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The oddball early 80s debut of The Big Boys – a slice of weirdness from the Austin, TX underground that paved the way for stylistically sprawling 80s punk and hardcore to come! One thing that sets The Big Boys apart is the bass sound, which is way up there in the mix. As paired with shredded-chord vocals and the brute force of the guitar and drums, the group had a really unique, nearly unprecedented sound. Oddball songs mixed with irascible punk attitude! This great reissue from Light In The Attic's Modern Classic imprint gives it the proper respect – with heavy vinyl, packaging and insert. Includes "Security", "TV", "I Don't Wanna Dance", "Identity Crisis", "Thin Line", "Advice", "Complete Control", "Work Without Pay", "Spit", "Act/Reaction", "Self-Contortion" and "Wise Up".

Far reaching modern salsa and Latin grooves from Bio Ritmo – perhaps their best stuff yet! The group has been impressive all along, but they've progressively gotten better and better, really developing into one of the most exciting and least pigeonhole-able modern groups out there. The diverse elements flow naturally, which is really not an easy thing to pull off for a group that clearly cherishes Latin and Latin-American musical forbears very deeply. They brilliantly blend 70s salsa and Latin funk with a heavy, raw rhythmic and percussive underbelly, impassioned lead and group vocals, terse brass blasts, weird bits of keyboards and other unpredictable touches that firmly root them in the here and now. Titles include "La Verdad", "Dina's Mambo", "La Muralla", "Carnaval", "Majadero", "Verguenza", "Caravana Del Vejigante" and "Lola's Dilemma".

Wow! The one-and-only album by Trinidadian combo Black Truth Rhythm Band – a completely incredible one at that – hypnotic Caribbean funky soul, jazz and wildly impressive musicianship all around by this group led by singer and multi-instrumentalist Oluko Imo. The record was made in the mid 70s era in which the Afro Funk sound was hitting it's peak – when African rhythms and James Brown style funk were being fused so furiously – but Black Truth Rhythm Band take a different approach, working more with sounds from African spectrum and the West Indies. It's really amazing stuff that takes unpredictable twists from stripped down rhythms, to jazzy guitars and cosmic synths – always with straight up brilliant playing by the group. A fusion of African rhythms, strains of Calypso and boundary free jazzy grooves that balance and exploratory sensibility with tight, irresistible rhythms. Soundway raises the bar once again! Titles include "Ifetayo", "You People", "Saved Musician", "Kilimanjaro", "Aspire", and "Umbala" – plus a bonus 7" single with the track "Imo".

Wow! The one-and-only album by Trinidadian combo Black Truth Rhythm Band – a completely incredible one at that – hypnotic Caribbean funky soul, jazz and wildly impressive musicianship all around by this group led by singer and multi-instrumentalist Oluko Imo. The record was made in the mid 70s era in which the Afro Funk sound was hitting it's peak – when African rhythms and James Brown style funk were being fused so furiously – but Black Truth Rhythm Band take a different approach, working more with sounds from African spectrum and the West Indies. It's really amazing stuff that takes unpredictable twists from stripped down rhythms, to jazzy guitars and cosmic synths – always with straight up brilliant playing by the group. A fusion of African rhythms, strains of Calypso and boundary free jazzy grooves that balance and exploratory sensibility with tight, irresistible rhythms. Soundway raises the bar once again! Titles include "Ifetayo", "You People", "Saved Musician", "Kilimanjaro", "Aspire", "Umbala" and the bonus track "Imo".

A brilliant extension of the Love set from Build An Ark – focusing on some of the more improvisational spirit that's integral to their cosmic groove! Love Part 2 is mix of intimate moments and soaring atmospherics from Carlos Nino, Miguel-Atwood Ferguson and the rest of the stellar ensemble, plus guests and fellow travelers such as vocalists Dwight Trible, Carmen Lundy, Leisei Chen and Mia Doi Todd, violinist Michael White and others. The overall vibe and instrumentation are unpredictable from one movement to the next, but there's always a hypnotic mood at play, be it spun by sparely furnished strings and percussion, earthy global jazz influences or far spacier dynamics! Titles include a lively (and live sounding) string jazz improvisational take on "What The World Needs Now Is Is Love" with passionate vocals and pared down lyrics by Leisei Chen flavored with violin, viola, cello and sitar – plus "Cosmic Tuning", "Nature", "Ginger", "Say Yes!", "Improvisation Day 1", "Improvisation Day 2", ""Improvisation Day 8", "Cadence Of The Love Messengers" and wonderfully unique take on Donny Hathaway's "Tryin Times" with vocals by Carmen Lundy and Dwight Trible.

Can opens up a bit with Unlimited Edition – expanding upon their earlier Limited Edition compilation – fleshing out that set of archival Can errata into a sprawling, boundless 70+ minute set of brilliant, yet largely unused genius from the group's earlier archives! Can is legendary for constructing their greatest studio material out of freewheeling studio experimentation, so it stands to reason that there was a whole heck of a lot of worthy material left out. Boy, was there ever! It's got bits from both the Mooney and Suzuki periods, as well as spacious Can instrumental material. It's made up largely of brief bits that didn't find their way into a whole piece, but there's some longer numbers, too – and one epic: the 17+ minute "Cutaway". Titles icnlde "Gomorrha", "Doko E", "The Anpress And The Ukraine Song", "TV Spot", "Mother Upduff", "Connection", "Fall Of Another Year", "Transcendental Express", "Ibis", "Blue Bag (Inside Paper)", "Musette", "EFS No. 10", "I'm Too Leise" and more.

A triple pack of early magic from Natalie Cole! Inseparable is Natalie's stunning debut for Capitol Records in the mid 70s – a real surprise, and a set that should have had the singer blossoming even more than she did at the time! As with some of the other Capitol soul sessions of the time, the album's done very firmly under the guidance of Charles Jackson and Marvin Yancey – a pair who give Natalie just the right sort of backing to launch her career – a sound that's full and rich, deeply sophisticated – but also still plenty soulful, almost in the mode of some of Minnie Riperton's work at the time. Given the pair's Chicago roots – and the arrangement help from Richard Evans – that comparison is no surprise, and Natalie rises to the occasion nicely. Titles are all originals too – and include "Needing You", "Joey", "I Can't Say No", "Something For Nothing", "I Love Him So Much", "You", "Your Face Stays On My Mind", and the huge hit "This Will Be". Next up is Natalie – a record that really has Natalie Cole finding her groove – not needing any help from her famous familial legacy, thank you – and instead stepping out with a tight, proud mode that really helped refine the sound of female soul in the 70s! The album's got plenty of influences from the Chicago soul scene – including songwriting and production from the team of Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy – and work from key session players like Richard Evans and Gene Barge, who worked in the Curtom Studios to craft the grooves on the set! Titles include "Keep Smiling", "Mr. Melody", "Heaven Is With You", "Can We Get Together", "Touch Me", "Hard To Get Along", and "Good Morning Heartache". Unpredictable is an album that reunites Natalie Cole with the smooth soul team of Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancey – the team who did such a great job with Natalie's Capitol debut, and who really continue the groove here too! The album's got a rock-solid approach through and through – a quality that has Natalie really standing out on her own as a positive young artist in soul – without any need to nod towards her father, as in later years. And Jackson and Yancey bring a nice dose of Chicago soul class to the affair – which turns out to be a perfect match for Natalie's vocals! Titles include "Be Mine Tonight", "Party Lights", "This Heart", "I've Got Love On My Mind", and "Still In Love".

