The only track ever recorded by the obscure East Bay funk group Monsta – a combo whose output was so lean, the one-sided single was only pressed in a run of 100 copies at the time! That doesn't stop the tune from being a treasure, though – as it bursts right out of the gate with a tight ensemble funk approach that rivals some of the bigger groups of the time – not disco, but instead fast funky soul – with sweet keyboard lines in the mix, and lots of vocal trading back and forth with a nicely witty vibe that really keeps things charming throughout! 12-inch, Vinyl record
2
Monsta Island Czars —
Come Up ... LP Dope Folks, Late 90s. New Copy ...
$20.99
Seven unreleased tracks from the Monsta Island Czars collective – material that's got a really strong sense of urgency, and which adds plenty to their too-small catalog! The MCs vary from track to track, which further deepens the sound – and some of the best moments are the cuts where two vocalists are going back to back. Titles include "Bip Bap" with King Cesar, "Mad World" with Kamackeris, "It's About Time" with Megalon and Trife, "You Never Know" with Spiga, "My Motive" with Megalon, "Hungry" with Kamackeris and Kong, and "Written In Blood" with Kong and Spiga. LP, Vinyl record album
The one that catapulted PJ Harvey from a critical favorite to something of a popular favorite on both the US and UK – and her most remarkable creative stride to date! At the time, it felt like this was the one where Polly Harvey made a conscious choice to go "big" with sound, working with producer Flood after that famously stripped down Rid Of Me with Steve Albini engineering, but in hindsight it's amazing how the bigger sound, unafraid of electronics and all around grander atmosphere never even comes close to hiding the by turns intimate and mysterious lyricism – and it might be the best showcase for Polly's voice on record – projecting varying, unpredictable mood from track to track. Includes "To Bring You My Love", "Meet Ze Monsta", "Down By The Water", "Send His Love To Me", "The Dancer" and more. LP, Vinyl record album
PJ Harvey is one of those artists who you'd really like to be a fly on the wall and bear witness to the makings of her best work, and if any her albums would be among the more vital on a more skeletal lavel – any mid 90s era modern classic in general, really – it'd be her To Bring You My Love and it does not disappoint! Widely and justifiably remembered as one of the great alt rock breakout efforts of the 90s, To Bring You My Love had a big sound, thanks mostly to PJ Harvey taking her art to the next level, but you gotta give credit to producer Flood, too. The almost bluesy vibe of Down By The Water and the title track were never obscured by the bigness of the finished product, but it's really cool to hear it in demo form – which is still fuller sounding than you'd expect. Includes "To Bring You My Love", "Meet Ze Monsta", "Working For The Man", "Teclo", "Long Snake Moan", "Down By The Water", "Send His Love To Me", "I Think I'm A Lover" and "The Dancer". CD
PJ Harvey is one of those artists who you'd really like to be a fly on the wall and bear witness to the makings of her best work, and if any her albums would be among the more vital on a more skeletal lavel – any mid 90s era modern classic in general, really – it'd be her To Bring You My Love and it does not disappoint! Widely and justifiably remembered as one of the great alt rock breakout efforts of the 90s, To Bring You My Love had a big sound, thanks mostly to PJ Harvey taking her art to the next level, but you gotta give credit to producer Flood, too. The almost bluesy vibe of Down By The Water and the title track were never obscured by the bigness of the finished product, but it's really cool to hear it in demo form – which is still fuller sounding than you'd expect. Includes "To Bring You My Love", "Meet Ze Monsta", "Working For The Man", "Teclo", "Long Snake Moan", "Down By The Water", "Send His Love To Me", "I Think I'm A Lover" and "The Dancer". LP, Vinyl record album
A definite baker's dozen in this excellent series – the 13th entry in this stellar run of instrumental hip hop, featuring 13 trcks in all! This final volume in the series caps things off with fantastic beats, breaks, and production from a run of top-shelf talents – a lineup that includes Madlib, Pete Rock, Mitsu The Beats, Damu The Fudgemunk, Onra, Statik Selektah, Black Milk, Alchemist, Mndsgn, and Tokimonsta – artists who do a great job of bringing scenes, styles, and periods of hip hop production. LP, Vinyl record album