((((( NEW ARRIVALS: CDs & LPs ))))) Madlib (YNQ), Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dorothy Ashby

v/a SITAR BEAT: Indian Style Heavy Funk Vol. II CD
*** "A motherlode of Indian-styled funk -- heavy on the sitar, but with a fair bit of American funk influence. The tracks are pretty obscure, most are actually from India -- not copycat tracks from Europe and the US -- and alongside the sitars, instrumentation also includes some great trumpet, moog, and keyboard bits too. Most numbers are from soundtracks -- and have a definite soundtrack sort of feel -- and although there's some vocals on the album, the main focus is clearly on the great instrumentation and super-heavy rhythms."

v/a SITAR BEAT: Vol. 1 12"
v/a SITAR BEAT: Vol. 3 12"
*** The original 12"s with about six tracks on each, including tracks from Serge, Klaus Doldinger, and bonus beats all around.

DOROTHY ASHBY The Rubaiyat Of Dorothy Ashby CD
*** "Incredible work from the amazing Dorothy Ashby -- a brilliant set of funky and spiritual tunes, set to full backings from Chicago soul arranger Richard Evans! This album is easily one of Ashby 's greatest, and it's dedicated to the writings of Omar Khayyam -- one of the forces guiding Dorothy 's more spiritual sound at the end of the 60s, clearly opened up in a way that's not unlike the direction of Alice Coltrane's work, but a lot more focused and a lot more funky! Ashby not only plays her usual jazz harp, but also koto as well, and even sings a bit too."

BEASTIE BOYS The Mix-Up LP
*** NOW ON VINYL!

GARBAGE Absolute Garbage CD
*** The band's first retrospective featuring 17 tracks.

NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE Gypsy Cowboy CD
*** RE-RELEASE! The original album remastered with a few live bonus tracks.

YEAH YEAH YEAHS Is Is CD
*** 5ive songs recorded between their two albums. Oh, nice. 8.2 on the ol' Pitchfork. Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- you've been Pitchforked!

YESTERDAYS NEW QUINTET Yesterday's Universe LP / CD
*** NOW ON VINYL! "The deepest jazz funk material Madlib has ever laid down -- possibly the best album yet from Yesterday's New Quintet. Freewheeling avant funk, electro jazz groove, furious sound library styled funk, a few chill moments, and a boundless sound over 15 unique tracks -- purportedly played by 10 acts. In all truth, it's all Madlib with special guests including Karriem Riggins and Azymuth precussionist Mamao! Amazing work from one of the most talented wizards in the game!"