June 2016

• Nancy Sinatra - Boots: Greatest Hits (1986,LP) ★★★★★
• Electric Light Orchestra - Discovery (1979,S) ★★★☆☆
• Paul Simon - Stranger to Stranger (2016,SR) ★★☆☆☆
• Enigma - MCMXC a.D. (1990,LP) ★★★★☆
• Monster Magnet - Cobras and Fire (2015,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Wailing Souls - Firehouse Rock (1981,LP) ★★★★☆
• Barrington Levy - Englishman (1979,LP) ★★★★☆
• Various Artists - Teenage Triangle (1963,LP) ★★☆☆☆
• Pink Floyd - Masters of Rock, Vol.1 (1974,LP) ★★★★☆
• The Baroques - The Baroques (1967,S) ★★★★★
• Rush - Hemispheres (1978,SR) ★★★★★
• Pixies - Bossanova (1990,LP) ★★★★☆
• Detroit - Killer Boogie (2015,S) ★★★★☆
• Linda Ronstadt - What's New (1983, MFSL LP) ★★★★☆
• Alpha Blondy - Cocody Rock!!! (1984,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Outback - Baka (1990,LP) ★★★★☆
• Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (2016,10"EP) ★★★★★
• Fleetwood Mac - Mirage (1982,SR) ★★★★☆
• Monolord - Vaenir (2015,S) ★★★☆☆
• Tame Impala - Currents (2015,SR) ★★★★☆
• The Police - Outlandos d'Amour (1978,LP) ★★★★☆
• Pristine - No Regret (2016,S) ★★★★☆
• Dead Moon - Stranded in the Mystery Zone (1991,LP) ★★★★☆
• New Bomb Turks - Information Highway Revisited (1994,LP) ★★★★☆
• The Rides - Pierced Arrow (2016,LP) ★★★★☆
• Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (1975,LP) ★★★★★
• Tony Joe White - Closer to the Truth (1991,S) ★★★★☆
• Clearlight - Forever Blowing Bubbles (1975,S) ★★★★☆
• Amanar - Tumastin (2016,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Pure Prairie League - Firin' Up (1980,Japan LP) ★★★☆☆
• Camel - Live at the BBC, 1977 (2013,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Bjork - Vespertine (2001,5.1 DVD-A)
  • Performance ★★★☆☆ Sonics ★★★★★
• David Bowie - ChangesOneBowie (1976,2016 LP) ★★★★☆
• Insect Surfers - Reverb Sun (1991,LP) ★★★★★
• Black Sabbath - Master of Reality (1971,LP) ★★★★☆
• Cavern of Anti-Matter - Void Beats/Invocation Trex (2015,LP) ★★★★☆
• Karma to Burn - Karma to Burn (1997,LP) ★★★★☆
• Imarhan - Imarhan (2016,LP) ★★★★☆
• Fleetwood Mac - Alternate Tusk (2016,RSD LP) ★★★★☆
• Tucker Martine - Broken-hearted Dragonflies (2013,LP) ★★☆☆☆
• Phish - A Picture of Nectar (1992,LP) ★★★★☆
• Glen Campbell - The Astounding 12-String Guitar... (1964,LP) ★★★★☆
• Pete Wernick - Dr. Banjo Steps Out (1977,LP) ★★★★☆
• Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me (2010,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Climax Blues Band - Gold Plated (1976,Japan LP) ★★★★☆
• Jimi Hendrix - Smash Hits (1969, RSD LP) ★★★★☆
• Tony Joe White - Lake Placid Blues (1992,S) ★★★★☆
• Group Bombino - Guitars From Agadez Vol.2 (2009,S) ★★★☆☆
• Tony Joe White - Homemade Ice Cream (1973,AP 2010 LP) ★★★★☆
• Manfred Mann's Earth Band - The Roaring Silence (1976,LP) ★★★★☆

50

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, unless the material is live.

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 'SR'.

Last month's listening log can be found below.

Older lists are saved in the archive folder.