Banco de Gaia: 10 years

Banco de Gaia has created a fantastic body of work, successfully blending world-beat sounds and styles with cutting edge technology. When you listen, you hear. There’s something in his music that can satisfy any taste. Whether you’re into rock, dance, prog, electronica, world, ambient, you’ll find something to dig here. You’ll groove to complex, intricate melodies over superbly crafted beats, crossing a variety of genres, to create sublime music, which most importantly, has emotion and soul. Disc 1 is more uptempo, Disc 2 more of the reflective, ambient dubby work…yet both put me in a place I want to be. This music is truly good for your ears as well as your soul.

*****

Michael Bloomfield: If you love the blues..

Widely known from his days in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Electric Flag and on Al Kooper’s Super Sessions, Bloomfield is often spoken of in the same breath as Clapton and Green. On this Album, Bloomfield pays tribute to some of his inspirations including; B.B. King,T-Bone Walker and Howlin’ Wolf. The second portion of this interesting album features Bloofield w/Woody Harris diving fingers first into the acoustic roots of the gospel blues. Fingerstyle pickin’ crossed w/a whining electric slide sounds like a ride I would take a turn on. Several informative narratives seperating masterful guitarship.

Kicking Mule/Fantasy 2004 *****

EELS: Souljacker

The album makes you feel like you have stepped right into Nowheresville, not knowing how you got there. A little weary and confused, by the end you don’t want to leave. Some tunes like Woman Driving…will lull you into a space comforting like a pillow.
Hard nosed rockrs like Dog Faced Boy and That’s not really Funny will put you in the mood to drive fast and smirk a cocky smirk at the folks that stare. You little punks think you own this town

EELS are odd no doubt but it is a friendly sort of queer.

Dreamworks 2002*****

A Band of Bees: Free the Bees

If you’ve been looking for some new sound from the late 60’s- early 70’s acid rock, psychodelic scene…look no further. This cd brings you back…a la THE WHO. British and Beatlesque at moments, they feature horns, Hammonds and the works.

A Virgin Records release.. *****