Parliament - Osmium (1970)

Parliament - Osmium (1970)

  This is the one that kick started the whole Funkadelic and Parliament family.   Osmium is absolutely a barn burner funk fest !  Psych- Funk may be the best way to describe this album ,.........heavy full of deep grooves to keep you little toes tapping this summer...  Also a ton of fun to listen to......some humorous parts and some heavy thunder going on ....

101 Strings - Astro Sounds From The Year 2000 (1969)

101 Strings - Astro Sounds From The Year 2000 (1969) Licorice Soul Records

While astronauts were flying for the first time to the moon on the Apollo spacecraft this album was released !  Well perhaps this album is less memorable in the annals of history but if you missed the lunar landing then at least you can re-live this thru this album.  Released in 1969 this LP will take you deep into the nubulae of some far away solar system complete with analogue synths and full orchestra....James Last eat your heart out !.   I played a track for this to a bunch of my music loving pals just a few weeks ago and they were totally connected with the album.......absolutely out there music ............but well worth it once you land !

Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming (1979)

Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming (1979)

  Nobody really could have expected that he would turn to Christianity embracing a born-again philosophy with enthusiasm

Ween - Quebec (2003)

Ween - Quebec (2003)

   I am a huge fan of Ween's album "The Mollusk" which blew me away and I will admit that "Quebec" did take some time for me to get into.   This strange album is not very cohesive and really moves all over the map in a way few albums would dare to explore!   Dean and Gene Ween have created here another artistic piece of musical dementia ....the album is both dark and cheerful..proggy and psychy....inane and sane.... if all thats possible in one recording.....

But most importantly this album is a winner !

Small Faces - The Small Faces (1966)

Small Faces - The Small Faces (1966), Deram Records

  The debut album for the Small Faces introduced the world to a different "face" of the British Invasion scene......a band full of raspy yet bluesy vocals, huge guitar feedback, and energetic drumming. The Small Faces evoke a comparison to both The Who (ironic because Small Faces drummer, Kenny Jones, would become The Who's drummer after Keith Moon died) and of course obvious Led Zep connection.   If it isnt obvious by the time you get to track 9 "You Need Lovin" that Led Zep ripped off hugely The Small Faces.   I am diggin this album ......

California Funk (Rare Funk 45s from the Golden State)

California Funk (Rare Funk 45s from the Golden State), Jazzman Records (2010)

  Here is a totally amazing collection of 21 rare artifacts from the James Brown Funk inspired generation !   Absolutely crazy stuff here folks.......big bouncy bass lines, happy and funky vocals , deep lyrics and great beats and toe tapping rhythms.   All the tracks on this comp are from long lost 45's that had very limited distribution and low sales but that does not mean this isnt great stuff........in fact this album is totally wild and fans of funk will drool over this set.   Brilliant music.....

Karl Bartos - Communicaton (2003)

Karl Bartos - Communicaton (2003), Sony/Columbia

  You might be asking ..."who the heck is Karl Bartos" ?  well for those who dont know the names of the robots behind KRAFTWERK he was one of the guys in the band....and a pretty key one at that!  Communication is simply a killer electronic album very much carrying the DNA traits of mothership KRAFTWERk while offering a modern e-twist throughout the album.    I was really taken back by just how good this album is and never expected this !   
   Communication flows and beeps and even at times has samples just like you 'd hear on the classic KRAFTWERK albums without getting too retro....I would say it is tastefully done.   The songs are just great and my kids love "15 mins of fame" asking me to play it over and over again and they dance around my music room.   Oh yes one more thing...this is all wrapped around a pretty modern dance beat.....kind of like a mix of William Orbit meets KRAFTWERK.   A great album for those who love electronic progressive rock !  

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (2011)

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (2011), Sub Pop Records

  "Helplessness Blues" is the latest album from this unassuming little band who took 3 years to complete this their second album......and boy - o -boy was it worth the wait !  Although sonically this album is not a radical departure from their debut album it does continue their journey into folk-psych.  As with the debut album this release is lyrically rich and full great vocals and harmonies.  Singer-songwriter Robin Pecknold;s vocals are timeless and I think this album might just get him the recognition he/they deserve.