#^d 2018-07-09
#^h Music Week
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<p>Music: current count 29939 [29896] rated (+43), 342 [348] unrated (-6).</p>

<p>New video card arrived today, but I figured I should post this before
I risked installation. No guarantee it will fix my screen problem, and no
guarantee it won't wreck everything.</p>

<p>High rated count this week. Got off to a fast start last Monday
as I was collecting data on
<a href="/ocston/nm/notes/meta2018.php">mid-year best-of lists</a>,
and checking out things I had missed. Probably also helped in that
more than a few of them turned out to be EPs (or "mini-albums").
Only one of those albums made this week's A-list (Seun Kuti's),
but I was pleasantly surprised by <i>Shawn Mendes</i>, and at least
understand the interest in the Carters' <i>Everything Is Love</i>
and Against All Logic's <i>2012-2017</i>. Meanwhile, after something
of a drought, three good jazz albums -- one from my queue, the other
two from Bandcamp. (Actually, pretty sure <i>Again</i> is also on
Bandcamp.)</p>

<p>The computer problem has kept me from doing much updating of the
mid-year aggregate, but Janelle Monae managed to slip ahead of Kacey
Musgraves for the top spot. I haven't factored Robert Christgau's
grades in yet, but doing so would help (among the top 25): Monae (A-),
Cardi B (A), Courtney Barnett (A-), <i>Black Panther</i> (A), Superchunk
(A), Superorganism (A-), and Parquet Courts (A). My grades are listed
in the file, but also not counted. I have those same records at B+(***)
or above, plus Kali Uchis at A- and Saba at B+(***). Latter was hard
to find a streaming source for, and I'm not sure how well I heard it.</p>

<p><hr class="brk"></p>

<p><b>New records rated this week:</b></p>

<ul>
<li><b>A.A.L. (Against All Logic): <i>2012-2017</i></b> (2012-17 [2018], Other People): [r]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
<li><b>Amen Dunes: <i>Freedom</i></b> (2018, Sacred Bones): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Tucker Antell: <i>Grime Scene</i></b> (2017 [2018], OA2): [cd]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Arctic Monkeys: <i>Tranquility Base Hotel &amp; Casino</i></b> (2018, Domino): [r]: <b>C+</b></li>
<li><b>John Bailey: <i>In Real Time</i></b> (2017 [2018], Summit): [cd]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Big Heart Machine: <i>Big Heart Machine</i></b> (2017 [2018], self-released): [cd]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Binker and Moses: <i>Alive in the East?</i></b> (2017 [2018], Gearbox): [bc]: <b>A-</b></li>
<li><b>Leon Bridges: <i>Good Thing</i></b> (2018, Columbia): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Jarod Bufe: <i>New Spaces</i></b> (2017 [2018], OA2): [cd]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
<li><b>Burna Boy: <i>Outside</i></b> (2018, Atlantic): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Camila Cabello: <i>Camila</i></b> (2018, Syco/Epic): [r]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>The Carters: <i>Everything Is Love</i></b> (2018, Parkwood/Roc Nation): [r]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
<li><b>Neko Case: <i>Hell-On</i></b> (2018, Anti-): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Brent Cobb: <i>Providence Canyon</i></b> (2018, Low Country Sound/Elektra): [r]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Tomasz Dabrowski Ad Hoc: <i>Ninjazz</i></b> (2018, ForTune): [bc]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Grouper: <i>Grid of Points</i></b> (2018, Kranky, EP): [r]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Haley Heynderickx: <i>I Need to Start a Garden</i></b> (2018, Mama Bird): [r]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Juice WRLD: <i>Goodbye &amp; Good Riddance</i></b> (2018, self-released): [r]: <B>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Kids See Ghosts [Kanye West/Kid Cudi]: <i>Kids See Ghosts</i></b> (2018, GOOD/Def Jam, EP): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Seun Kuti &amp; Egypt 80: <i>Black Times</i></b> (2018, Strut): [r]: <b>A-</b></li>
<li><b>Jeremy Ledbetter Trio: <i>Got a Light?</i></b> (2018, Alma): [cd]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Peggy Lee: <i>Echo Painting</i></b> (2017 [2018], Songlines): [bc]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Joachim Mencel Quintet: <i>Artisena</i></b> (2015 [2018], ForTune): [bc]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Shawn Mendes: <i>Shawn Mendes</i></b> (2018, Island): [r]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
<li><b>Migos: <i>Culture II</i></b> (2018, Quality Control/Motown/Capitol, 2CD): [r]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Adam O'Farrill's Stranger Days: <i>El Maquech</i></b> (2018, Biophilia): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Old Crow Medicine Show: <i>Volunteer</i></b> (2018, Columbia Nashville): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Oneohtrix Point Never: <i>Age Of</i></b> (2018, Warp): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Charles Pillow Large Ensemble: <i>Electric Miles</i></b> (2017 [2018], MAMA): [cd]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Pocket Aces: <i>Cull the Heard</i></b> (2016 [2018], Creative Nation Music): [cd]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Post Malone: <i>Beerbongs &amp; Bentleys</i></b> (2018, Republic): [r]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>John Raymond &amp; Real Feels: <i>Joy Ride</i></b> (2018, Sunnyside): [r]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Royce Da 5'9": <i>Book of Ryan</i></b> (2018, EOne): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Shame: <i>Songs of Praise</i></b> (2018, Dead Oceans): [r]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Sibarg Ensemble: <i>Cipher</i></b> (2016 [2018], self-released): [cd]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Snail Mail: <i>Lush</i></b> (2018, Matador): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>SOB X RBE: <i>Gangin</i></b> (2018, Empire): [r]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Jason Stein's Locksmith Isidore: <i>After Caroline</i></b> (2017 [2018], Northern Spy): [bc]: <b>A-</b></li>
<li><b>Sunflower Bean: <i>Twentytwo in Blue</i></b> (2018, Mom + Pop): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Toronto Jazz Orchestra: <i>20</i></b> (2017 [2018], self-released): [cd]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Turnstile: <i>Time &amp; Space</i></b> (2018, Roadrunner): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Verve Jazz Ensemble: <i>Connect the Dots</i></b> (2018, Lightgroove Media): [cd]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Kobie Watkins Grouptet: <i>Movement</i></b> (2017 [2018], Origin): [cd]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>The Weeknd: <i>My Dear Melancholy</i></b> (2018, XO/Republic, EP): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Years &amp; Years: <i>Palo Santo</i></b> (2018, Polydor): [r]: <b>B</b></li>
</ul>

<p><b>Old music rated this week:</b></p>

<ul>
<li><b>Binker and Moses: <i>Dem Ones</i></b> (2014 [2015], Gearbox): [bc]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
<li><b>Binker and Moses: <i>Journey to the Mountain of Forever</i></b> (2016 [2017], Gearbox, 2CD): [bc]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
</ul>

<p><hr class="brk"></p>

<p><b>Unpacking:</b> Found in the mail last week:</p>

<ul>
<li><b>Jennifer Lee: <i>My Shining Hour</i></b> (SBE): August 10</li>
<li><b>Lonnie McFadden: <i>Live at the Green Lady Lounge</i></b> (Jazz Daddy)</li>
</ul>