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Chuck likes guacamole, music and other assorted detritus.
Here you will find his ratings and various ramblings as it relates to his love for all things music and especially vinyl records.

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Year of the Covid Part II. Includes favorite new releases, reissues and compilations

Reissues that make this list are usually of good pressing/mastering quality

Purchased LP or EP unless otherwise stated BD, SACD, DVD-A or CD (*don't own)

2021 List

Favorite New Releases

  • Blackberry Smoke - You Hear Georgia (2021,Opaque Red 2xLP)
  • Black Keys - Delta Kream (2021,2xLP)
  • Blacktop Mojo - Blacktop Mojo (2021,LP)
  • Chevelle - Niratias (2021,LP)
  • Christone "Kingfish" Ingram - 662 (2021,Purple LP)
  • Ciccada - Harvest (2021,LP)
  • Donald Fagen - The Nightfly: Live (2021, LP)
  • Earthless - Live in the Mojave Desert Vol.1 (2021,LEx300 Metallic Gold 2xLP)
  • Elton John - Regimental Sgt. Zippo (2021,1967 Archival RSD LP)
  • Heartless Bastards - A Beautiful Life (2021, Neon Violet LP)
  • The Hilo Hi-Flyers - Adventure (2021,"Tiger Orange" LP)
  • Iron Maiden - Senjutsu (2021,Red/Black Marble Walmart 3xLP)
  • Jackson Browne - Downhill From Everywhere (2021,LP)*
  • Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee (2011, Barnes & Noble Exclusive Yellow Splatter LP)
  • Jimmy Buffett - Songs You Don't Know By Heart (2021,Blue 2xLP)
  • Les Agamemnonz - Amateurs (2021,Yellow LP)
  • Liquid Tension Experiment - LTE3 (2021,Orange 2xLP)
  • Mammoth WVH - Mammoth WVH (2021,"Ruby Red" Walmart Exclusive 2xLP)
  • Mastodon - Hushed and Grim (2021,2xLP)
  • Moe. - Not Normal (2021,Red/Green/Orange Splatter EP)
  • Nancy Sinatra - Start Walkin' 1965-1976 (2021,LITA "Summer Wine Sunburst Orange" 2xLP)
  • Nebula - Live in the Mojave Desert Vol.2 (2021,LP)
  • Neil Young - Young Shakespeare (2021,LP)
  • Peter Frampton Band - Frampton Forgets the Words (2021,2xLP)
  • The Pineapple Thief - Nothing But the Truth (2021,2xLP)
  • Pond - 9 (2021, Metallic Silver 2xLP + Holographic Cover / Etched Side D)
  • SOJA - Beauty in the Silence (2021,White w/Rainbow Splatter LP)
  • Southern Avenue - Be the Love You Want (2021, LP)
  • Steven Wilson - The Future Bites (2021,LP and 5.1 Blu-ray)
  • Sturgill Simpson - Cuttin Grass Vol.2... (2020,2021 Indie Exclusive Blue LP)
  • Styx - Crash of the Crown (2021,LP)
  • Thunder - All the Right Noises (2021,Blue & Orange Galaxy 2xLP)
  • Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe: 5.1 Mix (The Ultimate Version) (2021,Blu-ray)

