Curtis Mayfield- There's No Place Like America Today (1975)- ***1/2 David Bowie- 'hours...'- (1999)- **** The Beach Boys- Smiley Smile: Stereo (1967)- ***1/2 Desmond Dekker & the Aces- Intensified (1968)- **** David Bowie- Diamond Dogs (1974)- **** Rainbow- Down To Earth (1979)- **** Mink DeVille- Where Angels Fear To Tread (1983)- ***1/2 Todd Rundgren- The Hermit Of Mink Hollow (1978)- **** Sparks- Mad! (2025)- *** NRBQ- Grooves In Orbit: Remastered & Expanded (1983/2026)- **** Dead Boys- We Have Come For Your Children (1978)- **** Eurythmics- Savage (1987)- ***1/2 T. Rex- Electric Warrior (1971)- ****
The Beach Boys- We Gotta Groove: Disc Two, "Adult/Child" Sessions and Outtakes '74-'76 (2026)- ** (This was a tough listen. I guess I wasn't familiar with the "Adult/Child" bootlegs because this not what I was expecting. It plays like an off-Broadway musical and it isn't very good. I am looking forward to the other two discs, but I'll never listen to this again.) Opeth- Damnation (2003)- ***1/2 (After being blown away by the hard, heavy and epic "Ghost Reveries," the relatively tame sounds on this record are a bit of a disappointment. I don't miss the death metal growling. There's none of that here. But there's not much change from song to song either. It's a solid mid-tempo affair throughout, more along the lines of The Moody Blues or early Genesis, but without the latter's knack for melody.)
Bill Wyman- S/T (1982)- *** (I always liked the singles off this record. I still do, though there are some real bad clams on the album.)
The Beach Boys- We Gotta Groove: Disc Two, "15 Big Ones" & "Love You" Outtakes and Alternates (2026)- *** (Stick with the original albums. The new mixes are not better. The outtakes are mediocre.) Charli XCX- Wuthering Heights (2026)- ** (Snapped out of my coma just in time to type this up.)
Esther Phillips- Release Me: Reflections Of Country & Western Greats (1962)- **** (Thanks to a tip from a pal, I got to hear what one writer said was "the greatest country record you've never heard." He was right. I never heard it. It's pretty damn great. It's streaming under "The Country Side of Esther Phillips," and might I suggest pairing this with Charlie Rich's "That Rich," my favorite C&W record. That one is streaming, too.)
Sparks- Terminal Jive (1980)- ***1/2 (Not as Moroder-ish as "No. 1 In Heaven," but a solid record nonetheless.) Bad Brains- Rock For Light (1983)- **** ("WE WILL NOT DO WHAT THEY WANT OR DO WHAT THEY SAY NO NO!")
Van Halen- Fair Warning (1981)- ****
Badfinger- Wish You Were Here (1974)- **** (Arguably, their best. Inarguably, their most consistent.)
Dion & The Belmonts- Together Again (1967)- **** (I don't know which came out first, this record or "The Velvet Underground & Nico." But man, this is one helluva double feature. Trust me.)
Tim Hardin- 1 (1966)- **** (See above. Make it a three-fer.)
Ellis Marsalis- For All We Know (2020)- **** (His final recording with his son Jason on vibes. A gorgeous record. Here's a nice vinyl rip, since it is unavailable to stream.)
Pink Floyd- Animals: 2018 Remix (2020)- **** Gang Of Four- Entertainment! (1979)- **** The Harvey Averne Dozen - S/T (1969)- **** (A quintessential Latin boogaloo record! Put this on your list to listen to.) The Electric Prunes- Release of An Oath (1968)- ***1/2 (The Prunes meet David Axelrod, though no actual Prunes are on this record. It's basically The Wrecking Crew--and you can tell that the rhythm section is Carol Kaye and Earl Palmer from the second they start playing---performing Axelrod's music. Really compelling work, especially if you are a fan of Axelrod's "Song Of Innocence" and "Songs Of Experience" records.)
R.E.M.- Green (1988)- ***1/2 Pete Townshend- Who Came First (1972)- **** Nico- Desertshore (1970)- *** Little Feat- Feats Don't Fail Me Now (1974)- ***1/2 NRBQ- Dummy (2004)- ***1/2
The Bees- Free The Bees (2004)- **** (NYCD's entire staff's favorite record of 2004.)
The Byrds- The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)- ***1/2 (A friend casually mentioned this being his favorite Byrds album. I'd put it at #5 or #6 at best, but thought I should listen again first. I stand by my initial thoughts.)
Crosby, Stills & Nash- S/T (1969)- **** The Beatles- More River Rhine (2010)- ***1/2 (I realize this stuff has been out there for ages, but there is so much I haven't heard. This 2010 boot on the legendary Swingin' Pig label is a blast. Great sound and selection. Love hearing Paul harmonizing with George on "Let It Down," even if it's only a minute. Paul and John singing "Across The Universe" is another gem.)
Opeth- Ghost Reveries (2005)- **** (More on Burning Wood.) Joe Bataan- Singin' Some Soul (1969)-**** Stanton Moore Trio- Crawfish Fest, N.J.: 6/2/12 (2012)- *** Cheap Trick- All Washed Up (2025)- **** v/a- Downtown Soulville! (1998)- **** Dead Boys- We Have Come For Your Children (1978)- ****
Ken Peplowski- Unheard Bird (2024)- ***1/2 Al Di Meola- Elegant Gypsy (1977)- *** Sharks- First Water (1973)- ***1/2 Boxer- Below The Belt (1975)- *** (I love Timebox. I love Patto. But Boxer just didn't do it for me. There are a handful of solid tunes on this debut, including the one below. But overall, it falls flat compared to their earlier works.)
