ALBUMS

• THE BEATLES: ROCK N ROLL MUSIC: 1976: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The oldest album in my collection- my first Beatles album- as it was the compilation that was the most recent release at the time I bought it- fall 1976. I must say 43 years later in playing it- perfect condition. Worst Beatles cover ever- makes one think The Beatles were a 50’s group- and overall not a satisfying package- too many covers. The next albums I bought the Red and Blue ones stayed on my turntable for months while this one quickly became forgotten.

• BOB DYLAN: NEW MORNING: 1970: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: I recently listened to this on my IPOD- but this morning when I pulled some albums out of my collection here it was. Dylan quickly released this following the disaster of Self Portrait. His best album since John Wesley Harding- underrated.

• VAMPIRE WEEKEND: CONTRA: 2010: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The second Vampire Weekend album sounds a lot like the first one in style- which isn’t a bad thing. I love the world music influences in their songs- and the unique sound. The Talking Heads of their time- sort of. The album went to #1 on the Billboard album chart.

• VAMPIRE WEEKEND:  MODERN VAMPIRES OF THE CITY: 2013: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Vampire Weekend departs from the African influenced sound wisely on their 3rd album- you keep repeating the same formula and it won’t end up too good. A slower- more moody album. Debuted at #1 on the album chart and was named to a lot of ‘best of’s at the end of the year. Won a Grammy for Best Alternative Album. “Diana Young” my favorite Vampire Weekend song. I haven’t listened to their recently released 4th album yet.

• BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: BORN TO RUN: 1975: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The Boss’s breakthrough 3rd album- the first two albums established him as a cult artist the 3rd shot him into stardom. I can’t think of an album -in the vinyl form with 2 sides- that would have stronger side openers than “Thunder Road” and “Born To Run.”

• X- BEYOND AND BACK: THE X ANTHOLOGY: 1997: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: A lot of times a complaint on some box sets or anthology’s is- all they gave us is the studio versions of the songs I already had plus a couple songs that force me to buy it since I am a fanatical fan. In this case the X Anthology is different- demos, single versions, outtakes and live performances.  50% hits 50 % rarities. Excellent.

• BILLIE EILISH: WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? 2019: The most talked about album of the year so far? Her debut album currently #3 on the Billboard album chart- it debuted at #1. She has also topped the charts in a number of other countries.  Dark, moody, haunting. She was born after 9.11. I have a feeling the more I listen to this album the more I am going to like it. Will be interesting to see how her career goes after having this much success at such a young age. I can now say I know a current Top 40 hit- “Bad Guy” is at #3 on the charts at the moment.