9/18/2026

Queen- II, Side Black: 2026 Mix (1974/2026) ****

v/a- Ska Ba Dip: The Essential King Edwards (1989) ***1/2

Echo & The Bunnymen- Apples For Isaac (2026) ***1/2

Roger Taylor- Violence Insane In A Beautiful World (2026) **1/2

Susanna Hoffs- The List (2026) ***

Electric Light Orchestra- A New World Record (1976) ****

Nicole Atkins- Italian Ice (2020) **1/2

The Rumble- Ain't No Dying (2026) ****

Ultravox!- Rare Retro (2016) ****

Whitesnake- S/T (1987) ****

Raido Birdman- Radios Appear (1977) ****

 

• I think the new Echo & The Bunnymen has potential to be a keeper.

• The Susanna Hoffs played like a "musical bio," and I guess it was designed that way. But it wasn't very exciting on first pass. I'm not giving up on this one...yet.

• Okay, "Italian Ice" is exactly what kept me away from Nicole Atkins all these years. Going to stick with the new one and then try something else, maybe her debut.

• The Rumble is shaping up to be a fantastic New Orleans release.

• Didn't realize there was an Ultravox! "Island Years" box. This bonus disc is a killer. If you love the first three John Foxx records, this set of oddities and leftovers is fantastic. Live stuff, remixes, single mixes--it all plays so much differently than what you are familiar with.

• I have no guilty pleasures when it comes to music. I don't listen to music ironically. That said, Whitesnake's 1987 blockbuster is the best of its kind. 

 

9/17/2026

v/a- Tim Burgess & Bob Stanley Present- Tim Peaks: Songs For A Late Night Diner (2019) **1/2

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts- Second Song (2026) *1/2

Nicole Atkins- Drama (2026) ****

Dion - Lovers Who Wander (1962) ***1/2

David Bowie- The Shel Talmy Recordings: 1965 (2026) ***

Daryl Johns- S/T (2024) ***

Nick Lowe- Party Of One (1990) ****

Nicole Atkins- Drama (2026) ****

The Kinks- Are The Village Green Preservation Society: Kevin Gray Stereo Master (1968/2018) ****

The Rolling Stones- Some Girls (1978) ****

Grand Funk- Shinin' On (1974) ***1/2

• "Second Song" is a good title, because that's when I had enough. I mean, JEEZ! Is he kidding with this?  I don't care if the next four songs are as good as "Harvest," the first two gave me the twitch. 

• I've had a problem with Nicole Atkins for years. I want to like her. Many of my friends do. But I've seen her live twice and she got under my skin both times. And I can't always deal with her style of singing, which often sounds like she is trying to belt out "The Sound Of Music" whether the song calls for it or not. Thankfully, she only resorts to that a few times on this new record and it's very effective when used sparingly. I really loved this first spin, I just hope it's not because it followed that Neil crap. 

• cmealha sent me a text with a link to a song by Daryl Johns and the note, "Do you know this guy? Reminds me of Utopia." Well, I listened to the whole record and it sure does remind me of Rundgren and Utopia...in spots. It's a little too lo-fi for my taste, making it sound more like early Lemon Twigs. Then, I found out he was the Twigs touring bassist for a while. Overall, a worthwhile spin, at least the first half.

• Okay, second time around and the Nicole Atkins held up strong. "Curtain Call" is a stunner!

• I've been wanting to revisit the Grand Funk record since watching the Billy Corgan/Todd Rundgren interview. Billy loved the record. It sounded better than I remembered.

 

 

9/16/2026

Buddy Miller- S/T (2026) ****

Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band- Time (2026) ****

Bruce Springsteen- The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle (1973) ****

Charli XCX- Music, Fashion, Film (2026) ****

Queen II: Abbey Road HSM (1974/2015) ****

The John Sally Ride- Now Is Not A Great Time (2021) ****

Bee Gees- 1st: Kevin Gray Stereo Master (1967/2017) ****

Soul Asylum- Let Your Dim Light Shine (1995) ****


•Okay, I really enjoyed the Buddy Miller. It's a solid Buddy record. His voice is strong. I don't think the guests are in the way, instead add subtle dabs of color and harmony. And those "weepy"songs worked for me. Looking forward to another spin or two.