Top shelf hip hop from Kenny Keys & ADaD for All Natural, Inc– fresh, unpredictable production from KK and rhymes ranging from playful to sharp from Adad – with guests including Cap D & Proh Mic. Wholly excellent Chicago hip hop is consistently delivered by team All Natural, and this set is one of the best from the label in years! Includes "Duhn Duhn", "Leavin", "Bluelight Groove", "Doos", "Shinin" feat Cap D & Proh Mic, "Hot N Nasty" feat Proh Mic, "Real Life", "Never Knew", "Waterbug", "Greest & Avers" plus intro & outro.

The Ex smacked the end of the 80s away with this sprawling double album – feature more than 30 tracks worth of pummeling, pounding, thumping and stumping – an assemblage of straight-up, full throttle group numbers and much-varried errata from individual members and collaborators! The Ex was always better at ambitious, unpredictable left turns than many of their more celebrated American underground rock contemporaries – and there's plenty of testimony on here! Tracks include "At The Gates", "Pigs & Scales", "Morning Star", "Wall Has Ears", "To Be Clear", "Gentlemen", "Make That Call", "Shopping Street", "Brickbat", "Watch The Driver", "Tin Gods", "The Early Bird's Worm", "Catkin", "Upstairs With Picasso" and many more!

Legendary hip hip figures Phil Most Chill and Paul Nice team up as The Fabreeze Brothers! "Power Man & Iron Fist" kicks off with Bruce Lee vocal snippet on the art of fighting – and all business from there – with the raw beat, no nonsense rhymes, terse scratches and some unpredictable changes that play like a history of classic rap! Also includes a clean version and essential instro. The flip "Phyllis Diller" might be titled for an iconic comedienne, but it's no joke – another salvo from pair of true school hip hop's illest killers!

The first new music by Bill Fay in decades – and it's wonderful stuff – just a beautiful set of songs that balance hauntingly subtle sounds with more enigmatic touches! Bill's voice and piano are front and center for the most part here. The lyrics are poetic, but unpretentious – covering life, love, loss and the big issues we deal with – in a really artful way. Producer Joshua Henry does a great job of creating a stirring sound, without layering anything on too thickly, so not to bury the intimate charm of the songs – and using a subtle backing vocal choir, some lovely strings and additional keys at times. Includes "There Is A Valley", "Big Painter", "The Never Ending Happening", ", "The Healing Day", "City Of Dreams", a wonderfully spare cover of Wilco's "Jesus, Etc.", "This World" featuring Jeff Tweedy (speaking of Wilco), "Empires", "The Coast Man Can Tell" and more.

The first new music by Bill Fay in decades – and it's wonderful stuff – just a beautiful set of songs that balance hauntingly subtle sounds with more enigmatic touches! Bill's voice and piano are front and center for the most part here. The lyrics are poetic, but unpretentious – covering life, love, loss and the big issues we deal with – in a really artful way. Producer Joshua Henry does a great job of creating a stirring sound, without layering anything on too thickly, so not to bury the intimate charm of the songs – and using a subtle backing vocal choir, some lovely strings and additional keys at times. Includes "There Is A Valley", "Big Painter", "The Never Ending Happening", ", "The Healing Day", "City Of Dreams", a wonderfully spare cover of Wilco's "Jesus, Etc.", "This World" featuring Jeff Tweedy (speaking of Wilco), "Empires", "The Coast Man Can Tell" and more.

Kieran Hebden's third album as Four Tet – an unpredictable, completely hypnotic batch of abstract beatcraft that sounded like it was built to last when it first appeared in the early 00s – and sure enough, it's sounds as fresh as ever a decade+ later! What makes Four Tet at his best so irresistible is the way to rolls from loosely connective beats and hazy atmosphere on one track to heavy sensory overload and back again, fully hypnotizing either way, and all the while holding together in a way that feels of like a single piece. There's a lot of different sounds coming in and out, and not a single audible bit of it is dispensable. Near perfection from one of the more creative laptop instrumentals of his generation. Titles include "Hands", "She Moves She", "First Thing", "My Angel Rocks Back And Forth", "Spirit Fingers", "Unspoken", "Chia", "As Serious As Your Life", "Aney They All Look Broken Hearted" and "Slow Jam". 10th Anniversary edition includes a bonus CD featuring a full live performance from Copenhagen, 2004.

Kieran Hebden's third album as Four Tet – an unpredictable, completely hypnotic batch of abstract beatcraft that sounded like it was built to last when it first appeared in the early 00s – and sure enough, it's sounds as fresh as ever a decade+ later! What makes Four Tet at his best so irresistible is the way to rolls from loosely connective beats and hazy atmosphere on one track to heavy sensory overload and back again, fully hypnotizing either way, and all the while holding together in a way that feels of like a single piece. There's a lot of different sounds coming in and out, and not a single audible bit of it is dispensable. Near perfection from one of the more creative laptop instrumentals of his generation. Titles include "Hands", "She Moves She", "First Thing", "My Angel Rocks Back And Forth", "Spirit Fingers", "Unspoken", "Chia", "As Serious As Your Life", "Aney They All Look Broken Hearted" and "Slow Jam". 10th Anniversary edition includes a bonus CD featuring a full live performance from Copenhagen, 2004.

The timeless sounding underground classic debut of Frank-N-Dank – which is a strong first full length statement for the duo – and a significant milestone in the J Dilla production canon! It has more of a straight up, street ready rhyme style than was typical for Dilla productions at the time – with smoky, pulsing production and unpredictable beats. The rhymes are stronger than we gave 'em credit for a decade or so back – and the raw electro funky bounce provided by Dilla really opened us up to how diverse his style could be outside of the jazzy/funky/soul beats he'd laid down in the preceding couple of years! Tracks include "Rite Bites", "Street Life", "Pimp Strut", "Where The Parties At?", "All Seasons", "Take Dem Clothes Off" and more.

