Tuesday, October 26, 2010

EVENTS - Outlier: Hauntings of the Avant-Garde

OUTLIER: HAUNTINGS OF THE AVANT-GARDE - Thursday, November 4 @ Former UMMA Off/Site
*** "Imagine a room overwhelmed with sound & vision - snatches of music, throbs & echoes, sights unseen until this night that somehow seem familiar. Haunted by fever dreams of the avant-garde past, Outlier combines the heavy influence of 20th century composition with contemporary approaches to experimental music and performance art in a space filled with psychedelic majesty. Is it real? How will you explain it to others? How will you explain it to yourself? HOTT LAVA brings a stellar cast of musicians, composers, performance artists, and filmmakers (including Laurel Halo, Todd Osbourn, Sean Patrick, Tom Buckholz and Ted Kennedy) to create a dynamic installation work that will delight, provoke, and overload the senses. OUTLIER is the culminating evening event for University Musical Society's (UMS) much anticipated three-day celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ONCE Festival.
Former UMMA Off/Site / 1301 S. University / 9PM / $5 / http://on.fb.me/cmTm9m

NEW ARRIVALS: DVD - The Stoned Rollers!

THE ROLLING STONES Ladies & Gentlemen... DVD
*** "Ladies and Gentlemen… The Rolling Stones finally comes to DVD. This legendary Rolling Stones concert film, shot during the 'Exile On Main Street' tour in 1972, released for limited engagements in 1974 and has remained largely unseen."

NEW ARRIVALS: CASSETTE - Ou Où, Child & Swimsuit, Benoit Pioulard

CHILD First Set CS
*** "Two 9 1/2 minute versions of the first composition by Child, a.ka. Fred Thomas of City Center, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Billowing, et al. Different in form and execution, but recognizably the same piece. Way harsher and less ambient."

OU Où Baron Von Baron CS
*** "Debut from St. Louis drone/samplers/live loop/ambient outfit Ou Où. Recording took nearly a year, and the final album was whittled down from hours of tape, though the songs were all performed live with no overdubs. Hear it at: http://ouou.bandcamp.com/

BENOIT PIOULARD Valley CS
*** "This album is a trip into meditative, mind-altering vistas; though still as lush and pretty as his albums, there is a greater sense of foreboding, of travel into the outer limits. Or... the inner limits? Mostly instrumental + one track with vocals -- an impossibly beautiful psych JAMMER that will demand repeat listening for all of autumn, and beyond."

SWIMSUIT Demo CD
*** "Made up of Shelley (ex-Tyvek), Amber (Dos Hermanos), Fred (City Center) and Dina (Secret Twins), 'Demo' is mostly instrumental, super tapey underwater jam. All songs repeat on both sides, but side B has an extra layer of exorbitant reverb to up the Black Tambourine/early MBV faction."

NEW ARRIVALS: Vinyl - Joshua Abrams, The Rolling Stones, Benoit Pioulard

JOSHUA ABRAMS Natural Information LP
*** RECOMMENDED "At the heart of Natural Information is the guimbri, a three-stringed animal hide bass traditionally used by the Gnawa of North Africa in healing ceremonies. Combining solo, trio & quartet formats with adroit use of sampling techniques, Abrams creates intricate psychedelic environments that join the hypnotic, trance-like character of Gnawa guimbri music to more contemporary musics & methodologies. Brown Rice-era Don Cherry, Sandy Bull's 'Blend' recordings & Can's 'Magic' albums are super-heavy but in this case earned & appropriate points of historical reference. HQ-180 gram vinyl by RTI. Limited to 550 copies. Vinyl only!"

BENOIT PIOULARD Lasted LP / CD
*** RECOMMENDED "Third album by Thomas Meluch aka Benoit Pioulard. Thomas has a preternatural ability to weave disparate sound components into a cohesive sonic tapestry, mixing a varied palette of field recordings and percussive elements along with melancholy melodies to create songs that recall -- and are akin to -- vespers of long-buried memories."

