1. Kinky – “Kinky” (Nettwerk)

Okay, so this album came out in March. I didn’t know that when I first heard it in the beginning of the summer and when I finally bought it in July. The five men from Monterrey, Mexico play a mix of latin jazz, funk andelectronica that has become my go-to album whenever I need to hear something

absolutely different from anything else in my collection. That’s happened a

lot this summer.

My favorite song on the album, “Sambita,” has lounge vocals, waves of

electronic noise and a crisp latin guitar line. Others, like “Ejercito

#16,”

and “Tonos Rosa” are almost pure funk. It’s a good mix of sounds I’m

sorry

I’m unable to describe this album any better. It is a mix other bands I’ve

heard have dabbled in, but that I’ve never heard in its full glory until

now.

2. Solomon Burke – “Don’t Give Up On Me” (Fat Possum)

He’s sold over 17 million records, he’s called names like “King of Rock ‘n’

Soul” and “the Bishop” and he recorded this album in only four days.

It’s powerful stuff delivered by a man of the ranks of James Brown and Otis

Redding. I was instatly hooked by the power of the singing on this album.

This man has the blues, the funk, the gospel and the rhythm running through

his veins and it comes through in every word. So, all of this makes for a

great album.

But I wondered how all of the songs, which go from country to soul, came

together. I stumbled upon a list of song writers: Bob Dylan, Elvis

Costello,

Tom Waits, James Henry, Brian Wilson, Van Morrison -yeah, they and more

all

contributed to this album. It’s good music delivered by a man with over

forty years under his belt.

3. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “By The Way” (Warner Bros.)

This is a great album. The years have scarred and torn members from the

band, and the lessons the Peppers have learned have carried the band to a

level of playing and musical communication far above any other rock band I

have ever heard.

Anyone who has grown up listening to the funk punk pioneers will appreciate

this album, even though it is almost devoid of the funk and the punk. The

songs have mellowed, the lyrics have grown deeper and the less-means-more

playing of guitarist John Fruciante and bassist Flea is truly amazing.

Enough said.

4. Hockey Night – “Rad Zapping” (Img)

It’s weird how some albums that should annoy you crawl back into your CD

player.

On the first listen, prompted by the wild jumble of ’80s pop scraps on the

cover, I thought I had found a poor-man’s copy of Self’s Gismandry by

someone listening to Built to Spill. The second listen showed me I was

right. By the third listen, why did I keep doing this, I was getting the

different styles < some songs, such as “Cloud Castle,” a dynamic rocker,

are

thoughtfully tailored indie songs, while others are hip-hop mixes with a

keyboard and an Atari and names like “Battlestar Scholastica” and “R.E.B.E.L. System.”

Now the CD has gotten to me and I don’t care. Hockey Night’s songwriter has

some real songwriting skill, no matter how hard he tries to hide it.

5. Guttermouth – “Gusto” (Epitaph)

Known for blistering hardcore, vulgar lyrics and an intense and screaching

vocalist, Guttermouth starts this album out with a keyboard pop song titled

“Camp Fire Girl #62”.

Don’t let it fool you, the spirit hasn’t left the band, but Guttermouth

sure

as hell took a left when you expected a right. Most of the songs are a

little slower, a few like “My Girlfriend” are a little too poppy for my

liking, but the band has written some of the best songs of its long career.

“Contribution”is as powerful a sing along as they come; on the chorus,

vocalist Mark sings “Not going to say I’m sorry my anger won’t turn to

shame/ You’ll get no apology ’cause I don’t care.” “Scholarship in Punk” is

another song for the old fans, but there really aren’t any songs on this

album that sound like the other albums.

Think of Gusto as an experiment from a band that has released so many good

albums that it knows it can try whatever it wants. If you don’t know the

old

CDs, listen to “The Album Formerly Known as Full-Length LP”or “Musical

Monkey,” then see how they’ve grown in ability and shrunk in maturity with

this one.