The timeless sounding underground classic debut of Frank-N-Dank – which is a strong first full length statement for the duo – and a significant milestone in the J Dilla production canon! It has more of a straight up, street ready rhyme style than was typical for Dilla productions at the time – with smoky, pulsing production and unpredictable beats. The rhymes are stronger than we gave 'em credit for a decade or so back – and the raw electro funky bounce provided by Dilla really opened us up to how diverse his style could be outside of the jazzy/funky/soul beats he'd laid down in the preceding couple of years! Tracks include "Rite Bites", "Street Life", "Pimp Strut", "Where The Parties At?", "All Seasons", "Take Dem Clothes Off" and more. This 2013 version features a second disc with Dilla's instrumentals.

A pair of weird soundtracks from Italian soundtrack heavy Fabio Fizzi – the stylistically sprawling music for Zombi 2 (released in America as Zombie) and some later compositions for Un Gatto Nel Cervello! The Zombi grooves are wildly unpredictable – from neo Carribbean inflections, to electronics reminiscent of John Carpenter, to African percussion. Wild stuff for a movie about Zombie carnage – and yes, that's the movie with the zombie-shark faceoff! Un Gatto Nel Cervello finds Frizzi working in a more classically soundtracky style – but it's done on synthesizers, which gives it seedy undercurrent! Both soundtracks on a single CD – with each consisting of multiple title theme sequences – and featuring 23 tracks in all.

Melodic and atmospheric sounds from Gang Colours – fragile and tuneful material that’s somewhat of a surprise from the Brownswood label! I guess we shouldn't really think of what Gang Colours does here as that much of a departure for the label, given their unpredictable oeuvre is never all that easy to pigeonhole, yet it still caught us off guard – in the best kind of way. Piano and synth float over intermittently spare and busier beats, vocals and textural waves of sound. What really sets it apart is the mood – we don't want to call it somber, but it's definitely got a haunting feel! Includes "Heavy Petting", "Forgive Me?", "To Repel Ghosts", "Pebble Dash", "Tissues & Fivers", "Botley In Bloom", "Fancy Restaurant", "On Compton Bay", "Rollo's Ivory Tale" and more.

Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge team up for this intriguing collaboration – one with a promising concept and they deliver on it in full – shadowboxing their way to a knockout! On the mic tip, Ghostface is in his comfort zone here – spitting lyrics laced with martial arts, mafia and supernatural imagery – and doing so with a furious flow and peak precision. Adrian Younge and his Venice Dawn group lay down the sounds – with dusty soul and funk, naturally – but what really pushes this one to a superior level are the unpredictable and ingenious nods to 70s Italian film scores, particularly in the giallo genre. Spooky, echoey keyboards and occasional angelic female backing vocals elevate the vibe and balance the grit. 12 tracks and no filler: "Beware The Stare", "Rise Of The Black Suits", "I Declare War" with Masta Killa, "Blood On The Cobblestones" with U-God & Inspectah Deck, "Rise Of The Ghostface Killah", "Murder Spree" with U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and Killa Sin, "Enemies Around Me" with William Hart of the Delfonics, "The Sure Shot (Parts 1 And 2)", "Twelve Reasons To Die" and more. 2CD deluxe edition includes the full instrumentals on disc 2!

Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge team up for this most intriguing artist and producer/composer collaboration – one with a promising concept and they deliver in full – shadowboxing their way to a knockout! Adrian Younge and his Venice Dawn group lay down the sounds – with dusty soul and funk, naturally – but what really pushes this one to a superior level are the unpredictable and ingenious nods to 70s Italian film scores, particularly in the giallo genre. Spooky, echoey keyboards and occasional angelic female backing vocals elevate the vibe and balance the grit. The instrumentals version is even more explicit in it's debt to giallo – with all titles translated to Italian: "Attenzione Al Stare", "L'Aumento Dell'Abito Nero", "Dichiaro Guerra", "Sangue Sull'Acciottolato", "Una Chiamata Inattesa", "Il Corpo Sicuro", "Dodici Ragioni Per Morire" and more.

Pivotal singles from the amazing Wanda Jackson – one of the greatest female rock and country voices from the 50s onward – who mixes a cutesy coo and a feral growl for a sound that was pretty much unprecedented at the time! The material bridges proto rock and country music in a way that confused the heck outta radio programmers and the label's hope to break her into superstardom back in the day – and Wanda had a voice that could've (and should've) made her a star on par with the Sun Studios boys club. She's tough and tender at the same time – and Capitol producer Ken Nelson is near the top of his game here, too. This really is the best of her Capitol singles – 29 in all – including "I Gotta Know", "Fujiyama Mama", "Honey Bop", "Did You Miss Me?", "Right Or Wrong", "Sinful Heart", "In The Middle Of A Heartbreak", "Mean Mean Man', "Sympathy", You Bug Me Bad", "Silver Threads And Golden Needles", "Rock Your Baby", "(Every Time They Play) Our Song", "Little Charm Bracelet", "No Wedding Bells For Joe", "Honey Bop" and more.

Sparely funky, yet heavily atmospheric hip hop productions from unsung titan Kankick – made up mostly of late 90s material – and it's right up with some of our favorite leftfield producers of the period! Kankicks was perhaps best known as a Lootpack affiliate around this time, and sure enough, it's the kind of thing that would have sounded right at home on Stones Throw in the label's infancy. This ain't baby stuff, though, and it's aging quite well! Raw beats laced by vinyl grit, occasional hazy vocals and trippy atmosphere to spare. Relatively little heard excellence from an unsung producer! Includes "The A-1 Sound", "Witness Truthful Mystics", "One Reason Why", "A Song For My Forefathers", "Look At That", "Amplified Dynastical", "Lady Slick" feat Unorthodox, "Unpredictable", "To All The Duck Rap Radio DJs", "FLS (Do You Like)", "Night Shine", "Oodles Of Ounces", "Aquarian Meditation", "The Blowfly" (Kancritic feat Medaphoar), "Dig The Transition", "Bread And A Rolls Royce" and more. Also includes 2 bonus tracks. 27 tracks in all!

High-minded hip hop instrumentals from the reliable Kev Brown – and the first of what we're hoping will be a steady series of Songs Without Words volumes Low Budget Records! Personal favorites of Kev's as well as some previously unreleased beats – with head nodding funky beats all the way – and plenty of unexpected and unpredicatable textures – including some jazzy guitar textures, trippy vocal samples and many more deft touches. Solid stuff from a master! Includes "1% (Out The MPC)", "Life (Remix)", Batida", Look", "Another Private Conversation", "Come Back", "Whoever Programmed Us (Remix)", "Armada Latina (Remix)" and more. 13 in all.

