reviews
Tearjerker - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers (1978)
Some 70s concert staples, including Surrender, Jaguar & Thunderbird, and Route 66.
-September 28, 2026
You’re Gonna Get It! - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers (1978)
The Bm on Listen To Her Heart used to throw me for a loop.
-September 28, 2026
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers (1976)
Debut album from a group begging to be rock stars, and they just casually drop American Girl.
-September 28, 2026
Peter, Paul And Mary - Peter, Paul And Mary (1962)
Not terribly hard hitting, though perhaps these are all metaphors.
-September 28, 2026
Perfect Sound Forever - Pavement (1991)
While initially unclear where this came from exactly, we have now all but confirmed this as a 2026 Record Store Day reissue, which makes fine sense.
-September 28, 2026
Quarantine The Past - Pavement (2010)
Yes, the 90s, we know.
-September 28, 2026
16 Biggest Hits - Dolly Parton (2007)
What a thing to have made.
-September 28, 2026
Coat Of Many Colors - Dolly Parton (1971)
There’s worse things to do than listen to this a few times.
-September 28, 2026
This Is Why - Paramore (2023)
This album plays like they were frustrated I’d been ignoring them since 2005, and they’re right, that was my fault.
-September 27, 2026
Speakerboxxx / The Love Below - OutKast (2003)
The world doesn’t stop just because you go to Kazakhstan.
-September 27, 2026
American Primitive - Old 97’s (2024)
Time gets on.
-September 27, 2026
One More Ride: Old 97’s Perform The Songs Of Johnny Cash - Old 97’s (2022)
Sure, but did someone interrupt them? Seems like they could have made a full album out of it.
-September 27, 2026
Twelfth - Old 97’s (2020)
This one goes by fine, but there were other things to do in 2020.
-September 27, 2026
Distortion - The Magnetic Fields (2008)
A nice enough start to the post-I pre-50 Songs era.
-September 20, 2026
Graveyard Whistling - Old 97’s (2017)
Believably an Old 97’s post-Most Messed Up album.
-September 20, 2026
Most Messed Up - Old 97’s (2014)
Very good album, but confusing because it’s new, but also twelve years old.
-September 20, 2026
Fight Songs - Old 97’s (1999)
Perfectly timed to perform Nineteen on Conan while I was in college.
-September 20, 2026
Hitchhike To Rhome - Old 97’s (1994)
Very solid start.
-September 20, 2026
Aethermead - of Montreal (2026)
Pretty solid of Montreal album, When could make it a dark horse album of the year contender.
-September 13, 2026
Lady On The Cusp - of Montreal (2024)
This and Freewave are albums between albums, sure, but still good enough albums.
-September 13, 2026
Freewave Lucifer F<ck F^ck F>ck - of Montreal (2022)
A bit more of Montrealy than UR Fun, though that was delightful, and this one is nice too.
-September 13, 2026
Get Born - Jet (2003)
This album helped us get back on our feet after Sept. 11.
-September 12, 2026
The Gay Parade - of Montreal (1999)
Side B is better than side A, because side A keeps skipping.
-September 12, 2026
The Bird Who Continues To Eat The Rabbit’s Flower - of Montreal (1997)
A pleasant enough view of a Cherry Peel-era of Montreal, mind the 45 rpm.
-September 12, 2026
White Is Relic / Irrealis Mood - of Montreal (2018)
An of Montreal album, certainly.
-September 12, 2026
Aureate Gloom - of Montreal (2015)
Aptly named album, possibly, I’m not sure.
-September 5, 2026
Lousy With Sylvianbriar - of Montreal (2013)
Good album, Colossus the stand out track.
-September 5, 2026
Paralytic Stalks - of Montreal (2012)
We Will Commit Wolf Murder is, as far as I know, a good song.
-September 5, 2026
Satanic Panic In The Attic - of Montreal (2004)
Of Montreal sounding like of Montreal.
-September 5, 2026
(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis (1995)
This would have been too much for 1994, good they did the other one first.
-August 30, 2026
Definitely Maybe - Oasis (1994)
The best Oasis album of ‘94.
-August 30, 2026
No Gods No Masters - Garbage (2021)
Good garbage album.
-August 30, 2026
The Elephant 6 Recording Co. - Various (2024)
One of the best recording companies that I know.
-August 30, 2026
Under The Covers (The Songs They Didn’t Write) - Nirvana (2019)
What you’d expect, and some others too.
-August 30, 2026
At The End Of Lonely Street - Nirvana (2014)
The northwest in the 90s seems as good a time/place to be as anywhere.
-August 30, 2026
From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah - Nirvana (1996)
Sounds like it was loud.