REMINDER Continuum 2xLP
*** "Reminder is the moniker of Joshua Abrams who has played with Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Prefuse 73, Sam Prekop, Tortoise and Town & Country. Abrams has crafted an album of hugely enjoyable instrumental hiphop, taking a lo-fi sound you might expect to hear on a Bully release, adding a compositional charm that works a treat."

THE ROLLING STONES Aftermath LP
*** BACK IN STOCK! Fancy reissue.

NEW ARRIVALS: CDs - Pioulard, Ferry, Bird, Extra Lens + 1

ANDREW BIRD Useless Creatures CD
*** "Instrumental album previously only available with the deluxe edition of Noble Beast, feat. Glenn Kotche of Wilco and Todd Sickafoose."

THE EXTRA LENS Undercard CD

*** "John Darnielle (the Mountain Goats) and Franklin Bruno (Nothing Painted Blue, the Human Hearts) feat. songs John wrote that had a) more than three chords or b) a bridge that Franklin might find clever or amusing."

BRYAN FERRY Olympia CD
*** "The legendary Bryan Ferry returns with his suave and sophisticated debut on Astralwerks Feat. Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Groove Armada, Scissor Sisters, Flea, Mani (Primal Scream, ex-Stone Roses), Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead & members of Roxy Music!"

BENOIT PIOULARD Lasted LP / CD
*** RECOMMENDED "Third album by Thomas Meluch aka Benoit Pioulard. Thomas has a preternatural ability to weave disparate sound components into a cohesive sonic tapestry, mixing a varied palette of field recordings and percussive elements along with melancholy melodies to create songs that recall -- and are akin to -- vespers of long-buried memories."

TRUBROT Trúbrot CD
*** "Trúbrot was the first super-group ever founded in Iceland. Really cool underground album full of musical ideas and well-crafted music, including beautiful male & female vocals. RIYL: Blossom Toes and Billy Nichols -- totally catchy underground with a touch of pop."

Thursday, October 21, 2010

EVENTS - Jury Duty w/ Josh Abrams & HOTT LAVA presents Benoit Pioulard!

JURY DUTY w/ JOSH ABRAMS - Friday, October 22 @ Elks Lodge
*** A man of impeccable pedigree, Josh Abrams (Town & Country, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Prefuse 73, etc) joins resident Jury Duty DJs for a long night of music at the best venue in Ann Arbor. "Brown Rice-era Don Cherry, Sandy Bull's 'Blend' recordings & Can's 'Magic' albums
Elks Lodge / 220 W Sunset / 10PM / $5 / http://on.fb.me/aPEHY0

BENOIT PIOULARD wsgs WINDY & CARL & HITOKO + MAN THE HUNTER - Saturday, October 23 @ Yellow Barn
*** HOTT LAVA proudly presents Benoit Pioulard wsgs Windy & Carl & Hitoko and Man The Hunter. Oh, how the drones will be singin' & tingling! It's gonna' be a red wine night!
Yellow Barn / 416 W Huron, A2 / 9PM / $8 / http://on.fb.me/aDkqgV

NEW ARRIVALS: Vinyl - Beach Boys, The Rationals, Black Flag & more

MULATU ASTATKE Timeless 2xLP
*** "Mulatu Astatke is a giant in African music & inventor of Ethio-jazz. On February 1st he blessed the sold out Luckmann Theatre, sharing the stage with veterans of the Los Angeles jazz scene Bennie Maupin, Azar Lawrence and Phil Ranelin."

ATMOSPHERE God Loves Ugly 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

BEACH BOYS Pet Sounds LP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

BLACK FLAG Nervous Breakdown 7"
*** One of the finest singles ever released.

MR. BUNGLE Disco Volante LP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

THE RATIONALS Out On The Floor LP
*** "Collecting the best material from the Rationals' mid-60s garage-soul heyday, including signature tunes, unreleased music and more."

