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Music Year 2004

Of course, it's too early for a year-end list. But as the proto-fascist organization of my youth insisted, one should always be prepared. For records in hand, * identifies an advance copy, ** something borrowed.

New Records

  1. Sonic Liberation Front: Ashé a Go-Go (High Two)
  2. Le Tigre: This Island (Strummer/Universal)
  3. Matthew Shipp: Harmony and Abyss (Thirsty Ear)
  4. Rilo Kiley: More Adventurous (Brute/Beaute)
  5. The Vandermark Five: Elements of Style . . . Exercises in Surprise (Atavistic)
  6. Brian Wilson: Presents Smile (Nonesuch)
  7. David Murray & the Gwo-Ka Masters: Gwotet (Justin Time)
  8. Zu & Spaceways Inc.: Radiale (Atavistic)

  9. Pipi Skid: Funny Farm (Peanuts & Corn)
  10. Todd Snider: East Nashville Skyline (Oh Boy)
  11. Capital D: Insomnia (All Natural)
  12. Jon Langford: All the Fame of Lofty Deeds (Bloodshot)
  13. Charlie Haden: Land of the Sun (Verve)
  14. The Ex: Turn (Touch and Go)
  15. Triage: American Mythology (Okka Disk)
  16. The Drive-By Truckers: The Dirty South (New West)
  17. Jewels & Binoculars: Play the Music of Bob Dylan: Floater (Ramboy)
  18. Youssou N'Dour: Egypt (Nonesuch)
  19. The Mountain Goats: We Shall All Be Healed (4AD)
  20. The Beastie Boys: To the 5 Boroughs (Capitol)
  21. Satoko Fujii Quartet: Zephyros (NatSat)
  22. Kanye West: The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella)
  23. Septeto Rodriguez: Baila! Gitano Baila! (Tzadik)
  24. The Bad Plus: Give (Columbia)
  25. Sonic Youth: Sonic Nurse (Geffen)
  26. Don Byron: Ivey-Divey (Blue Note)
  27. Automato (Coup de Grâce)
  28. Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls: Breeding Resistance (Delmark)
  29. Arto Lindsay: Salt (Righteous Babe)
  30. McEnroe and Birdapres: Nothing Is Cool (Peanuts and Corn)
  31. Peter Stampfel & the Bottlecaps: The Jig Is Up (1984-99, Blue Navigator)
  32. Anthony Braxton: 23 Standards (Quartet) 2003 (Leo, 4CD)
  33. Buddy Miller: Universal United House of Prayer (New West)
  34. Steven Bernstein: Diaspora Hollywood (Tzadik)
  35. The Roots: The Tipping Point (Geffen)
  36. Steve Earle: The Revolution Starts . . . Now (E-Squared/Artemis)
  37. Rio Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats (Essay) *
  38. Mylab (Terminus)
  39. Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Paseo (Blue Note)
  40. Bennie Wallace: The Nearness of You (Enja/Justin Time)
  41. Marilyn Crispell Trio: Storyteller (ECM)
  42. Cursor Miner: Plays God (Lo) *
  43. Charles Lloyd/Billy Higgins: Which Way Is East (ECM, 2CD)
  44. Yohimbe Brothers: The Tao of Yo (Thirsty Ear)
  45. Madvillain: Madvillainy (Stones Throw)
  46. Denis Colin Trio: Something in Common (Sunnyside)
  47. Jerry Gonzalez y los Piratas del Flamenco (Sunnyside)
  48. Tripleplay: Gambit (Clean Feed)
  49. Jenny Scheinman: Shalagaster (Tzadik)
  50. Douglas/Sclavis/Lee/Van Der Schyff: Bow River Falls (Premonition)
  51. Tomasz Stanko: Suspended Night (ECM)
  52. Ozomatli: Street Signs (Concord) **
  53. Dizzee Rascal: Boy in Da Corner (Matador)
  54. Northern State: All City (Columbia)
  55. Juhani Aaltonen, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille: Reflections (TUM)
  56. James Carter: Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge (Warner Brothers)
  57. Fred Anderson/Hamid Drake: Back Together Again (Thrill Jockey)
  58. Iris DeMent: Lifeline (Flariella)
  59. Prince: Musicology (Columbia)
  60. Von Freeman: The Great Divide (Premonition/Koch)
  61. Chicago Underground Trio: Slon (Thrill Jockey)
  62. Modest Mouse: Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic)
  63. Nelly: Sweat (Universal)
  64. Chris Potter Quartet: Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard (Sunnyside)
  65. El-P/The Blue Series Continuum: High Water (Thirsty Ear)
  66. Eminem: Encore (Aftermath)
  67. Courtney Love: America's Sweetheart (Virgin)
  68. Geri Allen/Dave Holland/Jack DeJohnette: The Life of a Song (Telarc)
  69. Introducing Shiyani Ngcobo (World Music Network)
  70. Z-Man: Dope or Dog Food (Red Urban)
  71. The Revolutionary Ensemble: And Now . . . (Pi)
  72. Mos Def: The New Danger (Geffen)
  73. Caetano Veloso: A Foreign Sound (Nonesuch)
  74. Raphé Malik: Last Set: Live at the 1369 Jazz Club (1984, Boxholder)
  75. Rokia Traoré: Bowmboï (Nonesuch)
  76. Willie Nelson: Nagadoches (Pedernales)
  77. Per Henrik Wallin/Johnny Dyani/Erik Dahlbäck: Burning in Stockholm (1981, Atavistic)
  78. The Frank and Joe Show: 33 1/3 (Hyena)
  79. Big Satan: Souls Saved Hear (Thirsty Ear)
  80. Eddie Palmieri: Ritmo Caliente (Concord)
  81. Rabih Abou-Khalil: Morton's Foot (Enja/Justin Time)
  82. Brötzmann/Friis Nielsen/Uuskyla: Medicina (Atavistic)
  83. Fela Kuti (Mixed by Chief Xcel): The Underground Spiritual Game (Quannum Projects)
  84. Antibalas: Who Is This America? (Ropeadope) **
  85. Percy Heath: A Love Song (Daddy Jazz)
  86. Lisa Sokolov: Presence (Laughing Horse)
  87. Loretta Lynn: Van Lear Rose (Interscope)
  88. Malik · McPhee · Robinson: Sympathy (Boxholder)
  89. Patti Smith: Trampin' (Columbia)
  90. Russ Lossing: Phrase 6 (Fresh Sound)
  91. Warren Vaché: Dream Dancing (Arbors)
  92. John Hagen: Segments (Cadence)
  93. Cee-Lo: Cee-Lo Green Is the Soul Machine (Arista)
  94. The Silos: When the Telephone Rings (Dualtone)
  95. Mekons: Punk Rock (Quarterstick)
  96. Claudia Quintet: I, Claudia (Cuneiform)
  97. Lou Reed: Animal Serenade (Sire/Reprise, 2CD)

Pending:

Records in hand, but which haven't yet been graded. * indicates that I only have an advance.

