Fabric - Various Artists

Want to know the hottest dance music out right now? One word:  Fabric. You simply can’t go wrong picking up any FabricLive or Fabric mix. This is the best curated electronic music series out there. Each one features totally different DJ’s and styles, and they all consistently kick ass. Guaranteed to blow your underwear straight off. I’m saving my benjamins to fly to London just so I can go this club… Some of my top faves:  FabricLive.24 Diplo (Electro, Baile Funk, Hip Hop Mashups), FabricLive.32 Tayo (Dubstep!), FabricLive.37 Caspa & Rusko (Dubstep!), FabricLive.33 Spank Rock (Booty Electro Hop Pop Mashups [A.K.A. House Party!]), FabricLive.42 Freq Nasty (Dubstep, Bassline, Breaks). Bam!

A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire [Soundtrack]

This movie totally blew me away! Wow! The cinematography – the acting – the storyline – yes, I’m a sucker for a good old-fashioned love & overcoming all obstacles story – I absolutely loved every minute of it. We were sitting there watching the opening sequence & thinking, “you know what would be perfect right here? Some M.I.A.” And just like magic, M.I.A.’s genre-bending sound fills our ears, fitting this story just like a glove. Her music perfectly captures the spirit of these kids – from the streets, doing whatever they have to do to make it – and these are not pitiable characters – they hustle like pros from a young age & they’ve got the swagger to match. These kids are exactly who M.I.A. makes her music for & about. This soundtrack has made A.R. Rahman my new favorite producer. Just like Cory Booker, A.R. Rahman likes to luxuriate in all the cultural deliciousness, blending that Indian percussion style that I love with everything else in the kitchen – electronic, hip hop, pop, hell, there’s even some Spanish in there. A successful soundtrack should conjure up all the mental pictures & capture all the moods from the film, just like this. Break out yer notebooks y’all, class is in session!

Kanye West - 808’s & Heartbreak

Never in my life did I think I’d be positively reviewing a Kanye album. But this just goes to show you, good music can come from anywhere, so keep your mind open. The messenger doesn’t have to be perfect for the message to be perfect. He seems to be coming straight from the heart on this one & I think that’s why it resonates. You know it’s good when you can’t stop yourself from singing along with your iPod walking down the street, even though you look like a crazy person. The production is simple, but it’s perfect; it sounds retro, not underdone. Even with the Auto-Tune vocals, no other album had me singing along as much as this one. Melody is king, and real emotion trumps studio tricks every time. Kanye brought it!!

Deadmau5 - Random Album Title

The day this album came out this fine young woman came up to buy it from me & she was like, “I’m so excited to get this album! I’ve been waiting for it to come out!” And I was like, “Oh really? What kind of music is it?” Her: “House.” Me: “Oh, uh huh…” And I thought, “House? Oh god, it’s probably awful…” Months later I finally listened to it & I freaking love it! Now who’s the asshole? Wherever you are mama, I’m sorry I doubted you. Yeah, this is house, but it doesn’t hit any of those sugary-sweet high notes that make me want to run for the exits. It’s impeccably crafted & grooves in the mid-range. This album totally takes me back to my San Francisco days… Four on the floor ain’t dead y’all!

Diplo VS. Santogold - Top Ranking (A Diplo Dub)

Diplo defines what is hot, year after year. As soon as I saw that he combined Santogold with Benga, I was done. Diplo is a top supplier of booty-popping inspiration. This album gives us plenty of Santogold, including my favorite remixes of her tracks not found on her album, mixed with hip hop, reggae, classic soul & pop, dancy indie rock & of course, dubstep! These other elements show all the sources Santogold draws from, and serve to highlight her awesomeness. Another perfect blend from Diplo.

Michna - Magic Monday

Perfect simplicity seems to be a theme for me this go-round. Happy little electro grooves with mellow hip hop style beats. I freaking love this album! It’s the shyza! That’s all the descriptiveness I have left. Just listen to it!

tip: The best way to experience Amoeba is like a walk on the beach. You never know what amazing sunset, beautiful shells, or a piece of driftwood you might find -- what will the ocean offer up for you today? If you can spare an hour, come on in & stroll around, see what treasures may have washed up on our shores today…

All of my recommendations I first heard playing in the store or were recommended to me by my coworkers. Keep your ears & eyes open & ask those employees what their favorites are right now. All we do is music all day long – we are an incredible resource for you & a good filter for the goodness.