SQUAREPUSHER Shobaleader One: d’Demonstrator 2xLP / CD
*** "This is by far the most accessible record Squarepusher (aka Tom Jenkinson) has ever made. Vocals? R&B rhythms? Heavy synths? This could even be described as 'baby makin' music'."

NEW ARRIVALS: CDs - Squarepusher, Corin Tucker, Zach Hill & more

v/a BOSSA NOVA GUITAR CD
*** RECOMMENDED Choice comp of bossa nova guitar. "BADEN POWELL, JOAO GILBERTO, LUIZ BONFA, LAURINDO ALMEIDA and GARÔTO combined samba, choro and Afro-Bahian ritual music with Bach, bebop, swing to forge the style that seduced the world and changed the course of musical history." On EL RECORDS.

PETER GORDON Love Of Life Orchestra CD
*** RECOMMENDED "Featuring avant-experimentalists and downtown legends David Byrne and Arto Lindsay, Peter Gordon's compositions are underpinned with disco and gilded with noisy guitar bursts, hanging piano chords and saxophone wails."

ZACH HILL Face Tat CD
*** "Massively talented and incessantly collaborative drummer Zach Hill has a second solo album feat. contributors Devendra Banhart, No Age, Prefuse 73, Greg Saunier (Deerhoof) and more."

SLOWDIVE Pygmalion 2xCD
*** BACK IN STOCK!

SOFT BOYS Underwater Moonlight CD
*** BACK IN PRINT! Includes download of album + 30 bonus tracks!

SOFT BOYS A Can Of Bees CD
*** BACK IN PRINT! Includes download of album + 9 bonus tracks!

SQUAREPUSHER Shobaleader One: d’Demonstrator 2xLP / CD
*** "This is by far the most accessible record Squarepusher (aka Tom Jenkinson) has ever made. Vocals? R&B rhythms? Heavy synths? This could even be described as 'baby makin' music'."

CORIN TUCKER 1,000 Years CD
*** "The hard edges of SLEATER-KINNEY's music come nestled in lush weaves of acoustic guitars, keyboards,interlocking percussion, even cellos and violins, which places 1,000 Years deep into Tucker's creative headwaters."

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

EVENTS - Jury Duty w/ Josh Abrams & HOTT LAVA presents Benoit Pioulard!

JURY DUTY w/ JOSH ABRAMS - Friday, October 22 @ Elks Lodge
*** A man of impeccable pedigree, Josh Abrams (Town & Country, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Prefuse 73, etc) joins resident Jury Duty DJs for a long night of music at the best venue in Ann Arbor. "Brown Rice-era Don Cherry, Sandy Bull's 'Blend' recordings & Can's 'Magic' albums
Elks Lodge / 220 W Sunset / 10PM / $5 / http://on.fb.me/aPEHY0

BENOIT PIOULARD wsgs WINDY & CARL & HITOKO + MAN THE HUNTER - Saturday, October 23 @ Yellow Barn
*** HOTT LAVA proudly presents Benoit Pioulard wsgs Windy & Carl & Hitoko and Man The Hunter. Oh, how the drones will be singin' & tingling! It's gonna' be a red wine night!
Yellow Barn / 416 W Huron, A2 / 9PM / $8 / http://on.fb.me/aDkqgV

FREE STUFF - They call it swag!

SUFJAN STEVENS The Age Of Adz CD + poster!
ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS Swanlights CD + poster!
WOMEN Public Strain LP + 7"!
SALEM King Night CD + 7"!
BELLE & SEBASTIAN Write About Love LP / CD + poster AND 7"!!

NEW ARRIVALS: Vinyl - Daft Punk, The Clash, The Cure, The Specials, Dungen & 1 more!

THE CLASH London Calling 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

THE CURE Disintegration 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

DAFT PUNK Discovery 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

DUNGEN Skit I Altt LP+MP3
*** BACK IN STOCK! Limited edition vinyl!

