Blue Notes - The Ogun Collection

Henry Kuntz - Whirling Sun Visions

Doctor Bob - Dark Times

Charles Tyler - Saga of the Outlaws

Eddie Gale - A Salute to President Obama

Mulatu Astatke/The Heliocentrics - Inspiration Information 3

Ethiopian haberdasher Mulatu Astatke tailors Stones Throw/Now-Again funk outfit The Heliocentrics into an exotic poly-fabric number with plenty of room in the pocket. Music to strut to.

Exile - Radio

Emanon producer, Blu collaborator, and MPC stalwart DJ Exile modulates bandwidth frequencies and sample duration into a head bop and an "I think I smell poo" face. "Love Line" is the beat (nay, sentiment) of the year. Also check DJ Dusk's Root Down Soundclash DVD for further drum-pad shenanigans.

Lee Fields & The Expressions - My World

Leon Michels (El Michels Affair, see also Enter the 37th Chamber) and company orchestrate straightforward Hip-Hop-informed soul arrangements atop which Mr. Lee Fields drizzles golden molasses from his honeycomb throat. Sweet soul music...you need this in your life.

Onra - Chinoiseries

This is a couple years old, but just recently fell into my lap. Instrumental Hip-Hop goodness with samples culled from circular Vietnamese artifacts. Evidently, the Parisian Asian has plans for a part two in this series--which I found is but a minor indication of his growing production chops after a preliminary perusal of his MySpace page.

Invincible - Shapeshifters

Invincible is an emcee from Detroit who spits like a fire-and-brimstone-breathing dizagon emerging from an opaque chasm of uncertain depth that either leads to the netherworld or some sort of hazy Shangri-La..."These cats pop off at the mouth like Orville Redenbacher / my lyrics open up the portals to your seven chakras..." Her cadence and message are as one, no compromising--no easy feat when you're tackling topics like gentrification, media, matters of the heart, etc. Production is handled by Black Milk, Waajeed, and House Shoes amongst others. Also check: Finale's A Pipe Dream and a Promise and J Dilla's Pete Rock-assisted Jay Stay Paid for more Motor City melodies.

Mos Def - The Ecstatic

Universal magnetic boogieman deftly maintains his positive polarity in these "marvelous times," casting stones with West Coast siblings Madlib and Oh No behind the samplers–I was able to deduce that much from the scant liner-notes. Stand out nods: "Quiet Dog Bite Hard" and the Slick Rick assisted "Auditorium"–oh, and fuck the INS.

tip: The revolution will not be advertised--until 30 years from now when it will be featured prominently on an Urban Outfitters T-shirt.

Tommy Heavenly6 - Gothic Melting Ice Cream's Darkness Nightmare

Tomoko Kawase from the Brilliant Green is Tommy Heavenly6. Gothic Melting Ice Cream's Darkness Nightmare compiles the best from her first two Releases. A hot fudge sundae of '90s rock guitars that blister among sugary sweet melodies; with lyrics chock full of ghosts, knights on horseback, and bloody skies. It doesn't get better than this for guitar heavy J-POP! Check out: I'm Gonna SCREAM+, Lollipop Candy_BAD_girl, +gothic pink+, GIMMIE ALL OF YOUR LOVE!!, and PAPERMOON. Only in the San Francisco J-POP section. Mail Order it if you have to!

