Short Cuts

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Short Cuts
Review Explosion: The Weeknd, A Certain Ratio, Angel Olsen, and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
Malachi Lui  |  Oct 30, 2020  |  5 comments
(Review Explosion is a recurring AnalogPlanet feature covering recent releases for which we either don’t have sufficient time to fully explore, or that are not worthy of it. Curated by AnalogPlanet contributing editor Malachi Lui, Review Explosion focuses on the previous few months’ new releases.)

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FeaturesShort Cuts
Review Explosion: The Weeknd, Burial, Hikaru Utada, The Beatles, & Beach House
Malachi Lui  |  Feb 28, 2022  |  8 comments
(Review Explosion, curated by contributing editor Malachi Lui, is AnalogPlanet’s guide to notable recent releases and reissues. It focuses on the previous few months’ new releases for which we don’t have time or energy to cover more extensively.)

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Short Cuts
RSD 2022 Roundup Special: Louis Armstrong, Vince Guaraldi, David Bowie, Bing Crosby, and Paul Kelly All Help Usher in the Holiday LP Spinning Season
Mark Smotroff  |  Nov 25, 2022  |  15 comments

It’s Record Store Day, one of our absolute favorite times of the year! In addition to all the choice RSD 2022 selections we’re all hunting for out there today, we decided to put the AP spotlight on a number of new holiday LPs to get you ready for the season ahead. Read Mark Smotroff’s fine selection of five new and upcoming holiday vinyl options for your own turntable and/or anyone on your vinyl gift-giving list. . .

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Short Cuts
RSD Review Explosion, Part 2: David Bowie, Ron Carter, Clipping, and Tyler, The Creator
Malachi Lui  |  Oct 01, 2020  |  2 comments
(Review Explosion is a recurring AnalogPlanet feature covering recent releases for which we either don’t have sufficient time to fully explore, or that are not worthy of it. Curated by AnalogPlanet contributing editor Malachi Lui, this is the second RSD2020-centric Review Explosion, the first of which is found here.)

Last weekend, the second 2020 RSD Drop occurred in physical stores and on some online outlets. I didn’t find any titles terribly important to me, so here I am still reviewing records from the initial August RSD Drop. Onward we go…

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Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 17: A Fine Mixture of Gospel, Jazz, Funk, Soul, Dance, Pop, and Disco Can Be Found on a Trio of Exciting Current LPs From Lady Blackbird, Chappell Roan, and Sylvester
Mark Smotroff  |  Sep 27, 2024  |  1 comments

A trio of new releases share some wonderful and often heartfelt aesthetics across a variety of genres, dance music-infused sounds, personal identity, and artistic freedom, and we’re covering all three of them today together under our Short Cuts album review banner. Read Mark Smotroff’s roundup review of three wonderful LPs from the always adventurous female singer Lady Blackbird, chart sensation and vocal marvel Chappell Roan, and a full live concert reissue from the vaults of the late, legendary dance music pioneer Sylvester. . .

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Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 18, Elemental Music’s 140g 1LP Motown Sound Collection Reissue Series Revives a Score of Treasured and Hard-to-Find ’60s Soul and R&B Gems
Mark Smotroff  |  Oct 04, 2024  |  4 comments

A new 140g 1LP reissue series from Elemental Music that’s officially been dubbed the Motown Sound Collection has been underway since this past May, so it’s high time we’ve gotten around to covering some of the LPs that have come out under its umbrella in the interim. Read Mark Smotroff’s Short Cuts review to see how five Elemental-reissued vintage Motown titles from The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, and The Supremes all fared on his turntable. . .

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AAA VinylAlbum ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 19: Six Great, Recently Reissued 180g LPs From Blues Giants Albert King, Jimmy Reed, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Skip James, Blind Gary Davis, and B.B. King
Mark Smotroff  |  Jan 03, 2025  |  7 comments

Our first Short Cuts combo-review entry of 2025 covers six recent blues reissues — five from the Bluesville Series from Craft Recordings, plus one archival release issued on RSD 2024 by Deep Digs/Elemental Music. Read Mark Smotroff’s Short Cuts combo review to see how many of these fine 180g LP offerings from Albert King, Jimmy Reed, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Skip James, Blind Gary Davis, and B.B. King belong in your collection. . .