KINGS OF LEON Come Around Sundown 2xLP / CD
*** "Another bold and expansive statement by the Nashville, Tennessee-based quartet."

THE SPECIALS The Specials LP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

NEW ARRIVALS: CDs - Bob Dylan, Kings of Leon, and Bob Dylan!

BOB DYLAN The Witmark Demos 1962-1964 2xCD
*** "47 previously unreeased Bob Dylan songs recorded in January 1962, tracing Dylan’s dramatic growth as a songwriter from early traditionally-styled songs to social commentary and groundbreaking lyrical genius – all recorded before Bob Dylan turned 24.”

BOB DYLAN The Best Of The Original Mono Recordings CD
*** "This release compiles the best of Dylan's early recordings as they were originally meant to be heard: in mono."

KINGS OF LEON Come Around Sundown 2xLP / CD
*** "Another bold and expansive statement by the Nashville, Tennessee-based quartet."

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

EVENTS - Jury Duty w/ Josh Abrams & HOTT LAVA presents Benoit Pioulard!

JURY DUTY w/ JOSH ABRAMS - Friday, October 22 @ Elks Lodge
*** A man of impeccable pedigree, Josh Abrams (Town & Country, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Prefuse 73, etc) joins resident Jury Duty DJs for a long night of music at the best venue in Ann Arbor. "Brown Rice-era Don Cherry, Sandy Bull's 'Blend' recordings & Can's 'Magic' albums
Elks Lodge / 220 W Sunset / 9PM / $7 / http://on.fb.me/aPEHY0

BENOIT PIOULARD wsgs WINDY & CARL & HITOKO + MAN THE HUNTER - Saturday, October 23 @ Yellow Barn
*** HOTT LAVA proudly presents Benoit Pioulard wsgs Windy & Carl & Hitoko and Man The Hunter. More info TBA.
Yellow Barn / 416 W Huron, A2 / 9:30PM / $8

NEW ARRIVALS: Vinyl - Chain & The Gang, Women, Zola Jesus, Maserati, Abe Vigoda & more

ABE VIGODA Throwing Shade b/w Vivid 7"
ABE VIGODA Crush LP / CD

*** NOW ON VINYL!

AIDS WOLF Cities Of Glass LP
*** "Remember when punk was weird and weird was punk? Destroy genre straitjackets and move out of the comfortable."

ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS Swanlights LP / CD
*** "Antony and the Johnsons' new album, containing a duet with Bjork and exploring environmental issues and his connection to the natural world."

ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS Thank You For Your Love 12" / CD
*** First EP in anticipation of the new Antony album featuring 4 additional non-album tracks including covers of Dylan and Lennon (Basinski collabo! HEY-O)."

CHAIN & THE GANG I've Got Privilege b/w Detroit Music 7"
*** "Young and old alike love the beat, the cranked riffs, just the overall vibe! Ian Svenonius and chums have really come up with a winner of a dance task master, a real double-A side plate."

GAYNGS Relayted 2LP+7" / CD
*** NOW ON VINYL!

HALF-HANDED CLOUD As Stowaways in Cabinets of Surf, We Live-out in Our Members a Kind of Rebirth LP+MP3 / CD
*** "Connected with the lyrical tradition of 19th Century American hymns, these tunes splash about in cavernous spaces opened up by irregularly measured rhythms and pocket-orchestra arrangements integrated with creaky pianos, sound-loops, a tugboat of a church organ, guitars and billowing banjos."

MASERATI Pyramid Of The Moon 12"
*** "'Pyramid of the Moon' was born as a scribbled idea in drummer Gerhardt Fuch's journal & hatched in the studio as an extended jam captured while recording the forthcoming album, Pyramid of the Sun. Another brilliant Maserati jam."

WOMEN Public Strain LP+7"
*** NOW ON VINYL! Bonus 7" while supplies last.