Mike Patton - Crank: High Voltage

Zip Code Rapists - Sing and Play the Three Doctors and Other Sounds of Today

What a gem. This disc compiles

Pushing Daisies

Taylor Swift - Fearless

Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted

Twilight - Soundtrack

Mandy Moore - Amanda Leigh

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

Zip Code Rapists - Sing and Play the Three Doctors and Other Sounds of Today

If you don't know by now, don't mess with it! No, that's not right, this CD is designed for everybody! At long last, the major works of the Zip Code Rapists are available again. From their supposed beginnings as a Doors cover band from Texas, to their shameful years of broken glass and bloated excess, to their acrimonious breakup and inevitable decade-later reunion, this CD details the hope and anger, the trauma and triumph, of this quintessentially American folk-punk duo featuring Gregg Turkington and John Singer. In addition to the Zip Code Rapists' astonishing 1992 debut LP Sing and Play the Three Doctors and Other Sounds of Today, this 36-song CD compiles the overlong 7" The Man Can't Bust Our Music and the inexcusably short 12" 94124, all of which have been lovingly remastered for today’s more discerning listener. This deluxe package also includes previously unheard outtakes and compilation tracks, four revelatory live songs from a 1993 show at CBGB's, and a touching performance from a 2006 reunion show. The ZCR story comes to life in a 16-page booklet with insightful liner notes by official band historian Will York, and candid photos of the boys at the height, and nadir, of their careers. Best of all, each CD comes with a FREE RUB-ON ZCR TATTOO, which can be worn for a day, or cherished for a lifetime. You won't believe the sound you hear. it's great! Another fine Eabla Records release. Check out their rarities page on the internets for some real bargains on some oldies but goodies! www.eabla.com/rarities.html

Science is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painleve

The mesmerizing, utterly unclassifiable science films of Jean Painlevé have to be seen to be believed. Delightful, surrealist-influenced dream works that are also serious science. The French filmmaker, scientist, and inventor had a decades-spanning career in which he created hundreds of short films on subjects ranging from astronomy to pigeons to such marine life marvels as the sea horse and the sea urchin. This definitive three-disc collection brings together the best of these, and also includes the French television series Jean Painlevé Through His Films, rock band Yo La Tengo’s eight-film score The Sounds of Science, and an essay by film scholar Scott MacDonald.

Superman

Look, up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane...The long-awaited set contains 17 theatrical shorts of the original Superman animated series from the early 1940's on two discs. Along with the Fleischer Popeye DVDs that I know you already own (what? you don't? buy those today!), these are some of the finest examples of animation ever produced. With bonus materials and extra features. Let the cartoon begin!

Omar Souleyman - Highway to Hassake

You can still travel the world on your hi-fi with Sublime Frequencies radio and field recordings of earth. They have released thirty five compact discs, seven LPs and eight DVDs from all over the world, so far. These are sounds that you have never heard before. Their newest release is the second volume of Northeast Syrian Dabke music from legendary vocalist Omar Souleyman and his group. This CD was compiled by Mark Gergis to coincide with the Sublime Frequencies UK/European tour in May and June of 2009. Also you must get Highway to Hassake: Folk and Pop Sounds of Syria, the two-LP Gatefold vinyl edition of the original CD version! This is Omar Souleyman’s first release outside the Middle East! Compiled, assembled, and edited by Mark Gergis, Highway to Hassake is an overview of Omar’s entire career. This is the true folk/pop sound of modern Syria. Instrumentation includes saz, oud, vocals, and amazing keyboard electronics which play out as forbidden morse code at breakneck speeds…intense and mesmerizing. Also buy something by the Sun City Girls. You'll be glad you did.

Mt. Egypt - 3 12"

The new Mt. Egypt vinyl LP is available at Amoeba (limited to 100 copies), featuring 10 new songs including: "Hello World," "Same," "How Can A Human Mind?," "Inside/Outside," "7," "Ghost of the Forgotten World," "Engine of its Own," "Song To Calm You Down," "Everything In Moderation," and "Why Are You Fighting?" This is the first in a series of high quality recordings on the secret seven label. Get your copy today. You and I will be glad that you did. And out in late July: debut solo album by The Fresh & Onlys frontman entitled The Two Sides Of Tim Cohen (Secret Seven/Empty Cellar).

tip: Be the life of the party with these high quality Novely celluloid buttons. These beauties provide subjects for pleasant jokes and amusing conversation, and thus smoothes the way to a more familiar acquaintance and cordial friendship. Just wear one and watch the effect. Go to  www.potatopotato.etsy.com on the internets for more information. 