  • Absolut Null Punkt (Important) *
  • Across 7 Street: Made in New York (Smalls)
  • Antietam: Victory Park (Carrot Top)
  • William Ash Trio: The Phoenix (Smalls)
  • Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble: Musik (Enja)
  • Brizzi do Brazil (Amiata) *
  • Maggie Brown (Riverwide Music)
  • Maurice Brown: Hip to Bop (Brown)
  • Kate Campbell: The Portable Kate Campbell (Compadre)
  • Kate Campbell: Sing Me Out (Compadre)
  • Stian Carstensen: Backwards Into the Backwoods (Winter & Winter)
  • Joaquín Chacón: Out of This World (Fresh Sound)
  • Craig Chaquico: Midnight Noon (Higher Octave)
  • Critters Buggin': Stampede (Ropeadope) *
  • Cuadernos de Mexico (Winter & Winter, 3CD)
  • Jack Dangers: Loudness Clarifies/Electronic Music From Tapelab (Important)
  • Sasha Dobson: The Darkling Thrush (Smalls)
  • Christiana Drapkin & Charles Sibirsky: Songs About You (Iana)
  • Sergi Sirvent Escué: 9 Muses (Fresh Sound)
  • Exuberance: Live at Vision Festival (Ayler)
  • Fred Fried: When Winter Comes (Ballet Tree)
  • Satoko Fujii Orchestra: Blueprint (NatSat)
  • Leo Genovese: Haikus II (Fresh Sound)
  • Dennis González: Nile River Suite (Daagnim)
  • Richie Hart: Blues in the Alley (Zoho)
  • Arve Henriksen: Chiaroscuro (Rune Grammofon)
  • John Heward Trio: Let Them Pass (Laissez-Passer) (Drimala)
  • Frank Hewitt: We Loved You (Smalls)
  • The Frank Hewitt Trio: Not Afraid to Live (Smalls)
  • Ari Hoenig: The Painter (Smalls)
  • Robin Holcomb/Wayne Horvitz: Solos (Songlines)
  • Gui Mallon: Live at Montreux (Adventure Music)
  • Maria Marquez: Nature's Princess (Adventure Music)
  • Myra Melford/The Tent: Where the Two Worlds Touch (Arabesque)
  • Paula Morelenbaum: Berimbaum (Universal Latino)
  • Motohiro Nakashima: And I Went to Sleep (Lo) *
  • Nine Men's Morris: It's a Wonderful Life (Segue)
  • Vardan Ovsepian: Akunc (Fresh Sound)
  • Enrico Pieranunzi: Fellini Jazz (CAM Jazz)
  • Enrico Pieranunzi: Doorways (CAM Jazz)
  • Pink Martini: Hang On Little Tomato (Heinz)
  • Diane Reeves: Christmas Time Is Here (Blue Note)
  • Jerome Sabbagh: North (Fresh Sound)
  • Ben Schwendener/Uwe Steinmetz: Apfelschaun (Gravity)
  • Ben Schwendener/Marc Rossi: Living Geometry II Volumes 1 & 2 (Gravity, 2CD)
  • Sammy Sherman: A Jazz Original Live at Chan's (Arbors)
  • Shirim: Pincus and the Pig: A Klezmer Tale (Tzadik)
  • Slow Train Soul: Illegal Cargo (Tommy Boy)
  • The Sound of New York Jazz Underground (Fresh Sound, 2CD)
  • Natsuki Tamura Quartet: Exit (Libra)
  • Territory Band-3: Map Theory (Okka Disk)
  • Clark Terry With the Chicago Jazz Orchestra: Porgy & Bess (A440 Music)
  • Think of One: Monk's Music Trio (CMB)
  • Gian Tornatore: Sink or Swim (Fresh Sound)
  • Triot With John Tchicai: Sudden Happiness (TUM)
  • Claudia Villela: Dreamtales (Adventure Music)
  • David Weiss: The Mirror (Fresh Sound)
  • Mike Wofford: Live at Athenaeum Jazz (Capri)
  • Yeah No: Swell Henry (Squealer)
  • Ann Zimmerman: Blue Wild Indigo (A-Z Music)

Missed:

Records in hand, graded B+ or below, in roughly declining order:

  • E.S.T.: Seven Days of Falling (215 Records)
  • Brian Lynch Meets Bill Charlap (Sharp Nine)
  • Adam Pieronczyk: Amusos (PAO)
  • Break Bread: Break Bread EP (Peanuts and Corn)
  • Patricia Barber: A Fortnight in Paris (Blue Note)
  • Joe Locke & 4 Walls of Freedom: Dear Life (Sirocco)
  • Lateef & the Chief Present Maroons: Ambush (Quannum)
  • Introducing Vakoka (World Music Network)
  • Greg Wall: Later Prophets (Tzadik)
  • Firehouse: Live at the Glenn Miller Café (Ayler)
  • François Carrier Trio: Play (482 Music)
  • Nils Petter Molvaer: Live: Steamer (Sula)
  • Rudresh Mahanthappa: Mother Tongue (Pi)
  • Phil Ranelin: Inspiration (Wide Hive) *
  • Dennis González NY Quartet: NY Midnight Suite (Clean Feed)
  • Richardo Silveira/Luiz Avellar: Live: Play the Music of Milton Nascimento (Adventure Music)
  • Mats Gustafsson/Sonic Youth: Hidros 3 (Smalltown Supersound)
  • Nellie McKay: Get Away From Me (Columbia, 2CD)
  • Mike Marshall & Choro Famoso (Adventure Music)
  • Paal Nilssen-Love/Ken Vandermark: Dual Pleasure 2 (Smalltown Supersound, 2CD)
  • Nelly: Suit (Universal)
  • Greg Burk Quartet: Carpe Momentum (Soul Note)
  • Jacob Young: Evening Falls (ECM)
  • Ladysmith Black Mambazo: Raise Your Spirit Higher (Wenyukela) (Heads Up)
  • The Ponys: Laced With Romance (In the Red)
  • Gogol Bordello vs. Tamir Muskat: J.U.F. (Stinky)
  • Mario Pavone: Boom (Playscape)
  • Gorka Benitez: Solo la Verdad Es Sexy (Fresh Sound, 2CD)
  • Leslie Pintchik: So Glad to Be Here (Ambient)
  • Dominic Duval/Joe McPhee: Rules of Engagement, Vol. 2 (Drimala)
  • Noël Akchoté: Sonny II: The Music of Sonny Sharrock (Winter & Winter)
  • Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra: Celebration of the Spirit (CIMP)
  • Jean Grae: This Week (Orchestral/Babygrande)
  • Andre Ward: Steppin' Up (Award/Orpheus)
  • The Thing: Garage (Smalltown Superjazz)
  • Jessica Jones Quartet: Nod (New Artists)
  • Fred Hersch: The Fred Hersch Trio + 2 (Palmetto)
  • Per Henrik Wallin Trio: The Stockholm Tapes (1975-77, Ayler)
  • Charlie Robison: Good Times (Dualtone)
  • Sonore: No One Ever Works Alone (Okka Disk)
  • Jan Garbarek: In Praise of Dreams (ECM)
  • Sangha Quartet: Fear of Roaming (Fresh Sound)
  • Percy Sledge: Shining Through the Rain (Varèse Sarabande)
  • Hugh Ragin: Revelation (Justin Time)
  • A Cricket in Times Square (High Two)
  • Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble: Mean Ameen (Delmark)
  • Groundtruther: Latitude (Thirsty Ear)
  • Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity (TVT)
  • Mike Holober and the Gotham Jazz Orchestra: Thought Trains (Sons of Sound)
  • Dave Burrell Full-Blown Trio: Expansion (High Two)
  • Introducing the Javier Vercher Trio (Fresh Sound)
  • René Marie: Serene Renegade (MaxJazz)
  • Eyvind Kang & Tucker Martine: Orchestra Dim Bridges (Conduit)
  • The Notorious Cherry Bombs (Universal South) **
  • Claire Ritter: Greener Than Blue (Zoning)
  • The PrimeTime Sublime Community Orchestra: A Life in a Day of a Microorganism (Corporate Blob)
  • David Sánchez: Coral (Columbia)
  • Miguel Zenón: Ceremonial (Marsalis Music/Rounder)
  • Kirk Lightsey: The Nights of Bradley's (1985, Sunnyside)
  • Paradigm Shift: Shifting Times (Nagel Heyer)
  • Satoko Fujii Trio: Illusion Suite (Libra)
  • Eddie Gale: Afro-Fire (Black Beauty)
  • Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts: Wake Up! (To What's Happening) (Palmetto) *
  • Louis Sclavis: Napoli's Walls (ECM)
  • Oliver Mtukudzi: Shanda (Alula)
  • Wynton Marsalis: Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (Blue Note)
  • Denny Zeitlin: Slickrock (MaxJazz)
  • Statesmen of Jazz: Multitude of Stars (Arbors, 2CD)
  • Gotan Project: Inspiración-Expiración Remix (Beggars XL)
  • Nanette Natal: It's Only a Tune (Benyo Music)
  • Paul Brody: Beyond Babylon (Tzadik)
  • Bobby Watson & Horizon: Horizon Reassembled (Palmetto)
  • Lafayette Gilchrist: The Music According to Lafayette Gilchrist (Hyena/Shantytone)
  • Uri Caine Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard (Winter & Winter)
  • Henry Kaiser & Wadada Leo Smith: Yo Miles! Sky Garden (Cuneiform, 2CD)
  • Cowboy Jack Clement: Guess Things Happen That Way (Dualtone)
  • Bobby Bare Jr's Young Criminals Starvation League.: From the End of Your Leash (Bloodshot)
  • Arild Andersen/Vassilis Tsabropoulos/John Marshall: The Triangle (ECM)
  • Atomic/School Days: Nuclear Assembly Hall (Okka Disk, 2CD)
  • The Flip Phillips Quartet: Live at the Beowulf (1977-78, Arbors, 2CD)
  • Martin Sasse Trio: Close Encounter (Nagel Heyer)
  • Kris Davis: Lifespan (Fresh Sound)
  • Mushroom: Glazed Popems (Black Beauty, 2CD)
  • Laura Veirs: Carbon Glacier (Nonesuch)
  • Cosmosamatics: Three (Boxholder)
  • Lee Konitz/Alan Broadbent: More Live-Lee (Milestone)
  • Jim Black: Habyor (Winter & Winter)
  • Ned Goold Trio: The Flows (Smalls)
  • Keith Jarrett: The Out-of-Towners (ECM)
  • Negroni's Trio: Piano/Drums/Bass (Universal Latino)
  • Judi Silvano: Let Yourself Go (Zoho)
  • Glauco Sagebin: When Baden Meets Trane (Blue Toucan)
  • Ismael Dueñas Trio: La Tiranía de la Cosa (Fresh Sound)
  • The Hives: Tyrannosaurus Hives (Interscope) **
  • Alexis Cuadrado Sextet: Visual (Fresh Sound)
  • Donald Harrison: Heroes (Nagel Heyer)
  • Trio Mundo: Rides Again (Zoho)
  • String Zone: Mystery Bag (Nagel Heyer)
  • Vinkeloe/Cremaschi/Masaoka/Robair: Klang. Farbe. Melodie (482 Music)
  • The Fred Hess Quartet: The Long and Short of It (Tapestry)
  • Dick Hyman and Tom Pletcher: If Bix Played Gershwin (Arbors)
  • Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 (Fat Wreck Chords)
  • The David Berkman Quartet: Start Here . . . Finish There (Palmetto)
  • Ignasi Terraza Trio: IT's Coming (TCB)
  • Scott Hamilton & Harry Allen: Heavy Juice (Concord)
  • Grenadier: Hand Offensive (Grenadier Music)
  • Tardo Hammer: Tardo's Tempo (Sharp Nine)
  • Josh Workman: Jumpin' at the Border (Tetrachord Music)
  • Morrissey: You Are the Quarry (Sanctuary) **
  • Broken Social Scene: Bee Hives (2001-03, Arts & Crafts) **
  • Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez: Italuba (Pimienta)
  • Bruno Råberg Nonet: Chrysalis (Orbis Music)
  • Alice Coltrane: Translinear Light (Impulse)
  • PJ Harvey: Uh Huh Her (Island) **
  • World Saxophone Quartet: Experience (Justin Time)
  • Eric Vloeimans: Hidden History (Challenge)
  • Rashied Ali/Arthur Rhames: The Dynamic Duo (1981, Ayler, 2CD)
  • The Great Jazz Trio: Someday My Prince Will Come (Eighty-Eights/Columbia)
  • The Streets: A Grand Don't Come for Free (Atlantic)
  • Michael Musillami Octet: Spirits (Playscape)
  • Jazz Ambassador: Scott Robinson Plays the Compositions of Louis Armstrong (Arbors)
  • John Abercrombie: Class Trip (ECM)
  • Joe Maneri, Barre Phillips, Mat Maneri: Angles of Repose (ECM)
  • José Alberto Medina/JAM Trio: First Portrait (Fresh Sound)
  • Michael Hurley: Down in Dublin (Blue Navigator)
  • Kerry Linder: Sail Away With Me (Blue Toucan)
  • Charlie Haden/Joe Henderson/Al Foster: The Montreal Tapes (1989, Verve)
  • Jessica Williams: Live at Yoshi's, Volume One (Maxjazz)
  • The John Sheridan Trio: Artistry 3 (Arbors)
  • Rob Wilkerson: Imaginary Landscape (Fresh Sound)
  • Angie Stone: Stone Love (J Records) **
  • Erin Bode: Don't Take Your Time (Maxjazz)
  • Noah Baerman: Patch Kit (Lemel)
  • Rick Parker Collective: New York Gravity (Fresh Sound)
  • Hil St. Soul: Copasetik & Cool (Shanachie)
  • Luciano: Lessons of Life (Shanachie)
  • Bley/Sheppard/Swallow/Drummond: The Lost Chords (Watt)
  • Allan Vaché and Friends: Ballads, Burners and Blues (Arbors)
  • Introducing Sukke (World Music Network)
  • Tom Herman: Wait for It (Return to Sender)
  • Harris Eisenstadt Quintet: Jalolu (CIMP)
  • Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: Walking With Giants (Hyena)
  • Bill Bruford's Earthworks Featuring Tim Garland: Random Acts of Happiness (Summerfold)
  • Enrico Rava: Easy Living (ECM)
  • Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray: We Is: Live at the Bop Shop (Delmark)
  • Ghostface: The Pretty Toney Album (Def Jam)
  • The Yoko Miwa Trio: Fadeless Flower (P.J.L.)
  • Satoko Fujii: Sketches (NatSat)
  • Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet: Images (Okka Disk)
  • William Gagliardi Quintet: Hear and Now (CIMP)
  • Courtney Pine: Devotion (Telarc)
  • Benny Golson: Terminal 1 (Concord)
  • Joel Frahm/Brad Mehldau: Don't Explain (Palmetto)
  • Hiromi: Brain (Telarc)
  • Dr. Macaroni Brass Band: Cum Laude (TCB)
  • Kalaparush & the Light: Morning Song (Delmark)
  • Ben Allison & Medicine Wheel: Buzz (Palmetto) *
  • Steve Nelson: Fuller Nelson (1998, Sunnyside)
  • Carlos Michelini: Charactera Below Zero (Fresh Sound)
  • DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid: Celestial Mechanix (Thirsty Ear, 2CD)
  • The Neville Brothers: Walkin' in the Shadow of Life (Back Porch)
  • Gift of Gab: Fourth Dimensional Rocketships Going Up (Quannum Projects) *
  • Paul Bley: Nothing to Declare (Justin Time)
  • McCoy Tyner: Illuminations (Telarc)
  • Roy Haynes: Fountain of Youth (Dreyfus)
  • Yotam Silberstein Trio: The Arrival (Fresh Sound)
  • Dave Rempis Quartet: Out of Season (482 Music)
  • Steve Swell/Perry Robinson: Invisible Cities (Drimala)
  • Bob Brookmeyer: Get Well Soon (Challenge)
  • James Silberstein: Song for Micaela (CAP)
  • Magali Souriau Trio: Petite Promenade (Fresh Sound)
  • Medeski Martin & Wood: End of the World Party (Just in Case) (Blue Note)
  • Dom Minasi's DDT + 2: Time Will Tell (CDM)
  • Holly Hofmann: Minor Miracle (Capri)
  • Robert Stewart: Heaven and Earth (Nagel Heyer)
  • The Jay Leonhart Trio: Cool (Sons of Sound)
  • The Blasters: Live: Going Home (Shout Factory)
  • Pete Malinverni: The Tempest (Reservoir)
  • Billy Martin: The Turntable Sessions, Volume 1 (Amulet)
  • The Ben Waltzer Trio: One Hundred Dreams Ago (Fresh Sound)
  • Danger Mouse Presents: The Grey Album (bootleg)
  • Future Soundtrack for America (Barsuk)

