
The Ballad (Denny & Jean)
Bread
I Don't Want To Tie You Down
Soul Brother
The Verb To Love
The Last Ride
Weakness
Eastern Intrigue
Initiation

~intermission!

The Road To Utopia
Lysistrata
Bad Little Actress
Set Me Free
There Goes My Inspiration
Shinola
The Very Last Time
Crybaby
Trapped
Couldn't I Just Tell You

~encore~

One World
Fade Away
Love Is the Answer
Just One Victory 
Torch Song 

https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/71a73d91bfe2452a899891244916d10esune?ref=dm_sh_VMw4B4BsIublEn5qMr6vAFYlU 

 

6/23/2026

Don Evans- S/T (1983) ***1/2
(One of the legendary Paragons, solid rock steady vibe throughout. Nice record.)

 

King Crimson- Discipline: Steven Wilson Remix (1981/2022) ****

The Claudettes- High Times In The Dark (2020) **
(This did little for me. I prefer the new singer. I prefer the diversity of the new songs. This was very samey to me.)

Todd Rundgren- Second Wind (1991) ***1/2
Rocket From The Crypt- Scream, Dracula Scream: White Trash Soul Edition (1995/2026) **1/2

Utopia- Swing To the Right (1981) ****
(In a just world, "Lysistrata" would have been a monster hit. A pop masterwork!)

 

Graham Coxon- Castle Park (2011/2026) ***1/2
(This one is growing on me.)

Frankie Miller- Once in A Blue Moon (1973) ***
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band- Night Moves (1976) ***1/2
The Who- Sell Out: Stereo Bonus LP (1967/2021) ***1/2