-Jeff Mitchell, Arts & Entertainment Editor

1. Lauryn Hill – “MTV Unplugged No. 2.0” (Sony)

“Fantasy is what people want, but reality is what they need, and I’ve

retired from the fantasy part.” Lauryn Hill essentially sums up her career

at this point with this sentence, spoken in on of the many vocal interludes

on this album.

Hill’s first solo venture back onto the music scene since 1999’s “The

Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” surprised many of her fans with its brutally

honest lyrics and raw guitar style. This album epitomizes the true meaning

of MTV’s Unplugged series, originally designed to showcase an artist’s

talent without the distractions of glitzy production.

Hill shows her true colors on “Unplugged”, and she’s not afraid to admit

her

faults < Lauryn’s not who she used to be and she’s not sure who she is

right

now, but she’s definitely learning. Such an honest and spiritual

perspective, especially in the often one-dimensional, male-dominated world

of hip-hop, is certainly refreshing.

2. Blackalicious – “Blazing Arrow” (MCA)

Hip-hop’s commercial appeal has sadly been exploited in recent years, and

the genre of rap is in serious need of repair. Enter Blackalicious, who

with their sophomore album, OBlazing Arrow”, showcase their ability to

experiment with classic elements of r&b and soul with socially-conscious

rhymes.

On Blackalicious’ overlooked debut, “NIA”, MC’s Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel

teamed up with the venerable DJ Shadow, whose production skills added a

depth not found in today’s commercial “hip-pop”.

The cameos on “Blazing Arrow” read as a virtual “Who’s Who” in the world of

progressive hip-hop. Especially notable are rap pioneer Gil Scott Heron on

“First In Flight” and soul diva Jaguar Wright on “Aural Pleasure”.

3. Musiq – “Juslisen” (Universal)

Apparently Musiq has never heard the phrase “sophomore slump”. After

enjoying commercial success with his debut, “Aijuswanaseing (I Just Want To

Sing)”, Philly-based neo-soul singer Musiq Soulchild shed his last name and

his dreadlocks but not his mission.

On “Juslisen”, Musiq continues to prove his merit as an R&B singer who

wants

to do more for the ladies than simply feed them trite lines. Musiq proves

his ability for abstract thought on “Time” much as he did on his debut

smash

“Love”. “Juslisen” shows Musiq’s growth and maturity and holds much

promise

for the future of neo-soul.

4. Raphael Saadiq – “Instant Vintage” (Universal)

Four words: It’s about damn time.

Raphael Saadiq, formerly of supergroups Tony Toni Tone and Lucy Pearl,

released his solo debut in June, and it was well worth the wait. Saadiq’s

distinctive voice and lyrics are well-showcased on this album, which also

features cameos by D’Angelo, Angie Stone and T-Boz.

On “Be Here”, the album’s first single, Saadiq’s silky tenor and D’Angelo’s

patented falsetto blend beautifully instead of competing for the listener’s

attention. On the next track, “Still Ray”, Saadiq unexpectedly includes a

tuba solo, which sounds odd, but works.

Overall, Saadiq proves his worth as a singer and songwriter on “Instant

Vintage” and pays homage to soul greats such as Marvin Gaye and Otis

Redding.

5. Slum Village – “Trinity: Past, Present, & Future” (Capitol)

Another group of artists making the perhaps reluctant transition from the

underground to mainstream appeal is Detroit-based Slum Village.

On their second album, the trio changes it up a bit with the departure of

group member J-Dilla. Rapper Elzhi fills the void with a smooth style

showcased on “Tainted”, the group’s 106th and Park-friendly single.

Although Slum Village’s sophomore venture may disappoint hip-hop purists,

everyone can appreciate a decent mellow album to chill to. And if

“Trinity”

can open minds to the sounds of underground hip-hop, all the better.

-Megan Hinds, Assignment A&E Editor