William Parker & Hamid Drake - Summer Snow
Earthy, worldly, intuitive, spiritual improvisations on a host of instruments such as doson’ngoni, tabla, gongs, water bowls, shakuhachi, double bass, and various kinds of drums. These pieces stretch beyondjazz to become something more timeless and deeply resonant. World Music in the best possible sense...

Panda Bear - Person Pitch
What to say about a record that has already captured so many people in its web of sunny vibrations? So simple and yet so layered and fi lled with positive energy... and way more interesting than the ‘Strawberry Jam’ album by Animal Collective.

Akron/Family - Love is Simple
Their most epic release yet, this one draws together so many ideas and sounds and styles that it’s sometimes hard to believe that it’s all the same band. And they do it all so seamlessly and with such soul... truly one of the fi nest American bands out there right now, especially live.


Eric Copeland - Hermaphrodite
This Black Dice member made a solo record that really pushes forward the looping/noise aesthetic to a higher plane. Totally catchy yet quite experimental... very interesting music.

Michael Harrison - Revelation
A suite of piano pieces in Just Intonation that shimmers with the silvery haze of hundreds of microtones. If you dig Lamonte Young’s piano works or just want something that sounds like it’s from another world/time yet is also beautiful and meditative, check this one out.

Amon Tobin - Foley Room (Ninja Tune)
Darker, cinematic, elctronica from this Ninja Tune beatmaster. This one’s his best since Supermodified, and it comes with a cool DVD of videos for the tracks on this fine release.

Glenn Jones - Against Which the Sea Continually Beats
Guitarist extraordinaire from Boston post-rock legends Cul De Sac turns out his second album of solo guitar works, and it’s even better than the fi rst one was. He brings his own style to the post-Fahey continuum of guitarists, making beautiful music rich with warmth and finesse.


Life on Earth - Finally We Are No One
Bassist from Dungen goes solo and makes an incredible album of psychedelic rock that sounds both classic and modern. Great tunes, ace production, and the perfect vibe for this kind of music...

Kiln - Dusker
This Michigan trio is almost invisible despite releasing several albums, which is a shame, because they make some of the most finely- crafted ambient/downtempo electronic music out there. Simply beautiful choice/creation/use of sounds and a masterful sense of structuring and dynamics... everything they’ve done are great, and this one’s perhaps their most refined work yet.

Black Dice - Load Blown
When I listen to this record, I keep imagining that a bunch of robots have taken over a giant factory full of machines and are making a musical maze of rhythmic insanity. Seriously their best record since the masterpiece ‘Beaches and Canyons’ from a few years back.

White Rainbow - Prism of Eternal Now
Cosmic mantras of the “Inner Mind Journey” variety. Blissful and trance- inducing drones, rhythms, and melodies. I also had a transcendent experience seeing him perform last spring...
 
Gang Gang Dance - Rawwar EP
A three track EP to hold us over until the next full-length, this one fi nds these NYC fusionistas exploring further into their world of dark, futuristic, avant-rock. This one’s got an MIA-fl avored dance track, a cute little Kraftwerk-goes-middle eastern pop ditty, and a long experimental jam with lots of looping and spoken word samples.

Odd Nosdam - Level Live Wires
Former CLOUDDEAD beat-making maestro’s latest foray into his unique universe of hazy electronic dub-hop is his best yet. High-quality laid back grooves and washed-out textural haze... great for late- night headphone listening.

Tied + Tickeled Trio - Aelita
They dropped the jazz sax parts and focused on making a dubby, cinematic electronic record. It works extremely well... this group features guys from the Notwist in case you like them but haven’t heard this stuff yet.

Moodring - Phoolan Devi
Way cool experimental electronic/rock/ noise from two members of the almighty Rollerball. We don’t have it, so you gotta get this one from them via their myspace page. Highly recommended.

Plants - Photosynthesis
Ethereal synth dreamscapes, folky tunes with lovely vocals, and pretty instrumental passages. Nice!

Nicole Mitchell & Black Earth Ensemble - Black Unstoppable
Excellent progressive large-ensemble jazz  from this Chicago-based AACM member who is also in the incredible group Frequency (which reminds me, do yourself a favor and check out their self-titled album  on Thrill Jockey... it was one of my favorites from last year and highly recommended to anyone seeking a soulful and spiritual musical experience).

Dr. Dog - We All Belong
Wow, in this postmodern age, I can’t believe I actually like a band that writes pop songs... but I do. Kinda like the Band, the Beach Boys, and the Beatles, a little bit like the Lilys and Olivia Tremor Control, but mostly just exactly like Dr. Dog.

Soft Circle - Full Bloom
Former Black Dice drummer made this solo record with lots of drums, drum machines, and synths, along with some droney vocals. The mood ranges from calm and meditative at points to thundering tribal heavyness at others, with an overall spacy and futuristic vibe.

Deerhoof- Friend Opportunity
These folks have developed their own universe of weirdness so well that it’d be easy to say, “oh, just another Deerhoof record” and that would be that. But they’re still amazing at what they do (something no one else does), and this record is further proof of that fact, even expanding yet again on their trademark sound. Inimitable...

