... CD

Like any Spike Lee soundtrack from the 80s, this one's a mix of many different styles – with some straight-out pop tracks, like EU's hit "Da Butt", or a number of throwaway 80s R&B tracks by lost groups. The best moments, as usual, are the jazzy ones – like Phyllis Hyman's sweet "Be One", Bill Lee's spiritual "Wake Up Suite", and Kenny Barron & Terence Blanchard's duet on "One Little Acorn". LP, Vinyl record album

A stretched out performance from Ahmad Jamal – recorded with stunning acoustic brilliance at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 1985, in a performance that alternates between long solo lines on the piano, and bolder passages with bass, drums, and percussion! There's a strength here that's easily overlooked – especially given that Jamal cut so much great work in earlier years – but even in the 80s, his talents were still flowing strongly, and Ahmad was often hitting the keys with a bolder hand than ever before – an approach that increased the rhythmic intensity and personal vision of his music. Titles include "Yellow Fellow", "Acorn", "Crossroads", "Rossiter Road", "Ebony", and "Footprints". CD

A stretched out performance from Ahmad Jamal – recorded with stunning acoustic brilliance at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 1985, in a performance that alternates between long solo lines on the piano, and bolder passages with bass, drums, and percussion! There's a strength here that's easily overlooked – especially given that Jamal cut so much great work in earlier years – but even in the 80s, his talents were still flowing strongly, and Ahmad was often hitting the keys with a bolder hand than ever before – an approach that increased the rhythmic intensity and personal vision of his music. Titles include "Yellow Fellow", "Acorn", "Crossroads", "Rossiter Road", "Ebony", and "Footprints". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful bit of folk-psych from the late 60s UK scene – recorded for Polydor in 1969, but never issued at the time – now finally getting its first exposure to the world at large! The group have a really easygoing approach – blending fuzzy electric and softer acoustic guitars, slow-stepping rhythms, and some slightly more tripped-out instrumentation – all with vocals that take on a nicely lyrical approach – never too hippy-dippy, but with an evocative quality that has echoes of the ancient. Group members have ties to Band Of Joy and Velvett Fogg – and the set features uncredited work from Peter Frampton, and members of The Herd and East of Eden. Like other Lion reissues, the quality here is top-shelf – full notes, photos, and lots of information on the lost album – presented here with 12 tracks that include "Execution Of The Child", "Rain Day Julep", "Hello Goodbye Victoria Cane", "Hanna Wife Of Thomas Kite", "Harpsichord", "Roses & Ribbons", "Masochists Of Strangulation", and "The Story Of Acorn Rose". CD

One of the best by The White Stripes – delivering on the rambunctiousness of their blues punk roots while making their greatest creative strides yet! There's a few more tracks with acoustic guitar and keyboards here, and some songs that honestly feels a bit like Led Zeppelin with the indulgent rock star bombast trimmed away. It's a more ambitious set from Jack and Meg than we expected to come after their more primal early recordings – and that's a good thing! Includes the hits "Seven Nation Army" and "The Hardest Button To Button" – plus "Black Math", "In The Cold, Cold, Night", "Ball And Biscuit", "Little Acorns", "Hypnotize", "Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine", "It's True That We Love One Another" and more. CD

One of the best by The White Stripes – delivering on the rambunctiousness of their blues punk roots while making their greatest creative strides yet! There's a few more tracks with acoustic guitar and keyboards here, and some songs that honestly feels a bit like Led Zeppelin with the indulgent rock star bombast trimmed away. It's a more ambitious set from Jack and Meg than we expected to come after their more primal early recordings – and that's a good thing! Includes the hits "Seven Nation Army" and "The Hardest Button To Button" – plus "Black Math", "In The Cold, Cold, Night", "Ball And Biscuit", "Little Acorns", "Hypnotize", "Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine", "It's True That We Love One Another" and more. LP, Vinyl record album