5/25/2026

Linton Kwesi Johnson- Bass Culture (1980)- ***1/2 
Jah Ruby- Dread Affairs (1977)- ****
Stevie Wonder- Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974)- ****
Bobby Womack- The Poet (1981)- ***1/2
King Crimson- Beat (1982)- ****
Genesis- Rock Theatre (1975)- ****
Jeff Lynne's ELO- Alone In The Universe (2015)- ****
Todd Rundgren- The Hermit Of Mink Hollow (1978)- ****
Paul McCartney- Tug Of War: 2015 Remix (1982/2015)- ****
Rancid-...And Out Come The Wolves (1995)- ****

5/24/2026

Grachan Moncur III- Some Other Stuff (1965)- ***
Lonnie Johnson- The Original Guitar Wizard, Disc Two: Hot Fingers (2006)- ***
Bob Marley & The Wailers- Exodus (1977)- ****

Bob Dylan- Another Self Portrait: Disc Two (2013)- ****
(This alternate version of "If Not For You" is gorgeous.)

 

 

Robert Palmer- Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley (1974)- ****

Bryan Ferry- The Bride Stripped Bare (1978)- ***1/2
(I am wiiiith you Dr. Wuuuu. "When She Walks In The Room" is a great song, though I still don't think it fits with my post-"Siren"/"Manifesto" mix. This record played better than I remembered, and it does have more good than bad. So I take that comment back. But, I stll wince during "Sign Of The Times" and "Hold On, I'm Coming.")

Thin Lizzy- Jailbreak (1976)- ****
Iggy & The Stooges- Raw Power: 1997 Iggy Mix (1973/1997/2012)- ****
13th Floor Elevators- Easter Everywhere (1967)- ****

5/23/2026

Cal Everett- The Weight Of Early Promise (2026)- ****
(Just wow. Even better second time around.)

George Harrison- Brainwashed (2002)- ****

Ray Barretto- Acid (1968)- ****
(A "veritable masterpiece" it says on the hype sticker, and I agree. If you had to pick one Latin boogaloo record for your collection, this is it.)

v/a-African Twist-Early Rock 'N' Roll From The Motherland: A Rockin' Bandit Compilation (2026)- ***
(This was a mixed bag, but some of it was a blast.)

 

Kid Creole & The Coconuts- Tropical Gangsters (1982)- ***1/2
The Who- Quadrophenia: Personal Edit (1973/2022)- ****

King Crimson- Red (1974)- ****
(Epic!)

Class Three Overbite- Horses For Courses (2008)- ****
The Cult- Pure Cult (1993)- ****
The Young Rascals- S/T: MONO (1966)- ****
The Heartbreakers- L.A.M.F.: The Found '77 Masters (1977/2021)- ****


  

5/22/2026

Johnny Clarke- King In The Arena (1978)-***
Teddy Thompson- Never Be The Same (2026)- ***1/2
St. Vincent- S/T (2014)- ***1/2
The Beatles- Hey Jude (1970)- ****
XTC- The Big Express: Steven Wilson Remix (1984/2023)- ***1/2
Trouble- Manic Frustration (1992)- ****
Tin Machine- S/T (1989)- ****
The Who- Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy: Alternative White Trash Soul Version (1971/2025)- ****

5/21/2026

David Sanchez- Tambo (2026)-  ***1/2

Bengali Bauls- At Big Pink (1969)- **
(I read about this is Robbie Robertson's memoir, "Testimony," and he said something like trad Indian music crossed with Muddy Waters. I found it on the Internet Archive, and it's just poorly recorded trad Indian music. Maybe you had to be there.)

Maria McKee- You Gotta Sin To Get Saved (1993)- ****
Nine Inch Nails- With Teeth (2005)- ****
Romeo Void- Benefactor (1982)-***
The Band- Music From Big Pink (1968)- ****

Roxy Music- Manifesto (1979)- ****
(This record gets little respect and that's just wrong. To my ears, Ferry's "In Your Mind" felt like a perfect transition after "Siren," my favorite Roxy record, and "Manifesto" followed suit. "Let's Stick Together" isn't a real record, so I don't count it, and "The Bride Stripped Bare" had more bad than good. Anyway, here's a mix with my fave tracks from all of these records because why not.)

https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/72ac85ffffc34849b7faa89ab6ea6717sune?ref=dm_sh_iTUZpPy8fUFTjRnzkiB2kr8mE

5/20/2026

Todd Rundgren- Initiation: Side One (1975)- ****
Nick Drake- Five Leaves Left (1969)- ***1/2
John Hammond- Mirrors (1967)- ***
Black Uhuru- Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1983)- ***1/2
Bob Dylan & The Band- The Basement Tapes (1975)- ****
Rainbow- Rising (1976)- ****
Trouble- S/T (1990)- ****

5/19/2026

Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, Scott Colley- Peregrine (2026)- ***1/2
(Nice trio session, though Erskine is a bit more subdued behind the kit than I'd like him to be. Still some great stuff.)

The Who- Sell Out: MONO (1967)- ****
(Happy Birthday, Pete! Thanks for the greatest record of all time!)

The Kinks - Arthur, Or...:Kevin Gray Stereo Master (1969)- ****

Robert Fripp- Exposure: Third Edition (1979/1983/1985- ****
(I did this once, maybe even twice on Burning Wood, but I've improved and expanded "The Exposure trilogy" playlist.)
https://amazon.com/music/player/user-playlists/0c89d151155f4e10840950175931c507sune?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_H72rtf4gFKeblYSdLPRgiUyUb

The Who- Who's Next: Steven Wilson Remix (1971/2023)- ***1/2
(Big fan of Steven Wilson's Yes and XTC remixes, but this is a muddy mess. No high end at all. Moon's drums sound like they are covered in towels. Maybe it works better in Dolby Atmos. I'll need to try that. But the original W-1 press on Decca is still the one to beat.)

Dwight Twilley- Scuba Divers (1982)- ****
(His best! Period.)

Blue Oyster Cult- Agents Of Fortune (1976)- ****
Thin Lizzy- Chinatown (1980)- ****
(Top ten concert of all time- The Dictators opening, followed by Thin Lizzy, followed by Blue Oyster Cult, The Palladium, NYC 1978.)

Graham Parker- Imaginary Television (2010)- ***1/2
(Pretty sure this was the first time hearing it. I really liked it. Short, sweet. GP fans, thoughts?)