  • Steve Kuhn: Promises Kept (ECM)
  • Sticks & Stones: Shed Grace (Thrill Jockey)
  • Frank Kimbrough: Lullabluebye (Palmetto) *
  • Joan Stiles: Love Call (Zoho)
  • Burton Greene: Live at Grasland (Drimala)
  • Paul Dunmall Moksha Big Band: I Wish You Peace (Cuneiform)
  • Birdbrain: I Fly (Persian Cardinal)
  • Linda Ronstadt: Hummin' to Myself (Verve)
  • Wylie & the Wild West: Hooves of the Horses (Western Jubilee)
  • Minnie Driver: Everything I've Got in My Pocket (Zoë)
  • Andy Bey: American Song (Savoy Jazz)
  • Madeleine Peyroux: Careless Love (Rounder)
  • Maria Schneider: Concert in the Garden (Artists Share)
  • Fennesz: Venice (Touch)
  • Dr. Lonnie Smith: Too Damn Hot! (Palmetto) *
  • Five Play . . . Plus (Arbors)
  • Mulgrew Miller: Live at Yoshi's, Volume One (Maxjazz)
  • Jon Balke & Magnetic North Orchestra: Diverted Travels (ECM)
  • Joe Smith: Melodic Workshop (Fresh Sound)
  • Giulia Valle Group: Colorista (Fresh Sound)
  • Doc Powell: Cool Like That (Heads Up)
  • Kali Z. Fasteau: Making Waves (Flying Note)
  • Rick Stone: Samba de Novembro (Jazzand)
  • Jeff Parker & Scott Fields: Song Songs Song (Delmark)
  • Dave Brubeck: Private Brubeck Remembers (Telarc, 2CD)
  • Michael Jefry Stevens & Michael Rabinowitz: Play (Drimala)
  • Magnetic Fields: I (Nonesuch)
  • William Shatner: Has Been (Shout Factory)
  • David Berger & the Sultans of Swing: Marlowe (Such Sweet Thunder)
  • Frank Jackson: New York After Dark (Kasis)
  • Hazard, Fennesz, Biosphere: Light (2001, Touch)
  • Guaranteed Swahili: Three More Years (Fresh Sound)
  • Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company (Concord/Hear Music)
  • Orquestra Popular de Camara (Adventure Music)
  • Sonny Simmons: Jewels (1991, Boxholder)
  • Split Lip Rayfield: Should Have Seen It Coming (Bloodshot)
  • Badly Drawn Boy: One Plus One Is One (Astralwerks) **
  • Bucky Pizzarelli: Flashes: Solo 7-String Guitar, Volume 3 (Arbors)
  • The Gourds: Blood of the Ram (Eleven Thirty)
  • Bill Charlap Trio: Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein (Blue Note)
  • Chris Smither: Honeysuckle Dog (Okra-Tone)
  • The Flatlanders: Wheels of Fortune (New West) **
  • Nancy Marano: You're Nearer (Munich)
  • Billy Martin: Illy B Eats, Volume 2 (Amulet)
  • Ricky Fanté: Rewind (Virgin) **
  • Bob Dorough: Sunday at Iridium (Arbors)
  • Vic Juris: Blue Horizon (Zoho)
  • The Reputation: Force a Fate (Lookout)
  • Peter Cincotti: On the Moon (Concord)
  • Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble: Memory/Vision (ECM)
  • Jody Sandhaus: A Fine Spring Morning (CAP)
  • Hironobu Saito: The Remaining 2% (Fresh Sound)
  • Marco Figueira: Brazilliance (Blue Toucan)
  • Bill O'Connell: Latin Jazz Fantasy (Random Chance)
  • Blondie: The Curse of Blondie (Sanctuary) **
  • Roger Creager: Live Across Texas (Dualtone)
  • The Hot Club of San Francisco: Be That Way (Panda Digital)
  • The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family (Dualtone)
  • Ken Peplowski: Easy to Remember (Nagel Heyer)
  • Metz'n Around: A Late Night Party With the Metz Family (Arbors)
  • Vincent Herring: Mr. Wizard (High Note)
  • Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet: Signs (Okka Disk)
  • Forever, for Always, for Luther: A Tribute to Luther Vandross (GRP)
  • Greg Osby: Public (Blue Note)
  • David Krakauer: Live in Krakow (Label Bleu)
  • Joe Lovano: I'm All for You (Blue Note)
  • Herbie Mann/Phil Woods: Beyond Brooklyn (MCG Jazz)
  • Craig Taborn: Junk Magic (Thirsty Ear) *
  • Basya Schechter: Queen's Dominion (Tzadik)
  • Canela & Vidal: Univers Miles (Fresh Sound)
  • Barbara Balzan Quartet: Tender Awakening (TCB)
  • Jazz for Couch Potatoes! (Shanachie)
  • Deep Blue Organ Trio: Deep Blue Bruise (Delmark)
  • Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo (Or Music, 2CD) **
  • Joey Calderazzo: Haiku (Marsalis Music/Rounder)
  • The Subdudes: Miracle Mule (Back Porch) *
  • Ray Vega: Squeeze Squeeze (Palmetto)
  • Joshua Breakstone: A Jamais (Capri)
  • Dave Liebman Group: In a Mellow Tone (Zoho)
  • Ramsey Lewis Trio: Time Flies (Narada Jazz)
  • Eric Darius: Night on the Town (Higher Octave Music)
  • Jamie Baum Septet: Moving Forward, Standing Still (Omnitone)
  • Steve Lehman Quintet: Artificial Light (Fresh Sound)
  • Natsuki Tamura: Ko Ko Ko Ke (NatSat)
  • Russell Malone: Playground (MaxJazz)

  • Branford Marsalis Quartet: Eternal (Marsalis Music/Rounder)
  • Norah Jones: Feels Like Home (Blue Note)
  • Kenny Barron Quintet: Images (Sunnyside)
  • Helen Merrill: Lilac Wine (Sunnyside)
  • Benny Green & Russell Malone: Bluebird (Telarc)
  • Danny Barrett: Indian Summer (Danny Barrett)
  • Max Eastley/David Toop: Doll Creature (Bip-Hop)
  • Eric Burdon: My Secret Life (SPV) **
  • Nestor Torres: Sin Palabras (Without Words) (Heads Up)
  • Weber Iago: Os Filhos do Vento (Children of the Wind) (Adventure Music)
  • Burrito Deluxe: The Whole Enchilada (Luna Chica)
  • Aaron Choulai: Place (Sunnyside)
  • Anders Jormin: In Winds, in Light (ECM)
  • K.D. Lang: Hymns of the 49th Parallel (Nonesuch) **
  • Wayne Escoffery: Intuition (Nagel Heyer)
  • Spyro Gyra: The Deep End (Heads Up)
  • Tierney Sutton: Dancing in the Dark (Telarc)
  • Fe-Mail: Syklubb fra Haelvete (Important)
  • Nancy Wilson: R.S.V.P. (MCG Jazz)
  • Jesse Harris and the Fernandos: While the Music Lasts (Verve Forecast) **
  • Rebecca Martin: People Behave Like Ballads (MaxJazz)
  • Justin Mullens & the Delphian Jazz Orchestra (Fresh Sound)
  • Ani DiFranco: Educated Guess (Righteous Babe)
  • Anita Baker: My Everything (Blue Note)
  • Mount Analog: New Skin (Film Guerrero)
  • Jing Chi: 3D (Tone Center)
  • Devorah Day & Dominic Duval: Standard (CIMP)
  • Eddy Orini: Divine Mustache: Musical Tribute to the Genius of Salvador Dali (TCB)
  • Paul Dunmall, Paul Rogers, Kevin Norton: Go Forth Duck (CIMP)
  • Spring Heel Jack: The Sweetness of the Water (Thirsty Ear) *
  • John Pizzarelli: Bossa Nova (Telarc)

  • Miriam Makeba: Reflections (Heads Up)
  • Claudia Acuña: Luna (MaxJazz)
  • Biosphere: Autour de la Lune (Touch)
  • Makanda Ken McIntyre: In the Wind: The Woodwind Quartets (Passin' Thru)
  • Ann Hampton Callaway: Slow (Shanachie)
  • Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman: Saxophone Summit: Gathering of Spirits (Telarc)
  • Bob Mintzer Big Band: Live at MCG With Special Guest Kurt Elling (MCG Jazz)
  • Steve Swallow/Ohad Talmor Sextet: L'Histoire du Clochard: The Bum's Tale (Palmetto) *
  • Karen Allyson: Wild for You (Concord) *
  • Antonio Hart: All We Need (Downtown Sound/Chiaroscuro)
  • Kim Waters: In the Name of Love (Shanachie)
  • Positive Flow: Can U Feel It? (Shanachie)

  • Chick Corea Elektric Band: To the Stars (Stretch)
  • Fourplay: Journey (Bluebird)

  • George Benson: Irreplaceable (GRP)
  • Monty Alexander/Ernest Ranglin: Rocksteady (Telarc)

  • Keith Rowe/Axel Dörner/Franz Hautzinger: A View From the Window (Erstwhile)

Hyped:

These are records that I have some reason to think might be worth hearing -- usually, other folks' recommendations.

