8/5/2026

Linton Kwesi Johnson- Dread Beat And Blood (1978) ***1/2

Pete Townshend- Empty Glass (1980) ****

Stardust Five- S/T (2006) ****

Gang Of Four- Entertainment! (1979) ****

The Beatles- Revolver: 2022 Stereo Remix (1966/2022) ****

XTC - Go 2 (1978) ***1/2

XTC- White Music (1978) ***

The Keys- The Keys Album (1981) ***1/2

 

 

 

• The Stardust Five found me earlier this week. I knew nothing about this record, and I've been listening to Paul Kelly for a long time. This record is incredible. It's strange and beautiful, raucous at times, even soothing occasionally. Hard to describe. Listen to it, if you don't know it.

• "Revolver" is 60 years old today. SIXTY!

• For years I've avoided XTC's "Go 2" like the plague. I hated it the first time I heard it and would only occasionally throw "Meccanik Dancing" on a mixed tape. But a friend gave it some love on social media and I thought I'd go in for the first time in years. It's way better than I remembered. It's very herky-jerky, but enough of it is solid, making it official that there are NO bad XTC records.

• "Go 2" surprised me so much that "White Music," a record I always thought was better, didn't quite cut it tonight. That feeling may change down the line. But I do think it's time for an XTC revision on Popsurfing. 

 

8/4/2026

Olu Dara- In The World From Natchez To New York (1998)  **** 

The Rails- Australia (2015) ****

Burning Spear- Hail H.I.M. (1980) ***

Elvis Costello- My Aim Is True: Kevin Gray Master (1977/2001) ****

Free- Heartbreaker (1973) ****

iPod on Shuffle:

We All Fall In Love Sometimes- Elton John
It's For The Love The Petals Fall- Georgie Fame
Liquidize- Wet Leg
One Hundred Years From Now- The Byrds
East Of Asteroid- 801
To Love Somebody- James Carr
Baby What You Want Me To Do- John Cale
Something In 4/4 Time- Daryl Hall
Get That Gasoline Blues- NRBQ
Frank's Theme- Tom Waits
I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)- The Temptations
Man Overboard- Ian Hunter
Stop Messin' Round- Fleetwood Mac
Water Song- Hot Tuna
Exposure- Peter Gabriel
Wasting My Time- Jimmy Page
Moving Up- Jason Falkner
Radio, Radio- Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I Have Decided To Join The Airforce- Bee Gees

• Elvis Costello just announced an October deluxe release of "My Aim Is True," featuring a newly remastered LP and CD, as well as a 5 CD set with demos, early takes, outtakes and live material. I'll go on record right now, that upcoming remaster will NOT come close to this Kevin Gray master. This record never sounded better.

8/3/2026

Lou Reed- S/T (1972) ****

The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra- What Can We Do? (2026) **

v/a- Gulf Coast Grease: The Sandy Records Story Of Mobile, Alabama Vol.1(1996) **1/2

The Doobie Brothers- Takin' It To The Streets (1976) ***1/2

Twin Temple- God Is Dead (2023) ***1/2

v/a Jagged Time Lapse Volume One (2000) ****

Warren Zevon- Excitable Boy (1978) ****

Dr. John- Gris-Gris: Kevin Gray MONO Mix (1968/2018) ****

King Crimson- Beat (1982) ***1/2

The Hollies- Butterfly: MONO (1967) ****

The Hollies- For Certain Because: Stereo (1966) ***1/2

  

• Couldn't make it through three songs on that Anthony Paule record. "Soul Orchestra" is a misnomer. This is second rate blues with a horn section. And he isn't a very good singer either. 

• It's a shame that an amazing multi volume set of British psych like "Jagged Time Lapse" isn't an official release. Though actually, if it was official, it would most definitely be inferior, due to label big shots getting in the way. I love this stuff. Some of it gets weird, but none of it is boring. Here is a Volume One lagniappe for your sampling pleasure.

• The Kevin Gray MONO "Gris-Gris" is pretty amazing, but I think that record is best heard in stereo.

 

8/2/2026

v/a- Goodbye, Babylon: D1, Introduction (2003) ***1/2

Dusty Springfield- Dusty In Memphis: Kevin Gray Master (1969/2026) ****

Johnny Adams- Heart & Soul (1970) ****

Marvin Gaye- What's Going On: Kevin Gray Master (1971/2022) ****

Graham Gouldman- The Graham Gouldman Thing (1968) ****

Rush- Now Playing (2026) ****

Dave Davies- Hidden Treasures (2011) ***1/2

The Who- Who's Next: 1995 Jon Astley Remix (1971/1995/2012) ****

The Zombies- Greatest Hits In MONO (2017) ****

Faces- Ooh La la (1973) ****

XTC- Skylarking: Steven Wilson Remix (1986/2016) ****


 

• For your consideration- Johnny Adams' "Heart & Soul," one the great southern soul records of all time.

