March 2018
- Various - Jesus Christ Superstar OST (1970,LP) ★★★★☆
- Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (2002,5.1 DVD-A) ★★★★☆
- Richard Thompson - Rumor and Sigh (1991,5.1 DVD-A) ★★★★☆
- Steely Dan - Everything Must Go (2003,5.1 DVD-A) ★★★★☆
- Steely Dan - Two Against Nature (2000,5.1 DVD-A) ★★★★☆
- Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee (1990,DTS 5.1 2001 DVD-A) ★★★★☆
- Supertramp - Crime of the Century (1974,LP) ★★★★★
- Slint - Spiderland (1991,LP) ★★★★★
- Tame Impala - Currents (2015,2017 Box) ★★★★★
- David Crosby - If Only I Could Remember My Name (1971,5.1 DVD-A) ★★★★☆
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - So Far (1974,LP) ★★★★☆
- Small Faces - Itchycoo Park (1967,50th 10" RSD Pic Disc) ★★★★☆
- Cavern of Anti-Matter - Hormone Lemonade (2018,Clear 2xLP) ★★★★☆
- Tame Impala - Currents (2015,LP) ★★★★★
- Gorillaz - Demon Days (2005,S) ★★★★☆
- The Police - Ghost in the Machine (1981,2016 AR RM) ★★★★☆
- Jonathan Wilson - Fanfare (2013,LP) ★★★★☆
- Ravi Shankar - Portrait of Genius (1964,2017 RSD LP) ★★★★☆
- Abba - The Album (1977,2017 AR RM) ★★★★☆
- Various - Hot Shots of Reggae (1970,S) ★★★☆☆
- Frank Zappa - Zoot Allures (1976,2017 RM LP) ★★★★☆
- Golden Earring - Moontan (1973,2009 MOV LP) ★★★★☆
- Jason Isbell + The 400 Unit - Here We Rest (2011,LP) ★★★★☆
- Les Baxter - Hell's Belles OST (1969,S) ★★★★☆
- Pond - The Weather (2017,S) ★★★★☆
- Ziggy Marley - Love is My Religion (2006,2017 LP) ★★★☆☆
- Hooverphonic - A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular (1996,LP) ★★★★☆
- Burt Bacharach - Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid OST (1969,LP) ★★★★★
- Michael Rother - Sterntaler (1978,S) ★★★☆☆
- The Doobie Brothers - Best of The Doobie Brothers (1976,LP) ★★★★☆
- Glen Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy (1975,LP) ★★★☆☆
- Townes Van Zandt - Delta Momma Blues (1970,LP) ★★★★☆
- Don McLean - American Pie (1971,LP) ★★★★☆
- Les Baxter - Space Escapade (1958,2018 LP) ★★★☆☆
- Toto - Hydra (1979,LP) ★★★★☆
- George Harrison - Live in Japan (1991,2017 LP) ★★★★☆
- Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger (1991,LP) ★★★★☆
- Jethro Tull - War Child (1974,LP) ★★★☆☆
- Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (2002,2018 RM LP) ★★★★☆
- Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline (1969,S) ★★★☆☆
- Neil Diamond - Gold (1970,LP) ★★★★★
- Grateful Dead - Anthem of the Sun (1968,2011 LP) ★★★★☆
- Fleetwood Mac - Then Play On (1969,2015 LP) ★★★★☆
- Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses (2005,LP) ★★★★☆
- The Beatles - At the Hollywood Bowl (1977,2016 LP) ★★★★☆
- The Brothers Four - A Beatles Songbook (1966,LP) ★★★☆☆
- Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing (1997,MOV LP) ★★★★☆
- Jimi Hendrix - Both Sides of the Sky (2018,LP) ★★★★☆
- The Jayhawks - Paging Mr. Proust (2017,LP) ★★★☆☆
- David Bowie - Hunky Dory (1971,LP) ★★★★★
- The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky (1982,LP) ★★★★☆
- The Police - Ghost in the Machine (1981,LP) ★★★★☆
- Styx - The Mission (2017,LP) ★★★★☆
- Depeche Mode - Violator (1990,LP) ★★★★☆
- Ry Cooder - Paradise and Lunch (1974,LP) ★★★★☆
- Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend (1991,S) ★★★★☆
- Brainticket - Cottonwoodhill (1971,S) ★★☆☆☆
- Rush - 2112 (1976,MFSL CD) ★★★★☆
- Robbie Robertson - Robbie Robertson (1994,MFSL CD) ★★★★☆
- Calexico - Garden Ruin (2006,S) ★★★☆☆
- John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy (1980,MFSL CD) ★★★★☆
- Joe Cocker - Sheffield Steel (1982,MFSL CD) ★★★★☆
- The Allman Brothers - Eat a Peach (1972,LP) ★★★★☆
- Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee (1990,LP) ★★★★★
- Les Baxter - Space Escapade (1958,LP) ★★★★☆
- Les Baxter - Ritual of the Savage (1951,LP) ★★★★☆
- J.K. and Co. - Suddenly One Summer (1968,S) ★★★☆☆
- Linton Kwesi Johnson - LKJ in Dub (1980,S) ★★★☆☆
- U2 - War (1982,LP) ★★★★☆
- Roxy Music - Country Life (1974,LP) ★★★☆☆
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'.
Previous month listening log can be found below.
Older lists are saved in the archive folder.