I want my, I want my, I want my MP3. Sayeth you, greedy little compression termites that you are. Since the Norman invasion of Wessex, scribes far and wide have been arguing in pubs over the merits of 80's Hip Hop over 50s Rock n' Roll. Here, without the distraction of spilled pints, black eyes or pork scratchings, are the contentious recordings under analysis. The idea was to rate them according to a system of stars, but since most of the critical discussions ended up in everybody seeing stars anyway, this was abandoned amid accusations of U-turns from the opposition.
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The Man of Metropolis Steals our Hearts
Sufjan Stevens
Illinoise (Rough Trade 2005) |
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Lullaby for Hamza
Robert Wyatt
cuckooland, 2003 |
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Maps
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Fever to Tell, 2004 |
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Charity
Jerry Yester & Judy Henske
Farewell Aldebaran (Elektra 1969) |
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england made me
black box recorder
england made me, 1998 |
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Deep Honey
Goldfrapp
Black Cherry (Sony 2004) |
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Darlinghurst Nights
Go-Betweens
Oceans Apart, 2005 |
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Changes
The Zombies
Odessey and Oracle (Decca 1967) |
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Train in Vain
The Clash
London Calling (CBS 1979) |
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An MP Speaks
McCarthy
I am a Wallet (Cherry Red 1987) |
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Fire Coming Out Of A Monkey's Head
Gorillaz
Demon Days (Parlophone 2005) |
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Temple
Jane Siberry
When I Was a Boy (Reprise 1992) |
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7/4
Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene (East West 2005) |
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We're Here
Guillemots
Single (Polydor 2006) |
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Presidential Suite
Super Furry Animals
Rings Around the World (XL 2001) |
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Never Destroy Us
The Dears
No Cities Left (SpinArt 2004) |
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Private Life
Grace Jones
The Compass Point Years (UMG 1998) |
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American Sailors
The Triffids
The Black Swan (Rough Trade 1989) |
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Suckle
Ultrasound
Everything Picture (Nude 1999) |
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Well I Wonder
The Smiths
Meat is Murder (Rough Trade 1985) |
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The Rover
Led Zeppelin
Physical Graffiti (Swan Song 1975) |
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Screamadelica
Primal Scream
Dixie-Narco EP (Creation 1992) |
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The Inflated Tear
Roland Kirk
The Inflated Tear (Atlantic 1967) |
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You Were the Last High
Dandy Warhols
Welcome to the Monkey House (2003) |
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Refractions in the Plastic Pulse
Stereolab
Dots and Loops (Duophonic 1998) |
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War on War
Wilco
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Elektra/Nonesuch 2003) |
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Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt
The Mars Volta
Deloused in the Comatorium (2003) |
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Night Comes In
Richard and Linda Thompson
Pour Down like Silver (Island 1974) |
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Cabin Essence
Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson Presents Smile (Elektra 2004) |
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The Devil's Eye
The Go-Betweens
16 Lovers Lane (Beggars Banquet 1988) |
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Travelling Man
Woodentops
Giant (Rough Trade 1986) |
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Who Cares
Gnarls Barkley
St Elsewhere (Warners 2006) |
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Ballad of the Broken Seas