ZOLA JESUS Valusia LP / CD
*** "Gone are the morose, gothic lo-vibes and in their place is an airy almost dance track that still sounds as true to form as other endeavor Danilova has ever undertaken. Old hits & recent show-stoppers included!"

NEW ARRIVALS: CDs - Antony & The Johnsons, Belle & Sebastian, Salem, Sufjan Stevens, Zola Jesus

ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS Swanlights LP / CD
*** "Antony and the Johnsons' new album, containing a duet with Bjork and exploring environmental issues and his connection to the natural world."

ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS Thank You For Your Love 12" / CD
*** First EP in anticipation of the new Antony album featuring 4 additional non-album tracks including covers of Dylan and Lennon (Basinski collabo! HEY-O)."

ATMOSPHERE To All My Friends Blood Makes... CD
*** "Originally conceived as EP's for sale only on the Fall tour, Atmosphere has decided to make a limited edition physical CD available to retail."

BELLE & SEBASTIAN Write About Love LP+7" / CD+7"
*** "Back after a 5-year hiatus doing solo projects, soundtracks and more, Glasgow's beloved Belle and Sebastian have returned with one of their finest albums, marrying the intimacy of early works like Sinister and Tigermilk with the production values of their more recent work."

BLACK HEART PROCESSION Blood Bunny/Black Rabbit CD
*** "Befitting of The Black Heart Procession, Blood Bunny / Black Rabbit takes the experimentation hinted at on Six and expands upon it in bizarre and brilliant ways, sounding every bit like an LSD-influenced DJ set."

RHYS CHATHAM An Angel Moves Too Fast... CD
*** RECOMMENDED "Chatham composed a masterpiece for one hundred electric guitars, electric bass and drum -- one of the most extraordinary works in the minimalist canon demonstrating the majesty inherent in Chatham's amplified imagination. Raucous and ecstatic, this sound prefigured the No Wave movement."

DIE ANTWOORD $O$ CD
*** "2010 release from the Cape Town, South Africa Rap trio (Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek). The band mixes several different cultures and styles into one unique whole."

ENVY Recitation 2xLP / CD
*** "It's no surprise that Envy have increasingly found inspiration in instrumental rock and experimental ambient music - genres that historically circumvent cultural trappings. Ergo, a new album!"

HALF-HANDED CLOUD As Stowaways in Cabinets of Surf, We Live-out in Our Members a Kind of Rebirth LP+MP3 / CD
*** "Connected with the lyrical tradition of 19th Century American hymns, these tunes splash about in cavernous spaces opened up by irregularly measured rhythms and pocket-orchestra arrangements integrated with creaky pianos, sound-loops, a tugboat of a church organ, guitars and billowing banjos."

MEGAFAUN Heretofore CD
*** "Heretofore is another articulation of the bands evolved Americana vernacular pairing concise, communicative, challenging, compelling experiments w/ a radiant and redemptive 13-minute instrumental called 'Comprovisation for Connor Pass.'"

SALEM King Night CD+7"
*** "The debut album from Michigan/Chicago-based trio Salem, who's been pegged as the creators of their own genre of music, drag (aka witch house) -- elements of ethereal shoegaze, withdrawn Houston Screw and production qualities akin to the frenetic delivery of contemporary Southern rap and Chicago footwork."

SUFJAN STEVENS The Age Of Adz CD
*** "The Age of Adz (pronounced Odds) is Sufjan Stevens' first full-length of original songs since Illinois. While the sounds on this record are distinctly 'artificial' (drum machines and analog synths reign supreme), the proclamations of the songs are unabashedly visceral, sung loudly, with a backdrop of insistent orchestration."

THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH The Tallest Man On Earth EP CD
*** Reissue of The Tallest Man on Earth's early Swedish-only EP.

THREE MILE PILOT The Inevitable Past Is The Future Forgotten CD
*** "The first new Three Mile Pilot album since the 1997 release of what was thought to be their swan song, the enormously influential Another Desert, Another Sea."

