#47/100 – Com Truise – Wave 1

This EP has always been a favorite, as it bridges the eras of the Com Truise sound. Galactic Melt always divided me, and Wave 1 was more the sound I liked on that album, which is a stepping stone to Iteration and Persuasion System. Listening to Side A, it was very, very hard to pick between the lovely bass-driven Mind and the sublime excellence of Subsonic, but the latter has to be my track pick. It’s just so good.

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#46/100 – El-P – Fantastic Damage

This debut solo release from El-P brings a lot of memories, and it also shows me how much El’s production is similar, but much more evolved and sharper with newer work like Run the Jewels. The vibe from Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus and Cannibal Ox’s The Cold Vein feel close, with the unique characteristics El layers in to the tracks on Side 1B, with my pick being Dead Disnee. So much to enjoy here for those who appreciate more eclectic production and vicious bars.

This is especially interesting because El-P sat (virtually) with fellow MC and producer Open Mike Eagle for the second season of What Had Happened Was on Stony Island’s podcast network and has been discussing his career. It’s very interesting and worth your time: OPEN MIKE EAGLE — PODCAST

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#45/100 – Massive Attack – Protection

This album slides a bit under the radar and slots between the energy of Blue Lines and the smooth brilliance of Mezzanine, and achieves a lot. It was one of my first introductions to Tracey Thorn of Everything But the Girl, and the intro track on Side A features her beautiful and emotional vocals on Protection. It’s a story of strength and love and changing roles, all over an incredible and simple drum track with a minimal guitar as accompaniment for Tracey.

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#44/100 – Pretty Lights – The Hidden Shades

This was another neat Record Store Day pick back in 2014 because it’s an artist I’ve been following for years, it has remixes I’d played on the show, and those featured artists like ODESZA, Blue Sky Black Death, and Emancipator. Oh, and it’s a 2×10″ EP, which is really weird.

Side A was the spin this time around and the intro track Lost and Found is everything I like in this corner of music. Really nice percussion, neat vocal samples, and some heavy synth work. Done!

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#43/100 – The Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Pete Brown, Jo Jones All Stars At Newport

Newport Jazz Festival has been a staple of the genre for decades, and the late 50s were a joyous time to be an attendee. This is one of a small handful of records in the collection from this time period, and the atmosphere is incredible. This brings together many of the all stars of brass and while it only features five tracks, they do a lot in that time. Side A features an introduction and then gets into I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me, which is a long train of solos, but is my pick on this side. It’s always fascinating to hear takes from masters of their instrument during a period or intense but friendly competition.

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#42/100 – Bonobo – The North Borders

In the modern world of instrumental artists who mix in vocals, Bonobo is a big player, and The North Borders came out at a time when an album like this fit in very well. Everyone has heard at least one track from this album. Side 4 was my choice, and I knew that Sapphire was going to be a tough track to top, but I’d forgotten how much I love Transits. It’s lush from the start, and makes it’s case, and then the vocals by Szjerdene come in nearly halfway through the track and it’s a no-brainer at that point. Lovely panned ambient sounds and a tapestry of instruments and texture.

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#40/100 – Joker – The Vision

I’d heard this album and been a fan of it since receiving it as a promo, but I was surprised when I found the vinyl for sale, new, in a discount bin during Record Store Day. It’s an interesting record with a lot of Joker’s “Purple” flair on his trademark synths, but the vocal performances are also very, very good. So good, in fact, that Lost was my pick of Side 3 over My Trance Girl, which is a six minute treat of the sound. Lost is, by contrast, a tale of city life with an eye on hope.

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#39/100 – Chancha Via Circuito – Rio Arriba

Back in 2009 or 2010 I got a compilation from an Argentine label called ZZK Records. It was called Future Sounds of Buenos Aires, and it was an eye opening introduction to Cumbia and the sounds of Argentina and South America. Later, Rio Arriba showed up and it included Prima, the track from that compilation by the artist Chancha Via Circuito, and my pick from Side B.

It’s got a wonderful rhythm and swing, lots of cambia swing, and several tempo changes up and down in the track, which are pretty neat.

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#38/100 – Bloc Party – Silent Alarm

This incredible debut LP from the band is high energy from the start and is one of those amazing releases that was recorded in a matter of days after being practiced and performed previously for years. Nothing since has quite matched it, or even the half of it, in my opinion. Luno was my pick from Side D, with it’s immediately catchy, jangly, shifting and relentless story. The drums on this track set it apart more than anything.

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