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Ballad of the Broken Seas (v2 2006) |
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Stop Me if you think you've heard this one before
The Smiths
Strangeways Here we Come (Rough Trade 1987) |
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Mr. Wilson
John Cale
Slow Dazzle (Island 1974) |
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A Minha Menina
Os Mutantes
Tropicalia (Soul Jazz 2006) |
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A Lady of a Certain Age
The Divine Comedy
Victory for the Comic Muse (Parlophone 2006) |
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Summer Skin
Death Cab for Cutie
Plans (Atlantic 2006) |
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New Grass
Talk Talk
Laughing Stock (Verve 1991) |
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Map to the Treasure
Laura Nyro
Christmas & the Beads of Sweat (CBS 1971) |
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Downtown
Throwing Muses
House Tornado (4AD 1988) |
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Golden Lady
Stevie Wonder
Innervisions (Tamla Motown 1973) |
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Turn You Inside Out
REM
Green (Warner Brothers 1988) |
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Genesis Hall
Fairport Convention
Unhalfbricking (Island 1969) |
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Pale Skinny Girl
American Music Club
California (Edsel 1989) |
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Coming Down
The United States of America
The United States of America (1968: Edsel reissue 2002) |
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Until I Believe in My Soul
Dexy's Midnight Runners
Too-Rye-Aye (Mercury 1982) |
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I've Just Seen a Face
The Beatles
Help! (Parlophone 1965) |
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Folk Jam
Pavement
Terror Twilight (Matador 1999) |
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Buenos Hermanos
Ibrahim Ferrer
Buenos Hermanos (Nonesuch 2003) |
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The Movers and the Shakers
Herbert
Scale (K7, 2006) |
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Leopardskin Pill Box Hat
Bob Dylan
Blonde on Blonde (Columbia 1966) |
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Summertime
Galaxie 500
This is Our Music (Edsel 1989) |
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Forget All Ab
out It
Nazz
Nazz III(Rhino/WEA 1970) |
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Club Country
The Associates
Sulk(WEA 1982) |
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Sheikah
Rival Joustas
|
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Ali in the Jungle
The Hours
Narcissus Road (A&M/Universal, 2007) |
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Death of a Party
Blur
Blur (Parlophone 1997) |
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Shadows Fall
The Coral
The Coral (Sony 2002) |
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She's Got You High
Mumm-Ra
|
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Dog Breath in the Year of the Plague
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention
Uncle Meat (Straight, 1969) |
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Four Flights Up
Lloyd Cole & the Commotions
Rattlesnakes (Polydor 1984) |
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Why should I settle for you
Candie Payne
I Wish I Could have Loved you More(Deltasonic/Columbia 2007) |
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Slightly All the Time
Soft Machine
Third (Columbia 1970) |
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Gravity's Rainbow
Klaxons
Myths of the Near Future (Universal, 2007) |
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Yekatit
Mulatu Astatqe
Best of Ethiopiques, Various Artists (Manteca, 2007) |
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Girls in their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen
Magic (Sony, 2007) |
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Symphonique No. 3 (Ode to Venus)
Moondog
Moondog 1/2 (Columbia, 1969: BGO, 2001 |
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Coumba
Orchestra Baobab
Pirates Choice(World Circuit, 1989) |
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Gimme Danger
Iggy & the Stooges
