V/A Return of the DJ vol. 1 (Bomb) cd 16.98
Back in print! With a new color cover, akin to that of vol. 2. If'n you don't know, this is the crazy acrobatic hiphop turntablist state of the art, a real must-have for anyone interested in exploits on the wheels of steel. Live sound collage mayhem to kick your ass, courtesy of such luminaries (better known now) as Rob Swift, Z-Trip, Peanut Butter Wolf and of course the Invisible Scratch Pickles.

V/A Return of the DJ Vol. II (Bomb) 2lp 19.98
AMAZING collection of scratching and other turntablist skills sounds so ALIVE and refreshing and immediate, it brings smiles to all who hear it. This groundbreaking collection features turntable strategists kicking lesser DJ ass far and wide. Contributors hail from the likes of Paris, Finland, Cincinnati, and New York City. You haven't lived until you've heard Phoenix's Z-Trip mess with Black Sabbath on the album's closing track "Rock Star." Yay. For fans of more well-known DJs like QBert, ShortKut, Disk & Mixmaster Mike of the Skratch Picklz, LA's Beat Junkies and Manhattan's X-Men (here represented by Roc Raida). You MUST hear this.

V/A Return of the DJ Volume IV (Bomb Hip-Hop) cd 16.98
Volume 4 of the Bomb label's acclaimed all-scratching DJ compilations. Somehow Bomb Hip Hop, with these comps, has managed to consistently corral all the new 'n exciting scratch DJs you've never heard of, constantly introducing fresh talents and remaining exciting and forward-looking. The most known name here is Q-Bert, but his track actually pales in comparison to the raw stuff found on other tracks here.
RealAudio clip: 89 SKRATCH GANGSTAZ "Lesson 89"

V/A Return of the DJ Volume IV (Bomb Hip-Hop) 2lp 19.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Volume 4 of the Bomb label's acclaimed all-scratching DJ compilations. Somehow Bomb Hip Hop, with these comps, has managed to consistently corral all the new 'n exciting scratch DJs you've never heard of, constantly introducing fresh talents and remaining exciting and forward-looking. The most known name here is Q-Bert, but his track actually pales in comparison to the raw stuff found on other tracks here.

V/A Revenge of the B-Boy (Bomb) cd 14.98
'Revenge of the B-Boy', the soundtrack to the upcoming film 'I Saw Your Mama Breakdancing Bucknaked, features custom-made-for-breakdancing b-boy anthems from producers around the globe like Faust & Shortee, Hydroponic Sound System, Knights of Bass, Jeep Beat Collective, Clockwork Voodoo Freaks, Blade, Metabass, and more! Hip hop, turntablism, electro, big beat, and breaks from the same label that released those Return of the DJ albums. We also have a bunch of big full color posters, if you want one, just ask!

V/A Revenge of the B-Boy (Bomb) 2lp 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
'Revenge of the B-Boy', the soundtrack to the upcoming film 'I Saw Your Mama Breakdancing Bucknaked, features custom-made-for-breakdancing b-boy anthems from producers around the globe like Faust & Shortee, Hydroponic Sound System, Knights of Bass, Jeep Beat Collective, Clockwork Voodoo Freaks, Blade, Metabass, and more! Hip hop, turntablism, electro, big beat, and breaks from the same label that released those Return of the DJ albums. We also have a bunch of big full color posters, if you want one, just ask!

V/A Revenge of the B-Boy Episode 2 (Bomb Hip-Hop) cd 12.98

V/A Revenge Of The Robots (Definitive Jux) 2dvd 19.98
Pretty sweet collection of music/video/documentaries from probably our favorite hip hop label. Def Jux continue to blaze their own unique path in pretty much every thing they do. The DVD features an hour long tour documentary, tons of live concert footage, videos from El-P, RJD2, Mr. Lif, and Murs as well as a making of documentary for the Murs video, as well as a documentary about the label itself. All in 5.1 digital surround sound. The cd contains an exclusive RJD2 megamix, 5 exclusive live tracks and a hip hop trivia game.

V/A Rio Baile Funk 2: More Favela Booty Beats (Essay) 12" 9.98

V/A Rio Baile Funk More Favela Booty Beats (Essay) cd 16.98
If you love your booty shakin then you probably got the first installment of this totally endearing and bumpin' collection of Baile Funk deep from the heart of Rio. That held us over for a bit but our booty's were in need of a recharge and we got it thanks to this 2nd volume in this collection. A raw, mutant mixture of booty bass, hip-hop, carnival, and mash-up culture at its most contagious. What makes this collection so infectious is that you can't help but hear how these songs were made free of irony, and giving us a little peak into what a colorful and risquŽ kind of party scene is happening in Rio. Throw this on in between some M.I.A and Lady Sovereign and you're sure to get everyone around you shaking their booty like it's meant to be shook. 100 percent F-U-N!
MPEG Stream: EDU K FEAT. DEIZE TIGRONA "Sex-O-Matic"
MPEG Stream: OS MAGRINHOS "Japonesa"
MPEG Stream: ISAAC DJ "Montagem Jiu Jitsu"

V/A Rules Of The Game (Tripek) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Local hip hop compilation featuring songs by Mystik Journeymen, The Coup, Fanatik, KNT (featuring Q-Bert), and lots more. We haven't had a chance to hear it yet so no comment on the sounds contained herein.

