2/28/2026

George Harrison- Electronic Sound (1969)- *
(After the surprise enjoyment of "Wonderwall Music," I thought I'd try this. This is crap.)

Peter Tosh- Bush Doctor (1978)-****
The Harvey Averne Dozen- Viva Soul (1968)- ***1/2
The Kinks- Kinda Kinks (1965)- ****
Nucleus- Elastic Rock (1970)- ****

Mod Lang- Borrowed Time (2026)- ***
(The review I read said this record is "pulling from the widescreen pop drama of Big Star and the melodic muscle of The Raspberries without slipping into nostalgia." Unfortunately, every song sounds like The Beatles, which isn't a bad thing, other than, that certainly IS "slipping into nostalgia." Still worth a second spin.

Neil Sedaka- Personal Playlist (2026)- ****
(Many years ago, a bunch of us got tickets to see Fountains Of Wayne. A few weeks after that, tickets went on sale for Neil Sedaka at Joe's Pub. I had seen FOW a number of times already and had never seen Neil. But, we had dinner plans and no one was even remotely excited by the prospect of seeing a legend, except me. The FOW show started later than usual and when Chris Collingwood took the stage, he immediately said, "Sorry we're late. We were singing with Neil Sedaka over at Joe's Pub." Still not over it.)

Deee-Lite- World Clique (1990)- ****

(One of the best dub records of all time, if you're into that thing, is HERE for your enjoyment.)

The Legal Matters- Lost At Sea (2026)- ***1/2
(Midwest powerpoppers have a little more going on than your usual power poppers. Full review coming on Monday's Burning Wood.)

Iggy Pop- Every Loser (2023)- ****
Small Faces- S/T: Decca, MONO (1966)- ****
Thin Lizzy- Bad Reputation (1977)- ****

2/27/2026

Sun Ra And His Arkestra Featuring Pharoah Sanders And Black Harold (1976)- **1/2
(Original copies of this have sold for $500 on average, and as much as $1100! It's a pretty tough listen, even if you dig free jazz.)

Wingless Angels- Volume Two (2010)- ****

Gene Clark- No Other (1974)- ****
(Always thought this was a tad overrated...until today. Pretty great.)

Sun Ra- Jazz In Silhouette (1959)- ***
Quiet Sun- Mainstream (1975)- ****
The Left Banke- Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina (1967, Stereo)-****

Ramases- Space Hymns (1971)- ***1/2
(Essentially the first 10cc record, written and sung by Kimberly Barrington Frost, aka Ramases. Solid, spacey, weird and a lot of fun.)

Rockfour- Octopus Ride: Rockfour Playing Syd Barrett (2026)- ****

The Electric Prunes- Underground: MONO (1967)- ****
(Much better than the first album.)

v/a-Where The Action Is: Los Angeles Nuggets, 1965-1968- Personal Playlist (2009/2026)- ***1/2
Ultravox- Ha! Ha! Ha! (1977)- ****
Michael Monroe- One Man Gang (2019)- ****

 

2/26/2026

Bob Dylan-Essential: Vinyl Edition (2016)- ***1/2
(I would happily swap "Lay Lady Lay," "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Gotta Serve Somebody" off the vinyl for "Hurricane," "Shelter From The Storm" and "Silvio"from the CD. I'd also swap everything for 20 different versions of "Mississippi.")

Jerry Garcia/David Grisman- S/T (1991)- ***1/2
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- All This Useless Beauty (1996)-****
Bob Dylan- Shot Of Love (1981)- ****
Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & Trinity- A Kind Of Love In: 1967-1971 (2004)- ***1/2

Rockfour- Octopus Ride: Rockfour Playing Syd Barrett (2026)- ****1/2
(This is the most fun I've had all week. I haven't thought about these guys in 20 years. We stocked a couple of their discs in our modest power pop and psych section back in the day. Then a few days ago, this record turned up in one of my Todd Rundgren groups. It's so damn good! Helps if you love Syd Barrett, though actually, it's so good, it may change your mind if you think you don't like Syd Barrett.)

Utopia- Oblivion (1983)- ****
Say She She- Cut & Rewind (2025)- ****




 

2/25/2026

Thad Jones- The Magnificent Thad Jones (1956)- ****
(There are few things cooler than the groove on the intro of "April In Paris.)