Raw Power (RCA 1973) |
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Porpoise Song
The Monkees
Head (wea 1968) |
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In the Mausoleum
Beirut
The Flying Club Cup (4AD 2007) |
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Atlas
Battles
Mirrored (Warp 2007) |
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Love is a Losing Game
Amy Winehouse
Back to Black (Island 2006) |
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Starless and Bible Black
Stan Tracey
Under Milk Wood (Columbia 1965) |
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Hells Bells
AC/DC
Back in Black (Atlantic/Warners 1980) |
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Two Bites of Cherry
Cardiacs
On Land and in the Sea (Alphabet 1989) |
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Ocean
Velvet Underground
VU (Polydor 1985) |
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In The Morning Of The Magicians
The Flaming Lips
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Warners 2002) |
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Carousel
Iron and Wine
The Shepherd's Dog (Warners 2007) |
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Bodysnatchers
Radiohead
In Rainbows (website) |
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Junk Shop Clothes
The Auteurs
New Wave (Nude 1992) |
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Song for William S. Harvey
Felt
Let the Snakes Crinkle their heads to Death (Cherry Red 1986) |
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Devil's Haircut
Beck
Odelay (Geffen 1996) |
![[alt]](images/pod/curtis_superfly.jpg) |
Freddie's Dead
Curtis Mayfield
Superfly (Stax 1973) |
![[alt]](images/pod/stereolab_cobra.jpg) |
Velvet Water
Stereolab
Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night (Duophonic 1999) |
![[alt]](images/pod/van_hardnose.jpg) |
Snow in San Anselmo
Van Morrison
Hard Nose the Highway (WB 1974) |
![[alt]](images/pod/aberfeldy_youngforever_.jpg) |
Heliopolis By Night
Aberfeldy
Young Forever (Rough Trade 2004) |
![[alt]](images/pod/zep_presence.jpg) |
Achilles Last Stand
Led Zeppelin
Presence (Swan Song 1976) |
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She Cracked
The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers (Beserkley 1976) |
![[alt]](images/pod/buff_springfield_lasttimearound.jpg) |
The Hour of Not Quite Rain
Buffalo Springfield
Last Time Around (Atlantic 1968) |
![[alt]](images/pod/cowley.jpg) |
Scaredy Cat
The Neil Cowley Trio
Loud, Louder...Stop (Cake Music 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/mercuryrev.jpg) |
Sudden Ray of Hope
Mercury Rev
See You On the Other Side (Beggars Banquet 1995) |
![[alt]](images/pod/dnation.jpg) |
Silver Rocket
Sonic Youth
Daydream Nation (Blast First 1988) |
![[alt]](images/pod/troubleman-time.jpg) |
The Righteous Path Troubleman
Time Out of Mind (Far Out 2004) |
![[alt]](images/pod/scott4.jpg) |
Rhymes of Goodbye Scott Walker
Scott 4(Fontana 1969) |
![[alt]](images/pod/moneymark-dead.jpg) |
Maybe I'm Dead (Cornelius Remix) Money Mark
Maybe I'm Dead Remixes EP (Mo Wax 1998) |
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Venus As A Boy
Björk
Live Box (One Little Indian 2003) |
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Robots
Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords (Warner 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/raconteurs.jpg) |
Top Yourself
The Raconteurs
Consolers of the Lonely (Warner Brothers 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/beck-truth.jpg) |
Beck's Bolero Jeff Beck
Truth (Columbia 1968) |
![[alt]](images/pod/betaband3eps.jpg) |
Monolith
The Beta Band
The 3 EPs (Regal 1998) |
![[alt]](images/pod/jakethackray.jpg) |
Sister Josephine Jake Thackray
The Very Best of Jake Thackray (EMI 2003) |
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White Winter Hymnal
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/huskerduwarehouse.jpg) |
Ice Cold Ice Hüsker Dü
Warehouse Songs and Stories (WB 1987) |
![[alt]](images/pod/klfchillout.jpg) |
The Lights Of Baton Rouge Pass By The KLF
Chill Out (KLF 1990) |
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Balloons
Foals
Antidotes (Sub Pop 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/howlinwolf.jpg) |
Moanin' at Midnight
Howlin' Wolf
The Definitive Collection (Geffen 2007) |
![[alt]](images/pod/rem_accelerate.jpg) |
Horse to Water
R.E.M.