8/1/2026

The Grateful Dead- Reckoning (1981) ****

The Lovin' Spoonful- Everything Playing: MONO (1967) ***

The 3 Sounds- Moods (1960) ****

Peter Tosh- Legalize It (1976) ****

Rush- Hold Your Fire (1987) ****

Rainbow- Rising (1976) ***1/2

The Grateful Dead- Dead Set (1981) ***1/2

Rush- Moving Pictures: Side One (1981) ****

The Soft Boys- Underwater Moonlight (1980) ****

Flamin' Groovies- Shake Some Action (1976) ***

Michael Monroe- Outerstellar (2026) ****

• "Reckoning" is a great first play of the day. It's a record I imagine might even be enjoyed by those who aren't really Dead fans. Good way to celebrate JG's b'day.

• Just released on Sony Legacy, a 50th Anniversary gold edition of the Peter Tosh classic "Legalize It," and it's both excellent sounding and inexpensive. I don't like colored vinyl as a rule, but this gold LP is pretty snazzy.

• Speaking of possibly liking a record even if you're not a fan of the artist (see GD above), "Hold Your Fire" might be Rush's poppiest and most musical record. Maybe it suffers just a bit with the 80's production, but the songs are very accessible and the playing is great, of course. And Aimee Mann is on it!

• Here's a Rush lagniappe, my attempt at a mix of songs that might appeal to those who aren't fans of the band. It's here, if you dare.

• I think the "Shake Some Action" album might be a tad overrated. 

 

7/31/2026

Fairport Convention- Unhalfbricking (1969) ****

Twin Temple- God Is Dead (2023) ****

The Cleaners From Venus- Beryl & Rush Go Shopping (2026) **1/2

Rush- 2112 (1976) ***1/2

Paul Weller- Sonik Kicks (2012) ****

10cc- The Original Soundtrack (1975) ****

Rush- Counterparts (1993) ****

The Kinks- Soap Opera (1975) ****

Aerosmith- S/T: 2024 Mix (1973/2026) ****

David Bowie- Cracked Actor: Live Los Angeles '74 (2017) ****

 

 

 

• I'd been reading about Twin Temple, Satan worshippers who got kicked off the Charley Crockett tour for their occult imagery but then were invited by Jack White to open for him. I hadn't heard any of their music until Ken D tipped me off. What a great surprise! Think The Ronettes, The Crystals and Lesley Gore singing about the devil. It works! 

• Saw Rush at Madison Square Garden last night, so there will be another Rush mini-binge this weekend. A fantastic show, by the way. Anika Nilles is the real deal.

• As for "Counterparts," I always thought this was a solid rock album, but loses its way in the middle. I removed "Nobody's Hero," "Alien Shores" and "Speed Of Love," and man did it sound good and tight. 

• "Soap Opera" gets my vote for The Kinks' most underrated record. 

7/30/2026

Fela Kuti- Coffin For Head Of State (1981) ***

Amazing Blondel- Fantasia Lindum (1971) ***1/2

Bonnie Tyler- Natural Force (1978) **1/2

Emitt Rhodes- S/T (1970) ****

Marshall Crenshaw- Covers (2026) ***1/2

Echo & The Bunnymen- Songs To Learn & Sing (1985) ***1/2

iPod on Shuffle:
We Got Married- Paul McCartney
Not Dark Yet- Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer
Cliptron Scuttle- The Claypool-Lennon Delirium
Bobo On The Corner- Beastie Boys
I'll Be Back- The Beatles
The Place We Call Mars- Squeeze
Oh Claire- Cheap Trick
Worn Out Suits, Brand New Pockets- Dave Edmunds
Rock & Roll Stew- Traffic
North Country- Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Ska Parisienne- The Skatalites
Queen Bitch- David Bowie
Man On A Mission- Van Halen
Olympic Jam ("One More")- Small Faces
That Dangerous Age (BBC)- Paul Weller
Children Of My Mind- Georgie Fame
Dirty Cold Sun- The Black Crowes
One Way Street- Lou Ann Barton
Tell Me- Dead Boys