The Sunset Travelers w/O.V. Wright- The Gospel 45's (2020)- **** (As good as it gets- perfect for a Sunday morning. It's HERE, if you're into it.)
The Idle Race- The Birthday Party: MONO (1968)- ****
Paul McCartney- McCartney: Stems (1970)- **** (This is incredible, especially if you love this album. If there was any doubt, and there shouldn't be at this point, of McCartney's ability as a singer and a bass player, these deconstructed tracks should seal it forever. I've got about 45 of them, but HERE ARE 13 of the best, if you're into.)
The Lemon Twigs & Friends- Written By Ronnie D'Addario (2025)- **** Warren Zevon- S/T (1976)- **** (The harmonies on "Desperados Under The Eaves" are glorious! Zevon, Carl Wilson, Jackson Browne! Glorious.)
v/a- Ciao Bella!: Italian Girl Singers Of The 60's (2015)- ***1/2 Frank Sinatra- Songs For Swingin' Lovers!: Kevin Gray MONO Master (1956/2026)- **** I Roy- Don't Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff: 1972-1975 (1997)- ***1/2
Joe Higgs- The Real Stepping Razor (19??)- **** (This was a real find. Higgs' "Life Of Contradiction" is one of the greatest reggae records of all time, but so much of what came before it has yet to be compiled. Some fan put this priceless selection together and it's a perfect companion to "Life Of Contradiction." I found it HERE.)
Billy Joel- Turnstiles (1976)-**** Courtney Barnett- Creature Of Habit (2026)- *** Black Label Society- Engines Of Demolition (2026)- ***1/2 (Rawk! 🤘)
Cheap Trick- S/T (1977)- **** Iggy & The Stooges- Raw Power (1973)- ****
The Gaylads- Soul Beat (1967)- **** (Hall Of Fame reggae record. If not Top Ten, definitely Top 20.)
The Beach Boys- Friends (1968)- ***1/2
Prince- Lovesexy (1988)- **1/2 (This record has such horrible memories attached to it, I don't think I could listen to it ever again.)
Juliana Hatfield & Eric Payne- Bets (2026)- **** The Byrds- Never Before (1987)- ***1/2 Queen- II: Sessions (1974/2026)- ***1/2 Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Get Happy! (1980)- **** The Beach Boys- 1965-1967 (2026)- **** (Yesterday's Beach Boys discussion put me in action. I created a mix, "1965-1967" and it's a damn great player. It's HERE, if you're interested.)
John Coltrane- Coltrane's Sound: Kevin Gray MONO Master (1964/2025)- ****
McGuinness Flint- S/T (1970)- *** (I've always enjoyed this record, though nothing on it is as strong as the single.)
Genesis- Rock Roots (1976)- ***1/2 (Essentially "From Genesis To Revelation" enhanced with a few singles and b-sides. If you aren't a fan of the band, or prog rock, or long songs, I think you should listen to this record. It's none of those things.)
Robyn- Sexistential (2026)- ** (Okay. Whatever.) Queen- II: 2026 Remix (1974/2026)- **** (One of my favorite Side Twos in all of rock, this new remix really shines. It's always been a very hot, muddy and metallic recording, but not anymore. It breathes. You hear Freddie's miraculous vocals with more clarity. Guitar parts, percussion, things that have been buried for 50 years, suddenly stand out. Great, great spin!)
Flea- Honora (2026)- *** (This record is all over the place. Some nice musical moments here and there, like his takes on "Maggot Brain" and "Willow Weep For Me." But there's a lot of pretentious crap here, too.)
The New Pornographers- The Former Site Of... (2026)- **1/2 (Not sure what happened here. It's been some time since I've listened to these guys, but I loved everything through "Brill Bruisers." This record never got started. It played as one long mid-tempo song without a melody. Is it me, or is this a whole lotta nothing?)
The Beach Boys- Pet Sounds: Kevin Gray Stereo Cut (1966/2015)- **** Blur- Parklife (1994)- **** (Forgot how good this record is. Thanks to a friend on Facebook, I revisited. Their most consistent, I think.)
Lou Reed- S/T (1972)-**** (This record deserves more love. It's Lou and some of YES! Come on! Lou, Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman demands your time!)
Quarteto Novo- S/T (1967)- **** Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers- Like Someone In Love (1967)- **** Utopia- Kansas City, 10/14/78- ***1/2 The Ronettes- Presenting The Ronettes: Stereo (1964)- ***1/2 Randy Newman- My 12 Songs (2026)- **** Paul McCartney- McCartney (1970)- **** Echo & The Bunnymen- Crocodiles (1980)- ***1/2 v/a- Ska Authentic Vol. 1 (1964)- **** Rockfour- Octopus Ride: Rockfour Playing Syd Barrett (2026)- **** Radio Birdman- Living Eyes (1981)- ***
Joao Gilberto- S/T (1973)- **** (A lovely record. The track below absolutely mesmerizes me.)
Elvis Costello & The Imposters- Look Now (2018)- ***1/2 The Move- Looking On (1970)- ***1/2 Rush- Fly By Night (1974)- ***1/2 David Bowie- Heathen (2002)-**** The Meters- Rejuvenation (1974)- **** Kraftwerk- Ralf & Florian (1973)- ***1/2 Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs- Pigus Drunkus Maximus (1987)- **** The Blasters- Mandatory: The Best Of (2023)- ***1/2 (Normally, The Blasters would get an easy four stars. But Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs kicked some ass right before and these songs felt tame.)
John Coltrane- Coltrane Jazz: Kevin Gray MONO Master (***1/2) (Again, the sound is stunning, but this is my least favorite of the six records in the box.
v/a- Cool Jerks Originals (2026) **** Funkadelic- Maggot Brain (1971- *** Deep Purple- Fireball (1971)- **** v/a- Hot Vinyl: Rare Classic Oldies, Vol. 4- A Rockin' Bandit Compilation (2017)- **** (25 rare 45's, almost all new to me. Some really amazing girl group and dance sides here.)
Juicy Lucy- S/T (1969)- **1/2
Gravy Train- (A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man (1971)- * (All Music gave this a glowing review. I thought it was awful in so many ways, first and foremost, the horrible vocalist. Musically, it sounded like Uriah Heep trying to be sensitive. Awful. If you want an original copy in solid condition, it'll set you back $1200, by the way.)
Bob Dylan- Down In The Groove (1988)-***1/2 (This sounded like "Blonde On Blonde" after that Gravy Train record.)
Jason Falkner- Genius: Personal Playlist (2025)- ****