Accelerate (WEA 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/djshadendtroducing.jpg) |
Mutual Slump DJ Shadow
Endtroducing….(Fontana/Island 1996) |
![[alt]](images/pod/glass-star.jpg) |
Are Years What?(For Marianne Moore) Philip Glass
North Star (Virgin 1977) |
![[alt]](images/pod/eels_electroshock.jpg) | The Medication Is Wearing Off Eels Electroshock Blues (Dreamworks 1998) |
![[alt]](images/pod/bongwater.jpg) | Bedazzled Bongwater The Power of Pussy (Shimmy Disc 1990) |
![[alt]](images/pod/canada-geog.jpg) |
1969 Boards Of Canada
Geogaddi (Warp 2002) |
![[alt]](images/pod/nilehats.jpg) |
Over The Hillside The Blue Nile
Hats (Virgin 1989) |
![[alt]](images/pod/portishead3.jpg) |
Machine Gun
Portishead
Third (Universal 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/axelrod.jpg) | General Confessional The Electric Prunes David Axelrod 1968 To 1970 An Anthology(Stateside 1999) |
![[alt]](images/pod/vampire.jpg) |
Oxford Comma
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend (XL 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/aboutaboy.jpg) | Dead Duck Badly Drawn Boy About a Boy OST(Twisted Nerve 2002) |
![[alt]](images/pod/goldiesaturn.jpg) |
Mother Goldie
Saturnz Return (Ffrr 1999) |
![[alt]](images/pod/caravan_grey_pink.jpg) | Winter Wine Caravan In the Land of Grey and Pink(Deram 1969) |
![[alt]](images/pod/publicimage.jpg) | Public Image Public Image Ltd (Virgin 1979) |
![[alt]](images/pod/studioone.jpg) | Hot Milk Jackie Mittoo Studio One Rockers: the Best of Studio One(Soul Jazz 2001) |
 | Scream To A Sigh (La Tristesse Durera) Manic Street Preachers Gold Against the Soul (Epic 1993) |
 | Eddie Quansa Peacocks Guitar Band Nigeria 70 - Lagos Jump: Original Heavyweight Afrobeat, Highlife & Afro-Funk (Strut 2008) |
 | Gimme Shelter Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (Decca 1969) |
![[alt]](images/pod/galaxie500onfire.jpg) |
Snowstorm
Galaxie 500
On Fire (Shimmy Disc 1989) |
![[alt]](images/pod/raindogs.jpg) | Rain Dogs Tom Waits Rain Dogs (Island 1985) |
![[alt]](images/pod/touch.jpg) | Down At Circe's Place Touch Touch (Deram 1969) |
![[alt]](images/pod/tallen_lagos.jpg) |
Morose Tony Allen
Lagos No Shaking (Honest Jons 2006) |
![[alt]](images/pod/scritti.jpg) |
Absolute Scritti Politti Cupid & Psyche '85 (Virgin 1984)
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![[alt]](images/pod/bentley_ears.jpg) | Madam Your Carriage Awaits Bentley Rhythm Ace For Your Ears Only(Parlophone 2000) |
![[alt]](images/pod/Atomizer200.jpg) | Kerosene Big Black Atomizer(Blast First 1986) |
![[alt]](images/pod/noelcoward.jpg) | There Are Bad Times Just Around The Corner Noel CowardThe Compact Coward (EMI 1989)
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![[alt]](images/pod/godspeed.jpg) |
Providence Godspeed you Black Emperor
f#a# ∞ (Kranky 1998) |
![[alt]](images/pod/clashclash.jpg) |
White Riot The Clash
The Clash (Columbia 1977) |
![[alt]](images/pod/jansch_nicola.jpg) | Woe Is Love My Dear Bert Jansch Nicola(Transatlantic 1967) |
![[alt]](images/pod/woodentops_hypnobeat.jpg) | Travelling Man Woodentops Live Hypnobeat Live(Rough Trade 1987) |
![[alt]](images/pod/mgsmeltingpot.jpg) |
Sunny Monday Booker T. & the MGs
Melting Pot (Stax 1971) |
![[alt]](images/pod/canada-children.jpg) |
Turquoise Hexagon Sun Boards Of Canada
Music Has The Right To Children (Warp 1998) |
![[alt]](images/pod/shostak.jpg) |
Mvt III. Passacaglia, Andante Shostakovich/Oistrakh