  • !!!: Louden Up Now (Touch and Go)
  • Ada: Blondie (Aureal)
  • Ambulance LTD (TVT)
  • Animal Collective: Sung Tongs (Fatcat)
  • The Arcade Fire: Funeral (Merge)
  • Federico Aubelle: Gran Hotel Buenos Aires (Eighteenth Street Lo)
  • Issa Bagayogo: Tassoumakan (Six Degrees)
  • Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster (Emergent)
  • The Beautiful South: Golddiggas, Headnodders & Pholk Songs (Sony UK)
  • Big & Rich: Horse of a Different Color (Warner Bros.)
  • Björk: Medúlla (Elektra/Atlantic)
  • The Black Keys: Rubber Factory (Fat Possum/Epitaph)
  • The Butchies: Make Yr Life (Yep Roc)
  • J.J. Cale: To Tulsa and Back (Sanctuary)
  • Cam'ron: Purple Haze (Diplomats/Roc-a-Fella)
  • Neko Case: The Tigers Have Spoken (Anti-/Epitaph)
  • Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus (Anti-)
  • Kasey Chambers: Wayward Angel (Warner Bros.)
  • Chicks on Speed: 99 Cents (Chicks on Speed)
  • Leonard Cohen: Dear Heather (Columbia)
  • The Comas: Conductor (Yep Roc)
  • Elvis Costello and the Imposters: The Delivery Man (Lost Highway)
  • The Crystal Method: Legion of Boom (V2)
  • Guy Davis: Legacy (Red House)
  • Kimya Dawson: Hidden Vagenda (K)
  • Dead Prez: RBG: Revolutionary but Gangsta (Sony Urban Music/Columbia)
  • Matthew Dear: Backstroke (Spectral Sound)
  • Mercan Dede: Sufi Traveler (Mi5)
  • De La Soul: The Grind Date (Sanctuary)
  • Devin the Dude: To Tha X-Treme (Rap-a-Lot)
  • DFA Compilation #2 (DFA)
  • Dizzee Rascal: Showtime (XL)
  • Dave Douglas: Strange Liberation (Bluebird)
  • Dungen: Ta Det Lungt (Subliminal)
  • Eyedea and Abilities: E&A (Rhymesayers/Epitaph)
  • The Fall: The Real New Fall LP (Narnack)
  • The Fever: Red Bedroom (Kemado)
  • The Fiery Furnaces: Blueberry Boat (Rough Trade)
  • Jason Forrest: The Unrelenting Songs of the 1979 Post Disco Crash (Sonig)
  • Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
  • The Futureheads (Sire)
  • Ghost: Hypnotic Underworld (Drag City)
  • Bebel Gilberto (Six Degrees)
  • Green Day: American Idiot (Reprise)
  • Patty Griffin: Impossible Dream (ATO)
  • Haiku D'Etat: Coup de Theatre (Red Urban)
  • Handsome Boy Modeling School: White People (Elektra)
  • Ben Harper With the Blind Boys of Alabama: There Will Be a Light (Virgin)
  • The Hold Steady: Almost Killed Me (Frenchkiss)
  • Van Hunt (Capitol)
  • Interpol: Antics (Matador)
  • IQU: Sun Q (Sonic Boom)
  • Isis: Panopticon (Ipecac)
  • Alan Jackson: What I Do (Arista Nashville)
  • Janet Jackson: Damita Jo (Virgin)
  • Jadakiss: Kiss of Death (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
  • Jaojoby: Malagasy (World Village)
  • Wyclef Jean: Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 (Koch)
  • Freedy Johnston: The Way I Were (Bar/None)
  • Junior Boys: Last Exit (Domino)
  • Mory Kante: Sabou (Riverboat)
  • The Killers: Hot Fuss (Island/Def Jam)
  • Soweto Kinch: Conversations With the Unseen (Dune)
  • Kompakt 100 (Kompakt)
  • Mark Lanegan Band: Bubblegum (Beggars Banquet)
  • Avril Lavigne: Under My Skin (RCA)
  • Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Shake the Sheets (Lookout)
  • Sondre Lerche: Two Way Monologue (Astralwerks)
  • The Libertines (Rough Trade)
  • Local H: Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles? (Studio E)
  • Los Lobos: The Ride (Hollywood/Mammoth)
  • Luna: Rendezvous (Jetset)
  • Lydia Lunch: Smoke in the Shadows (Atavistic)
  • Jesse Malin: The Heat (Artemis)
  • Teena Marie: La Dona (Cash Money Classics/Universal)
  • Masta Ace: A Long Hot Summer (M3)
  • The Meat Purveyors: Pain By Numbers (Bloodshot)
  • MF Doom: MM . . Food (Rhymesayers)
  • Miss Kittin: I Com (Astralwerks)
  • Alanis Morissette: So-Called Chaos (Maverick)
  • Travis Morrison: Travistan (Barsuk)
  • Murs: Murs 3:16 (Definitive Jux)
  • Nas: Street's Disciple (Columbia)
  • N.E.R.D.: Fly or Die (Virgin)
  • A.C. Newman: The Slow Wonder (Matador)
  • Joanna Newsom: Milk Eyed Mender (Drag City)
  • Old 97's: Drag It Up (New West)
  • Sam Phillips: Boot and a Shoe (Nonesuch)
  • Vernon Reid & Masque: Known Unknown (Favored Nations)
  • R.E.M.: Around the Sun (Warner Bros.)
  • RJD2: Since We Last Spoke (Definitive Jux)
  • The Rogers Sisters: Three Fingers (Troubleman Unlimited)
  • Scissor Sisters (Universal)
  • Jill Scott: Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 (Hidden Beach/Epic)
  • The Secret Machines: Now Here Is Nowhere (Reprise)
  • Joss Stone: Mind, Body & Soul (S-Curve)
  • Silkworm: It'll Be Cool (Touch and Go)
  • Simple Kid: 1 (Warner Bros.)
  • Elliott Smith: From a Basement on the Hill (Epitaph)
  • Sondre Lerche: Two Way Monologue (Astralwerks)
  • Spektrum: Enter the . . . Spektrum (Playhouse)
  • Squarepusher: Ultravisitor (Warp)
  • Sufjan Stevens: Seven Swans (Sounds Familyre)
  • Rachid Taha: Tekitoi (Wrasse)
  • Tarika: 10: Beats, Ghosts and Dancing With History (Triloka/Artemis)
  • Thelonious Monster: California Clam Chowder (Lakeshore)
  • Thievery Corporation: The Outernational Sound (ESL Sound)
  • Tinariwen: Amassakoul (World Village)
  • Martina Topley-Bird: Anything (Palm)
  • TV on the Radio: Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes (Touch and Go)
  • 213: The Hard Way (TVT)
  • United State of Electronica (Mannheim)
  • Usher: Confessions (Laface)
  • UTD: Manifest Destiny (Illson Media)
  • U2: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Interscope)
  • Velvet Revolver: Contraband (RCA)
  • The Von Bondies: Pawn Shoppe Heart (Sire)
  • Tom Waits: Real Gone (Anti-)
  • The Walkmen: Bows and Arrows (Record Collection)
  • Wilco: A Ghost Is Born (Nonesuch)
  • Saul Williams (Fader)
  • The Willowz (Dionysus)
  • Gretchen Wilson: Here for the Party (Sony Nashville)

Compilations/Vault Music:

  1. Don Pullen: Mosaic Select (1986-90, Mosaic, 3CD)
  2. The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll: 1946-1954 (Hip-O, 3CD)
  3. The Best of Talking Heads (1977-88, Sire/Warner Bros./Rhino)
  4. Annette Peacock: Mama Never Taught Me How to Cook: The Aura Years (1978-82, Castle)
  5. From Small Things: The Best of Dave Edmunds (Columbia/Legacy)
  6. Back to the Crossroads: The Roots of Robert Johnson (1926-37, Yazoo)
  7. The Essential Louis Armstrong (1925-67, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  8. Oumou Sangare: Oumou (1989-2003, Nonesuch, 2CD)
  9. The Abyssinians & Friends: Tree of Satta (Blood & Fire)
  10. Candi Staton (1969-73, Honest Jons)
  11. Black Power: Music of a Revolution (1968-79, Shout Factory, 2CD)

