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
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!)
Assagai- S/T (1971)- ***1/2 Jimmy Campbell- Son Of Anastasia (1969)- **1/2 Linda Hoyle- Pieces Of Me (1971)- **** Catapilla- S/T (1971)- ** The Psychedelic Furs- S/T (1980)- *** Jackson Heights- The Fifth Avenue Bus (1972)- ***1/2 Still Life- S/T (1971)- *** Warren Zevon- Excitable Boy (1978)- **** Boz Scaggs- Silk Degrees (1977)- **** Rod Stewart- Gasoline Alley (1970)- ***1/2 Foo Fighters- Medium Rare (2011)- **** Michael Monroe- Outerstellar (2026)-****
Jimmy Campbell- Half Baked (1970)- **** Beggar's Opera- Act One (1970)- ** James Booker- Such A Wonderful Feeling: Original Instrumentals (2026)- ***1/2 Joe Higgs- Life Of Contradiction (1975)- **** May Blitz-S/T (1970)- **1/2 Thomas F. Browne- Wednesday's Child (1971)- **** Gracious- Gracious! (1970)- **** Cressida- S/T (1970)- ***1/2 Led Zeppelin- Coda (1982)- **** The Yardbirds- Live At The Anderson Theater, 3/30/68: Remix (2017)- ***1/2
Curtis Fuller Two Bones (1980)- ***1/2 (Nice 1958 session for Blue Note with Sonny Clark, released in 1980. Good stuff, but after "The Opener," it makes sense that this session remained unreleased. "The Opener" really cooks.)
Willie Colon Canta Hector Lavoe- Crime Pays (1972)- **** Galactic And Irma Thomas- Audience With The Queen (2025)-**** (Happy Birthday to the Queen.)
It's A Good, Good Feeling: The Latin Soul Of Fania Records: The Singles (2021)- ***1/2 The James Gang- Yer Album (1969)- ****
Motorhead- Overkill (1979)- **** (This is where I came in and never left.)
Earl King- 1963 Motown Sessions (1996)- ***1/2 v/a- Where The Girls Are- Girl Group Deep Cuts: Personal Playlist (2026)- **** Martin Newell- The Greatest Living Englishman (1993) - **** Irma Thomas- Love Is The Foundation (2020)- **** Wilson Pickett- The Best Of ...(1967)-**** (In MONO!)
Music City- Welcome To Music City (2026)- **** (Excellent! Thank you, Dr. Wu. More on Burning Wood.) The Rumble- Stories From The Battlefield (2024)- **** (Happy Mardi Gras!)
John Ellis & Double Wide- Fireball (2026)- **** (Great to have new music from Double Wide, which also includes Matt Perrine and Jason Marsalis. This really works for Mardi Gras, in a wonderfully twisted way.)
Allen Toussaint- Southern Nights (1975)- **** Bad Bunny- Debi Tirar Mas Fotos (2025)- *** (Finally gave this a go. The difference between this record and the music that purportedly "influenced" this record is that the classic salsa and boogaloo records had discernible songs, whereas this record plays like a 60 minute DJ set, and that exhausted me. There is good stuff throughout, but it ultimately bogs itself down with sameness. Or maybe it just feels that way because it's over an hour long. Not a fan of that reggaeton beat to begin with, so most of those tracks did nothing for me. I'd love to hear a shorter, cleaner version, with space between songs, allowing the listener to digest each mood. I love this music, but would rather listen Joe Bataan, Ray Barretto and Willie Colon. Those records are pure. They are organic. And they are hot! This record felt messy.)
Faces- A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...: 2026 Chris Bellman Cut (1971/2026)- ****
Creedence Clearwater Revival- S/T (1968)- **** ("Suzie Q" continues to be badass, almost 60 years later.)
Bobby Charles- Last Train To Memphis (2003)- **** The Kinks- Are The Village Green Preservation Society: Kevin Gray Stereo RM (1968/2018)- ****
Jon Cleary- The Bywater Sessions (2025)- **** (This hit the spot on this Mardi Gras Day in Astoria Queens! And if you dig Jon Cleary, grab this lagniappe. Trust me!)