Don’t forget Last.fm & Pandora. And as soon as you can, attend a Pure Filth or SMOG event (myspace.com/purefilthdubstep, www.smogla.com.) It’ll blow your mind!!

andrew bird - noble beast

ray lamontagne - gossip in the grain

i'm from barcelona - who killed harry houdini?

margot & the nuclear so and so's - animal! and not animal

these are two different albums. animal! is the version the band wanted to put out, while, not animal is the version the record company preferred. the albums share 5 songs, but the remaining songs make it well worth purchasing both. i believe animal! is only available on vinyl, so head back to aisle 5 and grab it.

healamonster & tarsier - cupcake cave

chances are, if you shop at amoeba often, you've noticed this cd on the waterfall while waiting in line. so next time you're in line, pick it up. you'll love it. for real.

the wire

this is the only way to own the wire. trust me. this show is so addictive that you'll finish season three at 2 in the morning and go insane waiting for us to open at 10:30 the next morning to get season four. save yourself.

tip:  myspace.com/consumingthearts - help keep the arts in schools.  please.

Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

Girl Talk albums always make me want to clean my house. They are so phrenetic! Girl Talk is actually one guy, Gregg Gillis, who takes mash-ups to an entirely different level. He layers songs from every genre and style to create sonic mosaics that will have you trying to identify every song as quick as you can before he slides into the next sample. If it doesn't give you a seizure, you'll most definitely have a cleaner home as a result.

Kid Cudi vs Crookers - Day 'N Night Remix

An electro remix of MC Kid Cudi's first single from his forthcoming debut album. The original song is good too, but this remix makes me want to dance. Can't wait to hear the full studio album.

Healamonster & Tarsier - Cupcake Cave

LA's own Healamonster & Tarsier return with another beautiful, haunting electronic album. It's hard to find something NOT to like about this album.

Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak

I realize that Kanye doesn't need my help promoting this record, but I really liked it. Instead of talking about how much money he has or how talented he is, Kanye sings (yes, sings!) about his sadness, emptiness and loss, despite having money and success. In "Welcome to Heartbreak," he sets the tone for the record with the line:  "My friend showed me pictures of his kids/And all I could show him was pictures of my cribs."

A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire [Soundtrack]

This is the perfect soundtrack for a beautiful film. Go see this movie and then go buy the soundtrack. The soundtrack features a new MIA track, "O...Saya." It is one of my favorite examples of world music, electronica, and Hip-Hop blending together successfully. The track starts slowly, with drums and male vocals, and then explodes into MIA's female voice and powerful delivery. 

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

I am new to the Animal Collective train, I'll admit that. My understanding is that this album is more accessible than some of their previous records, and that might be why I liked it so much. I really loved this album (sorry Annie!), especially the song "My Girls." The song "Bluish" gets a special mention for the line "I'm getting lost in your curls." That's enough to make a curly-haired girl swoon. 

Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You

Lily Allen's second record, It's Not Me, It's You, might just have my favorite album title of the year. I mean really, who feels comforted by the line "it's not you, it's me" as they're getting dumped? This album has the same style of witty, observational lyrics with pop melodies as her debut. She even makes a song called "F*** You" sound cheerful and catchy! She is most heartfelt and vulnerable on "The Fear" when she sings about being famous and losing her sense of reality living with that fame.

tip: Check out "What's In My Bag" on amoeba.com - Mos Def, Noel Gallagher, Afrika Bambaataa, Dave Grohl, and a bunch of other cool people talking about what they found shopping at Amoeba.