Favorite Reissues

  • Alan Parsons - On Air (1996,2021 Clear LP)
  • Andrew Hill - Passing Ships (2003,2021 Blue Note Tone Poet 2xLP)
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber - Jesus Christ Superstar (1970,2021 ARS RM 2xLP)
  • Arabs in Aspic - Strange Frame of Mind (2010,2021 Translucent Yellow LP)
  • Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin’ (2021 BN Classic Vinyl Edition LP)
  • Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - The Witch Doctor (1961,2021 BN Tone Poet LP)
  • Billie Joe + Norah - Foreverly (2013,2021 Rhino SYEOR "Ice Cream Orange" Splatter LP)
  • Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker (1990,2021 Walmart Exclusive Green LP)
  • Bob Seger - Live Bullet (2021 Walmart Exclusive Red RM 2xLP)
  • Bryan Ferry - Boys and Girls (1985,2021 ARS Remastered LP)
  • Buffalo Springfield - Retrospective... (1969,2021 Rhino SYEOR LP)
  • Can - Future Days (1973,2021 Mottled Gold LP)
  • Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else (1958,2021 Blue Note Classic Series LP)
  • Chevelle - Wonder What's Next (2021,LP)
  • Counting Crows - August and Everything After (1993,Walmart Exclusive Gold 2xLP)
  • Curtis Amy/Dupree Bolton - Katanga! (1963,2021 Blue Note Tone Poet LP)
  • Curtis Mayfield - Roots (1971,2021 Pink LP)
  • Dexter Gordon - One Flight Up (2021 Blue Note Tone Poet LP)
  • Dexter Gordon - Go (2021 Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series LP)
  • Donald Byrd - Byrd in Flight (1960,2021 Blue Note Tone Poet LP)
  • Dope Lemon - Smooth Big Cat (2019,2021 Picture Disc)
  • Fleetwood Mac - Live (1980,2021 Barnes & Noble Exclusive Opaque Red 2xLP)
  • Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers (2003,2021 2xLP)
  • Genesis - A Trick of the Tail (1976,2021 Rhino SYEOR "Easter Yellow" LP)
  • Genesis - Duke (1980,2021 Rhino SYEOR White LP)
  • Gentle Giant - Free Hand (2021 Steven Wilson 5.1/Stereo Mix CD+Blu-ray)
  • Ghost - Prequelle (2018,2021 Metallic Gold and Ash Marble LP)
  • Gil Evans Orchestra - Out of the Cool (1961,2021 Verve Acoustic Sounds LP)
  • Grant Green - Idle Moments (2021 BN Classic LP)
  • Guasones - Toro Rojo (2005,2021 LP)
  • Haken - The Mountain (2013,2021 RE 2xLP)
  • Hank Mobley - Soul Station (2021 BN Classic Vinyl Edition)
  • Hank Williams - 20 Greatest Hits (2020 Walmart Exclusive Gold LP)
  • Jimmy Buffett - Songs You Don't Know By Heart (2020,2021 Blue/Black Clear Marble 2xLP)
  • Jimmy Smith - Back At the Chicken Shack (2021,BN Classic Series LP)
  • Joe Henderson - Page One (2021 Blue Note Classic Series LP)
  • John Lennon - Gimme Some Truth. (2020,2021 Target Exclusive Opaque Blue 2xLP)
  • John Scofield & Pat Metheny - I Can See Your House... (1994,2021 Tone Poet 2xLP)
  • Johnny Cash - Live From Austin TX (2005,2022 Walmart Red Marble LP +DVD)
