January 2018

• Steven Wilson - To The Bone (2017, 5.1 BD) ★★★★★
• CRB - Betty's Self-Rising Southern Blends, Vol.3 (2017,S) ★★★☆☆
• Steve Earle - So You Wannabe Be an Outlaw (2017,S) ★★★★☆
• Jonathan Wilson - Fanfare (2013,S) ★★★☆☆
• Otis Redding - Otis Blue / Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965,S) ★★★★☆
• Elvis Presley - Elvis' Golden Records (1958,FM Red LP) ★★★★☆
• Tomita - Snowflakes are Dancing (1974,LP) ★★★★☆
• ZZ Top - Rio Grande Mud (1972,Rhino "Muddy Brown" 2018 LP) ★★★★☆
• Primus - Frizzle Fry (1990,Pink 2015 LP) ★★★★☆
• Thievery Corporation - Abductions & Reconstructions (1999,CD) ★★★★☆
• Steve Martin - The Long-Awaited Album (2017,LP) ★★★★★
• Rush - 2112 In Concert (2015,S,1980 Broadcast) ★★★★☆
• Cavern of Anti-Matter - Blood Drums (2013,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Slint - Spiderland (1991,LP) ★★★★★
• Beach House - Thank Your Lucky Stars (2015,Loser LP) ★★★★☆
• Dirtmusic - Bu Bir Ruya (2018,S) ★★★☆☆
• Pinback - Autumn of the Seraphs (2007,LP) ★★★★☆
• King Crimson - Earthbound (2000,S) ★★★★☆
• Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa - Black Coffee (2018,S) ★★★☆☆
• Hollie Cook - Vessel of Love (2018,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Eric Clapton - Unplugged (1992,LP) ★★★★★
• Thievery Corporation - The Temple of I and I (2017,LP) ★★★★☆
• Shocking Blue - Attila (1972,LP) ★★★☆☆
• AC/DC - Let There Be Rock (1977,LP) ★★★☆☆
• The Free Design - Kites are Fun (1967,LP) ★★★★☆
• Various - Inglourious Basterds OST (2009,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets (1974,S) ★★★☆☆
• Hugh Masekela - Hope (1993,S) ★★★★☆
  • RIP Bra Hugh Masekela 1/23/18
• Ocean Colour Scene - Marchin' Already (1997,S) ★★★★☆
• Pinback - Some Offcell Voices (2017,2xEP) ★★★★☆
• Scruffy the Cat - Tiny Days (1987,S) ★★★☆☆
• Lee Hazlewood - Forty (1969,2017 Red LITA LP) ★★★★☆
• ZZ Top - Tres Hombres (1973,2017 Rhino LP) ★★★★☆
• Vetiver - Thing of the Past (2008,LP) ★★★★☆
• Antonio Vivaldi - Le Quattro Stagioni: Mutter et al (1984,LP) ★★★★☆
• Sonny Rollins - Way Out West (1957,LP) ★★★★☆
• Hollie Cook - Twice (2014,LP) ★★★★☆
• Rich Mountain Tower - Self Titled (1971,S) ★★★★☆
• Chicago - Chicago IX: Greatest Hits '69-'74 (1975,LP) ★★★★☆
• Nick Hakim - Green Twins (2017,S) ★★★☆☆
• Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003,LP) ★★★★★
• Live - Throwing Copper (1994,LP) ★★★★★
• Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere (2006,5.1 DVD) ★★★★★
• Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds From Another Planet (2017,S) ★★★★☆
• The Cranberries - To the Faithful Departed (1996,S) ★★★★☆
  • RIP Dolores O'Riordan 1/15/18
• George Harrison - Living in the Material World (1973,LP) ★★★★☆
• The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (1980,LP) ★★★★☆
• Sheldon Allman - Folk Songs For the 21st Century (1960,LP) ★★★★☆
• Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool (1957,LP) ★★★★☆
• Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973,5.1 2003 SACD) ★★★★★
• Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere... (2006,DVD) ★★★★☆
• Steven Wilson - Hand.Cannot.Erase. (2015,5.1 BD) ★★★★☆
• XTC - Skylarking (1986,2016 5.1 BD) ★★★★☆
• Yes - The Yes Album (1971,LP) ★★★★☆
• The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967,2017 LP) ★★★★★
• Gentle Giant - Octopus (1971,5.1 BD) ★★★★☆
• The Moody Blues - Days of Future Past (1973,LP) ★★★★★
  • RIP Ray Thomas 1/4/18
• David Gilmour - Wroclaw Poland June 2016 (2017,S) ★★★☆☆
• Porcupine Tree - We Lost the Skyline (2008,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Ini Kamoze - Ini Kamoze (1984,LP) ★★★★★
• Fairport Convention - The History of FC (1971,S) ★★★★☆
• Paul McCartney - Ram (1971,LP) ★★★★☆
• Steve Martin - The Crow (2009,CD) ★★★★☆
• Poncho Sanchez - Out of Sight! (2003,5.1 SACD) ★★★★☆
• Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (1975,SR) ★★★★★
• Tame Impala - Currents (2016,SR) ★★★★★

66

Chuck's Rating Scale

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

Playback:

Vinyl

• 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
• VPI 16.5 RCM
• Milty Zerostat3 Antistatic Gun

Digital

• Pioneer Elite BDP-62FD Blu-Ray/SACD/DVD Audio Player / Polk LSi M 703 Bookshelf
• PC AMD FX4300 Quad Core 3.8 GHz/12mb RAM / J River Media Center 22 / Maverick Audio TubeMagic D2 DAC / Cronus Magnum / Polk LSi M 703 Bookshelf

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, Bandcamp and YouTube are my go-to online resources. Music streaming is noted with an 'S'. For music on the road by CD, 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.