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Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 20: Elemental’s Motown Reissue Series Rolls On With 140g Virgin Vinyl Offerings of Popular Period LPs by The Temptations, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Eddie Kendricks
Mark Smotroff  |  Jan 31, 2025  |  2 comments

There is something incredibly compelling about Elemental Music and UMe’s ongoing, affordably priced, and generally well-made reissue series of classic Motown titles. Read Mark Smotroff’s latest Motown Short Cuts combo review to see which of these 140g 1LP editions of classic LPs from The Temptations, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Eddie Kendricks belong in your collection. . .

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Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 21: Space Is The Place — Four New & Recent 180g Sun Ra LPs, Plus One From an Artist He Inspired, Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids
Mark Smotroff  |  Feb 14, 2025  |  1 comments

The name Sun Ra and the term “free jazz” can conjure up all manner of strange musical imagery, especially amongst those unfamiliar with his music. Alternate identifiers such as “free improvisation” and the more umbrella-like “modern jazz” might ease those anxieties, but the reality is, a lot of Ra’s spirited music is not as random and difficult as some might think. Read Mark Smotroff’s Short Cuts combo review that focuses on five new and recent 180g Sun Ra-centric vinyl releases that we hope will intrigue listeners to explore this fascinating artist’s music with fresh ears and open minds. . .

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Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Two Seminal Early 1970s John Cale LPs, Paris 1919 and The Academy in Peril, Benefit From Artist-Approved Reissue LPs From Domino
Mark Smotroff  |  Jan 09, 2025  |  2 comments

Fifty-plus years ago, John Cale effectively drew a line in the sand between his past with The Velvet Underground and his future. Two of Cale’s seminal solo releases from that era — 1972’s The Academy in Peril and 1973’s Paris 1919, both long been out of print on vinyl here in the States — are the subjects of a great new LP reissue series from England’s Domino label, expanded and approved by the artist himself. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if either/both of these remastered vinyl editions deserve multiple spins on your turntable. . .

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FeaturesShort Cuts
Vinyl Review Explosion: Clairo, Mariya Takeuchi, Sault, & Dean Blunt
Malachi Lui  |  Nov 30, 2021  |  5 comments
(Review Explosion, curated by contributing editor Malachi Lui, is AnalogPlanet’s guide to notable recent releases and reissues. It focuses on the previous few months’ new releases for which we don’t have time or energy to cover more extensively.)

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FeaturesShort Cuts
Vinyl Review Explosion: David Bowie; Tyler, The Creator; The Weeknd; Lola Kirke
Malachi Lui  |  May 31, 2022  |  6 comments
(Review Explosion, curated by contributing editor Malachi Lui, is a guide to notable recent releases and reissues. It focuses on the previous few months' new releases for which we don't have time or energy to cover more extensively.)
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AAA VinylAlbum ReviewsShort Cuts
Vinyl Review Explosion: Spiritualized, Bob Dylan, and Carly Rae Jepsen
Malachi Lui  |  Oct 02, 2020  |  30 comments
(Review Explosion is a recurring AnalogPlanet feature covering recent releases for which we either don’t have sufficient time to fully explore, or that are not worthy of it. Curated by AnalogPlanet contributing editor Malachi Lui, Review Explosion focuses on the previous few months’ new releases.)

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Short Cuts
Vinyl Review Explosion: Sweet Trip, Mac Miller, Brendan Benson, and Ed O’Brien
Malachi Lui  |  May 26, 2020  |  7 comments
(Review Explosion is a recurring AnalogPlanet feature covering recent releases for which we either don’t have sufficient time to fully explore, or that are not worthy of it. Curated by AnalogPlanet contributing editor Malachi Lui, Review Explosion focuses on the previous few months’ new releases and reissues.)

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FeaturesShort Cuts
Vinyl Review Explosion: The Doors, The Mars Volta, Outkast, & Wu-Tang Clan
Malachi Lui  |  Oct 03, 2021  |  27 comments
(Review Explosion is a recurring AnalogPlanet feature covering recent releases for which we either don't have sufficient time to fully explore, or that are not worthy of it. Curated by AnalogPlanet contributing editor Malachi Lui, Review Explosion focuses on the previous few months' new releases. This particular Review Explosion discusses four Vinyl Me, Please releases from June-September 2021.)

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