V/A Rules Of The Game (Tripek) lp 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Local hip hop compilation featuring songs by Mystik Journeymen, The Coup, Fanatik, KNT (featuring Q-Bert), and lots more. We haven't had a chance to hear it yet so no comment on the sounds contained herein.

V/A Run The Road (Vice / Atlantic) cd 13.98
Man can we not get enough grime. Ever since we first heard Dizzee Rascal, we've ben jonesing for more grime. Which was tough since most of the killer grime was released as limited run 12" singles in the UK. Then came not one, but two whole compilations on Rephlex, and while we sort of dug 'em, there was just something missing, namely the vocals. Sure the jagged stuttery beats and fucked up synths hit the spot, but those mostly instrumental tracks were lacking some of the fire and vigor and snarkiness of the Dizzee Rascal (and the Wiley record we also dug!).
So Vice records comes to the rescue, with a comp of CLASSIC grime tracks, many of which were essential genre defining 12"s (a few of which are even mentioned in this month's Wire, in the suddenly timely Grime primer, or, uh 'grimer') So what the hell does grime sound like you ask? Well, it's like hip hop, mixed with simple two step drum an bass (or garage -- pronounced gare-ij), some dancehall, constucted frrom simple hiccuping beats, weird synth melodies, throbbing basslines and some crazy cracy rapping/toasting. This comp is so high energy, fit to explode, fiery and furious and funky as fuck. The whole thing is so hyper and hard core and relentless. Totally raw and powerful. And then there's the ladies, who typically get left out in the cold when it comes to electronic music, but the ladies here represent. In a big way! Lady Sovereign, No Lay, and Shystie fucking rule it!!! Lady Sovereign's "Cha Ching" is one of the most awesome sounding songs we've heard lately. The much-hyped and biggest band of the lot, The Streets (who isn't technically grime, but whose track features a handful of heavyweight grime MC's hence his inclusion on the comp we suppose), have a song on here that almost pales in comparison to the other tracks, simply for its use of "rock" as an element in his track. The other tracks work so well because they're so simple and primal and stripped down. They contain only the most important elements. A beat, some electro zzzap, some sharp synthy melody, and a barely there bass line to hold it all together. And of course raw, mean-ass snarky lyricism. Run The Road is pretty fuckin "fit" as it were. If you haven't gotten into grime yet, you best mate. And this is the perfect place to start.
MPEG Stream: DIZZEE RASCAL "Give U More"
MPEG Stream: NO LAY "Unorthodox Daughter"
MPEG Stream: LADY SOVEREIGN "Cha Ching (Cheque 1, 2 Remix)"

V/A Science Faction: B'more Gutter (BBS / Milkcrate) cd 14.98
Holy crap! This record almost immediately became our favorite new record, while at the same time, proving to be maybe the most fantastically aggravating record of all time. Folks from Baltimore are probably well familiar with this kind of stuff, DJ Technics and the like. A sort of dizzying mash up of Miami bass, four on the floor techno, and druggy house music, but stripped down to its bare essence, usually a single loop, synths, drums and vocals, repeated over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. But somehow we just can's stop listening to it. Super primitive, and maddeningly catchy, this must drive people fucking nuts on the dance floor. This is get wasted and dance until you drop club music for sure. Like those Rio Baile Funk comps, all cranked up, looped and let loose. Not many of us around here actually go dancing, but this relentlessly funky disc has at one time or another got every single AQ staffer if not dancing, at least bouncing or swaying, which is a serious testament to the sheer dance floor funk power of these joints.
Some of the tracks are fierce and gangsta like "Murdaland" with it's gunshot percussion, almost jungle rhythm and raspy voiced rapping. Others are like nursery rhymes set to club music, like "Oxy's Anthem Featuring Roxy Cottontail", with a tired sounding club girl talking about shaking her ass endlessly over a super mesmerizing shuffling loop. And some are just bizarre, like "Kidstuff" featuring vocals by a gaggle of kids, over a stuttering, chopped up house beat. And those are just a few picked at random, every track here is somehow totally fucked, totally catchy and absolutely irresistible. Absolutely, THE dance party record of the year. Just toss this in your player, push play and let it spin over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over...
MPEG Stream: "Blow Remix Featuring Spankrock And Amanda Blank"
MPEG Stream: "Oxy's Anthem Feat. Roxy Cottontail"
MPEG Stream: "Murdaland"

