10/30/25

Jellyfish- Bellybutton (1990)- ****
Robyn Hitchcock- Eye (1990)- ***1/2

The Mighty Maytones- Madness (1976)- **1/2
(I am not digging this band. The two records I heard sound like what I imagine people who don't like reggae because it all sounds the same think it sounds like--or something like that.)

Richard Ashcroft- Lovin' You (2025)- ***1/2
(Aside from "The Drugs Don't Work," which I think is brilliant, I can't say I am a fan Richard Ashcroft or The Verve. But I did enjoy this new one.)

The Left Banke- There's Gonna Be A Storm: The Complete Recordings, 1966-1969 (1992)- ***1/2
Hawkwind- Of Time & Stars: The Singles, 1970-1974 (2015)- ****
Jethro Tull- Personal Playlist (2025)- ****

The Damned- Damned Damned Damned: Kevin Gray Master (1977/2016)- ****
(The genius of Kevin Gray's work, as opposed to many Mobile Fidelity releases, is that MoFi cleans records up to the point of having the life sucked out of them, which is impressive, I guess. But, Kevin Gray could take a messy session like this and make it sound better, not different or sterile.)











 

10/29/25

The Sons Of Negus- A Psalm Of Praises To The Most High, 1967-1972 (2016)- ****
(Gospel and good vibes for the people of Jamaica.)

The Mighty Maytones- Boat To Zion (1978)- ***
(This band was new to me. Nice record, if a bit light and samey. I did listen to it all, so that's something.)

Bob Dylan- Oh Mercy (1989)- ****
("I don't compromise/And I don't pretend/I don't even care/If I ever see her again/Most of the time." Damn!) 

Jack DeJohnette- Works (1985)- ***1/2
Gang Of Four- Entertainment! (1979)- ****

Nazz- Nazz Nazz: MONO (1969)- ****
(An amazing record! "Under The Ice" has some of the most exciting drumming ever committed to tape, courtesy of Thom Mooney. It's lightning in a bottle, and pretty sure it's a live take. You can hear two flubs. The second is the more obvious, where the bass pedal seems to get stuck and inadvertently hits an extra note on the bass drum during the verse after the instrumental break. They had to let it go so everything else stayed in place.)

Blur- Think Tank (2003)- ****
(I was only a casual Blur fan when this came out, but I loved it then and I love it now. It's never boring and it never sounds like Blur.)

Oasis- Definitely Maybe (1994)- **1/2
(This record is worse than I remembered. It's a cacaphonous mess.)

v/a- Ska Strictly For You (1965)- ***1/2
Descendents- Milo Goes To College (1982)- ****

10/28/25

The Flying Burrito Brothers- The Gilded Palace Of Sin: Kevin Gray Master (1969/2017)- ****

Dion- The Rock 'N' Roll Philosopher (2025)-  ***1/2
(Okay collection of new, fairly pedestrian blues tunes with big name special guests, reimagined classics and a few live cuts. Nothing essential. Decent enough once, but just stick to the originals.)

Nilsson- Aerial Ballet: MONO (1968)- ****

Pink Floyd- Atom Heart Mother (1970)-****
("Fat Old Sun" should have been twice as long and "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" should have been half as long, then we would have had one amazing record. Still love it though.)

David Gilmour- The Luck & Strange Concerts: Personal Edit (2025)- ***1/2
Charlie Rich- I Hear Those Blues: Rich In Stereo (2023)- ****

Blur- S/T (1997)- ****
(I feel a Blur binge coming on.)

Rush- Grace Under Pressure (1984)- ****
(The post-"Moving Pictures" records felt like a personal affront. I was completely off this band--one of my favorite bands--for a long time. But in the wake of Neil Peart's death, and reading Geddy's book, and watching their brilliant documentary, I found a new love for all things Rush. It pays to be a mensch. Both Geddy and Alex are beyond likeable and that made me listen to these synth-heavy records with different ears.)

Los Lobos- By The Light Of The Moon (1987)- ***1/2

10/27/25

Jackie McLean- It's Time (1965)-  ***1/2
Miles Davis- Bitches Brew: Record 2 (1970)- ***1/2
King Pleasure- Golden Days (1960)- ****

John Martyn- Grace & Danger (1980)- ****
(A far cry from Martyn's early Brit-folk days, but I think Phil Collins did a great job as producer.)

