Amoeba san francisco Staff

Vinnie Esparza
Amoeba San Francisco
Bees and things and flowers

Ska-Boo-Da-Ba (LP)

Skatalites
Reissue of what is arguably their best album. Tremendous, start to finish. Read more

In Person (CD)

Gregory Issacs
Lovely mid-70's Gregory album given the deluxe reissue treatment Read more

Eccentric Soul: The Saadia Lable (LP)

V/A
One of Soul's most collectible labels gets the Numero reissue treatment. Essential music from Florida Read more

One Step Ahead

Sugar Minott
Superb cover of the Aretha Franklin classic. Produced by the one Victor Axelrod. Find this. Read more

The Peace-Maker (LP)

Harold Land
Excellent understated gem finally gets a nice U.S. vinyl repress. Such a great album. Plus Bobby Hutcherson! Read more
Tony Green
Amoeba San Francisco
I want love & affection, not the House Of Correction.

Zuma 85 (LP)

Allah Las
Another slice of cool CA pop from Matt Coreia & Co..."Jelly" shimmers like its eponymous footstuff...another mojito please bartender! Read more

Crashin' From Passion (LP)

Betty Davis
The last LP from this fantastic performer dates from 1979, and it's got a lot more variety than its more funky predecessors without ever taking its foot off the quality control pedal..."Quintessence Of Hip", "You Take Me For Granted" & the title track are killer, and she's in great voice throughout. Great cover too! Read more

High Bias: the Distorted History Of The Cassette Tape (Book)

Marc Masters
Cheap! Easy! This very entertaining book charts the journey of the cassette from its invention in the early 1960s to its Walkman-led domination in the 1980s to decline at the birth of compact discs to its current mini-resurgence..press play on this! Read more

Estrus - Shovelin' The Shit Since '87 (Book)

Chris Coyle & Scott Sugiuchi
Straight-up bee-yoo-tiful document of this “100% Apeshit Rock” Washington label…great photos & art in an oversize tome…put on some Man Or Astro-Man?, open it up & and wig out! Read more

Brave Words (Expanded & Remastered) (LP)

The Chills
Their debut LP from 1987 was full of great songs, but Mayo Thompson's production was fulla murk...this reissue sets the record straight. "Rain", "Wet Blanket", "Look For The Good In Others", "16 Heartthrobs"...a lot of the best tracks from their early days are here, and it's finally got the sonic heft it needed. Extra tracks too! Read more

Intercepted Message (LP)

Osees
Kinda poppy but still raucous & obnoxious, The Osees 300th LP is another winner from the World's best live band...although the final power ballad "Submerged Building" is a parody that doesn't fit with the scrotum-jangling groove of the other songs...their gig at The Chapel in September was heavy-ass!! Read more
Huffle
Amoeba San Francisco
The modern day video clerk refuses to die.

Jaws 2,3 and 4 (DVD)

Jaws 4: The Revenge is my new favorite so bad it’s good flick. I saw it on a Christmas list of movies recently and I was like WTF…upon review it is 100% a Christmas movie and also 100% terrible. “High”lights ( you must watch this movie stoned to fully appreciate its attributes) include Mario Von People’s portrayal of the Rasta shark expert assigned to the doomed expedition, Michael Caine as Hoagie the bush pilot and the titular shark’s ROAR. Watch it with your friends and howl with delight- Read more
David James
Amoeba San Francisco

For Mahalia, With Love (CD)

James Brandon Lewis & Red Lily
Using songs associated with the most iconic Gospel music legend as a jumping-off point for arrangements that lead into group improvisations is not that crazy, actually. In fact, this recording is a thing of great beauty! James Brandon Lewis - tenor saxophone Kirk Knuffke - cornet William Parker - bass Chad Taylor - drums Chris Hoffman - cello Also, Mendoza/Hoff Revels' "Echolocation", which also features Lewis as well as drummer Ches Smith (joining electric guitarist Ava Mendoza and bassist Devin Hoff) rips! Read more

Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (LP)

Matana Roberts
This installment of Roberts' musical investigation of her family's history centers around an ancestor who died following complications from an illegal abortion. If you haven't heard previous chapters in her Coin Coin series, this might be a good place to begin. Music, noise, sound art, singing, darkness, starkness, beauty. Jazz? I don't know or care. Read more

Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) (LP)

jaimie branch
Rest in Power, and thank you for this magic. jaimie branch – trumpet, voice, keyboard, percussion, happy apple Lester St. Louis – cello, voice, flute, marimba, keyboard Jason Ajemian – double bass, electric bass, voice, marimba Chad Taylor – drums, mbira, timpani, bells, marimba + guests Read more

Protect Your Light (LP)

Irreversible Entaglements
Okay, yes, there's a theme here, I see: a lot of invocations, incantations and intonations, by women-led groups (or in the case of "For Mahalia", inspired by Lewis' beloved grandmother's love for the music of Mahalia Jackson. But the spells are just about as potent.) Irreversible Entanglements: check it! Read more
Shona
Amoeba San Francisco
Sho Nuff

Crashin' From Passion (LP)

Betty Davis
Betty Davis is the most! This is her last album, rich with various musical leanings (jazz, funk, synthpop, disco, reggae & calypso, plus Anita and Bonnie Pointer. Martha Reeves, and Patryce “Choc’let” Banks are on vocals with Betty. This had originally been shelved, so glad this release had Davis' participation before she passed, and this album is finally getting the light it deserves. Read more
Cass
Amoeba San Francisco

Softscars (LP)

Yeule

My favorite album of 2023! A lush mix of Electronic and Shoegaze/Dream Pop.

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After the Magic (LP)

Parannoul

Another amazing record from the blossoming shoegae scene in Korea. This one's loud as hell!

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Madres (LP)

Sofia Kourtesis

Beautiful Latin Deep House record! Sofia's vocals are entrancing.

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