Stars of The Lid - And Their Refinement Of The Decline
Now-legendary ambient duo’s best album yet, this one’s a double dose of lovely symphonic droned-out bliss.

Favorite Reissues, Previously Unissued Archival Recordings, and Collections of 2007, in Alphabetical order:

Harmonia - Live 1974
Wow, I never expected to hear what these Krautrock legends were like live and it’s pretty amazing. More raw than their studio works and very cool to hear new material and reworked versions of familiar classics.

Herbie Hancock - Takin’ Off
His fi rst solo album ever was a great session on Blue Note and features some fine playing from Herbie and his sidemen. A classic record that sounds even better now that it’s been remastered.

Qua - Painting Monsters on Clouds
Beautiful organic electronica with a keen ear for detail... highly nuanced compositions full of warm textures, continuously evolving rhythms, and lush soundscapes. An elastic labyrinth of elaborately patterned sound fabric.

Seefeel - Quique
Remastered reissue from this influential UK ensemble with new bonus disc of rarities and remixes. This is their best work, which falls somewhere between the shoegaze and electronica movements of the time (1993), mixing the best elements of each into one fascinating musical entity unlike anything else before or maybe even since.

Caetano Veloso - Araca Azul
Caetano’s most experimental album ever and my favorite as well. Weird multi-tracked vocalizations, some beautiful piano and guitar based songs, and bizarre tape collages and edits make this one a surreal trip... one well worth taking!

Caetano Veloso - Caetano Veloso <White Album from 1969>
Another Caetano classic available again!

Various Artists - Authenticite - The Syliphone Years
Two amazing CDs full of the fi nest African guitar pop from the 1960’s and 70’s, including many rare selections. Comes with an informative booklet, and possibly my favorite African collection of all time, though the ‘Africa Dances’ comp on Original Music is a strong contender too!

Various Artists - Black Mirror - Reflections in Global Musics
A nice collection of recordings from around the globe from the fi rst half of the 20th century... world music before there was ‘World Music’ including many styles of traditional music which have now sadly disappeared.

Various Artists - Zanzibara 3 - Ujamaa: The 1960’s sound of Tanzania
Upbeat guitar pop from Tanzania with great harmony vocals, this one will really bring some sunshine into your life.

Various Artists - Zanzibara 2 - Golden Years of Mombassa Tarab
Kinda similar to the Ethiopiques series in sound and style, with a slightly different sort of groove...

tip: Support local music, musicians, and music stores. Take any opportunity to build community with artists of all kinds. Practice kindness and strive to give love to everyone and everything in every way possible. Believe that we can make a difference in the world and set out to make that difference. Live each day like it’s going to be your last (except for the crazy whirlwind of emotions that would undoubtedly cause). Be all that you can be (but NOT in the army!).

Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators - Keep Reachin’ Up
Do you like Sharon Jones or Amy Winehouse?

Aretha Franklin - Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign ofthe Queen of Soul
Do you like Nicole Willis?

Radiohead - In Rainbows
They’ve aged well, and I like this one.

Various Artists - Tropicalia - A Brazilian Revolution in Sound
Psychedelic funk from ‘60’s Brazil is the new sliced bread. How could you dislike this party?

Peter Bjorn, and John - Writer’s Block
Rock fun.

Honorable Mention: No Country for Old Men (DVD) - Favorite movie in years!

The Gun Club - Miami

Sixteens - Into the Goldwave of Future Non Rip Off!

The Horrors - Strange House Psychotic Sounds for Freaks and Weirdos

Swann Danger - Thin and Gold EP

Wild Billy Childish and the Musicians of the British Empire - Punk Rock at the British Legion Hall

The Slits - Return of the Giant Slits (Reissue)

Ramones – It’s Alive (DVD)

Animals and Men – Revel in the Static (79-83)
The Vicious – Igen

American Steel – Destroy Their Future
After a six year hiatus, Oakland’s American Steel came back with a fantastic record.  The band synthesized its three previous records into one of the best punk records of the year.  Combining raspy east bay vocals with Motown chord structures.

Chromeo – Fancy Footwork
The sophomore release from this Montreal duo is the perfect record to put on at your next dance party.  With analog keys, vocoder effects and artifi cial hand claps, they’re pumpin up the volume like Christian  Slater.

Metalocalypse –Season One (DVD)/ DeathKlok – Deathalbum
Metalocalypse follows the lives of the biggest name in fi ctional black metal history: Deathklok!  The show is one of the darkest, coldest and most brutal shows I’ve ever witnessed!  The soundtrack album takes cues from Maiden, 80s Metallica, and Cannibal Corpse.  It will leave you ready to slay dragons and party down with a clown!

Kidcrash - Jokes
This proggy, mostly instrumental band from Olympia and Santa Fe made a record that only left my car stereo a handful of times all year.  With odd time signatures that constantly change (a la Botch) and loads of double tapping guitar licks, Kidcrash will be a band to keep your eye on.