  • King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland (2017,2021 Fuzz Club Electric Blue LP)
  • Larry Coryell - At the Village Gate (1971,2021 Split Blue LEx1500 RSD LP)
  • Lee Morgan - The Rajah (1984,2021 Blue Note Tone Poet LP)
  • Matt Berry - Witchazel (2009,2021 Caramel LP)
  • Matt Berry - Kill the Wolf (2013,2021 Gatefold Green LP)
  • Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (1971,2021 Target Green + Poster LP)
  • Metallica - Metallica (1991,2021 Bob Ludwig Remastered 2xLP)
  • Midnight - Sweet Death & Ecstasy (2017,2021 Green/Red Swirl LP)
  • Monolord - Rust (2017,2021 LEx100 Purple 2xLP)
  • The Muffs - The Muffs (1993,2021 LP)
  • of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins (2005,2021 Deluxe Orange/Red Swirl 2xLP)
  • Nebula - To the Center (1995,2021 LP)
  • PJ Harvey - Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea (2000,2021 LP)
  • Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain (1984,2021 Target Exclusive Purple Swirl LP)
  • Ray Charles - Genius + Soul = Jazz (1961,2021 Verve Acoustic Sounds LP)
  • Red Fang - Murder the Mountains (2011,2021 Aqua Blue / Halloween Orange Galaxy Merge LP)
  • Riverside - Out of Myself (2003,2021 Opaque White LP)
  • Santana - Soul Sacrifice (2021,Green/White/Red Tricolored LP)
  • Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan (1955,2021 Verve Acoustic Sounds Series LP)
  • Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin' (2021, BN Classic Vinyl Series LP)
  • Sonny Clark - My Conception (1979,2021 BN Tone Poet LP)
  • Spacehog - Resident Alien (1995,2021 Opaque Pink 2xLP)
  • Steely Dan - Two Against Nature (2000, 2021 RSD 2xLP)
  • Stick Figure - Smoke Stack (2009,2021 2xLP)
  • Stone Temple Pilots - Purple (1994,2021 Walmart Exclusive Blue Splatter LP)
  • The Sword - Age of Winters (2006,2021 Silver Embossed Cover + Purple Frost RSD LP)
  • Talk Talk - It's My Life (1984,2021 Rhino SYEOR Translucent Purple LP)
  • Tina Brooks - The Waiting Game (2002,2021 Blue Note Tone Poet LP)
  • Tom Petty - Finding Wildflowers (Alternate Versions) (2020,2021 Indie Exclusive Gold 2xLP)
  • Tony Joe White - Tony Joe White (1971,2021 Opaque White MOV LE Numbered LP)
  • Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston (1975,2021 Split Opaque Blue/White RSD LP)
  • Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe: 5.1 Mix (The Ultimate Version) (2021,BDA)
  • Trouble - Trouble (1990,2021 "Green on Beer Haze" Translucent RM LP)
  • Trouble - Manic Frustration (1992,2021 "Bone on Blue" Opaque RM LP)
  • Velvet Fogg - Velvet Fogg (1969,2021 Purple MOV LP)
  • Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil (1966,2021 Blue Note Classic Vinyl LP)
  • Wayne Shorter - The All Seeing Eye (1966,2021 BN Tone Poet LP)

