Not my favorite outing from Chico's finest, but if the last 4 or 5 tracks was an EP I'd live it an 8 rating. Sometimes the Hips just get a little too sweet, but they are in perfect form on "Timesick Son of a Grizzly Bear".   read more »  

This album is a collaboration between Tortoise and Bonnie 'Prince' Billie (aka Will Oldham). Side A has gotten regular rotation over the past year or so... the music and production is as thick as it gets!   read more »  

Another solid release from the strangest band out of Nashville. Huge, tender, and wry sounds from Kurt Wagner and his pals. I'll try and update this when I can pick out some favorites.

This album is absolutely amazing. How he could improve the recipe from 2005's Transistor Radio is beyond me but he does. I'd say the difference is -- and this is hard because I only have the vinyl of T.R. -- that the new release is not afraid to be crystal clear. The electric guitar playing really comes out front and the drums are not afraid to bring up the bottom.   read more »  

As the album cover says... "DUB IT UP BLACKER THAN DREAD." Andrew loaned us this vocal/dub record from the classic era of Lee "Scratch" Perry and The Ark. Hiss never sounds so beautiful as he carefully crafts and builds sounds out of...   read more »  

This release is being touted as Lobos' next "Kiko", the 1993 album often considered to be their masterpiece. Sonically, it does harken to the deep atmosphere and cohesiveness of Kiko. What is missing is the songs that really pop out and stand on their own.   read more »  

The latest from Beck is very similar to Guero from a couple of years ago. It sounds a little flat until you give it a few listens, and then it really opens up and deepens. Beck has an amazing ability to load it with so many unnatural sounds and make it sound natural.   read more »  

Let's here it for boogie and woogie! The Eagles of Death Metal are the T.Rex for the 21st century. Our entire family is completely addicted to this record (despite the inappropriate lyrics.) Each and every tune is a keeper.   read more »  

One side is instrumental, and the other side is vocals. He sings some tracks that he wrote/produced for others ("Working In A Coal Mine") and has a killer funky tune called "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky From Now On".   read more »  

This album is very difficult to find. A friend loaned it to us and we listened to it nonstop for a year, and finally returned it. The music is adventurous and seemingly all over the map but has a very coherant feel to it, although it was apparently recorded over a number of years and locations.   read more »