V/A Science Faction: Dubstep (BBS / Milkcrate) cd 14.98
Part of the same series that included the B'More Gutter Music compilation that we made record of the week on the last list, as well as the killer Science Faction: Grime comp (definitely a would've/could've/should've been record of the week as well), Science Faction: Dubstep is another killer slab of throbbing, shuffling, stuttering electronic griminess. And in some ways it's a lot more listenable than those other two. There's a very blurry line separating grime and dubstep. Grime is snotty and super syncopated, hiccupping beats, and lightning fast tongue twisting rapping, while dubstep seems to be the late night blissout version of grime. The grime version of the reggae/dub "version", with the vocals stripped off, more of a focus on the rhythms, the bass thick and resonant, dense stabs of fuzzy roof rattling synth. Sort of like chill out music you could dance to (if you were so inclined). Imagine stuff like African Head Charge and other modern digital dub given a seriously grimey 21st century makeover. Ominous and creepy, slithery and dark, but laid back and groovy. Lots of strange samples and loops, minor key melodies, over some of the most hypnotic beats EVER. Like jungle at 16rpm, convoluted and brilliantly unfunky in the funkiest way imaginable. But it's all about the low end, the basslines, the massive slabs of fuzzy synth, we had this blasting at the store and it literally had stuff on the desk rattling, and threatened to knock the plaster on the ceiling loose. The bass lines are thick wiggling eels of tectonic rumble, weird reverberating pulses that swallow entire rhythms whole, the synths sound like tuned airplane engines, thick fuzzed out warbling whirs like someone dumping a truck-full of low-end over your head. This sort of stripped down, instrumental dance music is supposed to be for dancing, and by all rights it should be totally boring to just -listen- to, but this comp is anything but, so massive and heavy and grimey and funky and fucked up that we haven't actually been able to stop -just- listening to it!
MPEG Stream: PINCH "Qawwali"
MPEG Stream: GRAVIOUS "Wormsign"
MPEG Stream: DISTANCE "Cyclops"

V/A Science Faction: Grime (BBS / Milkcrate Records) cd 14.98
Oh man, these Science Faction comps are KILLING us! The B'More Gutter Music comp reviewed elsewhere on the list. A killer dubstep comp we'll be reviewing soon, and this, the latest blast of grimey goodness from the UK. It's been a long time since we've gotten some serious grime. Seems like the world has discovered grime's mellower side and made the move to dubstep. Which is cool, don't get us wrong, but there's something about super blown out over the top grime that just totally kicks our asses. Totally hits the spot for us the way hip hope used to. It's just so aggressive and weirdly rhythmic. It's like the best parts of hip hop, jungle, and ragga, all wrapped up into a wild and goofy, funny and fucking fierce blast of fuzzed out, stuttery what-the-fuck. The flows are even faster, mush mouther and tongue twisting, wildly leaping to and fro, over weird snippets and loops and samples, all over a crunchy dancehall like rhythm and thick squelchy synths. This just might be the best collection of grime so far though. From Crazy Titch's bastardized classical music jam "Sing Along" all strings and flutes and huge moaning symphonies chopped into funky little bits, to Roll Deep's crunchy synth and growly ragga toasting, to the sci-fi videogame freakout funk of Bruza's "Doin' Me", to the gangsta ragga skitter of the Regal Players' "Rude Boy Remix". This is all just completely nuts. Funky, phat and fucked up and freaked out. If I was a dancing man, which I am most certainly not, but if I was, I'd be all over this shit. As it is, I don't have a single dancing bone in my body, and every track on this comp totally kicks my ass and gets my toes tapping and my head nodding, which is as close to actually dancing as I will ever get.
Completely mental. And of course, recommended!
MPEG Stream: ROLL DEEP & RUFF SQWAD "Sidewinder"
MPEG Stream: CRAZY TITCH "Sing Along"
MPEG Stream: WILEY "Eskiboy"

V/A Scratch Attack Vol. 1 (Hip Hop Slam) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Scratch Attack was a monthly two hour radio show dedicated to the art of turntablism, and ran for one year until it unfortunately got booted off of KPFA in Berkeley. These tracks are culled from archives of the show, and feature both live on the air and pre-recorded stuff made especially for the show. Released by the inimitable Billy Jam, whose taste is impeccable, the collection isn't endlessly wanky (as many dj comps are, let's face it), but interesting and varied good listening. With DJ T-Rock, D-Styles, DJ Shortkut, 8-Ball, Quest (Live Human), Golden Chyld, even DJs from Netherlands, England and Ireland. Lots of spoken snippets from the radio shows, including poor Shortkut talking about how his records were stolen at an airport. Really fun, and a nice document of the groundbreaking radio show.
RealAudio clip: DJ T-ROCK "Skratch It and Change It"
RealAudio clip: GOLDEN CHYLD "Sir Golden Chyld Boulevard"