Hmm. maybe after a few more spins...

  • Bobbi Humphrey - Fancy Dancer (2021 Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series LP)
  • Cheap Trick - In Another World (2021,Blue/White Splatter Indie LP)
  • Chris Cornell - No One Sings Like You Anymore (2020,Target Neon Orange LP)
  • Foo Fighters - Medicine at Midnight (2021, Target Exclusive LP)
  • King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - L.W. (2021)*
  • King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Butterfly 3000 (2021 "Blue Butterfly" LP)
  • Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club (2021 Target Exclusive Red LP)
  • Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham (2021,Amazon Exclusive Blue LP)
  • Lucinda Williams - Runnin' Down a Dream: A Tribute to Tom Petty (2020,2xLP)

Reviewing

  • Abba - Voyage (2021,Amazon Exclusive Orange LP)
  • Abba - Voyage (2021 Target Exclusive Yellow LP w/alternative artwork)
  • Aesop Rock - Labor Days (2021,Amber LP)
  • All Them Witches - Lightning at the Door (2021 Green/Purple/Silver Swirl LP)
  • Art Blakey - First Flight To Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings (2021,2xLP)
  • Art Blakey - The Big Beat (2021 Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series LP)
  • Beachwood Sparks - Beachwood Sparks (2021 20th Anniversary LEx500 LP)
  • Blacktop Mojo - Blacktop Mojo (2021 LP)
  • Charles Lloyd & The Marvels - Tone Poem (2021 Blue Note Tone Poet 2xLP)
  • Clifford Brown & Max Roach - Study in Brown (1955,2021 Verve Acoustic Sounds Series LP)
  • Dead Daisies - Holy Ground (2021, Purple Translucent 2xLP)
  • Death - Human (2021 Gold/Brown Splatter LP)
  • Death - The Sound of Perserverence (2021 Red/Orange Splatter 2xLP)
  • Death - Spiritual Healing (2021 Blue/White Splatter LP)
  • Death - Individual Thought Patterns (2021 LP)
  • Death - Scream Bloody Gore (2021 Splatter LP)
  • Duke Pearson - Merry Ole Soul (2021 BN Classic Vinyl Series LP)
  • Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch (2021 BN Classic LP)
  • Go-Go's - God Bless The Go-Go's (2001,2021 Opaque Blue LP)
  • Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree (2008,2021 Yellow LP)
  • Haken - Affinity (2016,2021 RE Neon Yellow 2xLP)
  • Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (2021 BN Classic LP)
  • Horace Silver - 6 Pieces of Silver (2021 Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series LP)
  • Jethro Tull - A (2021 Steven Wilson Remix LP)
  • Kiss - Kissworld (2021 Walmart Exclusve Red Swirl 2xLP)
  • Lana Del Rey - Blue Banisters (2021 LP)
  • Lonnie Smith - Breathe (2021 2xLP)
  • Marillion - Marbles (2021 3xLP Gatefold Reissue)
  • McCoy Tyner - Expansions (1970,2021 BN Tone Poet Series LP)
  • Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986,2021 Walmart Exclusive "Battery Brick" LP)
  • Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984,2021 Walmart Exclusive "Electric Blue" LP)
  • Metallica - ...And Justice For All (1988,2021 Walmart Exclusive "Dyers Green" 2xLP)
  • Metallica - Metallica (1991,2021 Walmart Exclusive "Some Blacker Marbled" 2xLP)
  • Metallica - Kill 'Em All (1983,2021 Walmart Exclusive "Jump in the Fire Engine Red" LP)
  • Metallica - Hardwired...To Self Destruct (2016,2021 Walmart Exclusive "Flame Orange" 2xLP)
  • Monolord - Your Time to Shine (2021, Opaque Green LP)
  • Motley Crue - Greatest Hits (1998,2021 Walmart Crimson Swirl 2xLP)
  • My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves (2021 "Golden Smoke" 2xLP)
  • Nirvana - Nevermind (2021 30th Anniversary LP)
  • Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins (2021 Red/Orange Swirl 2xLP)
  • Phish - LP on LP1 (2021, Blue Splatter LP)
  • Phish - LP on LP2 (2021, Magenta LP)
  • Phish - Joy (2021, Red/Purple/Blue Swirl 2xLP)
  • Pixies - Trompe le Monde (2021 Opaque Marble Green LP)
  • The Pretty Reckless - Death By Rock 'n Roll (2021, 2xLP)
  • Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe: The Breath of Life (2021,2xLP)
  • Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (2021,Indie Exclusive Blue 3xLP)
  • Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1972,2021 Target Exclusive Green LP)
  • World Party - Goodbye Jumbo (2021 LP) 8/06
  • YOB - The Illusion of Motion (2004,2021 2xLP Blue & Orange "Propeller" 2xLP)
  • YOB - The Unreal Never Lived (2005,2021 White Blue & Grey Marble 2xLP)

Top 10 2021 Favorite New Releases TBD

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Top 10 2021 Favorite Reissues TBD

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Best Sound (Nice Pressing + Great Mastering = Sublime Sound)

  • Andrew Lloyd Webber - Jesus Christ Superstar (1970,2021 ARS RM 2xLP)
  • Chevelle - Niratias (2021,LP)
  • Christone "Kingfish" Ingram - 662 (2021,Purple LP)
  • Jimmy Buffett - Songs You Don't Know By Heart (2020,2021 2xLP)
  • Liquid Tension Experiment - LTE3 (2021,Orange 2xLP)
  • Metallica - Metallica (1991,2021 Bob Ludwig Remastered 2xLP)
  • Red Fang - Murder the Mountains (2011,2021 Aqua Blue / Halloween Orange Galaxy Merge LP)
  • The Muffs - The Muffs (1993,2021 LP)
  • The Pineapple Thief - Nothing But the Truth (2021,2xLP)
  • Thunder - All the Right Noises (2021,Blue & Orange Galaxy 2xLP)
  • Tom Petty - Finding Wildflowers (Alternate Versions) (2020,2021 Indie Exclusive Gold 2xLP)
  • Trouble - Trouble (1990,2021 "Green on Beer Haze" Translucent RM LP)
  • Trouble - Manic Frustration (1992,2021 "Bone on Blue" Opaque RM LP)

Special note: 2021 Blue Note Tone Poet and Classic Vinyl series of vintage jazz recordings mastered by Kevin Gray. These all-analog pressings are manufactured at RTI and are reliably flat and quiet.

