March 2017

• Alika Lyman Group - Leis of Jazz, Vol.2 (2014,LP) ★★★★☆
• Blackfield - II (2007,LP) ★★★★☆
• Serge Gainsbourg - Aux Armes et Caetera (1979,LP) ★★★★☆
• AC/DC - Powerage (1978,UK LP) ★★★★★
• Crowded House - Together Alone (1993,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Crowded House - Woodface (1991,LP) ★★★★☆
• Black Star Riders - The Killer Instinct (2015,LP) ★★★★☆
• Augustus Pablo - Born to Dub You (2014,LP) ★★★★☆
• Son Volt - Trace (1995,S) ★★★★☆
• Ryan Adams - Gold (2001,S) ★★★☆☆
• Ghost - Meliora (2015,S) ★★★☆☆
• Various - Bossa N' Stones (2005,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Enya - The Celts (1986,LP) ★★★★☆
• Natalie Merchant - Motherland (2001,LP) ★★★★☆
• Chuck Berry - Fresh Berry's (1966,LP) ★★★★☆
  • RIP Chuck Berry 3/18/2017. Rock 'n' roll is FOREVER grateful.
• Elliott Smith - Either/Or Expanded (2017,LP) ★★★★☆
• Killer Boogie - Detroit (2015,LP) ★★★★☆
• Spoon - Hot Thoughts (2017,LP) ★★★★☆
• Son Volt - Notes of Blue (2017,LP) ★★★★☆
• Mothership - High Strangeness (2017,LP) ★★★★☆
• Orange Juice - You Can't Hide Your Love Forever (1982,S) ★★★☆☆
• Little Walter - The Best of Little Walter (1957,S) ★★★☆☆
• Grail - Chalice Hymnal (2017,S) ★★★☆☆
• Hippo Campus - Landmark (2017,S) ★★★☆☆
• Fleetwood Mac - Tusk (1979,LP) ★★★★★
• Fantasy - Paint a Picture (1973,LP) ★★★★★
• Robert Earl Keen - Live Dinner Reunion (2016,S) ★★★☆☆
• Slightly Stoopid - Top of the World (2012,LP) ★★★☆☆
• Horslips - The Book of Invasions (1976,LP) ★★★★☆
• Madonna - Music (2000,S) ★★★☆☆
• Wes Montgomery - Bumpin' (1965,S) ★★★☆☆
• Natalie Merchant - Motherland (2001,S) ★★★★☆
• Sweat Lodge - Talismana (2015,S) ★★★★☆
• Various - Bossa N Stones (2005,S) ★★★★☆
• Roxy Music - Avalon (1985,Japan LP) ★★★★★
• Slightly Stoopid - Closer to the Sun (2005,LP) ★★★★☆
• The Congos - Heart of The Congos (1977,LP) ★★★★☆

38

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 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.