AESOP ROCK - ALL DAY: NIKE + ORIGINAL RUN (Nike)
I don\'t know what\'s weirder-- the fact that Aesop Rock made a workout mix, or the fact that it\'s the best thing he\'s made since Labor Days. In true Aesop fashion, he shunned simply choosing a handful of songs to get your cardio on to, and created an original 45 minute-long composition. I have no plans on running in the near future, but this is staying in my collection.
RATING: FOUR STARS
THE AGGROLITES - REGGAE HIT L.A. (Hellcat Records)
The last Aggrolites album was way better than whatever record you really liked last year. And I hate to break it to you, but this new album of theirs is better than whatever you\'re going to wind up really liking THIS year. I know. It\'ll be okay. You just have to stop liking shitty bands. Here. Listen to \"Faster Bullet.\" I know, right? Your favorite singer couldn\'t belt that out with even HALF as soulful as Jesse Wagner does. Now try, \"Free Time...\" Yeah. Time to start rethinking your musical tastes. I\'m glad we see eye to eye on this...
RATING: FUCK STARS. THIS IS FIVE-PLANETS GOOD.
CUBANISMO - GREETINGS FROM HAVANA (Aim)
If this is what a party in Havana sounds like, let\'s lift that stupid embargo and make nice, \'cause it\'s been a long time since a record\'s made me feel so happy.
RATING: FOUR STARS
FISHBONE- STILL STUCK IN YOUR THROAT (Sound In Color)
I don\'t care how few original members are in the band. I don\'t care that they\'re two decades older now, either. They\'re still better than your favorite band, and this record is rawer and funkier and than your favorite band\'s new record.
RATING: FIVE STARS
ILL POETIC - THE WORLD IS OURS (Dove Ink/Definition Music)
RARELY do you find an MC who flows just as well as he produces. And for 14 1/2 of the 15 tracks on this album, Ill Poetic does just that. This is BEYOND nice, and appropriately, on Dove Ink, one of the best hiphop labels out there.
RATING: THREE STARS
JOE - AIN\'T NOTHIN\' LIKE ME (Jive Records)
Actually, Joe, there is. And I don\'t like the crap they pass off as R&B, either.
RATING: ZERO STARS
THE LANDAU ORCHESTRA - JANUS PLAYS TELEPHONE (Milan Records)
This is one of those records you see in the record store, but never buy, because the art is so lame. But one of your friends winds up burning it for you, and you feel like a dick for not buying it when you saw it, because it\'s one of the best things you\'ve listened to in a long time.
RATING: FOUR STARS, and a vote for best record label name ever.
OLA PODRIDA - OLA PODRIDA (Plug Research)
This album makes me miss Fall, home, and every bittersweet moment I\'ve ever had in my silly little life. It\'s insanely beautiful and perfect.
RATING: FOUR STARS
THE SKATALITES - ON THE RIGHT TRACK (Aim International)
Were you to tweak the production on this latest studio release, so that it sounded like some of the early Studio One work The Skatalites did, you wouldn\'t be able to tell these songs from those. The band has managed to uphold the reputation that comes with the Skatalite name, crafting tunes as timeless as the ones they wrote decades ago.
RATING: THREE STARS
SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM - IN GLORIOUS TIMES (The End Records)
Honestly, if you\'ve never heard them before, just close your eyes and imagine a literal visual translation of their name. It\'s the only way I can explain to you what you\'re in for. Cinema for the ears.
RATING: THREE STARS
DVDS:
WIM WENDERS PRESENTS: MUSICA CUBANA - LIVE IN TOKYO/LIVE IN AMSTERDAM (Icon)
Two DVDs. Two different countries. Two different concerts. The show, however, is the same level of amazing each time. Apparently, location ISN\'T everything. And I\'d like Wim Wenders (who filmed these) to test that, by making Live in Your Dentist\'s Office.
RATING: THREE STARS