  12. The Hip Hop Box (1979-2003, Hip-O, 4CD)
  13. Whiskey Is My Habit, Cool Women Is All I Crave: The Best of Leroy Carr (1928-35, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  14. Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis 1963-1964 (Columbia/Legacy, 7CD)
  15. The Essential Merle Haggard: The Epic Years (1981-87, Epic/Legacy)
  16. The Animals: Retrospective (1964-70, Abkco)
  17. James Chance: Sax Education (1978-88, Tiger Style, 2CD)
  18. Lenny Bruce: Let the Buyer Beware (1948-66, Shout Factory, 6CD)
  19. John Fahey: The Best of John Fahey, Vol. 2: 1964-1983 (Takoma)
  20. The Essential Earl Scruggs (1947-84, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  21. Shave 'Em Dry: The Best of Lucille Bogan (1933-35, Columbia/Legacy)
  22. The Third Unheard: Connecticut Hip Hop 1979-1983 (Stones Throw)
  23. The Rolling Stones: Singles 1963-1965 (Abkco, 12CD)
  24. Hound Dog Taylor: Release the Hound (Alligator) *
  25. Chicago Soul (1963-69, Soul Jazz)
  26. The Essential Isley Brothers (1959-66, Epic/Legacy, 2CD)
  27. A Proper Introduction to Julia Lee: That's What I Like (1944-52, Proper)
  28. Arild Andersen: Rarum XIX: Selected Recordings (1975-99, ECM)
  29. Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top (1970-92, Warner Bros., 2CD)
  30. Shrimp Boat: Something Grand (1985-93, Aum Fidelity, 3CD)
  31. Johnny Cash: Life (1958-77, Columbia/Legacy)
  32. Herman's Hermits: Retrospective (1964-69, Abkco)
  33. Tomasz Stanko: Rarum XVII: Selected Recordings (1975-98, ECM)
  34. Shalamar: Anthology (1977-87, The Right Stuff/Solar, 2CD)
  35. Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970 (1946-69, CMF/Lost Highway, 2CD)
  36. Studio One Classics (1964-81, Soul Jazz)
  37. Gary Bartz Ntu Troop: Harlem Bush Music (1970-71, Milestone)
  38. Trouble Funk: Live / Early Singles (2.13.61)
  39. The Best of Bobby Vinton (1962-72, Epic/Legacy)
  40. Moacir Santos: Ouro Negro (1965-92, Adventure Music, 2CD)
  41. The Essential Roy Acuff (1938-49, Columbia/Legacy)
  42. The Rolling Stones: Singles 1965-1967 (Abkco, 11CD)

Pending:

  • Antologia de Música Electrónica Portuguesa (1972-97, Tomlab/Plancton)
  • Chet Baker: Love Songs (1953-74, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Chet Baker: Prince of Cool (1952-57, Pacific Jazz, 3CD)
  • The Beakers: Four Steps Toward a Cultural Revolution (1980-81, K) *
  • Begnagrad (1982, Mio)
  • The Blackouts: History in Reverse (1979, K) *
  • Can't You Hear Me Callin' Bluegrass: 50 Years of American Music (Columbia/Legacy, 4CD) *
  • Close Harmony: A History of Southern Gospel Music, Volume 1 (1920-1955) (Dualtone)
  • The Colors of Latin Jazz: Música Romántica (1982-2003, Concord)
  • Jim Croce: Facets (Shout Factory, 2CD)
  • The Essential Rodney Crowell (1981-2004, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Marlene Dietrich: Love Songs (1930-59, Columbia/Legacy)
  • DNA: DNA on DNA (No More)
  • Doctor Mix & the Remix: Wall of Noise (Acute)
  • The Faces: Five Guys Walk Into a Bar . . . (1970-75, Rhino, 4CD)
  • 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong: The Very Best of the Fall 1978-2003 (Beggars Banquet, 2CD)
  • Mongezi Feza: Free Jam (1972, Ayler, 2CD)
  • Dexter Gordon: Mosaic Select (1978-79, Mosaic, 3CD)
  • Robert Johnson: King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. II (1937, Columbia/Legacy)
  • The Essential Kris Kristofferson (1970-99, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  • Ramsey Lewis: Love Songs (1972-88, Columbia/Legacy)
  • A Proper Introduction to Maddox Brothers & Rose: That'll Learn Ya Durn Ya (1948-53, Proper)
  • A Proper Introduction to Dodo Marmarosa: Dodo's Dance (1946-48, Proper)
  • Magic Moments: The Best of 50s Pop (Shout Factory, 3CD)
  • Dino: The Essential Dean Martin (1949-69, Capitol)
  • The Essential Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes Featuring Teddy Pendergrass (1972-75, Epic/Legacy)
  • The Best of Liza Minnelli (1972-92, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Mosaïc: Ultimatum Plus . . . (1976-78, Mio)
  • Mystikal: Prince of the South . . . The Hits (Jive/Zomba)
  • The Best of Jim Nabors (1966-75, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Notekillers (1977-1981) (Ecstatic Peace)
  • The Best of Jane Olivor (1976-82, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Pure Brazil: Bossa 4 Two (Universal Latino)
  • Pure Brazil: Bossa 4 Two Vol. 2 (Universal Latino)
  • Pure Brazil: Feijoada (Universal Latino)
  • Pure Brazil: The Girls From Ipanema (Universal Latino)
  • Pure Brazil: The Girls From Ipanema Vol. 2 (Universal Latino)
  • Pure Brazil: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Universal Latino)
  • Pure Brazil: Samba Social Club (Universal Latino)
  • Pure Brazil: Samba Soul Groove (Universal Latino)
  • Putumayo Kids Presents Sing Along With Putumayo (Putumayo World Music)
  • Putumayo Presents Blues Lounge (Putumayo World Music)
  • Putumayo Presents South Pacific Islands (Putumayo World Music)
  • The Rose & the Briar: Death, Love and Liberty in the American Ballad (Columbia/Legacy)
  • The Rough Guide to the Music of Brazil: Bahia (World Music Network)
  • The World of Arthur Russell (Soul Jazz) *
  • Wayne Shorter: Footprints: The Life and Music of Wayne Shorter (1960-2001, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  • Jimmy Smith: Retrospective (1956-86, Blue Note, 4CD)
  • Tavares: Anthology (1973-81, Capitol, 2CD)
  • George Thorogood & the Destroyers: Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock (1977-2003, Capitol)
  • Sarah Vaughan: Love Songs (1949-52, Columbia/Legacy)
  • The Complete Roulette Dinah Washington Sessions (1962-63, Mosaic, 3CD)
  • Legend of the Wu-Tang: Wu-Tang Clan's Greatest Hits (1993-2001, BMG Heritage)

Missed:

  • The Stanley Brothers: An Evening Long Ago (1956, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Crazy Blues: The Best of Mamie Smith (1920-22, Columbia/Legacy)
  • 7 Seconds: The Best of Youssou N'Dour (1992-2000, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Thelonious Monk: Monk 'Round the World (1961-65, Thelonious/Hyena)
  • Byther Smith: Hold That Train (1981, Delmark)
  • Paul Motian: Rarum XVI: Selected Recordings (1972-87, ECM)
  • The United Records Story (1951-57, Delmark)
  • Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath: Bremen to Bridgewater (1971-75, Cuneiform, 2CD)
  • The Essential David Allan Coe (1974-86, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Jack McDuff: The Prestige Years (1960-65, Prestige)
  • Wadada Leo Smith: Kabell Years 1971-1979 (Tzadik, 4CD)
  • The Rough Guide to Fado (World Music Network)
  • The Essential Rosemary Clooney (1947-56, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Holy Modal Rounders: Bird Song: Live 1971 (Water)
  • Hello Central: The Best of Lightnin' Hopkins (1950-51, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Happy Together: The Very Best of the Turtles (1965-70, Shout Factory)
  • Happy Birthday Newport! 50 Swinging Years (1955-76, Columbia/Legacy, 3CD)
  • Eric Kloss: First Class! (1966-67, Prestige)
  • Bud Powell: Bebop (1948-64, Pablo)
  • The Best of Frankie Yankovic (1947-65, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Carla Bley: Rarum XV: Selected Recordings (1961-99, ECM)
  • Asnaqètch Wèrqu: Éthiopiques, Vol. 16: The Lady With the Krar (1974-76, Buda Musique)
  • Pixies: Wave of Mutilation: Best of Pixies (1987-91, 4AD) **
  • Terri Clark: Greatest Hits 1994-2000 (Mercury)
  • Little Richard: Get Down With It: The Okeh Sessions (1966, Epic/Legacy)
  • The Essential Mahalia Jackson (1955-67, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  • Éthiopiques, Vol. 18: Asguèbba! (Buda Musique)
  • Dave Holland: Rarum X: Selected Recordings (1972-2000, ECM)
  • George Lewis: Ice Cream (1953, Delmark)
  • Roosevelt Sykes: Chicago Boogie (1950-63, Delmark)
  • Honey Babe Let the Deal Go Down: The Best of the Mississippi Sheiks (1930-31, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Putumayo Presents Sahara Lounge (Putumayo World Music) *
  • Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964 (1964, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  • Get Yer Boots On: The Very Best of Slade (1971-84, Shout Factory)
  • John Surman: Rarum XIII: Selected Recordings (1976-99, ECM)
  • Tab Smith: Crazy Walk (1955-57, Delmark)
  • Putumayo Presents Greece: A Musical Odyssey (Putumayo World Music)
  • Zoot Sims With the Joe Castro Trio: Live at Falcon Lair (1956, Pablo)
  • The Essential Allman Brothers Band: The Epic Years (1990-2000, Epic/Legacy)
  • Hank Penny: Flamin' Mamie (1938-41, Krazy Kat)
  • Peter Green: Man of the World: The Anthology 1968-1988 (Sanctuary, 2CD)
  • Lenny Bruce: Thank You Masked Man (1958-63, Fantasy)
  • A Proper Introduction to Rosco Gordon: No More Doggin' (1951-53, Proper)
  • Early Chet Atkins (1949-50, Country Routes)
  • Hello: The Very Best of Lee Michaels (1968-72, Shout Factory)
  • Putumayo Presents Nuevo Latino (Putumayo World Music) *