V/A Scratch Attack Vol. 2 (Hip Hop Slam) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Volume 2 of Hip Hop Slam's Scratch Attack series again compiles tracks from the legendary radio show. Scratch Attack was a monthly two hour radio show dedicated to the art of turntablism, and ran for one year until it unfortunately got booted off of KPFA in Berkeley. These tracks are culled from archives of the show, and feature both live on the air and pre-recorded stuff made especially for the show.
The collection is tight and there's little filler involved, just really strong tracks from some of the best turntablists around, including a previously unreleased (clickety clackety boom boom) QBert piece, Italy's incredible Alien Army (whose scary tracks include dentist drills, Al Pacino, and werewolves), AQ-fave DJ Jester, DJ Quest & Live Human, Double Dee & Steinski, DJ Pone, DJ Spair, etc. Recommended.
RealAudio clip: DJ QBERT "Turbi Paw Platoon"
RealAudio clip: ALIEN ARMY "Destroy"

V/A Scratch Attack Volume 3 (Hip Hop Slam) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
With this third and final volume in the Scratch Attack series, beloved local hiphop go-getter Billy Jam has managed to collect together some of the most astonishingly good and exciting turntablist tracks out there, many of them having been performed live on his Scratch Attack radio show, with the studio tracks boasting just as much energy and creativity as the live stuff. Honestly, these are some of the most impressive, well chosen tracks out there. A fine survey into the current turntablist scene. With appearances by T-Rock, Live Human, Qbert, Shing02, Alien Army, etc.
MPEG Stream: SHING02 & FREELANCERS UNITED "Organ Transplant"
MPEG Stream: KID GINSENG "The Haunting of Andy Warhol"

V/A Shiggar Fraggar 2000 (Hip Hop Slam) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
More turntable trickery from respected Bay Area-based series.

V/A Si-Con (Shadow) cd 15.98
Hiphop/electro breakbeat compilation introducing a slew of up and coming Japanese DJs (Dazzle-T, Indope Psychics, Koji Sekiguchi, DJ Beat, DJ Yoh, DJ Shun, and others) all looking to be the next DJ Krush. Scratch-happy heavy beat science for those into the turntablist thing. One track gets remixed by DJ Cam, who is French not Japanese, but we won't hold that against him ;) As comps go, pretty good.

V/A Slurped : Original Brainfreeze Flavors Vol. 1 (Magic Sneakers) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Sixteen of the incredibly rare 7" tracks used by DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist on their recent Brainfreeze performances. (It's just the tracks mind you, no mixing or scratching involved here.) This is a very strong collection. Incredible funk and raw soul and r'n'b. Featuring Odetta, Fried Chicken, Gary Byrd, Alvin Cash, Rufus Thomas etc. Probably not the most legal release, so buy now or cry later.
RealAudio clip: ODETTA "Hit or Miss"
RealAudio clip: FRIED CHICKEN "Funky DJ"
RealAudio clip: SINGING PRINCIPAL "Woman's Liberation"

V/A Slurped : Original Brainfreeze Flavors Vol. 1 (Magic Sneakers) 2lp 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Sixteen of the incredibly rare 7" tracks used by DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist on their recent Brainfreeze performances. (It's just the tracks mind you, no mixing or scratching involved here.) This is a very strong collection. Incredible funk and raw soul and r'n'b. Featuring Odetta, Fried Chicken, Gary Byrd, Alvin Cash, Rufus Thomas etc. Probably not the most legal release, so buy now or cry later.

V/A Small Soldiers (Dreamworks) cd 17.98
Wow! Completely delightful soundtrack to the movie contains awesome reworkings of classic rock and roll: Edwin Starr's War performed by Bone Thugs'n'Harmony, Queen's Another One Bites the Dust remixed by Fugees' Wyclef Jean, Pat Benatar's Love is a Battlefield with additional vocals by Queen Latifah, The Pretenders' My City Was Gone with additional vocals by Kool Keith, Rush's Tom Sawyer remixed by AQ-fave Z-Trip, and more. It's really good!

V/A SoleSides Greatest Bumps (Quannum) 2cd 18.98
Long out of print singles and other rarities from the now-famous Solesides crew, as Jeff Chang will tell you in the liner notes, started off spinning and mixing records in the unused other studio at UC Davis college radio station while Chang DJ'd legit in the other room. The boys (Lyrics Born, DJ Shadow, Lateef, etc) went on to form Latyrx, Blackalicious, and other outfits, are famous all over the world now, and as soon as it started to get less than fun, they dissolved the label (which now lives on as Quannum so it's all good). Contains some downright gems, including the totally out of print Shadow track from the DJ SHADOW/CHIEF XCEL Mo'Wax 12". See audioclip.
RealAudio clip: "Hardcore [Instrumental] Hip-Hop"