-August 30, 2026
Live At The Paramount - Nirvana (1995)
Halloween show in ‘91, probably as good as you’d think.
-August 30, 2026
MTV Unplugged In New York - Nirvana (1994)
No one can buy this record, because they should already have it.
-August 30, 2026
In Utero - Nirvana (1993)
Also a good album.
-August 30, 2026
Nevermind - Nirvana (1991)
Good album.
-August 30, 2026
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel (1998)
Nearly impossible to be me and not own this.
-August 30, 2026
On Avery Island - Neutral Milk Hotel (1995)
1995, this one is getting there.
-August 30, 2026
American Cheese - Nerf Herder (2002)
This is 100% a Nerf Herder album.
-August 26, 2026
16 Biggest Hits - Willie Nelson (1998)
Greatest hits albums are cheats, but if you do ever need quick access to 16 of Willie Nelson’s most popular songs, you could do much worse than this.
-August 26, 2026
Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson (1982)
Seems like he’s just always doing his thing, off to the side a little bit.
-August 26, 2026
It’s A Shame About Ray - Lemonheads (1992)
I wasn’t listening to this when I was 12, but I really might as well have been.
-August 26, 2026
Alligator - The National (2005)
Never waste the good ones.
-August 23, 2026
2 - Mudcrutch (2016)
Glad he got this one out the door too.
-August 23, 2026
Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch (2008)
This is a nice, good album, made by people who are pretty good.
-August 23, 2026
Getting Into Knives - The Mountain Goats (2020)
I’m not at that age yet, but I soon will be.
-August 23, 2026
Motown 1*s - Various (2019)
Everyone should at least have this.
-August 23, 2026
Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette (1995)
Near perfect 1995 album, surprised there’s not a bunch of teenage Alanises running around.
-August 23, 2026
Hey-Hey-It’s The Monkees 20 Smash Hits - The Monkees (1985)
I’m not sure what exactly their deal was but some of the songs are alright.
-August 18, 2026
Household Name - Momma (2022)
This one’s really pretty good.
-August 18, 2026
Two Of Me - Momma (2020)
This one’s fine.
-August 18, 2026
Origin Story 1994 - 1999 - The Moldy Peaches (2022)
They should have stuck it out a bit longer, or maybe they shouldn’t’ve, but what they did was worthwhile.
-August 18, 2026
The Moldy Peaches - The Moldy Peaches (2001)
Essential earl aughts anti-folk. Just now realized the exact release date, making NYC’s Like A Graveyard a bit uncomfortable, moreso even than Jesus, etc.
-August 18, 2026
Good News For People Who Love Bad News - Modest Mouse (2004)
A delightful listen.
-August 18, 2026
The Lonesome Crowded West - Modest Mouse (1997)
A decent album, which made for a fantastic 25th anniversary show in ‘22.
-August 18, 2026
The Original Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers (1976)
I’m straight should’ve been in the first one, but fine.
-August 18, 2026
The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers (1976)
One of the greatest.
-August 18, 2026
Stop And Listen - The Mississippi Sheiks (1974)
They weren’t wrong about the world.
-August 18, 2026
Stroke Manor - The Minus 5 (2019)
This one hasn’t sunk in yet.
-July 26, 2026
The Minus 5 - The Minus 5 (2006)
Pretty good.
-July 26, 2026
Down With Wilco: A Tragedy In Three Halfs - The Minus 5 (2003)
Not the earliest Minus 5, but early enough Minus 5. All three halves are solid.
-July 26, 2026
Hooray For Tuesday - The Minders (1998)
If not the best song about Tuesday, almost certainly in the top 20.
-July 26, 2026
A Lifetime Of Riding By Night - Rhett Miller (2025)
A bunch of good Rhett Miller songs that aren’t Old 97s songs but more or less might as well be.
-July 26, 2026
Future Vintage: Covers Of The Apples In Stereo - Various (2010)
All good songs, but if you’re going to do a six song Apples cover album, maybe don’t make two of the Ruby?
-July 26, 2026
Maya - M.I.A. (2010)
Just a tear of good albums for M.I.A. Hope she doesn’t end up going nuts.
-July 18, 2026
Kala - M.I.A. (2007)
The good songs are really good.
-July 18, 2026
Arular - M.I.A. (2005)
A very reasonable M.I.A. making a very reasonable album.
-July 18, 2026
Oracular Spectacular - MGMT (2007)
An entirely different album, and in fact different band, than Matt & Kim’s Grand.
-July 18, 2026
Obscurities - Stephen Merritt (2011)
Solid representation from Stephen Merritt bands.
-July 18, 2026
EP-1320 Medieval Sound Library - Teenage Engineering (2024)
Perfectly named album.
