Gonjasufi - A Sufi And A Killer

(8)

Sufism is a division of sorts of Islam, and is often celebrated though art, mostly poetry.

Awesome debut by Gonjasufi. Mixed by the master The Mother Fucking Gaslamp Killer and Flying Lotus, so you know it's ganna be nice. The lyrics are very metaphorical and simple, basically they suck, but that doesn't matter, because he has a very original sound to his voice. It sounds like he's singing from his stomach, really cool.

There's a very trippy middle eastern sound going on. In Sheep there's great vocals that sound like they're sampled from an old bollywood film, really ethnic sounding shit. Another standout is Klowds, great instrumentals in that one.

A Sufi and a Killer is an LP that needs to be heard on vinyl. If you're really into it, I suggest you buy it.

Sounds Like

Lo-Fi Middle Eastern Hip Hop

The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??!

(8.5)

The second album by the square roots (after Organix), this LP marks when they really took off which a major label. In the early 90's, The Roots were pioneering this full band Hip hop/Jazz thing and they did it right. the LP features laid back often improvised jams, thoughtful AND meaningful lyrics by non other than Black Thought and tightly composed by ?uestlove on the skins. Mellow My Man and Dat Skat are some of the funkiest hiphop crossover tracks i've ever heard. And if the epic sound check Essaywhuman?!!?!? doesn't get your attention, this isn't for you.

Some of producer Scott Storch's best work right here.

Sounds Like

Hip hop Jazz

Squarepusher - Ultravisitor

(8)

This is tight electronic music.

Tom Jenkinson has always been a top innovator of electronic music and this LP pushed it even further. Jenkinson has taken his schizophrenic production of beeps and replaced them with a wider array of sounds that burst with influences (acid techno, jazz fusion, spanish guitar) but there is still a lot of drum n' bass going on, which is a good thing.

My favorite track is Iambic Poetry 9. It's a song that needs to be heard by everyone.

Squarepusher is the master, influencing new acts like Perfuse 73 and Four Tet.

Sounds Like

Electro Jazz from the future

Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind EP

(4.5)

This EP sucks.

Everything that Animal Collective has put out after the "Campfire Songs" LP has continuously gotten worse and worse. I will admit that "Merriweather Post Pavilion" is an exception, (especially after an afternoon with the LP and an eight of boomers) but AC has definitely overstayed its electronic stint.

This is straight up boring music.

P.S. I was actually excited when I heard that they were using a Grateful Dead in Sky? but now it's obvious that they only did it for the publicity as the "sample" is unrecognizable and annoying.

Sounds Like

MPP without the creativity.

Culture - International Herb

(9.5)

This is great Reggae. Forget about Bob Marley, and if thats the only reggae you listen to, or God forbid ever heard, then let me enlighten you.

Lesson #1: Good Reggae is Roots reggae.

Roots reggae is usually the classic rock of reggae, meaning the golden age (1970's) Lyrical themes include praise to Jah (its sort of Jamaican gospel music), rebellion, and life in the ghettos of Jamaica, and often the herb. The Sound is that of HEAVY bass, and I mean heavy, often gospel organ, drums with plenty of rim shots and echo, and maybe some horns. There should NOT be any modern sounding anything, even in todays roots reggae (i.e. 10 ft. Ganja plant). It should sound old. No synths, white boy singers or any other influences at all.

Culture is the best reggae band. Interesting fact, every Culture album has received a 5 star review by rolling stone, the only artist to has accomplished the feat. Stand out tracks are Jah Rastafari, Ethiopians Waan Guh Ho Me and Rally Around Jaho Viah's Throne.

Some of the most soulful reggae courses you'll every hear.

Sounds Like

Real roots reggae

Fools Gold - Fools Gold

(7.5)

Great music in my opinion needs to be ethnic somehow. This is ethnic stew of music. Afropop rhythms, Latin melodies and lyrics sung in Hebrew, you can't go wrong. Awe inspiring percussin is going on in each track, the best I've hear since like band "Rusted Root". Dig those thick layered conga lines and saxophone solos. Suprise Hotel is an obvious stand out, reminiscent of Nude era Talking Heads (remember Nothing But Flowers?). Unfortunately "Fools Gold" is not pure gold (as it's title claims), there are a few weak tracks but nothing that is going to ruin the album as a whole.

Dig Ethiopian Jazz? Get this Album

Sounds Like

Ethio-Jazz crossed with something Southern American

John Coltrane - Blue Train

(10)

I'm not a professional jazz critic so I'm not about to attempt to critique "Blue Train". All I can say is that everything good about todays music claims Coltrane in its roots. This is great music. Listen to John Coltrane, and listen often. Highlights are Blue Train and Lazy Bird. Every time I hear that sax kick in after the intro to Blue Train, it reminds me of that great music should sound like.

Sounds Like

Hard Bop at its finest.

Indian Jewelry - "Free Gold!"

(9)

Free gold indeed. Looking for something new in these days of lame buzz bands? Indian Jewelry delivers. Hailing from Houston, this Drone band drops thick layers of sound in your ears and puts you in a trance. This album involves patience. A lot more experimental and diverse than their first two albums, Hello Africa features plenty of buzzing synths, tribal drum rhythms and echos to keep your interest and curiosity. Overdrive is a highlight, but I can't even begin to explain it.

I can't say enough good things about this band, although not for everyone. Highly recommended.

Sounds Like

The Velvet Underground minus all they're artsy bullshit plus a bunch of new drone/trance bullshit

Fleeting Joys - Despondent Transponder

(8.5)

Fleeting Joys is a great band. Yes, you will that they sound a lot like My Bloody Valentine, but isn't that a good thing? MBV a great band, hell, they're more than just a great band, they started a movement. Fleeting Joys takes that fuzzy ass wall of sound and reinterprets it in a new dreamy way, still keeping it loud as hell. I love how they feature guy/girl vocals to keep it fresh. Got Come Back is a swirly dream of a ballad while Satellite keeps it thick and loud.

With all of todays "nu-gaze" bands trying to build off of shoegaze, Fleeting Joys keeps it old school. Brings me back to those sunny summer days. Put down that M83 album and pick up Despondent Transponder.

Sounds Like

If My bloody Valentine Put out an album today

Zechs Marquise - Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare

(7)

"Jam" band Zechs Marquise has been receiving a decent amount of buzz lately now that they are on their first extensive tour. Fronted by Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez (yes, Omar's little brother, you can already tell that this is going to be great) on drums, the bands overall vibe is much like that of a Mars Volta side project. The sound is all about one main groove, and jamming with it, manipulating it and slowly building to a climax without much change.

Chase Scene is built around a throbbing bass line that acts as the foundation to which all other instruments stem off of. The band takes that funky groove from the bass or drums, depending of the track, and proceeds to fuck with it resulting in a good length jam. There's also plenty of great sound manipulation for those who miss the late Jeremy Ward.

Sounds Like

Frances era Mars volta jam sessions minus Cedric