ZOLA JESUS Valusia LP / CD
*** "Gone are the morose, gothic lo-vibes and in their place is an airy almost dance track that still sounds as true to form as other endeavor Danilova has ever undertaken. Old hits & recent show-stoppers included!"

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

EVENTS - The Whip w/ Dan Kroha (THE GORIES), Jury Duty w/ Josh Abrams, & HOTT LAVA presents Benoit Pioulard!

THE WHIP - Thursday, October 7 @ Elks Lodge
*** A brand new dance party from DJs Forest J. & Richie W. It'll be a frenzy of psych, surf, garage, glam, R&B, blues stompers & int’l jams. Special guest: Dan Kroha of THE GORIES who will DJ & play live(!) in the Elks Lodge Rumpus Room. More info & FREE MIX here: http://bit.ly/8XtxND
Elks Lodge / 220 W Sunset / 10PM / $5 / FBOOK: http://bit.ly/bDQ27T

JURY DUTY w/ JOSH ABRAMS - Friday, October 22 @ Elks Lodge
*** A man of impeccable pedigree, Josh Abrams (Chicago improv wizard, Prefuse 73 bass player, etc) joins resident Jury Duty DJs for a long night of music at the best venue in Ann Arbor.
Elks Lodge / 220 W Sunset / 9PM / $?

BENOIT PIOULARD wsgs - Saturday, October 23 @ Yellow Barn
*** HOTT LAVA proudly presents Benoit Pioulard wsgs Windy & Carl & Hitoko and Man The Hunter. More info TBA.
Yellow Barn / 416 W Huron, A2 / 9:30PM / $8

NEW ARRIVALS: Vinyl - It's 7" season, y'all!

v/a BODDIE RECORDING CO. ACETATE BOX 3x45
*** BACK IN STOCK! "Culled from the Boddie Recording Co. tape archive, this 3x45 set captures three unknown groups from the late 60s/early 70s." Limited to 1000. On NUMERO.

AH HOLLY FAM'LY Reservoir LP+MP3 / CD
*** "At once fragile and overwhelming, the sophisticated avant folk chamber pop of Ah Holly Fam'ly hearkens back to the rural Appalachian folk of yesterday, and the avant folk experimentalism of today."

BLACK FLAG Nervous Breakdown 7"
*** One of the finest singles ever released.

DAFT PUNK Discovery 2xLP
*** BACK IN STOCK!

DEAD WEATHER Hang You From The Heavens 7"
DEAD WEATHER Treat Me Like Your Mother 7"

*** Feat. members of The Strokes and Vampire Weekend.

DISAPPEARS Old Friend / Magics 7"
*** BACK IN STOCK! Killer single from KRANKY band Disappears.

DUNGEN Skit I Allt LP
*** NOW ON VINYL! "Sweden's Dungen sweetly return with a collection of gorgeous rippers and graceful jazz filled polyrhythms at ease with effervescent pop, third-eye popping psychedelia, heavy rock, spider-web folk and breezy jazz."

FISTFUL OF MERCY As I Call You Down LP / CD
*** "The trio of Ben Harper, Dhani Harrison (George's son) & Joseph Arthur play songs complete with soulful harmonies and blues-infused folk guitar seamlessly blended with an indie rock backbone."

FUGAZI Furniture 7"
*** Three tunes from STEVE ALBINI's favorite band.

GIRLS Oh Boy 7"
*** Oh Boy b/w Laura.

NO AGE Everything In Between LP+BOOK / CD
*** NOW ON VINYL! "It's their best record yet."

ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER w/ ANTONY & FENNESZ Returnal 7"
*** BACK IN STOCK! "Hot on the heels of the acclaimed Oneohtrix Point Never Returnal album come these fabulous versions of the title track from ANTONY and FENNESZ packaged in dazzling artwork by Stephen O'Malley."