-July 18, 2026
Grand - Matt & Kim (2008)
Voting for Obama, listening to Matt & Kim, being under 30, absolute salad days.
-July 18, 2026
Eraserhead Xiu Xiu - Xiu Xiu (2026)
Disturbing and terrible, a potential 2026 Album Of The Year, I’ll never listen to it again.
-July 14, 2026
Meat Puppets II - Meat Puppets (1984)
Worth hearing the originals of these.
-July 14, 2026
The Early Years 1927 - 1933 - Blind Willie McTell (1968)
If ever Bob Dylan and Jack White were listening to the same song at the same time, it was probably something by Blind Willie McTell.
-July 14, 2026
Kick Out The Jams - MC5 (1969)
A good 1969 album. RIP, Fred Sonic Smith.
-July 14, 2026
Legend (The Best Of Bob Marley And The Wailers) - Bob Marley & The Wailers (1984)
Much better than Exodus, loses the album feel, but doesn’t skip at all.
-July 11, 2026
Exodus - Bob Marley & The Wailers (1977)
Everyone says this is great, but it skips on both sides.
-July 11, 2026
Pyramid Landing And Other Favorites - Marbles (1997)
Like Triple A for the Apples.
-July 11, 2026
Live At Jittery Joe’s - Jeff Mangum (2001)
Good Neutral Milk songs, but I Love How You Love Me is probably the highlight.
-July 11, 2026
Greatest Hits - Volume 1 - The Mamas & The Papas (1971)
Bought largely because the other greatest hits album skips, but this one skips too. Imagine how good they would be otherwise.
-July 11, 2026
16 Of Their Greatest Hits - The Mamas & The Papas (1972)
Good, though it skips a few times, which isn’t great.
-July 11, 2026
Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co (2003)
For some reason, I’ve had trouble remembering, of Magnolia Electric Co and Songs: Ohia, which is the band name and which is the album name. Consequently, this album is often misfiled.
-July 10, 2026
50 Song Memoir - The Magnetic Fields (2017)
Not a band for half measures. Definitely their second longest album, and lots of good here.
-July 10, 2026
Love At The Bottom Of The Sea - The Magnetic Fields (2012)
Couple of bangers up top.
-July 10, 2026
Realism - The Magnetic Fields (2010)
It’s fine, and sometimes pretty good, like Dada Polka.
-July 10, 2026
I - The Magnetic Fields (2004)
Impressive follow up to a magnum opus.
-July 9, 2026
69 Love Songs - The Magnetic Fields (1999)
Strong case for the one album you’d want to be stranded with, and maybe even 2026 Album Of The Year.
-July 9, 2026
Get Lost - The Magnetic Fields (1995)
Peak pre-69 Magnetic Fields.
-July 9, 2026
The Charm Of The Highway Strip - The Magnetic Fields (1994)
Near perfect for a road trip.
-July 9, 2026
Holiday - The Magnetic Fields (1994)
And, a right proper LP, which sounds even more like the Magnetic Fields.
-July 8, 2026
The House Of Tomorrow - The Magnetic Fields (1992)
A right proper EP, sounds like the Magnetic Fields.
-July 8, 2026
Distant Plastic Trees - The Magnetic Fields (1991)
Proto Magnetic Fields, not yet there, but good, just early.
-July 8, 2026
Fathers, Sons And Brothers - David Lowery (2025)
He’s older than he was in 1996, but good for him to make this.
-July 8, 2026
Golden Greats Volume 1 - Dennis Yost And The Classics IV (1969)
Spooky’s great, and the songs that kind of sound like Spooky are pretty good.
-July 7, 2026
15 Hits: The Original Recordings - Various (1962)
First, it’s not clear that these are the original recordings - Corrine, Corrina at least had been recorded quite a bit before. Second, this is a peculiar name for an album with an unclear cohesive theme. But, my copy is from Tom Verlaine’s collection, so this is a good album.
-July 7, 2026
Lost Highway - Various (2017)
Good moments throughout, though nothing comes close to Lou Reed’s This Magic Moment.
-July 7, 2026
Born Again In The USA - Loose Fur (2006)
Is this where The Ruling Class comes from? Or is that a Wilco song covered here? Fine enough album overall
-July 7, 2026
Joshua Judges Ruth - Lyle Lovett (1992)
Church! And the rest is good too, the George H.W. Bush years were good to Lyle Lovett.
-July 1, 2026
Lyle Lovett And His Large Band - Lyle Lovett And His Large Band (1989)
This is good, you can’t blame it for not being Pontiac.
-July 1, 2026
The Suicide Handbook - Ryan Adams (2001)
I’m not really sure what the deal is with this album, but, it’s a good enough album.
-July 1, 2026