George Harrison- Wonderwall Music (1968)- ***
(This is much better and far more interesting than I remembered. I guess it helps if you don't go in expecting "Taxman." HBD, George.)

Bad Brains- S/T (1982)- ****

The Honeybus- At Their Best (1989)- ****
(R.I.P. Pete Dello.)

(Honeybus In Six)

Miki Curtis- The First Ear (1972)- ***1/2
(Vertigo records release #100. First time hearing it. Curtis fronted the band Samurai, who I don't know, but his first solo album, sung all in Japanese, covers a lot of ground and all of it is incredibly interesting. It's a psych pop record at heart, but there are some sweet baroque moments, as well. Good stuff.)

Enuff Z'nuff- Covered In Gold (2014)- **
(Loud, garish covers album, completely without finesse. 200 Beatles songs and they cover "Run For Your Life." What does that tell ya?)

Demolition 23- S/T (1994)- ****

Nucleus- We'll Talk About It Later (1971)- ***1/2

James Brown- In The Jungle Groove (1986)-****
(4:57 mark, James shouts "Clyde" and Mr. Stubblefield crashes into the single funkiest groove of all time. Never fails to rile me up. As badass as badass gets!)

2/24/2026

Tommy McCook- Lovers Rock (1978)- ***1/2
Charlie Rich- That's Rich (1965)- ****
Gram Parsons- GP (1973)- ****
Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra- Angels And Demons At Play (1967)- ****
Nirvana- Local Anaesthetic (1971)- **
Lucifer's Friend- ....Where The Groupies Killed The Blues (1972)- **

Sun Ra- The Antique Blacks (1974)- ****
(Off the rails live radio broadcast recorded in 1974 and released in 1978. This hit the spot, though I can't imagine too many having the patience. Some of it is not much different than what you'd hear on early Mothers records, including rock guitar, which was apparently rare for Sun Ra at this time. The song below is probably the easiest to swallow.)

Brand X-Morrocan Roll (1977)- **1/2
Phil Collins- Hello! I Must Be Going (1982)- ***1/2
Roxy Music- Stranded (1973)- ****
MC5- Kick Out The Jams (1969)- ***1/2
Blondie- Eat To The Beat (1979)- ****
Michael Monroe- Outerstellar (2026)-****

2/23/2026

Sun Ra- The Sound Of Joy (1968)- ****
(Recorded in 1957 and released in 1968. Truly fab!)

Amaika Rude- The Ska & The Abstract Truth (2025)-***
(Fun take on the Oliver Nelson classic, but don't think I need to hear it again.)

Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra- Fate In A Pleasant Mood (1965)- ***1/2
Jimmy Campbell- Half Baked (1970)- ****

Legend-S/T "Red Boot" (1971)- ****
(Mickey Jupp about 5 or 6 years before Stiff Conquered America. Great stuff. If you don't know Legend, you should.)

Tudor Lodge- S/T (1971)- **1/2
(British folk with Danny Thompson that at times, unfortunately, sounds more like The Seekers than Fairport Convention.)

Colosseum- Valentyne Suite (1969)- **
Dio- Holy Diver: Joe Barresi RMX (1983/2022)- ****
Sun Ra- The Heliocentric Worlds Of Sun Ra, Vol. 1 (1965)- ***
Opeth- Blackwater Park (2001)- ***
10cc- S/T (1973)- ***1/2
Legend- Moonshine (1971)- ***1/2

2/22/2026

Visionaires- To Have A Home (1982)- ****
(First time spin. Solid.)

Ray Barretto- Barretto-Power (1970)- ****
(Badass!)

(Barretto Paquete De Seis)

Fairfield Parlour- From Home To Home (1970)- ***1/2

Mike Keneally- Wing Beat Fantastic (2012)- ***1/2
(I should love this more. Probably would if it was XTC. Good Andy songs, but it's missing something.)

Hokus Poke-Earth Harmony (1972)- ***1/2
Squeeze- Play: Expanded Remaster (1991/2026)- ****
Jimmy Campbell- Jimmy Campbell's Album (1972)- ***
Agitation Free- Malesch (1972)- ****
 
The Replacements- Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash: Disc 3, Studio Outtakes, Alternates & Home Demos (1981/2021)- ****
("When I say I'm in debt, you best believe I'm in debt, D-E-T!")

 

 

The Stooges- Fun House (1970)- ****
("LOOOORRRRRRDDDDDDDD!)