V/A Soundbombing 3 (Rawkus) cd 17.98
Pretty damn solid compilation from the Rawkus label, intended to whet your appetite for forthcoming albums from most of the participants included here. Runs the gamut from straight up lyrical hip hop to 'slow jams' to... Zap Mama?! Yep. The entire thing is sequenced smoothly, with a coupla non-annoying skits scattered throughout. We all know how bad those clumsily put together comps can sound -- that's not the case here: Rawkus did a really great job making this thing flow. The impressive roster also includes Mos Def, Kool G Rap, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, Jonell feat. Method Man, The Roots, Styles P. & Pharaohe Monch, many more. Highly recommended.
RealAudio clip: KOOL G RAP "My Life"
RealAudio clip: STYLES P. AND PHARAOHE MONCH "The Life"

V/A Sub Stance (Aeclectrick Records) cd 21.00

V/A Subterranean Hits, Vol. 3: The Ill School (Word Sound) cd 14.98
Third installment of Word Sound's notorious Subterranean Hits compilations. More fucked up hip hop than you can shake a corn dog at. If nothing else, the pre-pubescent antics of Hawd Gangkstuh Rappuh MCs Wid Ghatz track on this will have the snot running out of your nose and make you scream for more... Or less. Once again these freaks single handedly make this album worth its cost. But wait, there's more: you also get excellent tracks by Sensational, Scotty Hard, Spectre and more!
RealAudio clip: HAWD GANGKSTUH RAPPUH MCS WID GHATZ "Simple Classic Elegance"

V/A Subterranean Hitz Volume 2 (WordSound) cd 14.98
Sequel to excellent first volume of Crooklyn's best...Spectre, Rob Swift, Sensational, the inimitable Hawd Gankstuh Rappuh Emsees Wid Ghatz, Prince Paul, others.

V/A Sugar Hill Club Classics (Castle) 2cd 15.98
This low priced double disk set of Sugarhill Records' greats includes tracks from The Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash, Trouble Funk, Spoonie Gee, Positive Force, Treacherous Three and more. It also comes with liner notes documenting the entire history of Sugarhill Records.

V/A Tag Of The Times 3 (Mary Joy) cd 14.98
Underground hiphop comp with contributions from many of today's hipster heavy hitters: Company Flow, Aesop Rock, Buck 65, Dose One, Shingo2, Mr. Lif, Atmosphere, Aceyalone. For fans of all things Anticon, Def Jux, and underground hip hop in general.

V/A Tags of the Times: 3 (Mary Joy) cd 12.98

V/A Tales From The Flip III: The Next Episode (Kinjal) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
More Roc Raida (X-Men) & friends turntable tales.

V/A Tektonics (OM) cd 16.98
Turntablists and electronica artists meet up on this new OM comp. DJs Z-Trip, J-Rocc, Disk, Craze, Curse, Apollo, Rob Swift, Vin Roc, Tomcat, and more cut up grooves by Howie B., Meat Beat Manifesto, Photek, Propellerheads, Wagon Christ, and others.

V/A The Celluloid Years: 12"es And More... (Collision / Groove Attack) 2cd 17.98
We know lots of you probably had that early years of Hip-Hop torch reignited by the recent Soul Jazz Big Apple Rappin' comp. If you're anything like us you totally loved the feel good sounds on that collection but still wanted more from that era, but maybe with a bit of a weirder edge. Which makes this two disc collection of the Celluloid label's early hip-hop roster so appealing. Celluloid was the label founded by a former co-owner of BYG, a label known and adored by most avant/free-jazz lovers. With Bill Laswell on board as one of their talent scouts they built a roster of hip-hop artists with feet and beats crossing all lines and genres. Futura 2000 hooking up with The Clash. John Lydon alongside Afrika Bambaataa. Nods to early graffiti culture, some raps in French, and beats that will make you wanna bust out your old breakdancing moves.
MPEG Stream: FUTURE 2000 W/ THE CLASH "Escapades Of Futura 2000"
MPEG Stream: FAB FIVE FREDDY "Change The Beat"
MPEG Stream: D.ST "Crazy Cuts"

V/A The Free Design: The Now Sound Redesigned (Light In The Attic) cd 13.98
A lot of the makers of today's sweet indie-pop and a lot of the crate-digging DJs and producers of contemporary hip hop both seem to share an appreciation for the late '60s familial singing groop known as the Free Design, if this compilation is anything to go by -- featuring as it does the likes of Madlib, Super Furry Animals, Caribou, Styrofoam, Peanut Butter Wolf, Mellow, and many others (including members of Mars Volta and Belle & Sebastian) all giving props to these soft pop cult faves. A sweet tooth for this sort of stuff is universal, I guess. The Free Design's beautiful harmonies, lush orchestration, and dayglo lyrical content have lead us to describe 'em before as being like "The Carpenters on ecstasy, or a less cynical Stereolab unplugged." And guess what? One track on this tribute indeed features Stereolab teamed up with The High Llamas.
Bringing together all the tracks from the three-part series of vinyl 12" remix eps released earlier this year by Light In The Attic, some of the cuts here are remixes, others are re-interpretations (covers), and some are not quite classifiable hybrids. They say Redesigns, some might say plunderings. You'll hear snippets of actual Free Design tracks, as well as bits that we don't think have anything to do with the Free Design at all (like, why does track seven consist of a sample of dialogue from the zombies-on-motorcycles movie Psychomania??). It's all over the place stylistically, from the rapping of Murs on the Danger Mouse's track to vocalist Sarah Shannon and Styrofoam's great pop-electronica version of "I Found Love" (our favorite Free Design song, by the way) to the scratch attack of Kid Koala to the psychedelia mined by Nobody...but through it all shines the sunshiney pop of the four members of the Dedrick family that made up the Free Design -- sometimes brightly, sometimes casting shadows.
MPEG Stream: STYROFOAM & SHARAH SHANNON "I Found Love"
MPEG Stream: KID KOALA & DYNOMITE D. "An Elegy"

