January 2017

• John Brown's Body - Kings and Queens (2013,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Tinariwen - Imidiwan: Companions (2009,LP) ★★★★☆
• Klyne - Closer (2015,EP) ★★☆☆☆
• John Garcia - The Coyote Who Spoke in Tongues (2017,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Cavern of Anti-Matter - Blood Drums (2013,LP) ★★★★☆
• Ozric Tentacles - Curious Corn (1997,2017 Madfish LP) ★★★★☆
• Ozric Tentacles - Erpland (1990,2017 Madfish LP) ★★★★☆
• Electric Light Orchestra - A New World Record (1976,LP) ★★★★☆
• The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West (2012,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Barclay James Harvest - Eyes of the Universe (1979,LP) ★★★★☆
• Pink Floyd - The Final Cut (1983,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Cotton Mather - Kontiki (2012,LP) ★★★★☆
• Brand New - Deja Entendu (2003,LP) ★★★★☆
• The Roches - The Roches (1979,LP) ★★★★☆
  • RIP Maggie 1/23/2017
• Sexton Blake - Plays the Hits! (2007,LP) ★★★★☆
• Beach House - Thank Your Lucky Stars (2015,LP) ★★★★☆
• Beach House - Depression Cherry (2015,LP) ★★★★☆
• David Bromberg Band - The Blues, The Whole Blues... (2016,S) ★★★★☆
• Dead Can Dance - Into the Labyrinth (1993,MFSL LP) ★★★★★
• Supertramp - Breakfast in America (1979,A&M Audiophile LP) ★★★★☆
• Supertramp - Crime of the Century (1974,A&M Audiophile LP) ★★★★☆
• Elton John - Rock of the Westies (1975,LP) ★★★★☆
• Crowded House - Time on Earth (2007,LP) ★★★★☆
• The Black Keys - The Big Come Up (2002,LP) ★★★★☆
• Brant Bjork - Jalamanta (1999,LP) ★★★★☆
• Tinariwen - Inside / Out: The Joshua Tree Sessions (2014,EP) ★★★★☆
• Fantasy - Paint a Picture (1973,LP) ★★★★★
• The Pineapple Thief - Tightly Unwound (2008,LP) ★★★★☆
• Iron Butterfly - Heavy (1968,Stereo 2017 LP) ★★★★★
• Gary Stewart - Steppin' Out (1976,Japan LP) ★★★☆☆
• Lucinda Williams - Just a Little Faith and Grace (2016,EP) ★★★★☆
• Red House Painters - Song For a Blue Guitar (2009,S) ★★★★☆
• Abba - The Album (1977,LP) ★★★★☆
• Crash Test Dummies - God Shuffled His Feet (1993,MOV LP) ★★★★☆
• Steve Earle - The Low Highway (2013,S) ★★★☆☆
• John Brown's Body - Fireflies (2016,LP) ★★★★☆
• Pink Floyd - Animals (1977,2016 BG RM) ★★★★☆
• Focus - Moving Waves (1971,LP) ★★★★☆
• Tom Glazer & Dottie Evans - Space Sounds (1959,S) ★★★☆☆
• Galadriel - Galadriel (1970,S) ★★★★☆
• Neil Diamond - Gold (1970,LP) ★★★★★
• Porcupine Tree - Coma Divine (1997,3xLP) ★★★★★
• Gypsy - Gypsy (1970,LP) ★★★★★
• Cocoa Tea - Weh Dem a Go Do... (1984,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Meade Lux Lewis - Cat House Piano (1956,LP) ★★★★☆
• Pat Benatar - Crimes of Passion (1980,LP) ★★★★☆
• Nickel Creek - A Dotted Line (2014,S) ★★★☆☆
• Neil Diamond - The Bang Years 1966-1968 (2016,S) ★★★★☆
• Frank Frost - Hey Boss Man! (1962,RSD LP) ★★★★☆
• Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hot (1996,LP) ★★★★☆
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Mojo Tour 2010 (2011,S) ★★★★☆
• João Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto '76 (2016,LP) ★★★★☆
• Neil Diamond - Velvet Gloves and Spit (1968,S) ★★★☆☆
• Calexico - Feast of Wire (2003,LP) ★★★★☆
• Attilio Mineo - Man in Space With Sounds (1959,S) ★★★☆☆
• John Brown's Body - Kings and Queens (2013,S) ★★★☆☆
• Calexico - Algiers (2012,S) ★★★★☆
• Los Plantronics - Rancho Notorious! (2007,S) ★★★☆☆
• Calexico - Hot Rail (2000,S) ★★★☆☆
• Burning Spear - Social Living / Living Dub (2015,LP) ★★★★☆
• John Brown's Body - Fireflies (2016,LP) ★★★★☆
• Crowded House - Time to Earth (2007,S) ★★★☆☆
• Calexico - Carried to Dust (2008,S) ★★★☆☆
• Leonard Cohen - Ten New Songs (2001,S) ★★★☆☆

Chuck's Rating Scale

• Classic / Essential (Tops) 4.4 to 5.0 ★★★★★
• Must Listen (Great) 3.4 to 4.3 ★★★★☆
• Worthy Effort (Maybe to Good) 2.4 to 3.3 ★★★☆☆
• Below Expectations (Bad) 1.4 to 2.3 ★★☆☆☆
• Avoid (Awful) 0 to 1.3 ★☆☆☆☆

Playback:

• VPI Scout JMW9 Tonearm w/Nordost Wiring, Ortofon 2M Black Cartridge
• Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum Integrated Tube Amp (KT-120 Tubes)
• Klipsch RF-3s, RC-3, RS-3s, KSW-15 Sub
• Pioneer Elite BDP-62FD Blu-Ray/SACD/DVD Audio Player / Polk LSi M Bookshelf
• Digital: Apple iMac "Core i3" 3.2 21.5in / J River Media Center 21 / Cambridge SoundWorks
• VPI 16.5 RCM

My initial impressions (and ratings) may change after repeated plays. Albums that grab my attention on the first listen are great, but many others take several listens to truly appreciate and ratings may be updated accordingly. My top rating for greatest hit compilations is four stars.

This list is chronological with the top album being the most recently played. Sound quality ratings are included for some releases, such as multichannel mixes and audiophile labels.

Vinyl is my preferred and typical method for playback, but I occasionally listen to SACD, DVD-Audio, Blu-ray and (less likely) Redbook CD. For titles I don't own, especially for exploration and discovery, Spotify and YouTube are my go-to online resources. Music streaming is noted with an 'S'. For music on the road with my iPhone or iPad and Spotify, playback will be noted with an 'SR'. Sometimes for convenience I will stream music to my Amazon Echo, noted with an 'SE'.

Last month's listening log can be found below.

Older lists are saved in the archive folder.