BENOIT PIOULARD Lee 7"
*** "A two-song tribute to Lee Hazlewood & The Ink-Spots from Kranky artist Benoit Pioulard. Gorgeous & otherworldly, pairing rich, uncanny atmosphere with solid songwriting, these tunes are marked by a directness & clarity not found in his original compositions." Limited to 300 copies.

BENOIT PIOULARD Flocks 7"
*** Two long and gorgeous exclusive tracks from KRANKY RECORDS' Benoit Pioulard, released on yellow vinyl by Windy & Carl. Limited! Don't sleep on this beautiful release.

ARTHUR RUSSELL / CANT Split 7"
*** RECOMMENDED Cant is the alias of GRIZZLY BEAR's bass player & ARTHUR RUSSELL is the man. Exclusive tracks.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND Holiday 7"
*** Holiday b/w Ottoman.

THE WALKMEN Lisbon LP+MP3
*** NOW ON VINYL!

NEW ARRIVALS: CDs - Madlib, Women, Laetitia Sadier, John Lennon, Abe Vigoda & more

v/a WATCH HOW THE PEOPLE DANCING: Unity Sounds From The London Dancehall, 1986-1989 2xLP / CD
*** BACK IN STOCK! "Staggering, exhilarating Jamaican avant‐gardism, inspired by Jammy's Sleng Teng explosion made by soundmen on a Casio and a drum machine, and facing down techno, hip-hop, breakbeat and rave. A Jamaican secession from London mastered by Moritz von Oswald from Basic Channel." On HONEST JON'S.

ABE VIGODA Crush CD
*** RECOMMENDED "To 'Skeleton''s hot-hot-hot template, Abe Vigoda now add glassy shards of 'cold wave' pop, with synthesisers, sequencers and altogether broodier beats. Scorching temperatures, icy cur­rents - Crush is a thermal column of vertiginous brilliance!"

AH HOLLY FAM'LY Reservoir LP+MP3 / CD
*** "At once fragile and overwhelming, the sophisticated avant folk chamber pop of Ah Holly Fam'ly hearkens back to the rural Appalachian folk of yesterday, and the avant folk experimentalism of today."

BREATHE OWL BREATHE Magic Central CD
*** "Rural Michigan's Breathe Owl Breathe crafted a pop album like no other, a timeless aural cartogram of feeling, soul, skill, and story. You could have found it in the attic. It could have dropped from space."

FISTFUL OF MERCY As I Call You Down LP / CD
*** "The trio of Ben Harper, Dhani Harrison (George's son) & Joseph Arthur play songs complete with soulful harmonies and blues-infused folk guitar seamlessly blended with an indie rock backbone."

GUSTER Easy Wonderful CD
*** Guster's favorite album of their career is 12 "great pop songs."

JOHN LENNON Double Fantasy 2xCD
JOHN LENNON Plastic Ono Band CD
JOHN LENNON Imagine CD

*** "Digitally remastered editions!"

MADLIB Medicine Show No. 8: Advanced Jazz CD
*** "Some of this music to the untrained ear might not seem to be jazz at all. But rest assured this is a jazz mix through and through, as exhilarating a ride as Madlib's Brain Wreck Show and Flight To Brazil."

MAHALA RAI BANDA Mahala Rai Banda CD
*** "This sensational new band from the Gypsy ghetto of Bucharest combines a staple Romanian diet of violins & accordions with a horn section consisting of army brass band veterans, powered by a funky rhythm section." On CRAMMED.

LAETITIA SADIER The Trip CD
*** "STEREOLAB vocalist Laetitia steps out & collaborates w/ Rebecca Gates (Spinanes), Richard Swift and April March for a sparse, gorgeous record."

WOMEN Public Strain CD
*** "Women has honed a sound truthful to reverb drenched noise while allowing pop sensibilities to surface into clear focus, a balance of delicate and dense reflecting the contradiction of the band's environment buried in urban sprawl framed by prairie landscape."