Antony & The Johnsons - The Crying Light

Here is the thing about Antony Hegarty:  you either hate his voice and music or you love it. I'm of the latter. After a series of covers on soundtracks [I'm Not There, Leonard Cohen: "I'm Your Man"] and appearances on some of his contemporaries' records [Volta by Bjork, the self-titled Hercules And Love Affair record] Antony released the Another World EP, a wonderful five song precursor to his third studio album The Crying Light. While his 2005 highly lauded Mercury Prize winning album I Am A Bird Now dealt with introspection and finding one's own voice, The Crying Light deals with themes of life and death, the present and future, and Mother Nature. Antony's Nina Simone-esque trembling vibrato soars over beautiful piano melodies and lush string arrangements throughout The Crying Light. Opener "Her Eyes Are Underneath The Ground" tells us of someone at one with themselves and nature ("In the garden, with my mother/I stole a flower/With my mother, in her power"). Elsewhere, on the earnest "Another World" the themes of life and death appear ("Still have too many dreams/Never seen the light/ I need another world/ A place where I can go"). Subsequently, on the beautiful melancholic closer "Everglade" we're met with a sense of acceptance for the natural world ("I'm home, my heart sobs in my veins/ But brains they play the softest games"). Even though it clocks in at less then forty-three minutes and leaves you wanting more, The Crying Light is a beautiful welcomed progression in the career of Antony & The Johnsons.

Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue

In 2006, indie rock darling and Rilo Kiley songstress Jenny Lewis released her first solo endeavor Rabbit Fur Coat. A critically acclaimed album full of soulful, country-tinged songs dealing with themes of love, and loss. After a brief solo-hiatus, largely due to a new Rilo Kiley record, Jenny Lewis has returned with Acid Tongue, a more mature soulful-country/rock tinged album than its predecessor. While there are similarities in sound, there are several differences that set them apart. For one, gone are the bluegrass harmonies of the Watson Twins, replaced with a rich soulful/rock sound that is the product of the live band setting in which the album was recorded. That's not all. Another significant difference between them is the more confident vocal delivery & songwriting of Jenny Lewis on this record. Not to mention, the several appearances made by friends and family on this new record. Everyone from Elvis Costello, Chris Robinson, Johnathan Rice, She & Him, as well as her father and sister lend their musical talents. Acid Tongue is filled with eclectic songs like the album opener "Black Sand" with its wistful lyrics ("Who's going to love you buried underground?"), the eight-minute barroom-stomper "Next Messiah" with its back-and-forth between Lewis and Rice ("I want to tell you I love you/I'm going to go out for a walk"), the gorgeously raw title track "Acid Tongue" with its introspective lyrics ("We were unlucky in love, but I'd do it all again"), and the poignant closer "Sing A Song For Them." Each song illustrates a wide array of musical influences and makes Acid Tongue a solid sophomore solo-effort from Rilo Kiley front woman Jenny Lewis.

Golden Holy - Golden Holy

Every so often, a band comes out of nowhere with an album that leaves an immediate impression on you. Golden Holy is one of those bands. Released at the tail end of 2008, Golden Holy is the debut album from the Portland, Oregon residents of the same name. Golden Holy is an album full of indie-rock and indie-pop gems. From album opener "Stop Telling Ghost Stories" with its Efterklang-esque indie-pop ("We all sat beside you/We all sat beside you") to "Maybe The Books Were Wrong" which starts of as Múm-esque song, but quickly morphs into this Múm-Arcade Fire lovechild of a song with a sweeping chorus ("Aging and ashes scattered all over/Say goodbye to all you know"). Elsewhere, the incredible "Sons Of Dreams" will make you want to tap your feet, shake your hips, and well, get up and dance. ("Waiting by your bedside/Always calling your way/Looking out your window/Hoping someone sees you.") Plain and simple, Golden Holy is a superb debut album from a band that hopefully we'll see and hear a lot more of. Take notice world.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

After 2007's Strawberry Jam, and the 2008 Water Curses EP, Animal Collective return with the highly-anticipated and hyped Merriweather Post Pavilion. Both of these are within reason though, because this record does not disappoint in the least. Merriweather Post Pavilion is their most accessible and least convoluted album. Not to mention their best album, as well. The songs, as a whole, are more straightforward and less cut-and-paste than in previous albums. Each of the songs on Merriweather Post Pavilion contain divine harmonies, arty-guitars, pulsing bass lines, and some really cryptic lyrics. Quite simply, their music has been described as psychedelic Beach Boys, or the Beach Boys on acid. Same difference, I guess. Seriously though, this record is pretty amazing, and so worthy of the hype. Best record of 2009? It's still early to say, but it just might end up being true.

