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

Sonic Liberation Front: Ashé a Go-Go (High Two)
Le Tigre: This Island (Strummer/Universal)
Matthew Shipp: Harmony and Abyss (Thirsty Ear)
Rilo Kiley: More Adventurous (Brute/Beaute)
The Vandermark Five: Elements of Style . . . Exercises in Surprise (Atavistic)
Brian Wilson: Presents Smile (Nonesuch)
David Murray & the Gwo-Ka Masters: Gwotet (Justin Time)
Zu & Spaceways Inc.: Radiale (Atavistic)
Pipi Skid: Funny Farm (Peanuts & Corn)
Todd Snider: East Nashville Skyline (Oh Boy)
Capital D: Insomnia (All Natural)
Jon Langford: All the Fame of Lofty Deeds (Bloodshot)
Charlie Haden: Land of the Sun (Verve)
The Ex: Turn (Touch and Go)
Triage: American Mythology (Okka Disk)
The Drive-By Truckers: The Dirty South (New West)
Jewels & Binoculars: Play the Music of Bob Dylan: Floater (Ramboy)
Youssou N'Dour: Egypt (Nonesuch)
The Mountain Goats: We Shall All Be Healed (4AD)
The Beastie Boys: To the 5 Boroughs (Capitol)
Satoko Fujii Quartet: Zephyros (NatSat)
Kanye West: The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella)
Septeto Rodriguez: Baila! Gitano Baila! (Tzadik)
The Bad Plus: Give (Columbia)
Sonic Youth: Sonic Nurse (Geffen)
Don Byron: Ivey-Divey (Blue Note)
Automato (Coup de Grâce)
Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls: Breeding Resistance (Delmark)
Arto Lindsay: Salt (Righteous Babe)
McEnroe and Birdapres: Nothing Is Cool (Peanuts and Corn)
Peter Stampfel & the Bottlecaps: The Jig Is Up (1984-99, Blue Navigator)
Anthony Braxton: 23 Standards (Quartet) 2003 (Leo, 4CD)
Buddy Miller: Universal United House of Prayer (New West)
Steven Bernstein: Diaspora Hollywood (Tzadik)
The Roots: The Tipping Point (Geffen)
Steve Earle: The Revolution Starts . . . Now (E-Squared/Artemis)
Rio Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats (Essay) *
Mylab (Terminus)
Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Paseo (Blue Note)
Bennie Wallace: The Nearness of You (Enja/Justin Time)
Marilyn Crispell Trio: Storyteller (ECM)
Cursor Miner: Plays God (Lo) *
Charles Lloyd/Billy Higgins: Which Way Is East (ECM, 2CD)
Yohimbe Brothers: The Tao of Yo (Thirsty Ear)
Madvillain: Madvillainy (Stones Throw)
Denis Colin Trio: Something in Common (Sunnyside)
Jerry Gonzalez y los Piratas del Flamenco (Sunnyside)
Tripleplay: Gambit (Clean Feed)
Jenny Scheinman: Shalagaster (Tzadik)
Douglas/Sclavis/Lee/Van Der Schyff: Bow River Falls (Premonition)
Tomasz Stanko: Suspended Night (ECM)
Ozomatli: Street Signs (Concord) **
Dizzee Rascal: Boy in Da Corner (Matador)
Northern State: All City (Columbia)
Juhani Aaltonen, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille: Reflections (TUM)
James Carter: Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge (Warner Brothers)
Fred Anderson/Hamid Drake: Back Together Again (Thrill Jockey)
Iris DeMent: Lifeline (Flariella)
Prince: Musicology (Columbia)
Von Freeman: The Great Divide (Premonition/Koch)
Chicago Underground Trio: Slon (Thrill Jockey)
Modest Mouse: Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic)
Nelly: Sweat (Universal)
Chris Potter Quartet: Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard (Sunnyside)
El-P/The Blue Series Continuum: High Water (Thirsty Ear)
Eminem: Encore (Aftermath)
Courtney Love: America's Sweetheart (Virgin)
Geri Allen/Dave Holland/Jack DeJohnette: The Life of a Song (Telarc)
Introducing Shiyani Ngcobo (World Music Network)
Z-Man: Dope or Dog Food (Red Urban)
The Revolutionary Ensemble: And Now . . . (Pi)
Mos Def: The New Danger (Geffen)
Caetano Veloso: A Foreign Sound (Nonesuch)
Raphé Malik: Last Set: Live at the 1369 Jazz Club (1984, Boxholder)
Rokia Traoré: Bowmboï (Nonesuch)
Willie Nelson: Nagadoches (Pedernales)
Per Henrik Wallin/Johnny Dyani/Erik Dahlbäck: Burning in Stockholm (1981, Atavistic)
The Frank and Joe Show: 33 1/3 (Hyena)
Big Satan: Souls Saved Hear (Thirsty Ear)
Eddie Palmieri: Ritmo Caliente (Concord)
Rabih Abou-Khalil: Morton's Foot (Enja/Justin Time)
Brötzmann/Friis Nielsen/Uuskyla: Medicina (Atavistic)
Fela Kuti (Mixed by Chief Xcel): The Underground Spiritual Game (Quannum Projects)
Antibalas: Who Is This America? (Ropeadope) **
Percy Heath: A Love Song (Daddy Jazz)
Lisa Sokolov: Presence (Laughing Horse)
Loretta Lynn: Van Lear Rose (Interscope)
Malik · McPhee · Robinson: Sympathy (Boxholder)
Patti Smith: Trampin' (Columbia)
Russ Lossing: Phrase 6 (Fresh Sound)
Warren Vaché: Dream Dancing (Arbors)
John Hagen: Segments (Cadence)
Cee-Lo: Cee-Lo Green Is the Soul Machine (Arista)
The Silos: When the Telephone Rings (Dualtone)
Mekons: Punk Rock (Quarterstick)
Claudia Quintet: I, Claudia (Cuneiform)
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:

