Ahmad Jamal

Jamal Plays Jamal

This is one of my favorite jazz albums. Renowned pianist and jazz musician, Jamal hails from the town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, though the rough edges of the Steel City are not apparent in Jamal Plays Jamal. Released in 1974, this is some of the man's finest work in my opinion. Not given the credit deserved by jazz enthusiasts, this album dives into a fusion of funk and r&b that set a unique standard in the genre. As usual, the technical and stylistic prowess of Jamal is evident and features some electric, as well as acoustic piano. The trio's (mainstays in much of Jamal's career) playing can't be ignored, and given room to breathe, their sound gives the album space and layers that are difficult to find in other jazz albums of the era. The bass player, Jamil Nasser, truly explores the scope of his instrument and gives an amazing performance. If you have any interest in Jazz, this comes highly recommended.

1) Eclipse
2) Pastures
3) Dialogue
4) Death and Resurrection
5) Swahililand
6) Spanish Interlude



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Autolux

Future Perfect

The first reference that comes to mind when describing this album is My Bloody Valentine. Take that group and add some L.A. bored hipster and I believe you'd have it. Hailing from that try hard town itself, Autolux's Future Perfect, only has one part of the title correct. This album has a sound that is dated. Mind you, this is not a negative comment. Autolux are, after all, made of survivors of the 90's alt-rock movement. Shoegaze power and alternative catchiness here.

1.Turnstile Blues

2.Angry Candy

3.Subzero Fun

4.Sugarless

5.Blanket

6.Great Days For the Passenger Element

7.Robots Inthe Garden

8.Here Comes Everybody

9.Asleep at the Trigger

10.Planetlife

11.Capital Kind of Strain

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Eyedea and Abilities

First Born

First Born dropped all the way back in 2001. Finally in summer of 2009, Eyedea and Abilities, out of St. Paul, MN, are back together and releasing some new material in July. In the meantime, for those who enjoy intelligent hip-hop with some out-there atmospheric beats that bring the hook, you need this. A great release that flew under the radar. Jump on the boat, just as many will be doing this summer, I'm sure.

1. One Music
2. Music Music
3. Birth of a Fish
4. Powdered Water Too Pt. 1
5. Color My World Mine
6. Liquid Sovereignty
7. A Murder of Memories
8. Blindly Firing
9. Big Shots
10. Void (Internal Theory)
11. The Dive (a)
12. Well Being
13. Read Wiped in Blue
14. Void (External Theory)
15. On This I Stand



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Devendra Banhart

Cripple Crow

Best known for being a seminal artist in the "freak folk", New American Folk movements, Devendra Banhart chose a decidedly more eclectic approach with 2005's "Cripple Crow". The "freak folk" base is there, think back to the days of good drugs and good people in the same room with a gut-string acoustic guitar. An ambitious release to be sure with many notable guests. Many exotic influences here including Indian and Cuban. Like a good trip with vietnam-era flower child, "cripple crow" has the power to make you dance nude in public.

1. Now That I Know
2. Santa Maria Da Feira
3. Heard Somebody Say
4. Long Haired Child
5. Lazy Butterfly
6. Quedate Luna
7. Queen Bee
8. I Feel Just Like A Child
9. Some People Ride The Wave
10. Beatles
11. Dragonflies
12. When They Come
13. Inaniel
14. Hey Mama Wolf
15. Hows About Tellin' A Story
16. Chinese Children
17. Sawkill River
18. I Love That Man
19. Luna De Margarita
20. Korean Dogwood
21. Little Boys
22. Anchor

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Chris Garneau

Music for Tourists

Sparse, dramatic, minimalist, feathery. If those words ever made any sense together they might begin to describe Chris Garneau's debut. The whisperings of a lofty, rambling drunk fill this album with an emotion that has gone underappreciated by most critics. Bits of folk and Americana, but I wouldn't take the dive in trying to apply a genre.

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