Favorite 4.0 / 5.1 Multichannel

  • Gentle Giant - Free Hand (2021 Steven Wilson 5.1/Stereo Mix CD+Blu-ray)
  • Steven Wilson - The Future Bites (2021,5.1 Blu-ray)

Favorite Color Vinyl

  • Can - Future Days (1973,2021 Mottled Gold LP)
  • Ghost - Prequelle (2018,2021 Metallic Gold LP)
  • Marilyn Monroe - The Essential Masters (2021 Pink/Black Splatter LP)
  • Midnight - Sweet Death & Ecstasy (2017,2021 Green/Red Swirl LP)
  • Moe. - Just Normal (2020, 2021 Red/Green/Orange Splatter EP)
  • Monolord - I'm Staying Home (2021 Blue/Orange Pinwheel Splatter LEx235 12" Single)
  • Motley Crue - Greatest Hits (1998,2021 Walmart Crimson Swirl 2xLP)
  • of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins (2005,2021 Deluxe Orange/Red Swirl 2xLP)
  • Red Fang - Arrows (2021, Neon Yellow with Neon Magenta Splatter LP)
  • Santana - Soul Sacrifice (2021,Red/White/Green "Mexico" Opaque Tricolor LP)
  • Stick Figure - Smoke Stack (2009,2021 Smoke Green Marble 2xLP)
  • Stone Temple Pilots - Purple (1994,2021 Walmart Exclusive Blue Splatter LP)
  • The Sword - Age of Winters (2006,2021 "Purple Frost" RSD LP)
  • Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston (1975,2021 Split Opaque Blue/White RSD LP)
  • YOB - The Illusion of Motion (2004,2021 2xLP Blue & Orange "Propeller" 2xLP)

Favorite Cover Art

  • Accept - Too Mean to Die (2021)
  • Black Keys - Delta Kream (2021)
  • Chevelle - Niratias (2021)
  • Dead Daisies - Holy Ground (2021)
  • Dispatch - Break Our Fall (2021)*
  • Elton John - Regimental Sgt. Zippo (2021,1967 Archival RSD LP)
  • Gentleman's Dub Club - Down to Earth (2021 LP)
  • Guasones ‎– Toro Rojo (2021,LP)
  • King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland (2017,2021 Fuzz Club Cover LP)
  • King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Butterfly 3000 (2021 Color LP)
  • Marilyn Monroe - The Essential Masters (2021)
  • Marillion - Marbles (2004,2021 3xLP)
  • Midnight - Sweet Death & Ecstasy (2017,2021 Green/Red Swirl LP)
  • Monolord - I'm Staying Home (2021)
  • Monolord - Rust (2017,2021 LEx100 Purple 2xLP)
  • Pat Metheny - Road to the Sun (2021)*
  • Santana - Soul Sacrifice (2021)
  • Shire T - Tomorrow's People (2021)*
  • Southern Avenue - Be the Love You Want (2021, LP)
  • Stoner - Stoner's Rule (2021)*
  • The Sword - Age of Winters (2006,2021 Silver Embossed Cover + Purple RSD LP)
  • Thunder - All the Right Noises (2021)
  • Tom Morello - The Atlas Underground Fire (2021)
  • Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston (1975,2021 LP)
  • Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (2021)
  • Velvet Fogg - Velvet Fogg (1969,2021 LP)
  • Willie Nelson - That's Life (2021)

Worst Cover Art

  • Bangles - Doll Revolution (2003,2021 LP)
  • Go-Go's - God Bless The Go-Go's (2001,2021 LP)
  • Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club (2021,Original LP)
  • Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham (2021,LP) - including back cover dust!
  • Monolord - Your Time to Shine (2021,LP)
  • Steven Wilson - The Future Bites (2021)

Presentation Standouts

  • Curtis Mayfield - Roots (1971,2021 Pink/Orange Double Gatefold LP)
  • King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland (2021 Fuzz Club Electric Blue LP)
  • Monolord - I'm Staying Home (2021 Pinwheel Splatter LEx235 12" Single Poster Cover)
  • Pretty Reckless - Death By Rock 'n Roll (2021, Pink Gatefold 2xLP+CD+Booklet)
  • Thunder - All the Right Noises (2021,Blue & Orange Galaxy 2xLP w/Pop-up Gatefold)

Special note: All of the 2021 Blue Note Tone Poet Series of vintage jazz recordings.

Presented on high-quality laminated Stoughton "Tip-On" gatefold jackets printed on heavy card stock.

Eluding Capture

  • Bevis Frond - Little Eden (2021,Blue 2xLP)
  • Clutch - Blast Tyrant (2004,2021 Deluxe Signed Edition "Color" 2xLP)
  • Donald Byrd - Places and Spaces (2021 Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series LP)
  • Paul McCartney - III (2020, Barnes & Noble Exclusive Blue LP)
  • Wo Fat - Psychedelonaut (2009,2021 RE LP)

Still Considering...