Don Pullen: Mosaic Select (1986-90, Mosaic, 3CD)
The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll: 1946-1954 (Hip-O, 3CD)
The Best of Talking Heads (1977-88, Sire/Warner Bros./Rhino)
Annette Peacock: Mama Never Taught Me How to Cook: The Aura Years (1978-82, Castle)
From Small Things: The Best of Dave Edmunds (Columbia/Legacy)
Back to the Crossroads: The Roots of Robert Johnson (1926-37, Yazoo)
The Essential Louis Armstrong (1925-67, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
Oumou Sangare: Oumou (1989-2003, Nonesuch, 2CD)
The Abyssinians & Friends: Tree of Satta (Blood & Fire)
Candi Staton (1969-73, Honest Jons)
Black Power: Music of a Revolution (1968-79, Shout Factory, 2CD)
The Hip Hop Box (1979-2003, Hip-O, 4CD)
Whiskey Is My Habit, Cool Women Is All I Crave: The Best of Leroy Carr (1928-35, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis 1963-1964 (Columbia/Legacy, 7CD)
The Essential Merle Haggard: The Epic Years (1981-87, Epic/Legacy)
The Animals: Retrospective (1964-70, Abkco)
James Chance: Sax Education (1978-88, Tiger Style, 2CD)
Lenny Bruce: Let the Buyer Beware (1948-66, Shout Factory, 6CD)
John Fahey: The Best of John Fahey, Vol. 2: 1964-1983 (Takoma)
The Essential Earl Scruggs (1947-84, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
Shave 'Em Dry: The Best of Lucille Bogan (1933-35, Columbia/Legacy)
The Third Unheard: Connecticut Hip Hop 1979-1983 (Stones Throw)
The Rolling Stones: Singles 1963-1965 (Abkco, 12CD)
Hound Dog Taylor: Release the Hound (Alligator) *
Chicago Soul (1963-69, Soul Jazz)
The Essential Isley Brothers (1959-66, Epic/Legacy, 2CD)
A Proper Introduction to Julia Lee: That's What I Like (1944-52, Proper)
Arild Andersen: Rarum XIX: Selected Recordings (1975-99, ECM)
Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top (1970-92, Warner Bros., 2CD)
Shrimp Boat: Something Grand (1985-93, Aum Fidelity, 3CD)
Johnny Cash: Life (1958-77, Columbia/Legacy)
Herman's Hermits: Retrospective (1964-69, Abkco)
Tomasz Stanko: Rarum XVII: Selected Recordings (1975-98, ECM)
Shalamar: Anthology (1977-87, The Right Stuff/Solar, 2CD)
Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970 (1946-69, CMF/Lost Highway, 2CD)
Studio One Classics (1964-81, Soul Jazz)
Gary Bartz Ntu Troop: Harlem Bush Music (1970-71, Milestone)
Trouble Funk: Live / Early Singles (2.13.61)
The Best of Bobby Vinton (1962-72, Epic/Legacy)
Moacir Santos: Ouro Negro (1965-92, Adventure Music, 2CD)
The Essential Roy Acuff (1938-49, Columbia/Legacy)
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.

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