  • The Best of the Troggs (The Millennium Collection) (1966-68, Mercury)
  • Wheedle's Groove: Seattle's Finest in Funk & Soul (1965-75, Light in the Attic)
  • Putumayo Presents Music From the Chocolate Lands (Putumayo World Music)
  • De La Soul: Live at Tramps, NYC, 1996 (Tommy Boy/Rhino)
  • Lee Ann Womack: Greatest Hits (1997-2004, MCA Nashville) *
  • The Essential Cheap Trick (1976-2002, Epic/Legacy, 2CD)
  • The Essential Johnny Mathis (1956-2000, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  • Jazz Moods: Twilight in Rio (1982-99, Concord)
  • Eberhard Weber: Rarum XVIII: Selected Recordings (1974-2000, ECM)
  • Yes Indeed! Women Vocalists on United (1949-53, Delmark)
  • A Western Jubilee: Songs and Stories of the American West (1995-2004, Dualtone)
  • Putumayo Presents Women of Latin America (Putumayo World Music)
  • Come See Me: The Very Best of the Pretty Things (1964-74, Shout Factory)
  • The British Invasion 1963-1967 (1961-67, Hip-O, 3CD)
  • Branford Marsalis: The Steep Anthology (1986-98, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Putumayo Presents World Reggae (Putumayo World Music) *
  • The Best of Peabo Bryson (1990-97, Columbia/Legacy)

  • Chet Baker: The Last Great Concert: My Favorite Songs, Vol. 1 & 2 (1988, Enja/Justin Time, 2CD)
  • Miles Davis: Birdland 1951 (1951, Blue Note)
  • Sun Ra: Spaceship Lullaby (1954-60, Atavistic)
  • The Best of Jimmy Dean (1961-65, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Jazz Moods: Sounds of Autumn (1977-2003, Concord)
  • The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years (1983-97, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Days Like This: The Best of Kenny Lattimore (1995-98, Columbia/Legacy)
  • The Best of Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders (The Millennium Collection) (1965-68, Mercury)
  • Putumayo Presents Women of Africa (Putumayo World Music) *

  • Lenny Breau, Don Francks, Eon Henstridge: At the Purple Lounge (1962, Art of Life)
  • Chickasaw County Child: The Artistry of Bobbie Gentry (1967-74, Shout Factory)
  • Isaiah Owens: You Without Sin Cast the First Stone (1998-2001, CaseQuarter)
  • Young Girl: The Best of Gary Puckett & the Union Gap (Columbia/Legacy)
  • The Best of Chuck Mangione (1973-88, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Soul Satisfaction: A Collection of Nu-Soul Gems (Shanachie)

  • Are You Bound for Heaven or Hell? The Best of Reverend J.M. Gates (1926-31, Columbia/Legacy)

Hyped:

  • Roy Acuff: King of Country Music (Proper Box)
  • Albert Ayler: Holy Ghost (1962-70, Revenant, 9CD)
  • The Beatles: The Capitol Albums, Vol. 1 (Capitol, 4CD)
  • Bunny Berigan: Key Sessions (1931-37, JSP, 5CD)
  • The Best of Chet Baker (Riverside)
  • Big Bill Broonzy: All the Classic Sides (1928-37, JSP, 5CD)
  • Best of Capone-N-Noreaga: Thugged da F*** Out (Rhino)
  • Benny Carter: Music Master (Proper Box)
  • The Carter Family: RCA Country Legends (RCA)
  • Patsy Cline: The Definitive Collection (MCA Nashville)
  • Couch Flambeau: I Did a Power Slide in the Taco Stand: Anthology 1982-2001
  • Crunk Classics (TVT)
  • The Cure: Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities, 1978-2001 (Elektra)
  • The Legendary Bobby Darin (Capitol)
  • The Best of Del Tha Funkee Homosapien: The Elektra Years (Rhino)
  • The Rough Guide to Manu Dibango (World Music Network)
  • The Best of Eric Dolphy (Prestige)
  • Nick Drake: Made to Love Magic (Island/Universal)
  • Roy Eldridge: Little Jazz: Trumpet Giant (Proper Box, 4CD)
  • Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music: The Platinum Collection (Virgin/EMI, 2CD)
  • Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Don't Look for a Heartache (Hightone)
  • Grateful Dead: Rockin' the Rhein With the Grateful Dead (Rhino)
  • The Very Best of Macy Gray (Epic)
  • Hits and Misses: Muhammad Ali and the Ultimate Sound of Fistfighting (Trikont)
  • Shamrocks and Shenanigans: The Best of House of Pain and Everlast (Rhino)
  • Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection (Columbia/Legacy)
  • Best of Salif Keita: The Golden Voice (Wrasse)
  • Best of KMD (Nature Sounds)
  • Konk: The Sound of Konk (Soul Jazz)
  • Left of the Dial: Dispatches From the '80s (Rhino)
  • Low: A Lifetime of Temporary Relief (Chairkickers' Music, 3CD)
  • Jimmy Martin: Don't Cry to Me (Thrill Jockey)
  • Mento Madness: Motta's Jamaican Mento, 1951-56 (V2)
  • Midwest Funk: Funk 45's From Tornado Alley (Now Again)
  • Buddy and Julie Miller: Love Snuck Up (HighTone)
  • Joni Mitchell: The Beginning of Survival (Geffen)
  • Nirvana: With the Lights Out (Geffen, 3CD)
  • Tom Dissevelt, Kid Baltan, Henk Badings and Dick Raaijmakers: Popular Electronics (1956-63, Basta, 4CD)
  • Elvis Presley: Elvis at Sun (BMG Heritage)
  • Pure Brazil: Samba Soul Groove (Universal Brazil)
  • The Red Krayola: Singles 1969-2002 (Drag City)
  • Kim Richey: The Collection (Lost Highway)
  • The Rough Guide to African Rap (World Music Network)
  • The Rough Guide to Bollywood Legends: Mohammed Rafi (World Music Network)
  • The Rough Guide to Bollywood Legends: Lata Mangeshkar (World Music Network)
  • The Rough Guide to Gypsy Swing (World Music Network)
  • The Rough Guide to Italia Nova (World Music Network)
  • The Rough Guide to the Music of Argentina (World Music Network)
  • The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia (World Music Network)
  • The Rough Guide to the Music of Kenya (World Music Network)
  • The Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco (World Music Network)
  • Ravi Shankar: The Rough Guide to Ravi Shankar (World Music Network)
  • The Sons of the Pioneers: RCA Country Legends (RCA)
  • Gary Stewart: RCA Country Legends (RCA)
  • Supergrass Is 10: Best Of 1994-2004 (Island)
  • Super Mama Djombo (1979, Cobiana)
  • Ultimate Aaron Tippin (RCA Nashville/BMG Heritage)
  • The Very Best of Randy Travis (Rhino)
  • Fats Waller: The Centennial Collection (Bluebird)
  • Papa Wemba: 1977-1997 (Stern's Africa, 2CD)
  • Don Williams: The Definitive Collection (MCA Nashville)
  • Legend of the Wu-Tang Clan: Wu-Tang Clan's Greatest Hits (BMG Heritage)
  • The Very Best of Dwight Yoakam (Rhino/Reprise)
  • Neil Young: Greatest Hits (Warner Bros.)
  • X: The Best: Make the Music Go Bang (Rhino/Elektra, 2CD)

Reissues

Reissues are new releases of old records: records that have been previously released under the same name (although we're also on the lookout for trivial rename jobs). They may have extra bonus cuts, maybe even a whole extra disc of cuts.

