All Categories — LPs  

A killer debut from Brick – the start of a massive run at the end of the 70s, a time when the group was easily one of the biggest acts to come out of the up-and-coming Atlanta scene! Like some other Atlanta acts of the time, Brick had a way of fusing older funky soul on a tighter modern groove – coming up with a sound that was nice and lean – perfect for these key transitional years of funk – with influences that were felt for years, in places as far away as the west coast! Case in point is the album's classic "Dazz" – one of those cuts that never gets old – nestled nicely in a lineup that also includes "Music Matic", "Here We Come", "Good High", "Brick City", and "Sister Twister".

An overlooked killer from Brick – the group's fourth album, but every bit as tight and funkier as earlier sets! Brick's Atlanta-bred groove is very much in place here – that lean, mean approach to funk that made them a standout right from the get-go – almost setting the scene for the stripped-down modes that so many other groups would follow well into the 80s! That tighter sound lets the group really hit a strongly soulful focus here – serving up some of their best vocals to date, and reminding us that some of the best mainstream funk groups always had a strong ability to harmonize over their grooves. Titles include "Push Push", "Get Started", "All The Way", "Waiting On You", "Free", "Sweet Lips", and "Let Me Make You Happy".

Jethro Tull's classic prog album–or is it a parody of a prog album? The LP-length "song", filled with dense lyrics, alternates between hard rock, English folk, and classical.

Lots of classics – including "Candle In The Wind", "Funeral For A Friend", "Bennie & The Jets", "Social Disease", "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", "Harmony", "Jamaica Jerk-Off", and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".

Tight hip hop from the superhero team of Inspectah Deck with 7L & Esoteric – mostly produced by 7L, with a most welcome guest producer in the legendary DJ Premier – and it's a strong statement from the underappreciated Wu Tang gamer and the ever-creative DJ 7L! On the production tip, 7L pays homage to classic Wu without copying it – and utilizing both classic and completely leftfield samples in a fresh, funky way. The rhymes by Deck and Eso are top shelf, too – with a guest list that includes Roc Marciano, Oh No, Ghostface and others. Includes "Air 'Em Out", "Cement 3's" feat Roc Marciano, "Czar Refaeli" feat Oh No, "Rock Beat", "Savagely Attacked" feat Ghostface Killah, "Marvel Team-Up", "It's Raw" feat Action Bronson, "Let It Off", "Word War 4", "Poisonous Thoughts" feat Mr. Mfn Exquire, "Shoguns" feat Cappadonna & Vinnie Paz, "Hazmat Rap" and the DJ Premier-produced "Let It Off".

Gritty underground hip hop from Lil Fame & Termanology – working to together as Fizzyology! Fizzyology the album has production by Lil Fame (as Fizzy Womack), DJ Premier , Alchemist, Statik Selektah and J-Waxx – and appearances by Busta Rhymes, Freeway, Bun B and others. Strong stuff – with tracks that roll from tense and ominous to raw funk – and with sharp rhymes all the way. Includes "After Midnight", "Fizzyology", "Hustler's Ringtone" feat Bun B, "From The Streets" feat Freeway, "Play Dirty" feat Busta Rhymes & Styles P, "It's Easy", "Too Tough For TV", "Pray For Me" feat Kira, "Lil Ghetto Boy" feat Lee Wilson and more.

Brick City vet and Artifacts affiliate Beneficience delivers a sharp set of hip hop in Concrete Soul for Ill Adrenaline – featuring an impressive roster of guests – but to Bene's credit, he's never overshadowed here! Guests include Lord Tariq, Masta Ace, Chubb Rock, Roc Marciano, El Da Sensei, D-Flow, Billy Danze, AG and more. Includes "YWE" with Lord Tariq, "Reality Vs Fiction" feat Masta Ace, "Cold Train" with Grap Luva & Rob-O, "Concrete Soul" feat Troo Kula of Brainwash 2000, "Masterful Method" with Chubb Rock, "Art Of War" with Billy Danze of MOP, "All Real" feat AG, "Metal Cuff Links" feat Nature,, "Somethin' Yall Can Roll Wit", "Under Constructuon, "Hood Cartel" with Roc Marciano and more.

Rare hard funky soul from early 70s titans Damn Sam The Miracle Man – and some of the rawest, fiercest funk we've ever heard! Damn Sam is actually a group – spearheaded by vocalist OC Tolbert – a man with a roaring voice and righteous delivery that could tear through brick – and producer Jack Taylor. If not for the amazing funky 45 tracks "Damn Sam The Miracle Man", "Smash" and "BJ" – all of which appear on this long lost LP – they may have been obscure to even the most diligent crate diggers, an argument in favor of that format if there ever was one. The group is a real killer, with absolutely pummeling funky drums and snapping electric congas & bongo work on just about every track – plus soaring trumpet and sax work that counterbalance the fury of Tolbert's vocals nicely. Tolbert's history with gospel lends a genuine spiritual aspect to the frenzy, too – one of the sweetest raw funk tornadoes you could every hope to get swept up by! Other tracks include "Give Me Another Joint", "Let Me Be Your Only Man", "LA 26000", "Poor Mary", Music Makes You Feel Alright", "Rainy Night In Georgia", and "Sonny B".

Em's fourth album hits many of the same notes as its predecessor, signaling a bit of a comfort zone for the former Slim Shady. The beats largely fall on the darker-toned lilt of the now instantly identifiable sound. Tracks include "Just Lose It", "Mosh", "Evil Deeds", "Never Enough" with Nate Dogg & 50 Cent, "Yellow Brick Road", "Like Toy Soldiers", "Puke", "My 1st Single", "Big Weenie", "Ass Like That", "Spend Some Time" with Obie Trice, Stat Quo & 50, "Mockingbird", "One Shot 2 Shot" with D-12 and "Encore" featuring Dr. Dre.

The album that started it all for Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band – the monumental Safe As Milk – a more focused effort the epic strangeness to come, but still a freak rock masterpiece! Don Van Vliet and the first Magic Band get loose on some messed up, raw white boy blues, filterede through a fish eye lens with an unbridled energy and the good Captain's unique approach that just begins to hint at the sublime weirdness he'd unleash later on. Includes "Abba Zabba", "Dropout Boogie", "Zig Zag Wanderer", "Electricity", "Yellow Brick Road", "Grown So Ugly", "Autumn's Child" and more.

Not everyone digs the later Captain and crew, but the early 80s efforts have finally gotten their just props after all these years – and we'll we'll come right out and say that this second to last album before Don Van Vliet hung up the music for painting has always sounded great to us! The Magic Band is incredible as always – with Jeff Morris Tepper, Drumbo French and Eric Drew Feldman's antics under the Captain's idiosyncratic vocalese. With "Hot Head", "Ashtray Heart", "A Carrot Is As Close As A Rabbit Gets To A Diamond", "Run Paint Run Run", "Sue Egypt", "Brickbats", "Dirty Blue Gene", "Best Batch Yet", "Telephone", "Flavor Bud Living", "Sherriff Of Hong Kong" and "Making Love To A Vampire With A Monkey On My Knee".

The mostly orchestral music used for the Kubrick film, with alternating spooky and grand passages Strauss, Ligetti and others. Inlcudes "Also Sprach Zarathustra", "Requiem For Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Mixed Choirs & Orchestra", "Luz Aeterna", "The Blue Danube" and "Atmospheres". In a groovy gatefold sleeve with great stills from the film inside and and excellent sci fi illustration on the front and back cover!