Staff Benda Bilili - Tres Tres Fort

Incredible modern Congolese music. Oh and if you're sensitive you might note that it's played by paraplegic street kids.

Sila and the AfroFunk Experience - Black President

Killer Afro-funk from the local heroes.

Zap Mama - ReCreation

The best thing I've heard from this band since Seven. Gorgeous!

Warsaw Village Band - Infinity

If you've never heard this "hardcore folk" band it is time! Another great offering.

Santero - El Hijo De Obatala

Bringing the Orishas to the modern dance floor. Heavy new beats!

Mayra Andrade - Navega

Cannot stop loving this sister!!! Beautiful!!!

Liechtenstein - Survival Strategies In A Modern World

Simply perfect debut from all-girl jangle pop trio out of Sweden. Essential if you always dreamt for some spooky tambourine in the Modettes.

Grass Widow - Grass Widow

San Francisco's very own three-girl harmony post-punk group have ruled the local scene and toured the country with homemade cassettes and CD-Rs. Local Make-A-Mess Records recently committed their genius to wax and every track will hold hands nicely with fans of the '70s/'80s UK/Euro woman-fronted post-punk lineage. Their live set is not to be missed!

Various Artists - Raks Raks Raks

Sweet cuts of beat/psych/garage outta cool '60s Iran. Complete with acid-flashback colored vinyl and an historical booklet.

Dum Dum Girls - Yours Alone

Bedroom budget fuzz-pop from this one-woman project out of SoCal--a beacon in a storm of swirling and distorted analog fads! First pressing quickly out-of-print but it's back and reissued on 12" vinyl only.

The Mantles - Trust

Why this is limited to 300 copies on 7" vinyl, I'll never know. I guess people don't think the Clean meets S.F. fuzz pop sprinkled with '60s outsider psych music played by cool local dorks doesn't sell anymore? Grab it fast and then wait patiently for their debut full-length (long over) due out on Siltbreeze later this year.

Dr. Dog - Fate

I'm pleasantly surprised. I put on the brand new Dr. Dog album and didn't like it....then recently after a few months break, I tried it again, and again and again. Now I love it as much as their last amazing album, "We All Belong." These guys are just interesting. They're melodic, creative, and unique as hell. But I warn you, you're gonna have to listen to this album a few times before you get it.

Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens - What Have You Done, My Brother?

The Daptone folks have finally released a Gospel album, and it was worth the wait. Luckily, this is not like the Gospel music that's being produced these days. Rather, it harkens back to the early '60s, and is soulful and gritty with nary a synthesizer to be heard. There's an organ and a piano on nearly every tune, and a trio of background ladies that channels Aretha and her sisters. The star of the show is Naomi Shelton, who has a voice along the lines of a Mitty Collier or a young Dorothy Love Coates (there is no higher praise, can I get an amen?!). The tunes, many written by Mr. Daptone himself, Gabriel Roth (AKA Bosco Mann), are all pretty good, and fit Ms. Shelton well. We are truly blessed.

Hacienda Brothers - Arizona Motel

RIP Chris Gaffney. You and Dave Gonzalez put together a great honkytonk band. This fourth and final album features fine songwriting by Dave, Chris's farewell, and great playing by everyone. Y'all were contenders, but this music business is a bitch.

Willie Nelson and Asleep At The Wheel - Willie And The Wheel

Few realize that Willie Nelson was/is a great western swing vocalist. There's an old album originally on RCA and still in print on CD called "Country Favorites," that's required listening for the genre. On this album, Ray Benson and AATW provide clean and tasty arrangements of some western swing standards. The twin parts and the gorgeous solos, mostly by Eddie Rivers on steel and Floyd Domino on piano, compliment Willie's relaxed vocals. This is western swing at its best.

tip: Coolest C&W Bar in San Francisco:

The Riptide.  It's located at the edge of the world on Taraval at 48th.