The rare early 70s record from Lagger Blues Machine – a Belgian combo with some hazy, psychedelic blues in the guitars – but the group's actually more of a psych-prog machine! There's a heavy atmosphere on par with some of the much more internationally-revered groups of the era – from Soft Machine to King Crimson – but Lagger Blues Machine stands up pretty strongly with the best of them! They deal in both fuzzed-out riffs and nimble guitar solos, some eerily melodic flute, organ and lumbering rhythms – with slow-building grooves and unpredictable changes. Great stuff! Includes "Symphonie 1 Ere Partie", "Darknessly", "Tanit", "Symphonie 2 Eme Partie" and "Born To Be Alone On A White Desert Island".

Diplo's back as Major Lazer – which is now a full-fledged all star project – and still steeped in big, boundary-busting, floor-shaking dancehall influences – with appearances by Santigold, Bruno Mars, Vybes Kartel, Amber from Dirty Projectors, Elephant Man, Wyclef, Shaggy, Opal, Ms. Dynamite, Flux Pavilion and more! There's a real love for genuine digital dancehall and diverse avant dancefloor, but with some tricked out atmosphere all its own and wildly unpredictable, yet still infection vibe that's pure Diplo. Titles include "You're No Good", "Jet Blue Jet", "Jah No Partial", "Scare Me", "Jessica", "Keep Cool", "Sweat", "Bubble Butt", "Reach For The Stars", "Mashup The Dance", "Watch Out For This (Bumaye)", "Playground" and more.

A (completely) terrific and (totally) powerful jazz funk trio set from Galactic drummer Stanton Moore – even if we don't know why all the tunes have parenthesis! There's no question that the set is emphatic – with Moore just killing it on the kit – backed just as dexterously Robert Walter on B3, toy piano and clavinet, and Will Bernard on guitar. There's a bottom heavy groove that we just love, with complex, unpredictable changes, but nothing that's too far out there. Jazzy funk & instrumental rock(ish) jams with loads of space for the players to breathe and do their thing without ever wearing out their welcome. This might be Stanton's best to date. Tracks include "(Late Night At The) Maple Leaf", "(Proper) Gander", "Wissons (Of Vu)", "Over (Compensatin')", "(Who Ate The) Layer Cake, "(Here Come) The Brown Police" and more!

Mos Def's first for Downtown after a weird few years on Geffen that saw many a bumped street date, the hit & miss New Danger, and finally, the semi aborted release of the controversial True Magic – back with a top shelf, excellent album in 2009's The Ecstatic! It may not be Black Star or Black On Both Sides, but The Ecstatic is absolutely strong stuff, and to be honest, much better than we would have expected – even if we knew he had great hip hop left in him! The beats are compelling, unpredictable, and steeped in abstract global funk that would sound at home on Stones Throw – some of the beats are literally Stones Throw, given Madlib's Beat Konducta and Oh No's Oxperimental sounds to be found. If we weren't already loving it, Slick Rick drops an unforgettable guest appearance on the the moody "Auditorium", Georgia Anne Muldrow does her inimitable thing on "Roses", and Talib Kweli rhymes on "History". Mos rhymes skillfully throughout, and with an infectious immediacy, as if he dropped records this tight all the time. Sadly, he doesn't, so this one's all the more rewarding! Other tracks include "Twilite Speedball", "Revelations", "Pretty Danger", "Quiet Dog", "The Embassy", "Wahid", "Priority" and more.

Joe blows it strong and mellow – in this spare swinging group that includes Frank Wess on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Eddie Jones on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. Tracks are warm and unpressured, more in a Verve mode than a Prestige one – and titles include "Wednesday's Blues", "Jive At Five", "Taps Miller", and "Cuein The Blues".

Joe blows it strong and mellow – in this spare swinging group that includes Frank Wess on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Eddie Jones on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. Tracks are warm and unpressured, more in a Verve mode than a Prestige one – and titles include "Wednesday's Blues", "Jive At Five", "Taps Miller", and "Cuein The Blues".

The latest audio dispensary system from Oh No – who's carved a pretty solid niche as an unpredictable, indefatigable hip hop conceptualist – this one a suite of tracks inspired by snake oil style newspaper, radio and television advertisements from decades past! Oh No is on the beats and production here on a mix of thematic instros and vocal tracks with guests Declaime & Georgia Anne Muldrow, Souls Of Mischief, Blu & Med, Gangrene partner Alchemist, Rapsody & Psalm One and others. Includes "Intro Doctor Visit", "Creepers", "Jones's" feat Blu & MED, "Wet 'Em Up", "The Difference", "Perfect Cylinders", "Animals" with Chali 2Na & Roc C, "Rollin' Up" with Alchemist, "Drifters", "Improvement" with Declaime & Georgia Anne Muldrow and more. CD also includes the bonus track "Controlled Riots" with Souls Of Mischief.

The first we've heard from Chicago's Omega McBride – and a solid little EP with with a unique vibe! McBride has a flow that reminds us a bit of vintage, pre-superstar Kanye West – as does the lyrical odes to real life issues – but beyond that, the sound here isn't exactly like anything else we've heard recently. The production has more of a spacey club soul feel, but the rhymes are firmly rooted in unpretentious hip hop. 5 tracks on the EP: "State Of Mind", "Number To My Phone", "It Feels Good To Be Home", "Had Your Chance""and "Message In A Bottle".

The seminal Gram Parsons solo debut, and arguably his most consistant post-Burritos album. GP is pretty much the record that put the country in country rock – with a sharp steel guitar cry throughout, an unpretentious proud/poor delivery, and those sweet harmonies with Emmylou Harris. The album is split pretty evenly between tunes penned by Parsons, and other writers who aren't as deeply celebrated, like the great Tompall Glaser. Includes "Still Feeling Blue", "We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning", "Streets Of Baltimore", "She", "That's All It Took", "Cry One More Time", and more.

The incredible second album from Roxy Music – picking up right where the self titled album left off – ratcheting up the excitement even more thanks to Ferry's extra dramatic songs, Eno's unpredictable synthesizer and tape manipulations, and a driving approach to the performances by the rest of the group! The songs range from fairly straight forward fiery glam rock, to more complicated, evolving structural tension. We hear strains of this record in so many great rock albums that followed, from the punk era all the way up to post millenium indie rock – but as influential as it is, it's an amazing experience all its own! Titles include "Do The Strand", "Beauty Queen", 'Strictly Confidential", "Editions Of You", "In Every Dream Home A Heartache", "The Bogus Man", "Grey Lagoons" and "For Your Pleasure".