  • Band of Spice - By The Corner of Tomorrow (2021)
  • Beths - Future Me Hates Me (2021 RE Cloudy Grape LP)
  • Bill Withers - Greatest Hits (1981,2021 Target Exclusive Yellow LP)
  • Crowded House - Dreamers Are Waiting (2021 LP)
  • Fu Manchu - The Action is Go (2021 Green/Blue + 7" Deluxe 2xLP)
  • Gentle Giant - Free Hand (2021 Steven Wilson Mix Red LP)
  • George Russell - New York, NY (1959,2021 Verve Acoustic Sounds LP)
  • Jim Croce - Photographs & Memories (2021 Walmart Exclusive Red LP)
  • John Prine - Storm Windows (2021 Rhino SYEOR LP)
  • John Prine - Pink Cadillac (2021 Rhino SYEOR LP)
  • John Prine - Bruised Orange (2021 Rhino SYEOR LP)
  • Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime (2021 Purple LP)
  • Oliver Nelson - The Blues and Abstract Truth (2021 Verve Acoustic Sounds Series LP)
  • Rebelution - In the Moment (2021 LP)
  • Sonny Rollins - On Impulse! (2021 Verve Acoustic Sounds Series LP)
  • Various - Fawlty Towers Box (2021,White 6xLP + Booklet + Signed Cleese Print)
  • White Denim - World as a Waiting Room (2021,LP)
  • Widespread Panic - Sunday Show: The Capitol Theatre 3/24/19 (2021 5xLP Box Set)

Amazon Pre-Order Cancellations

  • Clutch - Blast Tyrant (2004,2021 Deluxe Signed Edition "Color" 2xLP)
  • Phish - Lawn Boy (2021 Green Swirl 2xLP)
  • Wo Fat - Psychedelonaut (2009,2021 RE LP)

Amazon is increasingly not able to fulfill my vinyl pre-orders, much to my frustration. When Amazon cancels at the last-minute, it is sometimes too late for me to find a given release elsewhere as popular releases are quickly sold out. For limited edition "must have" releases, I have recently switched to other vendors as Amazon has become too unreliable and "untrustworthy" for my vinyl pre-orders. I like ordering from Amazon for a couple of reasons, 1) easy returns for damaged in transit records, and 2) not charging my card until shipment. Returns are usually a hassle with other vendors in my experience. In addition, too many stores want my money up front, which I am uncomfortable doing 3 to 6 months in advance of a release.

Disappointments

  • Amy Grant - Heart in Motion (2021 LP)
    • Non-fill, static, pops and clicks throughout. Unlistenable. Returned.
  • The Coral - Coral Island (2021)*
  • Counting Crows - Butter Miracle Suite One (2021)*
  • Fantasy - Paint a Picture (2021 Red Gatefold LEx200 LP)
    • Poor quality reissue. Noisy, static throughout, low volume.
  • Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (2021 Target Exclusive Gold LP)
    • Gold vinyl not as artist's rendition. Flat color and lifeless.
  • Monster Magnet - A Better Dystopia (2021 2xLP)
  • Red Fang - Arrows (2021,LP)
    • Terrible mastering. Should have returned.
  • Royal Blood - Typhoons (2021,Indie Exclusive Curacao Blue LP)

Bad Pressings and Other Annoyances money wasted...