V/A The Funky Precedent Vol. 2 (Matador) cd 14.98
The successful music-education-in-urban-schools benefit compilation "Funky Precedent" from a few years back has spawned a follow-up. Again it's focused on hiphop and turntablism, but Vol.2 specifically concentrates on Bay Area artists: Rasco, Live Human, Azeem, Zion I, Anticon, Planet Asia and more! Pretty cool of NYC label Matador to release this, even though it's to raise funds for schools in Cali (SF, Fremont and LA).

V/A The Man With The Iron Fists OST (Soul Temple) cd 14.98
We haven't seen the movie yet, but it looks AWESOME! Check out the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7l3okIqnCg
Holy shit, kinda like the movie the Wu-Tang Clan were always meant to make, or the movie version of the best Wu-Tang jams, or something, regardless, the movie's gonna rule, and the soundtrack is pretty bad ass as well, worth it pretty much for Wu-Tang Clan and Kool G Rap's "Rivers Of Blood" with its haunting Morricone via traditional Japanese folk music opening, RZA's spoken word and then when the track kicks in, BAM, weirdly modulated almost metal guitar crunch, super distorted horn bleats, the whole crew fiercely flowing, a killer chorus complete with fight sounds and wailing funk soul horns. The other new Wu-Tang jam "Six Directions Of Boxing" is another good one, cool old school fuzz funk samples, psychedelic organs, and again the whole Clan in fine form, the only thing missing is O.D.B., R.I.P.
The rest of the soundtrack ain't too shabby either, various Wu-Tang-ers doing their own thing, teaming up with a pretty excellent selection of guests, Ghostface Killah, M.O.P and Pharoah Monche kill it, as do Raekwon, Pusha T and friends, Ghostface and Wiz Khalifa definitely deliver the hit, the brooding, melancholic "I Go Hard", a swoonsome string heavy production courtesy of the RZA, of course. And there's still plenty more good stuff, the Killa Sin jam is pretty fierce, and Kanye does his Kanye thing over a sweet RZA jam, and while there are a few tracks that aren't terrible, but we could do without (The Black Keys, Corinne Bailey Rae), dig the seriously fucked up, sinister buzz-drenched creep of RZA & Flatbush Zombies' "Just Blowin' In The Wind", which channels the horrorcore of the Gravediggaz. So good. Wanna see the movie more than ever now!
MPEG Stream: WU-TANG CLAN & KOOL G RAP "Rivers Of Blood"
MPEG Stream: WU-TANG CLAN "Six Directions Of Boxing"
MPEG Stream: RZA & FLATBUSH ZOMBIES "Just Blowin' In The Wind"
MPEG Stream: GHOSTFACE KILLAH, BOY JONES & WIZ KHALIFA "I Go Hard"

V/A The Third Unheard: Connecticut Hip Hop 1979-1983 (Stones Throw) cd 15.98
Hmmm... Connecticut. Known for its (I'd rather kill myself than drive through its) never-ending stretch of I-95, shitty cities and incredibly concentrated wealth. How would we have known that hip hop from CT circa '79 to '83 was so good?! Well that's where this new comp produced by Stones Throw's Egon comes in, to educate us. The old school rap jams on here are nostalgia-inducing classics even if you've never heard 'em before. One we had heard, and will forever love, is Pookey Blow's "Get Up (And Go To School)", but the selections from the likes of The Chillie 3 MCs, Rappermatical 5, Mr. Magic, Starchild and the 2nd Showdown Crew, The Outlaw Four, and others also have all the kitschy humor, casual cool, positive pride and self-assurance that makes these rare tracks just as awesome as any more famous hits of the time outta NYC. Could be considered even more so, with some sympathy points for having hailed from CT!
MPEG Stream: MR. MAGIC AND POSITIVE CHOICE BAND "2001 Kazoo's"
MPEG Stream: POOKEY BLOW "Get Up (And Go To School)"