A stunner from the Scott Walker – and possibly the most archly-dramatic, unique and alluring work he'd done up to this point! Since Scott Walker albums have become once per decade events, a lot more is at stake with each one, and it's nothing short of amazing that he manages to get more and more exciting with each effort. The Drift finds Scott tackling obscure historical drama, his pop-operatic vibrato as chilling as ever – backed up by his long-relied upon backdrop of string arrangements, guitars, drums and keys – along with (way) off-kilter percussion. But the sounds made with those tried-and-true materials are often unprecedented, either from Scott or anyone else on the planet. The voice wails with authority, the backing is often quiet and subtle until the ever-approaching gail swoops in and carries you away. We could probably write a book about this album (and someone undoubtably will) – so we'll leave you to pick it up and experience it for yourself! Tracks include "Cossacks Are", "Clara", "Jesse", "Jolson And Jones", "Cue","Buzzers", "Psoriatic", "The Escape" and "A Lover Loves".

A full scale joint effort from the always unpredictable Stones Throw label and the cassette-centric Leaving Records – featuring audio adventurers Julia Holter, dak, Cyclist, Trance Farmers, Dem Hunger, Run DMT, Soundwizard BZB & MC Set, Oscar McClure, Odd Nosdam, Sun Araw and more. Cool, creative and diverse stuff – a good deal of it with kind of a darkness-tinged electro atmosphere – and an array of eerie broken beats, abstract instrumentals and vocals. 19 tracks in all: "Visions" by The Cyclist, "Into The Night" by Davis, "Lions Den" by dak, "Labelle Gross" by Oscar McClure, "You & Me Both (Live Arthur Russell Tribute)" by Julia Holter, "Sisters" by Odd Nosdam, "Right Off" by Sun Araw, "Bardo States Dream Walker Version" by Run DMT, "Purple Hay" by Trance Farmers, "Sadnis" by Knx, "Atimo" by Yuk and more.

A wild collection of extraterrestrial country, pulp, pop, r&b and even some doo wop influenced tunes from the outerspace fringes of 60s & 70s Nashville & beyond – largely from the brain bananas of Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan! We knew that Jack & Misty recorded some fairly far out countryish gems as a duo – but this crazy set really opens our minds to how wild they were as writers, producers & arrangers! It truly rivals Joe Meek's productions when it comes to pulpy themes and unpredictable stylistic range – while carrying a weird, earthier rustic & rural groove. Jack & Misty sing and play often throughout, as themselves and under pseudonyms – and they recruited friends and peers as singers and players for the others. Far more than just an exercise in strangeness – the songs are good enough to stand out as more than novelties, and some of the most respected Nashville session players of the past half century can be found in the notes. You get electrified banjo, sax, and organ in the same wild tunes – any questions? The majority of songs were cut between the fertile period between 1965 and 1974 – with a few going back earlier & later – a whopping 30 tracks in all! "Strange New World" by Jacqueline Hyde & The Moonfolk, Time Machine" by Joel Mathis, "Skellykins" by Rusty Diamond, "I'm Hung Up On You" by Rusty Diamond, "Hit Me One More Time" by Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan, "Let's Have A Hayride" by Maryanne Mail, "New World" by The Jack Blanchard Group, "Monkey See, Monkey Do" by Brad Wolfe, "Dance Of The Living Dead Chickens" by Jack Blanchard and more!

Todd Rundgren in all of his great early glory – a record that's filled with simple, honest pop tunes – and one that also takes on a few experimental touches as well – but only in ways that further the earnest charm at its heart! There's a really upfront, unpretentious feel to the record – one that matches Todd's indie rock look on the cover, and which comes through beautifully in the balance of material in the set. Some tunes are a bit harder rocking, but they're always offset by gentler moments that really stand out. Titles include "We Gotta Get You A Woman", "The Last Thing You Said", "Broke Down & Busted", "Who's That Man", "Birthday Carol", "Believe In Me", and the great medley of "Baby Let's Swing/The Last Thing You Said/Don't Tie My Hands".

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah, Y- Y- Y- Y- Y- Y- Y-eah, this is one of best art rock albums of all time – the Eno produced full length debut of Devo – the caustic, sarcastic and fun soundtrack to society's devolution! There's nothing we don't love about Devo at this point, from their unprecedented use of multimedia, to the hard to pull off fusion of sneering social and pop culture satire with good humored fun, and that's just the conceptual stuff. The songs are original and inimitably great, too, with those squeeling synth punk dynamics. Tracks include (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (best rock cover ever?) "Jocko Homo", "Mongoloid", "Uncontrollable Urge", "Space Junk", "Come Back Jonee", "Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')" and more.

A spacey, soulful and funky showcase for singer Amalia – one the finds her collaborating with an impressive roster of guests including Atjazz, Portformat, Opolopo and others! Amalia blends inspirations that range from heartfelt, though trippy 70s soul and funk, to 80s electro and the more creative underground soul of the hip hop generation and beyond. What sets Making Of Amalia apart is the way that she's adapting it all so seamlessly into a vibe of her own. It doesn't hurt that she has an amazing vocal range, and the creative mind to use it as a spontaneous, unpredictable instrument above all others. Nor does it hurt that the record is filled to catchy, sexy and spacey songs that are a flat out blast to listen to! Creative and stylistically daring soul in the tradition of Chaka Khan, Betty Davis, Erykah Badu, Labelle and other free spirits! Titles include "Just Like Magic" with B Bravo & Teeko, "Get Caught" and "Cuttify It!" credited to Cutty Lark & Amalia, "Where Do I Belong" (Portformat & Amalia)", "She Want It All" (Bakura feat Amalia), "Hysteria" (Reggie B & Amalia), "Still In Love With You" (Sage Monk & Amalia) and more.

Rhymes and production from Detroit's Black Milk! The best cuts have solid, unpredictable and funky beats – rollicking, anthem style backdrops from the rhymes of Black Milk and guests such as Phat Kat, Guilty Simpson, Ty & Kory and others. Titles include "Popular Demand", "Sound The Alarm" feat Guilty Simpson, "Insane", "Lookatusnow" feat Phat Kat, "U" feat Ty & Kory, "Shut It Down", "So Gone", "Play The Keys", "Three+Sum", "Luvin' It", "One Song" and more.

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah, Y- Y- Y- Y- Y- Y- Y-eah, this is one of best art rock albums of all time – the Eno produced full length debut of Devo – the caustic, sarcastic and fun soundtrack to society's devolution! There's nothing we don't love about Devo at this point, from their unprecedented use of multimedia, to the hard to pull off fusion of sneering social and pop culture satire with good humored fun, and that's just the conceptual stuff. The songs are original and inimitably great, too, with those squeeling synth punk dynamics. Tracks include (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (best rock cover ever?) "Jocko Homo", "Mongoloid", "Uncontrollable Urge", "Space Junk", "Come Back Jonee", "Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')" and more.

Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge team up for this most intriguing artist and producer/composer collaboration – one with a promising concept and they deliver in full – shadowboxing their way to a knockout! On the mic tip, Ghostface is in his comfort zone – spitting lyrics laced with martial arts, mafia and supernatural imagery – and doing so with a furious flow and peak precision. Adrian Younge and his Venice Dawn group lay down the sounds – with dusty soul and funk, naturally – but what really pushes this one to a superior level are the unpredictable and ingenious nods to 70s Italian film scores, particularly in the giallo genre. Spooky, echoey keyboards and occasional angelic female backing vocals elevate the vibe and balance the grit. 12 tracks and no filler: "Beware The Stare", "Rise Of The Black Suits", "I Declare War" with Masta Killa, "Blood On The Cobblestones" with U-God & Inspectah Deck, "Rise Of The Ghostface Killah", "Murder Spree" with U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and Killa Sin, "Enemies Around Me" with William Hart of the Delfonics, "The Sure Shot (Parts 1 And 2)", "Twelve Reasons To Die" and more.

When Ice Cube left NWA he took a lot of the more sobering lyrical aspects of the landmark crew with him, and with the addition of the Bomb Squad's unprecedented cut & paste rhythms and jackhammer funk, and a bit of new ally Chuck D's social muckraking skills created one of the greatest hip hop albums of the 90s. Cube's best LP, and arguably one of the best records of the gangsta era period – reissued with the equally great Kill At Will ep! Features "A Gangsta's Fairytale", "Better Off Dead", "Endangered Species", "Turn Off The Radio", and lots more. Bomb Squad produced to perfection.

The 8 X 7" box set version of this classic batch of instrumentals from J Dilla – one that strongly transcends the hip hop genre – and perhaps his rawest, and most adventurous listening experience ever! The loopy soul samples, rich synth/electro shine, and thumping bass and soul beats that Dilla largely made his name on are laced throughout, but he also takes things a step into stranger territory – with spacey elements that buzz as much as they groove! The cuts are never less than soulful and funky, and never really steps into his peer Madlib's brand of the weeded out style, either. We love how raw this all feels, too! It's easily identifiable as the work of Jay Dee, but at the same time, wholly unpredictable! One of the best releases that Stone's Throw ever released – instrumental or vocal! Includes "Donuts (Intro & Outro)", "Workinonit", "Waves", "Light My Fire", "People", "Mash", "Airworks", "Lightworks", "Stepson Of The Clapper", "One Eleven", "Don't Cry", "Geek Down", "Thunder", "Gobstopper", "Walkinonit", "U-Love", "Last Donut Of The Night" and more. Extra Bites bonus 45 includes "Signs", plus "Sniper Elite" and "Murder Goons" with Ghostface & MF Doom.

High-minded hip hop instrumentals from the reliable Kev Brown – and the first of what we're hoping will be a steady series of Songs Without Words volumes Low Budget Records! Personal favorites of Kev's as well as some previously unreleased beats – with head nodding funky beats all the way – and plenty of unexpected and unpredicatable textures – including some jazzy guitar textures, trippy vocal samples and many more deft touches. Solid stuff from a master! Special edition CD features the complete Vols 1 & 2 – 79 minutes of music!

Diplo's back as Major Lazer – which is now a full-fledged all star project – and still steeped in big, boundary-busting, floor-shaking dancehall influences – with appearances by Santigold, Bruno Mars, Vybes Kartel, Amber from Dirty Projectors, Elephant Man, Wyclef, Shaggy, Opal, Ms. Dynamite, Flux Pavilion and more! There's a real love for genuine digital dancehall and diverse avant dancefloor, but with some tricked out atmosphere all its own and wildly unpredictable, yet still infection vibe that's pure Diplo. Titles include "You're No Good", "Jet Blue Jet", "Jah No Partial", "Scare Me", "Jessica", "Keep Cool", "Sweat", "Bubble Butt", "Reach For The Stars", "Mashup The Dance", "Watch Out For This (Bumaye)", "Playground" and more.

The latest audio dispensary system from Oh No – who's carved a pretty solid niche as an unpredictable, indefatigable hip hop conceptualist – this one a suite of tracks inspired by snake oil style newspaper, radio and television advertisements from decades past! Oh No is on the beats and production here on a mix of thematic instros and vocal tracks with guests Declaime & Georgia Anne Muldrow, Souls Of Mischief, Blu & Med, Gangrene partner Alchemist, Rapsody & Psalm One and others. Includes "Intro Doctor Visit", "Creepers", "Jones's" feat Blu & MED, "Wet 'Em Up", "The Difference", "Perfect Cylinders", "Animals" with Chali 2Na & Roc C, "Rollin' Up" with Alchemist, "Drifters", "Improvement" with Declaime & Georgia Anne Muldrow and the bonus track "Controlled Riots" with Souls Of Mischief.

The second volume of rare Afrofunk from Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou from Analog Africa – a killer set of material recorded at EMI Studios in Lagos, Nigeria for the Albarika Store label – impeccable sounding and feverishly played by the group! This one's fairly jaw dropping, catching us off guard, even, and we were floored by first volume, too. The group mixes Benin style Afrobeat and rhythms, killer percussion, and really great vocals with funk, soul, and strains of psychedelia – unpredictable predictable stylistic shifts from one number to the next, and some of the drum and bass interplay is just dynamite. Comes in a beautiful package with a thick booklet of notes & photos. Titles include "Se Ba Ho", "Mi Ve Wa Se"", "Ahouli Vou Yelli", "Malin Kpon O", "Mede Ma Gnin Messe", "Zizi", "Houe Djeun Nada", "Minkou E So Non Moin".

The incredible second album from Roxy Music – picking up right where the self titled album left off – ratcheting up the excitement even more thanks to Ferry's extra dramatic songs, Eno's unpredictable synthesizer and tape manipulations, and a driving approach to the performances by the rest of the group! The songs range from fairly straight forward fiery glam rock, to more complicated, evolving structural tension. We hear strains of this record in so many great rock albums that followed, from the punk era all the way up to post millenium indie rock – but as influential as it is, it's an amazing experience all its own! Titles include "Do The Strand", "Beauty Queen", 'Strictly Confidential", "Editions Of You", "In Every Dream Home A Heartache", "The Bogus Man", "Grey Lagoons" and "For Your Pleasure".

One of Jimmy Smith's biggest albums of the 60s – and a classic Verve pairing of his lean Hammond organ solos with the fuller, hard-swinging arrangements of Oliver Nelson! Nelson is working here at the height of his powers – backing Smith with a large group, but in a way that only seems to free him up to solo even more – pushing the tunes with an undeniable power from the all-star band, as Jimmy takes off on flights of soulful fancy over the top! Side two features some more stripped-down solo work – in the manner of Jimmy's later Blue Note sides – and the set includes the hit single "Walk On The Wild Side", plus the tracks "Bashin", "Step Right Up", and "Beggar For The Blues".