  • Airbag - Identity (2009,2021 "Deluxe" White 2xLP)
    • Yet another expensive POS pressing from Karisma. Utter noisefest. No gatefold or other special features and they call it a "deluxe" version? Shame on you Karisma. Currently my least favorite label on the planet. I wish the band would insist on better pressings.
  • Al Stewart - Year of the Cat (2021 CD/DVD-A 5.1 45th Anniversary Box Set)
    • no 5.1 lossless option and parson's mix lacks discrete surround channel use.
    • will not pre-order the 5.1 Time Passages set until the reviews are in.
  • Pat Benatar - Icon (2013,2021 Walmart Exclusive Blue LP)
    • poorly mastered. sounds like mp3s. sigh. will hesitate on future icon series.
  • Curtis Mayfield - Superfly (1972,2021 Rhino SYEOR Red LP)
    • noisy pressing (my copy). surprising for a rhino release.
  • Seether - The Very Best of Seether (2021 Walmart Exclusive Brown LP)*
    • censored by walmart. has dropouts as a result. didn't buy based on reviews.
  • Ghost - Meliora (2021 Zia Exclusive "Root Beer" LP)
    • noisy pressing (my copy). another loma vista mess. when will I learn?
  • Ghost - Prequelle (2019,2021 Zia Exclusive "Zombie Brain" LEx500 LP)
    • zia not listing the label on its pre-order. assuming loma vista. sadly, avoided.
  • Hall & Oates - Rock 'N Soul Part 1 (1983,2021 Walmart Opaque Red LP)
    • decent mastering, but the pops and clicks throughout make it a waste of time.
  • Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue (1963,2021 BN Classic Vinyl Series LP)
    • My first Blue Note remaster that sounds terrible. Horrible non-fill throughout side A. Returning for a replacement and crossing my fingers. Update: Replacement sounds great!
  • Kenny Rogers - 21 Greatest Hits (2020 Walmart Exclusive Gold 2xLP)
    • flat and quiet pressing but lifeless mastering leaves me a bit underwhelmed.
  • Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club (2021 Target Exclusive Red LP)
    • not enough like NFR! for me, despite the comparisons. mostly acapella with less captivating music. Many quiet passages and noisy vinyl add to the frustration.
  • Nirvana - Bleach (1989,2021 Smoky Clear Walmart Exclusive LP)
    • this went up for sale at Walmart.com in April for one day before being inexplicably removed. Pre-order abruptly cancelled.
  • Red Fang - Arrows (2021,Neon Yellow Magenta Splatter LP)
    • candidate for worst mastering of the decade. flat, muted, compressed. the album has potential, but awful sound ruins it.
  • Stick Figure - Smoke Stack (2009,2021 Smoke Green Marble 2xLP)
    • nice mastering, but distortion, sibilance and non-fill spoil the fun.
  • Toots & The Maytals - Pressure Drop-Golden Tracks (2011,2020 LP)
    • noisy pressing (my copy). so noisy I didn't play side b. wasted $$

Special Mention - bad customer service in 2021 still being blamed on covid.

In Memorium 2021

  • Astro (UB40)
  • B.B. Dickerson (War)
  • B.J. Thomas
  • Bunny Wailer
  • Charlie Black
  • Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones)
  • Chick Corea
  • Danny Ray (James Brown emcee / hype man)
  • Dave Frishberg (Schoolhouse Rock)
  • Don Everly
  • Dusty Hill (ZZ Top)
  • George Frayne (Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen)
  • Gerry Marsden (Gerry & The Pacemakers)
  • Graeme Edge (The Moody Blues)
  • Hilton Valentine (The Animals)
  • J.D.Crowe (Bluegrass banjoist)
  • James Burke (The Five Stairsteps)
  • Jay Black (Jay and The Americans)
  • Jerry Granelli (Vince Guaraldi Trio drummer)
  • Johnny Ventura
  • Lee "Scratch" Perry
  • Leonard Hubbard (The Roots)
  • Les McKeown (Bay City Rollers)
  • Lloyd Price
  • Dr. Lonnie Smith
  • Lou Ottens (Inventor of the cassette tape)
  • Mary Wilson (The Supremes)
  • Michael Nesmith (The Monkees)
  • Paddy Maloney (The Chieftains)
  • Pat Martino
  • Paul Cotton (Poco)
  • Paul Jackson (Herbie Hancock's bassist)
  • Pervis Staples (The Staples Singers)
  • Rick Laird (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
  • Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie)
  • Robby Steinhardt (Kansas)
  • Ronnie Tutt (Drummer)
  • Rusty Young (Poco)
  • Sonny Osborne (Bluegrass musician)
  • Stephen Sondheim (Broadway)
  • Stonewall Jackson
  • Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls)
  • Tim Bogart (Cactus,Vanilla Fudge)
  • Tom Stevens (Long Ryders)
  • Tom T. Hall
  • U-Roy
  • Vicente Fernández
  • Wanda Young (Marvelettes)
jan 9 2021 ∞
mar 14 2024 +