The Peppermint Kicks- Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum (2025)- ***1/2

v/a- Jamaican Rare Groove (2023)- ***
(Strange collection of mostly non-reggae tunes. This seems like an attempt to connect R&B, doo wop and soul to early Jamaican music. Good stuff, but not what I wanted.)

The Beatles- Anthologies: Personal Playlist (2025)- ***1/2
(I randomly picked 15 tracks from across the three "Anthology" sets. I never listen to them, but there are a few gems, like "Leave My Kitten Alone" and that early take of "Got To Get You Into My Life," with Ringo smacking that kit like Bonham. But mostly, it just made me want to hear the released versions.)

Robyn Hitchcock- I Often Dream Of Trains (1984)- ****
(This was excellent. I don't recall ever hearing it before.)

The Len Price 3- Misty Medway Magick (2025)- ***1/2
(As expected. I've heard better and I've definitely heard worse. Goes by quickly. Fun record.)

Lou Reed- Transformer (1972)- ****

Jim Ford- Harlan County (1969)- ****
(Jim Ford has influenced many including Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Bobby Womack and Sly Stone. He has been covered by all but Sly in the aformentioned quartet. In a now legendary interview on the Dick Cavett show, Sly Stone said, "Jim Ford was the baddest white man on the planet." Sly then said, "In order to get to it, you gotta go through it." Cavett asked "Who said that? Emerson or Thoreau?" Sly says, "Jimmy Ford!")

Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets- Indoor Safari (2024)- ****
Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska '82: Electric Nebraska (1982/2025)- ****
Steve Earle- Steve's Wonders: Personal Playlist (2025)- ****

10/26/25

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Catch A Fire (1973)- ****
Robert Palmer- Woke Up Laughing- (1998)- ***1/2

King Crimson- Lizard: 2025 David Singleton Elemental Mix (2025)- ***1/2
(I like "Lizard," but it was a disappointment after the first two. I really enjoyed this stripped down mix. Felt like a whole new weird record.)

Galactic- Ya-Ka-May (2010)- ***1/2
Lou Reed- The Blue Mask (1982)- ****
Paul Weller- Wake Up The Nation: Anniversary Remix (2010/2020)- ****

Dion- Kickin' Child: The Lost Album 1965 (2017)- ****
(This one still kills!)

Fountains Of Wayne- S/T (1996)- ****

Motorhead- Overkill (1979)- ****
(My entry into the band! Love at first thrash!)

World Party- Goodbye Jumbo (1990)- ****
Mike Viola & The Candy Butchers- Falling Into Place (1999)- ***1/2

 

10/25/25

Mance Lipscomb- Trouble In Mind (1961)- ****
(This is usually a Sunday morning record, but it will really make any morning. An exquisite guitar player!)

v/a- Listen To The Music: Caltone's Jamaican 45s, 1966-69 (2012)- ***1/2
Sandy Denny- Sandy (1972)- ****

Elton John- Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy: Demos & Live Tracks (1975/2025)- **1/2
(Bonus material is rarely amazing, but these tracks were really underwhelming.)

Bruce Springsteen- The River: Personal Edit (1980/2022)- ****

Mott The Hoople- Mott :Kevin Gray Master (1973/2016)- ****
(The definitive version of this classic!)

Kiss- Dressed To Kiss: Demos/Alternates/Outtakes (1975/2025)- ***1/2
(That was fun...once. I did like the demo of "Burning Up With Fever" more than the released version on Gene's solo record.)

The Candy Butchers- Making Up Time (2006)- ****
The Beatles- Yesterday & Today: Stereo (1966)- ****

Aerosmith- Pump (1989)- ****
(Truly an amazing comeback and a record that still holds up. Sadly, what followed, doesn't hold up as well. But I'd argue there is one brilliant record to be had with songs from "Get A Grip," "Nine Lives," and "Just Push Play.")

The Heartbreakers- L.A.M.F.: The Found '77 Masters (1977/2021)- ****
(While listening to this, it occurred to me that I often play it on a Saturday night, which prompted me to create an off the cuff list for social media.)

10/24/25

The Beatles- Revolver (MONO, 1966/2025)-**** 
Jackie Mittoo- Wishbone (1972)- ***1/2
Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska '82: Electric Nebraska (1982/2025)- ****
The Meters- Cabbage Alley (1972)- ****

Queen- The Works (1984)- ****
(This record was the second worst Queen I had heard when I bought it in '84. Now, it's a favorite.)

Mike Viola- Acousto de Perfecto (2012)- ****
Groundhogs- Who Will Save The World? The Mighty Groundhogs (1972)- ***1/2