V/A Theppabutr Productions: The Man Behind The Molam Sound 1972-75 (Light In The Attic) 2lp 28.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Record Store Day alert! Here's a 2013 RSD release that we thankfully managed to get enough copies of to list...
Please don't ask us to pronounce Theppabutr, but do ask us why this is so awesome - though the best answer is: just listen to it!
International vinyl diggers, seeking out vintage grooves in far flung parts of the world, have made Molam music from Thailand into something that's now definitely a 'thing' in our world music section - we've had some other great Molam collections on the Sublime Frequencies label, for instance, so of course it's exciting to hear from 'The Man Behind The Molam Sound', Theppabutr Satirodchompu, responsible for the production work on the 17 tracks collected here from a variety of Molam artists. It's Molam of the modern variety (modern circa 1972-1975 that is, in this case), a form of electrified vocal music from Northeast Thailand that combines traditional folk melodies and ethnic instrumentation with electric guitars and electronic keyboards. Great stuff, all of it, lively and rhythmic, emotive and ear-wormy. Even though we don't understand a word, it's still immediately captivating. We love the keening singers and warbly organs, groovy beats and exotic vibes. If you haven't yet given Molam and closely related genre Luk Thung a try, this would be a great place to start. Seventies Molam like this is mighty fine stuff, up there with those 'Ethiopiques' recordings and certain Jamaican reggae of the same vintage, though we'd imagine the vocal stylings here might work for some folks and not so much for others.
This limited vinyl version is a Record Store Day 2013 release - there is also a (presumably less-limited) non-RSD compact disc edition too, that we'll be stocking and will list next time, but we wanted to get this RSD vinyl listed now before they were gone! Especially since the double vinyl includes two bonus tracks not found on the cd version - as well as a 12"x14" poster, and download card for mp3s of all the tracks. Gatefold sleeve in faux woodgrain wrapper, liner notes, foldout poster inside.
MPEG Stream: BANYEN RAKKAEN "Siang Toey Jak Jai"
MPEG Stream: YUPIN KANFUNG "Sao Isan Lam Khaen"
MPEG Stream: SAKSIAM PETCHCHOMPU "Saksiam Dearn Glon"
MPEG Stream: SABAIPARE BUASOD "Kor Hai Rak Jing"

V/A Thugz Style International (Severly Ill) cd 14.98

MPEG Stream: STRESS FEAT. CHICO "Dangerous"
MPEG Stream: BUCKSHOT FEAT. HAVOC "Here We Come"
MPEG Stream: OPEE FEAT. OL'KAINRY "Soldat"

V/A Tino Vision (Tino Corp.) dvd 14.98
This here dvd is a cool compilation from the Tino Corp. featuring videos by Ben Stokes, Davy Force!, Mission Control and Eric Koziol for tracks by DJ Shadow, Meat Beat Manifesto, Jack Dangers, D.H.S. (Dimensional Holophonic Sound), Afrunk, Davy Force!, DJ Radar, Enitokwa and Tino himself! Also includes bonus material in the form of a Tino Live segment shot at various 2000-2003 shows as well as four additional videos and more.

V/A Turntable Solos (Amoebic) cd 18.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A solid introduction for all those who have only seen the hip-hop approach to wax tricks. This covers almost every other conceivable area of turntablist sound-art from Christian Marclay, Otomo Yoshihide, Merzbow, Crawling With Tarts, Erik M, Extasis, Frank Schulte, George Budd, L?K?O, Martin Tetreault, Massimo Simonini, Mood Man, PFN, Rik Rue, Takeshi Fumimoto, and Tsunoda Tsuguto.

V/A Turntables By the Bay (Hip Hop Slam) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A really nice cd version of the four vinyl Turntables by the Bay comps. This contains most but not all of the tracks from that series, along with really detailed liner notes, contact info for the DJs, etc. With tracks from star turntablists Q-Bert and other Skratch Piklz, the Groove Robbers featuring DJ Shadow, Eddie Def, Live Human, Peanut Butter Wolf... and my personal favorite DJ Quest. Wow. A strong collection of work by our Bay Area DJs -- no duds, worth the money.
RealAudio clip: DJ QUEST "Quest Represent"
RealAudio clip: Q-BERT FEAT. FLARE, D-STYLES, & YOGAFROG "Invasion of the Octobots"

V/A Unindie Listening (Janky) cd 5.98
FYI: This cd is subtitled "A DJ Mix Of Indie Rock And Hip Hop That's All Whirlwind Heat And Flash. By Matt Loomis And Aye Jay. Hosted By Fred Armisen Of SNL". Whoa, heat and flash... and Fred?! Who can resist that combo? If you're one of the few who require more cajoling, we can tell you that this mix disc comes from those folks who brought you the Indie Rock Connect The Dots Book as well as the Gangsta Rap Coloring Book. Here's a rundown of the artists whose material Loomis encorporated into his mash-ups. match-ups and scratch-ups: Steve Albini, Elliott Smith, Charizma, Peanut Butter Wolf, The Roots, Violent Femmes, Jeru The Damaja, Jay-Z, David Cross, Sonic Youth, Dead Prez, Pavement, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Newcleus, The Rapture, Christopher Walken, !!!, Sir Mix A Lot, Har Mar Superstar, Beat Happening, Modest Mouse, DJ Shadow, Flaming Lips, Fog and MF Doom. As you can see music worlds collide in this mix -- the indie hipsters and the hiphopsters. Many of the combos here may be more cause for head scratchin' than vinyl scratchin'! Seven tracks plus a not so "hidden" track for only six buckeroos. Nice.
MPEG Stream: "track 1"
MPEG Stream: "track 4"

