OK just a quick note here. I had to clean out my tape drawer which lead to some common group retrospectives. I expect to get back to regular UMR fare for a little bit anyway. Have some LP rarities here I'd like to cover off on.
If itchin' to do some research, check out Obscurus Subterraneum Musica (aka CDRWL), which right now is deep diving into the UMR archives. Once that's complete, I have 100's of titles here to go through for the first time.
---2/26/25
Alrighty I'm caught up on the 2025 listens that instigated the new band pages. Plenty of journals to publish when they're ready. And many more band pages as I get to them. I've been picking up commodity CDs and cassettes for 50 cents each, which allows me to check out lesser albums by bands like Pink Floyd and Rush (as examples). These will lead me to consolidate my reviews onto one page.
So many albums to go through. My listening stacks are enormous (including online). Thank goodness I was able to retire so I can actually get to these projects.
And we have a wonderful LP reissue to share hopefully in the next few days. It's one you may not know about, so stayed tuned for that.
Obscurus Subterraneum Musica is the newly renamed CD Reissue Wish List (same URL as before), and I'm adding new items on a nearly daily basis. Tons of albums to add. All will link back to reviews here on UMR. I'm catching up on that front before adding all the new-to-me titles. There are hundreds to go!
---2/21/25
As you may have noticed, I've switched the posts from individual albums to band pages. I'll be doing this real time, so it will be years before all the posts get converted. I'm in no hurry. This format allows me to continue to add reviews and move everything forward. It keeps the older reviews fresh and also presents a perspective as a timeline of thoughts and opinions. As such, the reviews will be presented from newest to oldest in terms of the review, not the album release date. Since some bands only have one album, UMR will essentially function as before in those cases. This is the same format I use for Under the Radar and the CDRWL. Both will now link back to UMR for reviews. I'm going be to removing the year tag as I wasn't getting anything out of that. And consolidating some of my music genres / styles.
Albums I own on a physical media format will show the album cover, while the others only contain narrative (and I'll identify the source).
Journals will continue, mostly for bands outside of my primary interest area. They're being released 10 reviews at a time per genre. Same with revisits of older posts. I'll just call them out on a list (10 at a time) rather than move forward if I have nothing new to add.
Because of this new format, all obscurities will be included here rather than the old CDRWL. I've decided not to reimagine that blog. It will maintain its original function as a tracking device for new reissues and create awareness around obscurities that few know. The reviews will be here though, and I'll be sure to move older blog posts forward for a fresh perspective. Those without a CD reissue will earn the CDRWL label / tag, which exists here already.
With the above comment I have a backlog for dozens of new entries I'd been holding back. So you can expect a lot more activity on the blog.