Operation Ivy – Energy (reissue)
Countless teens have based their lives on this compilation of just about everything OpIv ever recorded.  I was no different.  Energy is just one of those classic records you never get sick of….EVER!  It’s too bad it’s not being reissued by original label Lookout! Records, but Epitaph will have to do.  Everybody skank!

tip: Best East Bay karaoke – Jaguar Karaoke on Telegraph in Oakland.  I rock, you rock…Jaguar rocks!

Blanche - Little Amber Bottles
This ain’t yo daddy’s country music, but maybe it should be!

Moonspell - Great Silver Eye
Grrreat atmospheric metal bound to make anyone get into witchcraft, and I don’t mean the band Witchcraft!

Bauhaus - Go Away White
For the fi rst time in almost 26 years, this band steps into the studio to record one more album and guess what? It wasn’t a wasted effort!

Firewater - Golden Hour
One of the most over looked bands of the last 10 years.  Their fi rst album in 4 years and people will probably still forget about them.

Warlocks - Heavy Deavy Skull Lover
Who says Psychedelia is only for hippies?! Wait a minute.  People call me a hippie!  Oh  shit!  Am I not to be trusted?!

tip:  The Acme Bar on San Pablo is a great hole in the wall, but bad if you get kicked out!

Soundtrack - About a Son

PJ Harvey - White Chalk

Aretha Franklin - Rare and Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul!

My So-Called Life - The Complete Series (DVD)

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Runnin’ Down a Dream (DVD)

Horrors of Malformed Men (DVD)
A late 60s Japanese psych-take on the old “Dr. Moreau” tale, only this time gonzo’d up with some Rampo script damage.  Art school exploits told through a LOT of colored filters, Coffin Joe set pieces and Butoh dancing monsters.  Yes, Butoh dancing.  Kreepy.  A depraved mad scientist makes mutants and half naked sheep women.  Cake faced folks in cages left out like Mummenschanz gone to seed.  Etc.  Oh my.  Jodorowsky and Fukasaku fanst take note:  this one will please ya!  Rumor has it that this is one of the lowest selling discs Synapse has released!?!?  We gotta right this wrong NOW.

Mystics in Bali (DVD)
The holy grail of international horror fi nally gets a state-side release!  A young American girl becomes possessed by an Indonesian witch and has problems keeping her head on (and internal organs in) as it flies around looking for fetuses to suck out of unsuspecting mothers.  No shit.  Why can’t Hollywood make anything this entertaining?  Insane f/x work and a fantabulous warlock battle royale that rivals Disney’s The Sword and the stone’s finale in sheer Intellivision laser bolt action alone….Thank you for existing Macabro.

Terrible Twos
More spastic Motor City madness for you weird- ohs out there.  Similar to Detroit locals Human Eye and the sadly missed Piranhas, TT’s come off like Zappa’s band raised on 70s synth punk Screamers, Eno and bathtub meth instead of commercial jingles and pot brownies.  So frantic in change ups you’ll be left boogie puking all over your tie-dye, hippie.  One of the best live acts you’ll ever catch as well.  Two great singles floating around out there on Big Nexk and X! Records….Catch the fever!

The Golden Boys – Whiskey Flower
This Texas band’s sophomore effort may not be as southern rawk or bombast as their past release or singles, but it’s just as porch stompin’ and soaked in despair (or maybe that’s Shiner Beer?).  Damned if it don’t sound similar to John Lennon’s solo output gone Americana at times (you’ll know when that hits), and don’t hold it against them.  Suits em just fi ne.  Horns sprout up, warped tape loops warble along, fiddles and organs roll on off into a muggy sunset.  It’s still got some oddball Texas style Butthole-ishness throughout the B-side, so don’t think it all went soft.  Wish I was lying out in a field of dandelions with this one playing in my head.  Permanently.  All this on the prettiest creamsicle swirled vinyl you’ll be likely to find outside a Woolworth’s lunch counter.  Perfection.

The Touched – Funeral Dress 7”
Way down in nowheresville Kentucky, the 70s Cleve-punk scene is still thriving.  These burly southern dudes bring forth the Rocket From the Tombs/Electric Eels/ Pagans spew of the yesteryear and slosh it all up in an AmRep filth cake that caught me totally off guard.  Hate filled proto-punk that feels like a Gulcher or Anopheles re-ish and I wouldn’t have doubted for a minute it wasn’t authentic and over three decades old.  Outsider vocals of the Chris D./Debris variety and a hell of a lot o’unhinged f/x pedal clatter.  Scum rock for older dudes who hate what muSICK has become.  I want a full length please.

Caribou – Andora
Polished up psych-rock. Super catchy pop at its best.

Panda Bear – Person Pitch
Lush layers of Wilson-esque psych rock in a more lo-fi fashion.

Apparat – Walls
Soulful electronica at its best; for fans of Jamie Lidell. Records….Catch the fever!

Ike Yard – 1980-82 Collected
80s Dark drum machines. Cool vocals and interesting guitar work. Best reissue in a while.

Velvet Cacoon – Genevieve
Black metal at its best. Layers of guitar and nice ambient scapes and buried vocals if you’re picky like me!

tip: First Friday art walks! R.M.L. RIP!