V/A Urban Renewal Program (Chocolate Industries) cd 14.98
Having greatly enjoyed the Rapid Transit compilation and the full length releases from While, Sluta Leta and Push Button Objects, I rejoiced at the sight of a new Chocolate Industries label compilation. Alas, while I know there are folks out there who'll like this, I have to admit it's not doing much for me. There are standout pieces from adventurous hip hoppers such as El-P and RJD2, Aesop Rock, Mos Def & Diverse, Aesop Rock, Souls of Mischief, and especially the mysterious, excellent Themselves, who cackle their verses in a way that must be heard to be believed. But the pieces in between these tracks are basically electronica filler, especially Prefuse-73's bland, jazzy groove that sounds like the trendy sort of mood music your local Urban Outfitters likes to play. Other disappointments include a Tortoise throwaway and stuff from Miho Hatori (Gorillaz, Cibo Matto), DJ Food, etc. Sigh. Get this for the smart hip hop (there's certainly enough here to make it worth it) and program out the stuff in between.
RealAudio clip: RJD2 "True Confessions"
RealAudio clip: THEMSELVES "Thisboutthecitytoo"
RealAudio clip: TORTOISE "C.T.A."

V/A Urban Revolutions (Future Primitive) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Hard to believe it's been five years since Mark Herlihy and Mark Wasserman started the now-legendary Future Primitive Soundsession series, the good time turntablist and DJ parties that basically catapulted the West Coast DJ breakbeat scene to international stature. The parties are, of course, still happening, and this cd, the fifth in the Future Primitive Recordings series, winningly replicates the feel-good bright 'n upbeat nature of the parties themselves. Good job! Features everyone from the amazing Z-Trip to Rob Swift, DJ Disk, Romanowski, Faust and Shortee, plus a short segment from the infamous 7-11 Slurpee set of all 45s performed by DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist. If you've never heard the fabulous Z-Trip/Radar and Cut Chemist/Shortkut Future Primitive discs, get those too.
RealAudio clip: AROMADOZESKI THERAPY FEATURING ROMANOWSKI & DEVIOUS DOZE "Strudel Strut"
RealAudio clip: DJ SHADOW AND CUT CHEMIST "Interlude"
RealAudio clip: DJ Z-TRIP "Downtime"

V/A Urban Revolutions (Future Primitive) lp 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Hard to believe it's been five years since Mark Herlihy and Mark Wasserman started the now-legendary Future Primitive Soundsession series, the good time turntablist and DJ parties that basically catapulted the West Coast DJ breakbeat scene to international stature. The parties are, of course, still happening, and this cd, the fifth in the Future Primitive Recordings series, winningly replicates the feel-good bright 'n upbeat nature of the parties themselves. Good job! Features everyone from the amazing Z-Trip to Rob Swift, DJ Disk, Romanowski, Faust and Shortee, plus a short segment from the infamous 7-11 Slurpee set of all 45s performed by DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist. If you've never heard the fabulous Z-Trip/Radar and Cut Chemist/Shortkut Future Primitive discs, get those too.

V/A WAR (If it feels good, do it!) (Hip Hop Slam) cd 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
With this new release, local underground hiphop/turntablist label Hip Hop Slam goes to war -- against the war, that is. Subtitled Emcee Dubya vs. DJs of Mass Destruction, this anti-war comp takes a plunderphonic approach at the expense of our respected (ha) President and his invasion of Iraq. Contributors include Public Enemy (with a mix of their track "Son of a Bush"), Cat Five, Mr. Lif, Shingo2, Tino Corp, Azeem, and many others, some (like DJ Saddam and DJ Sars) with explictly topical monikers. There's even the inclusion of a track by Steinski & Mass Media, the pioneer of the "political cut-and-paste" electronic music genre whose work inspired so many of these folks. This kind of audio activism can only be applauded, getting out the message that not all Americans are so gung-ho on the Bush regime's program. Bring the noise, fight the power, c'mon. Proceeds from the sale of this not-for-profit project benefit a variety of peace orgs.
MPEG Stream: GUERRILLA NEWS NETWORK "Happy Ramadan Osama bin Laden"
MPEG Stream: TINO CORP FEAT. BEN STOKES "Dubya (Commander In Chief)"

V/A War II (The Turd Hunt Continues) (Hip Hop Slam) cd 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.