Dad’s Record Guide

Welcome! I’m James, a chemical engineer, a music lover, and a suburban dad whose kids are old enough to think he's out of touch.

This guide is just a list of albums that I like. That’s all. I don’t have any formal training in music, or art history, or criticism. I’m a guy writing on the internet, sharing my taste.

As for what that taste is, you’ll have to peruse the guide. I’m the Eldest Millennial: my earliest music memory is singing along to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”; the first three cassettes I owned were Beach Boys Concert, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s Homebase, and Kris Kross’s Totally Krossed Out; and as a teen, I was a basic nineties alt-rocker. Maybe I’ve evolved since then. Maybe not.

Ultimately, my ratings are just personal vibes. If you're familiar with the Michelin Guide, you’ll recognize the system, where even a single star signifies a standout. My rough distinctions are:

I’ve been writing these capsule reviews, for myself, for years. Coming across Louie Mantia’s Burger Digest is what inspired me to finally share some of them. The idea of a “Record Guide” is swiped, of course, from the legendary Robert Christgau.

I hope you find something you like. Happy listening!