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology

Extremely prolific singer-songwriter, Ryan Adams returns with his band the Cardinals to release Cardinology, an album which teeters between alt-country-rock songs, and stadium rock songs à la U2. Its themes vary from love, lost relationships, and well, substance abuse. The latter, being something that Ryan Adams has successfully curbed since Easy Tiger. This, in turn, has made him a more focused singer-songwriter than in past efforts. Not only that, but Adams and the Cardinals have never sounded as cohesive and good than on Cardinology. Opener "Born Into A Light" is an alt-country introspective song on being sober ("Be patient oh the past is just a memory and heal/Heal your vines you'll heal inside eventually"). Whereas on "Magick," Adams channels the stadium rock of U2 ("So turn the radio up loud and get down/Let your body move/Let your body sway/Listen to the music play/It's magick"). Elsewhere, on the beautiful "Cobwebs" Adams begs the question, "If I'm sorry, sorry enough/ If I fall will you pity me?/Will you confuse my love for the cobwebs." All in all, this is another excellent addition to an already extensive catalog by prolific singer-songwriter Ryan Adams.

tip: Check these people out on Myspace: 
"These Orphaned Eyes" - An amazing post-rock group from Los Angeles. Sounds like Explosions In The Sky mixed with My Bloody Valentine. 
Also, check out these independent labels: "Great Minds" [formerly, Number 3 records] and "Track Number Records" for quality independent releases.

my roommate's having boy troubles when cute stand-up girl calls me saying she got up at open mic but it was too early for me to get there. my roommate mouths 'invite her over,' so i attempt to ply her with vegan frozen pizza and over the edge on dvd. she's already on her way to a show at largo. we hang up. my roommate says 'you should go.' 'what? i don't want to look like a psycho stalker.' 'she called you. she could have blown you off or been too busy. but she called you, she volunteered where she'd be tonight. you should go.' so i take the bus down from echo park while calling cute stand-up girl to see if she's going to margeret cho in the big room or Australian singer song writer girl in the small room, but it's going to voicemail. standing outside largo i call my roommate and reflect on how my life is like a PG John Cusack romantic comedy, all endearing well meant foibles but no action. i decide on Australian singer songwriter girl who's the latest in the grand largo tradition of earth tones and technical proficiency. it doesn't take long for me to realize that i picked the wrong show, but i got pancakes at norm's afterward making it not a complete loss. cute stand-up girl said her show was weird and that i made the right choice. relating the whole story to my best girl friend with the creepy smile she laughs. then i tell her my plan for a solo art show featuring portraits of former crushes named after the one that broke my heart titled 'i wiki'd your surname to see what kind of Asian you were'.

vivian girls s/t. footvillage friendship nation. animal collective merriweather post pavilion. no age nouns. abe vigoda skeleton.

tip: pehrspace monday nights. never not awesome. anywhere kyle h. mabsen is DJ'ing because yes you do want a trancey fall out boy song.

Junior Reid - Original Foreign Man

Early 80s reggae.

Tiger Bomb - Vol. 1

Dubstep mix by Kali Dubz past & present.

Soul Messengers - Soul Messengers From Dimona

Funk and R&B from Dimona, Israel.

Lo Dubs - Analog Clash

Label comp mixed by LA's own 6 Block.

Meat Beat Manifesto - Autoimmune

Heavy sounds from the veterans.

Heltah Skeltah - D.I.R.T. (Da Incredible Rap Team)

Superfluous acronyms aside, Da rap team of Ruck (aka Sean Price) & Rock (aka Count Rockula) are back, and dirty as ever. Keepin' it gutter grimy with thick, dingy samples, crackin' drums, and two of the most dynamic flows in Hip-Hop today, they remind you of why you loved 'em so much in the mid-nineties. "Planet of the apes I'll blam the cannon in your face..."

Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

Thas' right! The mash-upper of mash-uppers returns with a cd full of durty south swagger, and whiplash fast up-tempo mixes as Girl Talk takes the remix to the next-next level piling on song upon sample upon song. Sure my electronic pick incorporates lots o' Hip-Hop, but in the able hands of Girl Talk it becomes something new. Feed me!!

