News & Notes -Past Album Of The Week Archive

A step up from his respectable but pre-digested 2004 debut, the Kanye West crony's sophomore platter reveals musical ideas that hold up to a few more spins.

John Legend
Once Again

A step up from his respectable but pre-digested 2004 debut, the Kanye West crony's sophomore platter reveals musical ideas that hold up to a few more spins.

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys

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Inspired by Johnny Depp and Pirates Of The Carribean director Gore Velbinski's cinematic adventures, this Hal Willner-produced two-CD set features brand new recordings of classic sea songs by such artists as Bono, Sting, Nick Cave, Bryan Ferry, Lou Reed, Richard Thompson, Lucinda Williams, and Jarvis Cocker.

Ice Cube
Laugh Now, Cry Later

Cube's first solo album in six years displays the sharp lyricism, social commentary, and street sensiblities that made him legend. Masterful storytelling and quality production make this the West Coast hip-hop album of the year.

The Allman Brothers Band
Eat A Peach (Deluxe Edition)

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This spiffy two-CD reissue of the classic album features their complete Fillmore performance from June 27, 1971. Highly prized in trading circles, now available with smokin' sound.

Mammatus
Mammatus

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An impressive debut from the hammering NoCal space rock foursome. Long songs, burly riffs, and controls set for someplace far out.

Neil Young
Living With War

Other guitar 'n' mic types played softshoe, so Neil unleashed it with ragged glory. Truth to power... turned up to 11.

Wolfmother
Wolfmother

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Australian trio drops a heaving Dave Sardi-produced paean to Sabbath, Zeppelin, and Co. Put down the encyclopedia and let it rock you.

Van Hunt
On The Jungle Floor

The Ohio multi-talent does it again with slinky funk grooves, sensual slow-downs, and undeniably meaty rockers. Organic, un-formulaic neo-soul, if you must call it that.

Cheap Trick
Dream Police

Expanded, remastered... and cheap. Includes a no-strings version of the title track.

Elbow
Leaders Of The Free World

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If you're less than excited about Coldplay's turn toward arena sheen, check out Manchester's more satisfying answer to all that emotion.

Gary Higgins
Red Hash

The SMiLE of psychedelic folk, this 1973 shelved classic re-emerged in 2005 on Chicago indie Drag City. Devendra Banhart most likely had a bootleg.

XTC
Apple Box (Import)

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:: Buy Now: $42.99

A four-disc set containing the complete "Apple Works" recordings, including the Apple Venus and Wasp Star demos. Includes lyrics, notes, and new artwork in a 64-page booklet.

Chocolate Genius Inc.
Black Yankee Rock

Mark Anthony Thompson, aka Chocolate Genius, may be the best practitioner of rock/soul synthesis you'll never hear.

The 88
Over And Over

This one goes out to Beatles fans who aren't sure where to begin when it comes to new artists. To not succumb is to be dead inside.

Damian Marley
Welcome To Jamrock

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Marley's second release is great combination of roots reggae, hip-hop, and dancehall. Brother Stephen handles the majority of the production, whipping up a masterful mix of strings, samples, and live instrumentation.

George Harrison and Friends
The Concert For Bangladesh

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Get the DVD from us, the CD from them. 'Nuff said.

The Redwalls
De Nova

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A no-bullshit rock band for folks who think The Strokes should sound more like The Black Crowes. Good songs, good swagger. Let somebody else change the world.

The American Analog Set
Set Free

Kinda Death Cab-ish, but with their own brand of hushed pop mood-making, Austin's Andrew Kenny and Co. add another winner to their string of consistently strong releases.

Elton John
Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Deluxe Edition)

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:: Buy Now: $23.49

"Someone Saved My Life Tonight" is the hit, and the deep cuts on this 1975 release are rock-solid as well. Disc two contains a live performance of the album in its entirety. Prime Elton!

Shawn Amos
Thank You Shirl-ee May (A Love Story)

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:: Buy Now: $18.99

Ace singer-songwriter Amos chronicles the singing career of his late mother with a Great American Songbook all his own. (Pre-order for 9/13 release.)

The High Dials
War Of The Wakening Phantoms

These Montreal-based Rhino favorites are back with a sophomore long-player that joins jangly, multi-harmony '60s reverence with an eye toward timeless pop perfection.

Mint Condition
Livin' The Luxury Brown

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Their fifth album combines the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-influenced stuff with hallmarks of classic soul, rock, and jazz. After a five-and-a-half-year hiatus, Mint Condition have returned with their strongest release since 1996's Definition Of A Band.