Billy Preston- Encouraging Words (1970)- **** (Billy's first record for Apple had him backed by Eric Clapton & George Harrison on guitar, Keith Richards on bass (!) and Ginger Baker on drums. This album is basically Billy with Derek & The Dominoes, as well as Klaus Voorman and Ringo Starr. Both records are getting reissued in a few weeks and both are really solid spins.)
The Toms- Sound Bytes (2025)- **1/2 (Stick with the debut. It's legendary. This did not work for me at all. It tries too hard and the songs lack the hooks and melodies of the debut.)
The Plugz- Electrify Me (1979)- **** (One of the greatest punk records of all time! The follow-up, "Better Luck," is excellent too, just not as aggressive. Both are essential.)
Clifton Chenier- King Of Louisiana Blues & Zydeco: Disc Two (2026)- ***1/2 James Taylor- New Moon Shine (1991)- ***1/2 (I hadn't listened to James Taylor in ages. No reason, really. I am a fan, saw him live a number of times in the late 70's and 80's, but I just stopped paying attention in the 90's and beyond. I really enjoyed seeing him on the Colbert show and it put me in the mood. Listened to this record for the very first time and it's quite good. It's got Bob Dylan's favorite James Taylor song on it, according to J.T..)
Faces- A Nod Is As Good As A Wink... (1971)- **** Pixies- Trompe Le Monde (1991)- **** (I've always loved this album because this tour was the only time I saw the band live other than opening for U2. I had V.I.P. treatment. Reserved seats in the front row of the balcony at The Ritz, pre-show meet and greet where I had drinks with Frank Black, Joey Santiago and David Lovering. No Kim. Just a great night. The record still holds up. Really solid, even without the memories.)
Bryan Ferry- In Your Mind (1977)- **** (My favorite Ferry. This record sounds like the perfect follow-up to "Siren" and a perfect lead-in to "Manifesto.")
John Cale & Terry Riley- Church Of Anthrax (1971)- ***1/2 Nara Leao- Dez Anos Depois (1971)- *** Sky High & The Mau Mau- African Vengeance (1990)- ***1/2 (I couldn't resist! Aside from the name of the band, the musicians include Earl "Chinna" Smith, Errol Brown, "Family Man" Barrett and "Horsemouth" Wallace. Not bad. A big time Black Uhuru vibe. I've heard worse. Worth a second spin.)
James Taylor- Classic Songs: Slightly Tweaked (1987/2026)- ****
The Searchers- Personal Playlist (2026)- **** (Terribly underrated Brit Invasion band! Solid 30 minute mix is here, with a dozen of my faves.)
Lesley Gore- My Town, My Guy & Me (1965)- **** (One of the rare 60's pop records that has no filler. Just perfect from top to tail.)
Handsome Jack- Barnburners! (2026)- ****
Pete Townshend/Ronnie Lane- Rough Mix (1977)-****1/2 Pete Townshend- Empty Glass (1980)- ****
Squeeze- Play (1991)- **** (I play this more than any other Squeeze record and each time I play it, I am convinced it's their best.)
Ron Carter & Ricky Dillard- Sweet, Sweet Spirit (2026)- ***1/2 (I was hoping this would take me right back to the Gospel Tent at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and it did just that. Exactly what I was hoping for. Also, nice touch to have Ron Carter's bass up front and featured throughout.)
Duane Eddy & The Rebels- $1,000,000.00 Worth Of Twang (1960)- **1/2 Boss Capone Meets George Dekker- Blackfire (2024)- ***1/2
Gene Clark with The Gosdin Brothers: MONO (1967)-**** (This record gets played a lot. It's perfect.)
Stevie Ray Vaughan- Couldn't Stand The Weather (1984)- **1/2 (I played in a band for a few years in the early 90's, and the guitar player was obsessed with SRV. We had about 15 songs in our repertoire, and seven of them were SRV covers. I couldn't listen to SRV for years after this. This record caught my eye today, but it's not doing it for me. This isn't about Stevie's ability. It's just that the record sounds dated. The 80's production does this type of music no favors. I made it through half. It didn't age well.)
Pixies- Doolittle (1989)- **** (A Six Pack for those who may not be familiar with the band, or for those who love the band and just feel like getting a quick Pixies fix.) Patto- Hold Your Fire (1971)- **** (An Ollie Halsall tour de force!)
Handsome Jack- Barnburners! (2026)- **** (Swampy goodness! These guys have been around for 20 years and this is the first I've listened. Excellent new record.)
Boz Scaggs- Dig (2001)- ***1/2
Todd Rundgren- Todds & Ends: Personal Playlist (2026)- **** (Stray tracks, covers, remixes, guest appearances, etcetera. There must be at least three Todd fans reading, so it's HERE. You might dig it. I did.)
The Ventures- Where The Action Is (1966)- ***1/2 The Rolling Stones- Some Girls (1978)- **** Queen- Sheer Heart Attack (1974)- **** (How about Neko Case covering John Deacon's track from this album?)
QUINN MARTIN EPILOGUE:
That Handsome Jack record knocked me out. They've got something, but I am sucker for anything that sounds even remotely like C.C. Adcock. If anyone has been a fan of these guys, what do you think of the new one and what should I listen to next?
