7/24/2026

Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussein, Eric Harland- Sangam & Friends (2026) ***

Pink Floyd- Atom Heart Mother: Side Two (1970) ***1/2

Plas Johnson- The Capitol Singles (1982) ***1/2

Todd Rundgren- Live In Beverly, MA: 7/19/2026 (2026) ****

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

David Bowie- Reality (2003) ****

Robyn Hitchcock- The Confuser (2026) ***

The Monkees- Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.: Kevin Gray Stereo Master (1967/2025)- **** 

Faces- A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...: Kevin Gray Master (1971/2010) ****

Izzy Stradlin & The Ju Ju Hounds- S/T: Burning Wu Deluxe Edition (1992/2026) ****

 

 

 

• Do Charli XCX's records prior to this new one sound like this new one? Because, I really dug it, and it's not what I expected. Might need to investigate further. 

• The new Robyn Hitchcock has gotten raves. First pass did not keep me engaged the way his last two did. Gotta try again.

7/23/2026

v/a- Scandal Ska (1989) ****

Clifton Chenier- Louisiana Blues & Zydeco (1990) ***

Wings- Wild Life: Abbey Road HSM (1971) ****

Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys- Grand Isle (2011) ****

Banda AL9- Hey! Hey! We're Banda AL9 (2026) ***

The Who- Who's Power Poppin' (2026) **** 

Big Star- #1 Record (1972) ****

Utopia- Sun Plaza Hall, Tokyo: 4//9/79 (1999) ****

 

• Take it from me, I know from where I speak, this is Utopia at the peak of their powers. It's here if you dare. 

7/22/2026

Byron Lee & The Dragonaires- Tighten Up (1969) ***1/2

Paul Weller- 66 (2024) ****

Byron Lee & The Dragonaires- Reggay Blast off ! (1969) ***

v/a- Zulu Stomp!!- South Africa Garage Beats!! (2010) ***

Wanda Jackson- Queen Of Rockabilly (2000) ***

Yard Act- You're Gonna Need A Little Music (2026) ***1/2

L7- Smell The Magic (1991) ***1/2

Devo- Q:Are We Not Men A: We Are Devo!- Kevin Gray Master (1978/2026) ***1/2

The Beatles- A Hard Day's Night: MONO RM (1963/2009) ****

The Neville Brothers- Neville-ization: Live At Tipitina's (1984) ***1/2

The Neville Brothers- Fiyo On The Bayou (1981) ***1/2

 

 

• "Tighten Up" is a classic. It also has one of the best appropriations. The song "Chin To Chin," written by The Kingstonians, is pretty much "Cheek To Cheek" by Irving Berlin. 

• "Zulu Stomp!!" is a very typical collection of garage rock featuring winners and losers. The most interesting thing is the only single by The Upsetters, a 1965 cover of "Daddy Rolling Stone." The Upsetters are Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar & his brothers, who then became The Flame, and then of course Blondie and Ricky were Beach Boys.

• The Beatles are underrated.

• My feelings about the Nevilles remain the same after listening to two "classic" records. They are a live band and need to be seen live. Their records just don't do the talent justice. It's good stuff...the records, I mean. But live, it's a different story. It's magical. The records are too slick. Charlie's a great player, but when he takes his turn, like on "Saxafunk" on "Neville-ization," it's a speed bump. Aaron singing "Mona Lisa" with a string section? Not essential New Orleans.

 

7/21/2026

v/a-Calypso, Musical Poetry In The Caribbean: 1955-1969 (2014) ***1/2

Elvis Presley- From Elvis In Memphis: Sessions (1969/2015) ***

Joe Jackson- Hope & Fury (2026) ****

Grey De Lisle & Les Greene- Grey & Greene (2026) ****

Robert Palmer -Collected: 2 LP Edition (2016) ****

The Who- Who's Power Poppin': Personal Playlist (2026) ****

Stories- S/T (1972) ***1/2

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

The Maytals- Monkey Man (1970) ****

The Meters- Fire On The Bayou (1975) ****

Utopia- Adventures In Utopia (1979)- **** 

7/20/2026

Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington- The Complete Sessions (1990) ***1/2

Charlie Hunter- Space Bomb (2026) ****

Sly & The Family Stone- Stand! (1969) ****

L7- S/T (1988) **1/2

Roxy Music- For Your Pleasure (1973) ****

Grey De Lisle & Les Greene- Grey & Greene (2026) ****

Roxy Music- Manifesto (1979) ***1/2

The Roches- Live At The Bottom Line, 10/23/85 (2026) ***1/2

Grey De Lisle & Les Greene- Grey & Greene (2026) ****

7/19/2026

Mavis Staples- Sad And Beautiful World (2025) ****

Michael Kiwanuka- Home Again (2012) ***1/2

Charlie Hunter- Space Bomb (2026) ****

McGough & McGear- S/T (1968) **

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers- Long After Dark (1982) ****

The Who- My Generation: Japanese True Stereo (1965/2023) ****

The Beatles- With The Beatles: MONO RM (1963/2009) ****

Led Zeppelin- I (1968) ****

The Meters- S/T: Kevin Gray Master (1969/2023)- ****

Jon Cleary- So Swell (2020) ****

The Dukes Of Stratosphear- 25 O'Clock (1985) ****

Big Star- Radio City (1974) ****



• This new Charlie Hunter record dropped out of nowhere, at least in my world. It's a quartet improvising over 15 tracks which could be a recipe for disaster. But not on "Space Bomb." Rather than extend each idea longer than it needs to be, we get 15 two, three and four minute tracks that give you just the right amount of time to get groovy without overstaying the welcome. Good stuff.

• Just added my 40 essential New Orleans records to the Popsurfing site.  Jon Cleary made the list. Twice.

 

 

7/18/2026

Irish Baroque Orchestra And Choir & Peter Whelan- Handel: Messiah (2026) ****

Karl Bohm, Winer Philharmoniker- Beethoven Symphonie Nr. 6>>Pastorale (1971) ***

Allen Toussaint- The Bright Mississippi (2009) **** 

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers- Hard Promises (1981) ****

Chris Squire- Fish Out Of Water: 50th Anniversary Remix (1975/2025) ***12

Bee Gees- 1st: MONO (1967) ****

Ronnie Wood- Slide On This (1992) ***

V/A- Licensed To SKA: Studio One 007 (2023) ****

Dio- Holy Diver (1983) ***1/2

The Zombies- Greatest Hits In MONO (2017) ***1/2

The Slits- Cut (1979) ****

Motorhead- Overkill (1979) ****