9/15/2026

The Congos- Congo Ashanti (1979) ****

The Rumble- Ain't No Dying (2026) ****

Creation Rebel- Close Encounters Of The Third World (1978) ***

Rush- Boston, 9/12/2026: Highlights (2026) ***1/2

Cheetah Chrome & The Ghetto Dogs- S/T (1987) ***1/2

The Creed Taylor Orchestra- Shock Music In Hi-Fi (1958) ****

Bob Dylan- Oh Mercy (1989) ****

Yes- Drama: Kevin Gray Master (1980/2016) ****

 

 

• "Heart Of The Congos" is a reggae essential and I play it often. But this was the first time I heard the follow-up, "Congo Ashanti." It's pretty damn great!

• New album from The Rumble is just as great as their last. Great New Orleans, Indian funk. 

• "Shock Music In Hi-Fi" legit scared me when I was a kid. It’s still pretty eerie. But now that I’m older and only mildly creeped out by it, I can appreciate the craft and imagination put into the making of it. Good stuff!

9/14/2026

The Rolling Stones- Now!: MONO (1965) **** 

Bob Dylan with The Band- Planet Waves (1974) ***1/2

Neil Young & Crazy Horse- Ragged Glory (1990) ***1/2

Dwight Twilley- Scuba Divers (1982) ****

The Beatles- A Hard Day's Night: Stereo RM (1964/2012) ****

The John Sally Ride- A New Set of Downs (2017) ****

Queen- A Day At The Races (1976) ****

Thin Lizzy- Bad Reputation (1977) ****

Dead Boys- We Have Come For Your Children (1978) ****

9/13/2026

David Torkanowsky- Steppin' Out (1988) ****

John Coltrane- Giant Steps: MONO (1960) ****

Bob Dylan- Love And Theft (2001) ****

Nick Lowe- Jesus Of Cool (1978) ***1/2

The Replacements- Don't Tell A Soul: Matt Wallace Mix (1989/2019) ****

Fountains Of Wayne- Welcome Interstate Managers (2003) ****

Blondie- Eat To The Beat (1979) ***1/2

Dwight Twilley Band- Sincerely (1976)  ***1/2

Be-Bop Deluxe- Futurama: 2024 Remix (1975/2024) ****

Pokey LaFarge- Rent Money (2026) **1/2

Aerosmith- Rocks (1976) ****

Dead Boys- Young, Loud And Snotty (1977) ****

X- Wild Gift (1981) ****

• "Tork" changed my life 25 years ago, when I saw him manipulate a piano at the Funky Butt in New Orleans the way Jimi manhandled his guitar at Woodstock. I’ve been a fan and a friend ever since. His one solo record "Steppin' Out" is worth your time. Trust me, if only for "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most"

• "Eat To The Beat" is my favorite Blondie album and it still needs an edit. 

• After a killer opening track, the new Pokey went downhill fast. Lazy songwriting and basically the same arrangement for every song. Very disappointing.

• Feeling a 40 Essential Punk Albums list coming on, though I may need to do two lists- Punk V. "Punk." Ain't no way Aerosmith's "Rocks" is being left off an essential "punk" list. "Rats In The Cellar" is the "prototype of hardcore punk," said my late, great pal Alan Landess, who fronted NYC punk semi-legends Hammerbrain.

• Just found out Cheetah Chrome passed. I'm stunned. 

 

9/12/2026

Bob Dylan- Blood On The Tracks (1975) ****

Keith Hudson- Brand (1977) ***1/2

The Everly Brothers- Two Yanks In England (1966) ****

David Bowie- Welcome To The Blackout: Live London '78 (2018) ****

Aerosmith- Pump (1989) ****

Ringo Starr- Ringo (1973) ***1/2

The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour: Stereo (1967) ****

Shack- H.M.S. Fable (1999) ****

Peter Frampton- Frampton: Chris Bellman Remaster (1975/2024) ****

Todd Rundgren- The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect: Side One (1982) ****

Utopia- S/T (1982) ****

 

• "Welcome To The Blackout" kicks "Stage's" ass.