Amy Macdonald - This is the Life

I know, one of these things doesn't look like the other, but when I saw this young lass on fellow Scot Craig Ferguson's late night talk show, I was instantly smitten. Unafraid of her Scottish accent, she lets it sneak right out, putting a folky quality to her songs of opportunity missed. This isn't all accent and guitar though, as she is backed by a band who pump good energy into her strumming. (As of this writing we had a few in the used rock section...)

Alborosie - Soul Pirate

I work here and even I am impresssed by Amoeba! I caught a little of Italian-rasta Albo's (Rosie's?) standout track "Herbablist," in a curious little shop in Venice, IT and couldn't forget it. I looked through that city's twisted alleys, and trekked all over Rome with no luck. Imagine my joy when I returned to work and there Soul Pirate was! Yeah, he's from Italy, transplanted to Jamaica, and yeah, he's white. Doesn't matter. This is the best Reggae album you've heard this year.

N.A.S.A. - Spirit of Apollo

The combined forces of Squeak E. Clean (LA, CA) and DJ Zegon (Brazil) are N.A.S.A. (North America South America) This collaboration is more than the two of these producers, with their sound anchored by Zegon's Brazilian roots, as they get a ton of musical guests making for some interesting combinations. These pairings include indie darling Lykke Li & Kanye West, the decidedly punk rock ODB (on his last known recorded verse) and raw and rugged Karen O. Perhaps the most suiting team-up, if hard to imagine, is the cosmic freak out "Spacious Thoughts," with alien mastermind Kool Keith and Tom Waits.

PPP - Abundance

Triple P (fromerly Platinum Pied Pipers) return with a second album and a new sound. Using live instrumentation, whether played or looped, PPP has taken their sound to the next level. With a wink to the past and an eye on the future, PPP imagines funky soul ala Sly & The Family Stone for the 21st Century. Dig it!

The Misled Children - ...Meet Odean Pope

I really can't get enough of the Clutchy Hopkins/Misled Children sound. The organic, analog source material they play and loop, provides for a "warm fuzzy" of a soulful, hip-hop experience. Matched with Horn player Odean Pope's (Max Roach Trio) playing and arranging, The Misled Children create a fantastic journey into a new sound for all the heads. With Pope's entrancing, bending notes, referencing Ethiopian jazz, the Children's funky beat chugs and churns beneath, creating a sound both new and familiar, and always dope.

(Sean Price Presents) Ruste Juxx - Indestructible

This album may be something of a guilty pleasure, yet I find myself returning to listen to the gravelly bark of mister Ruste Juxx. Hailing from Crown Heights Brooklyn ("When the East is in the house..."), Ruste Juxx has delivered an album that has a little something for everyone, yet his passion shines through his flow, keeping the sound from being "watered down." I really haven't heard this sort of catchy, sing-song, hook driven, yet street, song writing since a half-dollar became millions. Cop it one the real.

Hamlet 2

I am not one of those europhile Steve Coogan initiates, but I must say, there hasn't been a movie that had me laughing this hard since Yellowbeard. As dumb or as smart as you want it to be, this movie works on all levels of funny!

Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading is built around the ever popular "perfect plan goes wrong," premise. Where many of these movies often go wrong is that they take themselves too seriously. Thankfully, the directors Joel and Ethan Coen are good enough to take their film just serious enough, allowing you to laugh at the characters tragi-comic flaws. A little more intellectual than my previous pick, it still has enough gaffs for easy laughs! Chuckle up!

tip: Check out local bands:
We are the World (Dance! Dance! Dance!)
Hard Place (The band's DVD is a beautiful collison of gore & synth.)

Honorable Mentions:  E-40 - Ball Street Journal; Golden Holy - Golden Holy

Starflyer 59 - Dial M

Daedelus - Love To Make Music To

The Bug - London Zoo

Meat Beat Manifesto - Autoimmune

Build An Ark - Dawn

Irving Fields Trio - My Yiddishe Mama

Carl Craig - Sessions

ZZK Sound - Vol. 1 Cumbia Digital