  • James Brown: Soul on Top (1969, Verve)
  • Augustus Pablo: King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown (1976, Shanachie)
  • Duke Ellington: Ellington Uptown (1947-52, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Duke Ellington: Blues in Orbit (1958-59, Columbia/Legacy)

  • Benny Carter: Sax a la Carter (1960, Capitol)
  • Duke Ellington: Masterpieces by Ellington (1950-51, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Jackie McLean: Action (1964, Blue Note)
  • Steve Reid: Rhythmatism (1976, Universal Sound)
  • The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (1977-81, Sire/Rhino, 2CD)
  • Muddy Waters: King Bee (1981, Epic/Legacy)
  • Rockpile: Seconds of Pleasure (1980, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Freddie Hubbard: Ready for Freddie (1961, Blue Note)
  • Duke Ellington: Festival Session (1959, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Freddie Hubbard: Blue Spirits (1965, Blue Note)
  • Tony Scott (1967, Verve)

Pending:

  • Chet Baker: Ensemble (1953, Pacific Jazz)
  • Chet Baker: Sings and Plays (1955, Pacific Jazz)
  • Chet Baker: Big Band (1956, Pacific Jazz)
  • Chet Baker: Sextet (1954-57, Pacific Jazz)
  • Count Basie: The Count Basie Story (1957-60, Roulette, 2CD)
  • Count Basie & Friends: 100th Birthday Bash (1957-62, Roulette, 2CD)
  • Jeff Buckley: Grace (Legacy Edition) (1994, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  • Kate Campbell: Songs From the Levee (1995, Compadre)
  • The Clash: London Calling: 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition (Epic/Legacy, 2CD+DVD)
  • The Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions (1952-54, Verve, 5CD)
  • Dudek/Niebergall/Vesala: Open (1977, Atavistic)
  • Al Green: Call Me (1973, The Right Stuff/Hi)
  • Johnny Griffin (1956, Verve)
  • Herbie Hancock: The Piano (1978, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Herbie Hancock: V.S.O.P.: Live Under the Sky (1979, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  • Andrew Hill: Dance With Death (1968, Blue Note)
  • Bobby Hutcherson: Now! (1978, Blue Note)
  • The Insect Trust: Hoboken Saturday Night (1970, Collectors Choice)
  • Jethro Tull: Live: Bursting Out (1978, Chrysalis, 2CD)
  • Jethro Tull: Stormwatch (1979, Chrysalis)
  • Jethro Tull: A + Slipstream (1980, Chrysalis)
  • Peggy Lee: Black Coffee (1953-56, Verve)
  • Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible: 10th Anniversary Edition (1994, Epic/Legacy, 2CD+DVD) *
  • Idris Muhammad: House of the Rising Sun (1976, CTI/Epic/Legacy)
  • Anita O'Day and Billy May: Swing Rodgers and Hart (1960, Verve)
  • Pharoah's Daughter: Out of the Reeds (2000, Tzadik)
  • Sam Rivers: Contours (1965, Blue Note)
  • Santana (1969, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  • Horace Silver: The United States of Mind (1970-72, Blue Note, 2CD)
  • Stanley Turrentine: Don't Mess With Mister T (1973, CTI/Epic/Legacy)
  • Jack Wilson: Easterly Winds (1967, Blue Note)
  • Johnny Winter: Second Winter (1969, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
  • The Wizards From Kansas (1970, Radioactive)
  • Larry Young: Of Love and Peace (1966, Blue Note)

Missed:

  • Porky's Revenge (1985, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Brötzmann Clarinet Project: Berlin Djungle (1984, Atavistic)
  • Freddie Hubbard: Breaking Point (1964, Blue Note)
  • Duke Ellington: Piano in the Foreground (1957-61, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Al Green: Explores Your Mind (1974, The Right Stuff/Hi)
  • Mario Schiano: On the Waiting List (1973, Atavistic)
  • Blue Mitchell: The Thing to Do (1964, Blue Note)
  • Dexter Gordon: Dexter Calling . . . (1961, Blue Note)
  • Johnny Griffin/Eddie Lockjaw Davis Quintet: Tough Tenors (1960, Jazzland OJC)
  • Lee Morgan: The Sixth Sense (1967-68, Blue Note)
  • Illinois Jacquet: Desert Winds (1964, Verve)
  • Christy Doran: Corporate Art (1991, Winter & Winter)
  • Marcus Belgrave: Gemini (1974, Universal Sound)
  • Duke Ellington: Piano in the Background (1960-61, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Muddy Waters: I'm Ready (1978, Epic/Legacy)
  • Willie Nelson: The Troublemaker (1976, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Keith Hazevoet Quartet: Pleasure (1970, Atavistic)
  • Johnny Cash: My Mother's Hymn Book (American/Lost Highway)
  • Stuff Smith: Cat on a Hot Fiddle (1959, Verve)
  • Earth, Wind & Fire: I Am (1979, Columbia/Legacy)
  • Jimmy Smith: Home Cookin' (1959, Blue Note)
  • Hank Jones: The Talented Touch/Porgy and Bess (Okra-Tone)
  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: The Jaywalker (1966-67, Storyville)
  • Grant Green: Goin' West (1962, Blue Note)
  • Candido Camero: Candido Featuring Al Cohn (1956, Verve)
  • Wayne McGhie & the Sounds of Joy (1969, Light in the Attic)
  • Duke Pearson: Sweet Honey Bee (1966, Blue Note)

  • Johnny Winter (1969, Columbia/Legacy)
  • McCoy Tyner: Tender Moments (1967, Blue Note)
  • Dexter Gordon: One Flight Up (1964, Blue Note)
  • Guitar Moods by Mundell Lowe (1956, Riverside/OJC)
  • Freddie Hubbard: The Night of the Cookers (1965, Blue Note, 2CD)
  • The Isley Brothers: Live It Up (1974, Epic/Legacy)
  • Globe Unity Orchestra & the Choir of the NDR-Broadcast: Hamburg '74 (1974, Atavistic)
  • Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: 'S Make It (1964, Verve)
  • Archie Shepp: The Cry of My People (1972, Impulse)
  • P.J. Perry Quintet (1993, Unity Jazz/Page Music)

  • Dave Pike and His Orchestra: Manhattan Latin (1964, Verve)
  • Machito and His Afro-Cuban Orchestra: Vacation at the Concord (1958, Verve)
  • Shelly Manne: Steps to the Desert (1962, Contemporary)
  • Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (1972, Epic/Legacy)

  • Paul Simon: One Trick Pony (1980, Warner Bros.)

  • The Ramsey Lewis Trio: Sound of Christmas (1961, Verve)

Hyped:

  • The Flesh Eaters: No Questions Asked (1980, Atavistic)
  • John Kongos (1971, Collectors Choice)
  • Ennio Morricone: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Soundtrack (Capitol/EMI)
  • The Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die (Bad Boy/Universal)
  • Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: L.A.'s Desert Origins (Matador, 2CD)
  • Swell Maps: A Trip to Marineville (1979, Secretly Canadian)
  • Swell Maps: Jane From Occupied Europe (1980, Secretly Canadian)
  • Ultramagnetic MC's: Critical Beatdown (1988, Roadrunner)
  • The Velvet Underground: Live at Max's Kansas City (Rhino/Atlantic, 2CD)

Songs

I never do songs lists, but this one is dedicated to George W. Bush.

  1. Le Tigre, "New Kicks" (This Island)
  2. Todd Snider, "Conservative Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight, White American Males" (East Nashville Skyline)
  3. Antibalas, "Indictment" (Who Is This America?)
  4. Lateef and the Chief Present Maroons, "If" (Ambush)