Caesars
Paper Tigers

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Not unlike an amped-up version of The Shins, these Swedes are doing their part to extend the shelf life of no-frills guitar rock. Fun but with feelings.

Marvin Gaye
Trouble Man

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Lately Universal has been anthologizing the hell out of this guy. There are some good multi-disc sets, but there's no substitute for owning ALL of the '70s albums. This '72 blaxploitation soundtrack is Marvin's own favorite.

Boston
Boston

Recipe for Independence Day: Red meat, white bun, and a heartfelt serving of "better music through science." Ponder the meaning of patriotism to the tune of "Smokin'."

Apostle Of Hustle
Folkloric Feel

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This came out last summer, and the fact that almost no one noticed (not even certain so-called snobs here) is just plain embarrassing. Hook-happy, Latin-tinged post-rock from Andrew Whiteman of Broken Social Scene. Quality so thick you can cut it with a knife.

Lizz Wright
Dreaming Wide Awake

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Boho adult R&B from the Atlanta-based vocalist. Think Meshell Ndegeocello doing the Norah Jones thing. Lite but satisfying.

Belle And Sebastian
Push Barman To Open Old Wounds

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Where do they get these titles, and where can I get some? A two-disc compilation of B&S EPs recorded between 1997 and 2001 for Jeepster and Matador. Not to be mistaken for outtakes, these tracks are every bit up to snuff.

Bobby Valentino
Bobby Valentino

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Heir to the smoove-daddy tradition of Barry White, Luther Vandross, and R. Kelly, this kid bumps bedroom R&B that should appeal to fans young and old.

Gogol Bordello
East Infection EP

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Th' Legendary Shack Shakers turned us on to this New York gypsy punk band. More gypsy than punk, and strangely sexy.

Fripp & Eno
The Equatorial Stars

We're gonna put this one up sight unseen (sound unheard?). If you like Fripp and you like Eno, how bad can it be?

Dead Meadow
Feathers

"Organic heavy music," as the band likes to call it. Not quite stoner metal, not quite space rock, but thoroughly moving in its marriage of the two. In a word, religious.

Martin Luther
Rebel Soul Music

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Rebel music, indeed. Luther's no-rules nu-soul packs a conscience and a gang of beefy guitars. Isley Brothers, Funkadelic, Lenny K... somewhere in there... and somewhere else altogether.

Queens Of The Stone Age
Lullabies To Paralyze

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Josh Homme and some new players do pretty much more of the same. In other words, another gloriously skewed hard rock essential.

Various Artists
California Soul

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Digging up hard-to-find Cali tracks from the '60s, '70s, and '80s, this excellent rare groove set from Luv N' Haight gathers soul, Latin, jazz, and funk. Tight underground stuff from the likes of Linda Tillery, Sweet Stuff, Ike White, West Coast Revival, and Orquestra Esencia.

Steve Earle
The Revolution Starts... Now

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The Grammy folks named this Best Contemporary Folk Album. Don't let that fool ya, this thing rocks.

Joanna Newsom
The Milk-Eyed Mender

To compare her lyrical abilities to those of Highway 61-era Dylan is cheap, easy, and not altogether accurate, but it's fair to say that Newsom's words land with a similar poetic thud. Accompanied by the singer's own harp (the big one with strings, that is). Insanely recommended.

The BellRays
The Red, White & Black

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"Like it or not, The BellRays surrendered 8 years and 9 months of our lives to bring you The Red, White & Black. Now it's your turn to open your mind and listen."
-- Lisa Kekaula, The BellRays

"If you like your music loud, soulful, and full of truth, look no further."
-- Rhino

Motley Crue
Red, White & Crue

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A wicked track list, but where's "Dude Looks Like A Lady"? Skip the tsunami donation and let the bad boys know you still care.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus

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Thrilling, chilling, and downright mythological, this beautifully packaged two-in-one finds Cave and Co. in a tuneful state of intensity. See why Mojo named it 2004's Album of the Year.

GB
Soundtrack For Sunrise

A chill convergence of soul, hip-hop, broken-beat electronica, and world music. Unusual, but in the grooviest kinda way.

The Verve
This Is Music: The Singles 92-98

For the captains of neo-psych '90s shoegaze, the drugs did work. Missing the space-jam deep cuts, this 14-song set is nonetheless a fine introduction to the decade's most commanding British guitar band.

The Beatles
The Capitol Albums Vol. 1

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The Fabs' first four U.S. albums in both stereo and mono, plus a 60-page book. A limited edition, so get it sooner than later.

Alice Coltrane
Translinear Light