A Hammond organ double-header – two Verve classics from Jimmy Smith, back to back on a single CD! First up is Bashin – one of Jimmy Smith's biggest albums of the 60s – and a classic Verve pairing of his lean Hammond organ solos with the fuller, hard-swinging arrangements of Oliver Nelson! Nelson is working here at the height of his powers – backing Smith with a large group, but in a way that only seems to free him up to solo even more – pushing the tunes with an undeniable power from the all-star band, as Jimmy takes off on flights of soulful fancy over the top! Side two features some more stripped-down solo work – in the manner of Jimmy's later Blue Note sides – and the set includes the hit single "Walk On The Wild Side", plus the tracks "Bashin", "Step Right Up", and "Beggar For The Blues". Hobo Flats is another mighty pairing of Jimmy Smith and Oliver Nelson – one that has the heavy Hammond of Smith set up in some sparkling jazz backdrops from Nelson! The sound here has some bluesy undercurrents, as you might guess from the title – but Oliver's charts keep things hip throughout, and ensure that the record stays far from any 60s cliches in the music – and always keeps one ear out for the sharper edges that always makes Nelson's arrangements a great match for Smith. The horns are full at times, but Jimmy's organ bursts right out over the top – gliding along a great groove with a really inherent sense of rhythm. Titles include a shimmering bossa take on "Meditation", plus "Hobo Flats", "Walk Right In", "I Can't Stop Loving You", and "The Preacher".

Stunning live recordings from Albert Ayler's European tour of late 1966 – during a peak creative period for Ayler – while working with an incredible group! This excellent CD captures them in Stockholm for Swedish radio on November 10, 1966 – followed by an equally well documented set in Berlin from one week prior. The performances themselves are energetic throughout, and in turns elegiac, playful and all-out intense! It's awe-inspiring material with emotional depth – that facet enhanced a bit by the presence of a violin – by Dutch player Michel Samson, who is great here. Donald Ayler's trumpet communicates brilliantly with the violin and William Folwell's double bass. Beaver Harris holds it down on drums, while Ayler blazes away in the leader, taking the group into unpredictable movements. Greatness! Includes "Truth Is Marching In", "Omega (Is The Alpha)", "Our Prayer – Bells" and "Infinite Spirit – Japan" from Stockholm, juxtaposed with differing performances of those titles in Berlin, plus the riveting closer "Ghosts – Bells", also from Berlin.

A great solo performance from Jerome Cooper – not just drums and percussion, but work on flute, balaphone, and other instruments too! Cooper really brings all of his most thoughtful elements into play here – working slowly, and covering space with ideas that really take some time to stretch out and find themselves – then confidently move forward to open up new chapters in the performance – a bit like some of the best early moments of the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, but presented here as a solo act! Side one features "The Unpredictability Of Predictability", in four movements – and side two features "Bert The Cat".

The second full scale instrumentals set from Michigan underground hip hop veteran 14KT – one that stands up strongly among the best of his stuff that we've heard to date! The preceding Golden Hour instrumentals set was a tribute to Dilla, and damn fine one – and it's all the more rewarded to hear 14KT represent his own creatively as sharply as it's done here. Unpredictable beats paired with insistent melodies and a soulful undercurrent. Includes "Pick Up Sticks", "Blindsided", "Blessed", "Lessons From IX Love", "As We (Turn It Up)", "Rain Delay", "March Madness", "Another Age", "Where Else? (One For ATCQ)", "Width" feat Tony Ozier and more.

Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge team up for this intriguing collaboration – one with a promising concept and they deliver on it in full – shadowboxing their way to a knockout! On the mic tip, Ghostface is in his comfort zone here – spitting lyrics laced with martial arts, mafia and supernatural imagery – and doing so with a furious flow and peak precision. Adrian Younge and his Venice Dawn group lay down the sounds – with dusty soul and funk, naturally – but what really pushes this one to a superior level are the unpredictable and ingenious nods to 70s Italian film scores, particularly in the giallo genre. Spooky, echoey keyboards and occasional angelic female backing vocals elevate the vibe and balance the grit. 12 tracks and no filler: "Beware The Stare", "Rise Of The Black Suits", "I Declare War" with Masta Killa, "Blood On The Cobblestones" with U-God & Inspectah Deck, "Rise Of The Ghostface Killah", "Murder Spree" with U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and Killa Sin, "Enemies Around Me" with William Hart of the Delfonics, "The Sure Shot (Parts 1 And 2)", "Twelve Reasons To Die" and more.

The 2 rare early 70s records from Lagger Blues Machine – Tanit and earlier Tanit Live together on CD! The group is a Belgian combo with some hazy, psychedelic blues in the guitars – but they're actually more of a psych-prog machine! There's a heavy atmosphere on par with some of the much more internationally-revered groups of the era – from Soft Machine to King Crimson – but Lagger Blues Machine stands up pretty strongly with the best of them! They deal in both fuzzed-out riffs and nimble guitar solos, some eerily melodic flute, organ and lumbering rhythms – with slow-building grooves and unpredictable changes. Great stuff! Includes "Symphonie 1 Ere Partie", "Darknessly", "Tanit", "Symphonie 2 Eme Partie" and "Born To Be Alone On A White Desert Island". The live album was actually recorded a couple years before the release of their studio album Tanit – and they're all the more raucous in a concert setting! There's a raw intensity and some fast playing here that's invigorating – the frenetic drums and manic guitars are incredible – but it doesn't overshadow the creative spirit or musical dexterity of the later studio album. 4 long-ish songs that show a heavier side of the group in a formative period! "Test About A Rehabilitating Personality", "Ode", "Mistake" and "Firedance".

A killer second album from Mostly Other People Do The Killing – drawing from an even deeper well of both jazz traditions and ragged, anything goes charm than on their excellent debut – an enthralling blend of credible chops with unpredictable playfulness! Never shy about soloing, each player in the group really put down some masterful turns on Shamokin – from fluid, well trained beauty to some unhinged, exciting bursts of noise. These do it all, and they do it very well. Titles include "Handsome Eddy", "The Hop Bottom Hop", "Shamokin", "Dunkelbergers", "Lover", "Andover", Baden" and more – plus a closing with a riveting take on "Night In Tunisia".

The latest audio dispensary system from Oh No – who's carved a pretty solid niche as an unpredictable, indefatigable hip hop conceptualist – this one a suite of tracks inspired by snake oil style newspaper, radio and television advertisements from decades past! Oh No is on the beats and production here on a mix of thematic instros and vocal tracks with guests Declaime & Georgia Anne Muldrow, Souls Of Mischief, Blu & Med, Gangrene partner Alchemist, Rapsody & Psalm One and others. Includes "Intro Doctor Visit", "Creepers", "Jones's" feat Blu & MED, "Wet 'Em Up", "The Difference", "Perfect Cylinders", "Animals" with Chali 2Na & Roc C, "Rollin' Up" with Alchemist, "Drifters", "Improvement" with Declaime & Georgia Anne Muldrow and more. CD also includes the bonus track "Controlled Riots" with Souls Of Mischief.

