NEW RADICALS self titled. (1997)

Confession is that I have been listening to this album non stop in 2016. The hit 'We Only Get What We Give' is a simple, perfect song. But other tracks 'Someday we'll Know' and 'Gotta Stay High' are equally as terrific, if not better. Can't believe that they only did this one album. I don't understand. JEEEEZ. I'm going to play it again ...right now!

THE DISMEMBERMENT PLAN 'Uncanney Valley' (2013)

Wow. This is a pretty pleasant surprise. Not the D.P. that I remember on DeSoto reords decades ago. And even back then, I was very impressed with their DC / artrock sense of post punk, clever, whatever. So this is their 2013 album and it sounds like it can be a collection of 1970's cartoon anthems mixed with some really good alt.rock. Spinning this album for around 3 days now and its all good. Love their lyrics too. One of April's best findings.

PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES 'Good Health' (2002)

I was on some radio shuffle today and this really good album took me by surprise. I like the dissonance of the guitars and the chaotic vocals. Listened to the album 2 x start to finish and even though its 14 yeas old, totally an excellent band and album.

SUPERCHUNK 'I Hate Music' (2013)

Bravo on the title. I just hate people. This album is actually pretty decent and catchy though. Wonderful cover art. Deserves more attention. Coming soon.

SPOTIFY'S "New Music Friday' (April, 2016)

Oh God. This shit is THE WORST. Literally not 1 song on this mess that I like. Insulting, WAAAY over produced pop shit, terrible hip hop (actually ALL hip hop is terrible) and that fat chick that sings the song that she's all about that bass.

This is Spotifys new music? Pitiful.

BATHORY 'Under the Sign of the Black Mark' (1987)

For some weird reason, I never listened to this album all the way through. Terrific comedy cover. And if you're not laughing right along with the joke, then you're being laughed AT. What is that beast and what does it eat in the caves, alone. Does it ever get invited to family parties? Well, whatever.
This 1 man death metal machine "Quorthon" made a few interesting albums, The first 2 were gold. This. seems to be OK, The Viking stuff bored the shit out of me. I remember the day that he was so blasphemous, the Jesus sent a curse down to kill him before he was even 40.

C'est la Vie

OSCAR G 'Live from NYC' (2010)

Another Miami legend that regularly makes his way up to NYC to spin house for a mostly Latin crowd. First time hearing this mix and it is tribal BLISS. He revisits quite a few classic 2000 vocals with Latin/tribal drums and I couldn't possibly love this mix more. He's on my bucket list of DJs to hear in the next 2 years, BRAVO Oscar. Excellent start to finish.

C-Jay (Amsterdam) The Sessions 028 (2013?)

https://www.mixcloud.com/cjayamsterdam/c-jay-the-sessions-028-live-at-club-panama-amsterdam-part-2/

So after a flame war with the douchebag that runs the Venom's Legions Facebook page and swearing that I'm not gonna listen to metal for a month, trawling around on John Digweed's fantastic 'Transitions weekly, I get introduced to the quasi generic "C-Jay" from Amsterdam. On the softer side of tech-house, I was fucking knocked out on the first listen today in the office and had to have 2 more repeats. I'm getting to be an old fuck and while I still like ecstasy laced tweeked out house records that Peter Rauhofer, Junior Vasquez and Chus and Ceballos played at 5AM on Sunday morning, I'm fully loving the softer pace of Osgar G and now..........C JAY! Welcome to my life.

FEAR FACTORY 'Demanufacture' (1995)

I think in 1995 I wasn't listening to too much metal and so this album escaped me. They're kinda close to sounding like old Sepultura which is good. Very gated guitars, sound like there's some sampling and triggering going on. Heavy rhythmic lurching brutal shit. Tonight in Manhattan they're playing this album in it's entirety, which is what prompted me to check it out. I don't know if this qualifies as 'nu-metal' but the choruses are sung with melody. Decent album. I don't know if I'd listen to it again start to finish, but a few songs in a metal comp. It certainly sounds industrial and quite mechanical. B-

S. CAREY 'All we Grow' (2010)

I heard the track 'Rose Petals' on the Will Arnett series 'Flaked', and though the track isn't on this album, I thought I'd stop in for a listen. Nice quiet, tuneful minimalism from S.Carey guy. Dreamy stuff, sometimes haunting and melancholy. Reminds me of a band called 'The Album Leaf' in a way.
I'll definitely be checking out more of his music.

SPOOKY 'Open' (2007)

What and whoever this person/artist/DJ/thing is, I've come to love it. Sasha did righteous remixes and I see the name popping up on various trip hop/ambient mix Cds, etc. Totally impressed and inspired by everything I've heard so far. I will eventually look up the artist on Wiki, but for now I want to enjoy the mystique. LOVE Spooky!

Important NOTE: This is the UK Artist Spooky. NOT DJ Spooky, Big difference.

DOVES 'Some Cities' (2005)

I was hoping this album would be half as good as their fantastic 'Last Broadcast' album, and the songs aren't completely devoid of hooks, but there's nothing on this album that can compete with the brilliance of 'Caught by the River' or 'There Goes the Fear'.  Also kinda crazy how many Spotify plays this band has. Millions. Didn't know they were that popular.

JUNIOR VASQUEZ 'Live Mix Cloud sets from club TWILO 1999'

https://www.mixcloud.com/JuniorVasquezSets/junior-vasquez-live-twilonyc-13111999/

If it was recorded at club TWILO in NYC in 1999, then there's about 100% chance that I was there. On a lot of ecstasy (not endorsing it) but I could easily identify 9 out of 10 songs since this pounded my skull that year. I don't like any of these mainstream artists per se, but Junior did us well, twisting the music and making the backdrop darker. Cuz other than darkness, what could pop music ever even begin to be good for?

The opening track here 'With You' by Nomad, still shakes my life. I know exactly where I was in the club when Miss Junior dropped this track for the first time.Under the DJ booth, next to the Gigantic master Phazon speaker. Blown away.