A bold odyssey from Steve Reid – his Odyssey Of The Oblong Square – a jawdropping session recorded in 1977 for a NYC radio show that's as rhythmically feverish and avant garde funky as the legendary drummer's other underground soul jazz classics of the 70s! If anything, the percussion is even more outstanding on Odyssey as it is on the great Nova and Rhythmatism sets for Mustevic – with Reid leading the charge on drums, and most of the other players contributing percussion on one way or another, for an all around frenetic sound, that's still unwaveringly in a groove. Mohammad Abdullah is on congas, ballophone and African percussion, with Ahmed Abdullah on trumpet, Arthur Blythe and Charles Tyler on alto sax – the horns all really kill on this set – and David Wertman keeping an unpredicable acoustic bass groove. Includes 4 long pieces, including the 3 part "Odyssey Sweet", "Odyssey Theme", "Deacon's Son" and "Ginsamseng" – all Reid originals. Amazing!

The classic batch of instrumentals from J Dilla – one that strongly transcends the hip hop genre – and perhaps his rawest, and most adventurous listening experience ever! The loopy soul samples, rich synth/electro shine, and thumping bass and soul beats that Dilla largely made his name on are laced throughout, but he also takes things a step into stranger territory – with spacey elements that buzz as much as they groove! The cuts are never less than soulful and funky, and never really steps into his peer Madlib's brand of the weeded out style, either. We love how raw this all feels, too! It's easily identifiable as the work of Jay Dee, but at the same time, wholly unpredictable! One of the best releases that Stone's Throw ever released – instrumental or vocal! Includes "Donuts (Intro & Outro)", "Workinonit", "Waves", "Light My Fire", "People", "Mash", "Airworks", "Lightworks", "Stepson Of The Clapper", "One Eleven", "Don't Cry", "Geek Down", "Thunder", "Gobstopper", "Walkinonit", "U-Love", "Last Donut Of The Night" and more.

High-minded hip hop instrumentals from the reliable Kev Brown – and the first of what we're hoping will be a steady series of Songs Without Words volumes Low Budget Records! Personal favorites of Kev's as well as some previously unreleased beats – with head nodding funky beats all the way – and plenty of unexpected and unpredicatable textures – including some jazzy guitar textures, trippy vocal samples and many more deft touches. Solid stuff from a master! Includes "1% (Out The MPC)", "Life (Remix)", Batida", Look", "Another Private Conversation", "Come Back", "Whoever Programmed Us (Remix)", "Armada Latina (Remix)" and more. 13 in all.

Tripped out instrumental hip hop from Sir Froderick – nicely expanding to the fractured soul and funk sampled vibe of his earlier work really nicely on this vinyl LP for (In)Sect! Bits soul jazz keys and spacier synth float over stuttering, unpredicatable beats – with hazy soul fog setting in nicely and holding up strongly. Includes "2maydrnks", "IToldHer2KikRoxs", "Eyevebeen" and "Subtlwhoadi" with T-Dredz, "Drivemewild", "Horrorstory Pt1", "Fkkurvalentine", "Keefsprklz" feat JBoogz & Gossamer. "@midnight", "Bitesizesnacks", "Sounds" and more.

Wow! Here's some really wonderful live material from Vince Guaraldi during a peak period of both productivity and creativity – and working in an excellent quartet setting during a two week engagement at the Old Town Theatre in Los Gatos, CA, in October of 1967! The period is quite notable – in the fall of '67 Vince had recently finished up his time at Fantasy Records and was preparing to record for Warner – keeping up a busy performance schedule and fearlessly spanning styles, putting his passionate, exuberant style of piano into each piece. This 2CD package features a pair of nearly 40 minute sets with longish takes on some great material – passionate, energetic and engaging performances of great Guaraldi originals "Nobody Else", "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" and "Linus & Lucy", an inspired, unpredictable version of Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billie Joe" and an equally creative take on "Elenore Rigby", plus Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Once I Loved" and other great tracks like "Going Out Of My Head", "Theme From The Movie 'Exodus'" and "Autumn Leaves". The group features Eddie Duran on guart, Andy Acosta on bass and drums by Al Coster.

Yep, her milkshake really is better than yours! Hip hop future funk chanteuse Kelis Rogers takes a big step out on her own for her first full length effort for Star Trak – and the result is one damn fine, wholly unpretentious funky party album, a tasty and unique confection! The production by longtime collaborators/mentors the Neptunes is all about swirling, chest shaking synths and treble-heavy clapping beats – and Kelis spreads her wings this time with additional booth work by Dallas Austin, Andre 3000, Rockwilder, and Raphael Saadiq. If you only caught up with Kelis with the aggressively catchy, pounding "Milkshake" single, you'll dig the rest of the album, too – even the more earnest, Raphael Saadiq-produced soul tunes are designed to get you’re a** moving a little. Tracks include "Milkshake", "Trick Me", "Keep It Down", "Protect My Heart", "In Public" with Nas, "Millionaire" featuring vocals and production by A3K (this one would sound perfectly in place on The Love Below), "Glow" and "Attention" with Raphael Saadiq, "Marathon", "Rolling Through The Hood" and more.

Thick, vibrant and moody soundscapes from Lorn – heavy waves of synth, glitchy beats and all around impressive atmosphere – up there with some of the most distinctive and idiosyncratic (mostly) instrumental music we've heard on Ninja Tune in a while! Fairly gritty in a bit dark, without ever becoming oppressively so – with unpredictable elements floating in and out. Includes "Mercy", "Weigh Me Down", "This", "Diamond", "Everything Is Violence", "The Well", "The Gun", "Dead Dogs", "I Better", "Ghosst" and "Ghosst(s)".

Todd Rundgren in all of his great early glory – a record that's filled with simple, honest pop tunes – and one that also takes on a few experimental touches as well – but only in ways that further the earnest charm at its heart! There's a really upfront, unpretentious feel to the record – one that matches Todd's indie rock look on the cover, and which comes through beautifully in the balance of material in the set. Some tunes are a bit harder rocking, but they're always offset by gentler moments that really stand out. Titles include "We Gotta Get You A Woman", "The Last Thing You Said", "Broke Down & Busted", "Who's That Man", "Birthday Carol", "Believe In Me", and the great medley of "Baby Let's Swing/The Last Thing You Said/Don't Tie My Hands".