Violin Concerto No. 1 Op. 99 (HMV 1957; Sony 1998) |
![[alt]](images/pod/beef-pers.jpg) |
Beatle Bones n' Smokin' Stones Captain Beefheart & the Magic band
Strictly Personal (Liberty 1968) |
![[alt]](images/pod/tvradio.jpg) |
Shout Me Out TV On the Radio
Dear Science (4AD 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/gcampmeet.jpg) |
These Days Glen Campbell
Meet Glen Campbell (EMI 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/ridenowhere.jpg) |
Vapour Trail Ride
Nowhere (Creation 1990) |
![[alt]](images/pod/gene.jpg) |
Fighting Fit Gene
Drawn to the Deep End (Polydor 1997) |
![[alt]](images/pod/kanye_dropout.jpg) |
All Falls Down Kanye West
The College Dropout (Mercury 2004) |
![[alt]](images/pod/pavement_wowee.jpg) |
Flux-Rad
Pavement
Wowee Zowee (WB 1995) |
![[alt]](images/pod/modestmousenews.jpg) |
Bury Me With it
Modest Mouse
Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic 2004) |
![[alt]](images/pod/sebtellier_universe.jpg) |
La Ritournelle Sebastian Tellier
Universe (Lucky Number 2006) |
![[alt]](images/pod/basquiat.jpg) |
How do Birds Hear Music Basquiat Strings
Basquiat Strings (F-Ire 2007) |
![[alt]](images/pod/wildbeasts.jpg) |
Old Dog Wild Beasts
Limbo Panto (Domino 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/nico_marble_index.jpg) |
No One is There
Nico
The Marble Index (Elektra 1970) |
![[alt]](images/pod/rforster_evangelist.jpg) |
Did She Overtake You Robert Forster
The Evangelist (tag05 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/callahan_eagle.jpg) |
Faith/Void Bill Callahan
Sometimes I wish we were an eagle (Drag City 2009) |
![[alt]](images/pod/roxystranded.jpg) |
Street Life Roxy Music
Stranded (Island 1973) |
![[alt]](images/pod/breath.jpg) |
The Bride Chris McGregror's Brotherhood of Breath
Chris McGregror's Brotherhood of Breath (RCA 1970) |
![[alt]](images/pod/mazzystarfade.jpg) |
Fade Into You Mazzy Star
So That Tonight i Might See (Capitol 1993) |
![[alt]](images/pod/deerhoof-om.jpg) |
Offend Maggie Deerhoof
Offend Maggie (Kill Rock Stars 2008) |
![[alt]](images/pod/grizbear.jpg) |
Two Weeks Grizzly Bear
Veckatimest (Warp 2009) |
![[alt]](images/pod/wicker.jpg) |
Willow's song Magnet
The Wicker Man - The Original Soundtrack Album (Silva Screen, 2005) |
![[alt]](images/pod/django.jpg) | Nuages Django Reinhardt & the Quintent of the Hot Club of France Djangology (Wnts 2002) |
![[alt]](images/pod/dirtyprojectors_bo.jpg) | Two Doves Dirty Projectors Bitte Orca (Domino 2009) |
![[alt]](images/pod/rhavensgblinddegree.jpg) | What About me Richie Havens The Great Blind Degree (Polydor 1971) |
![[alt]](images/pod/jlewis.jpg) |
Whistle Past the Graveyard
Jeffrey Lewis
Em Are I (Rough Trade 2009) |
![[alt]](images/pod/shackmilesgil.jpg) | Shelley Brown Shack The Corner of Miles and Gil (Sour Mash 2006) |
![[alt]](images/pod/zombi.jpg) | Zombi (Theme from "Dawn of the Dead") Goblin Dawn of the Dead - Soundtrack (Cinevox 2005) |
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Bluish
Animal Collective
Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino 2009) |
![[alt]](images/pod/midlakevanocc.jpg) | Young Bride Midlake The Trials of Van Occupanther (Bella Union 2006) |
![[alt]](images/pod/felakuti.jpg) | Water No Get Enemy Fela Kuti Anthology 2 (Wrasse 2007) |
 | Ed is a Portal Akron/Family Love is Simple (Young God 2007) |
 | Breadcrumb Trail Slint Spiderland (Touch & Go 1991) |
 | Final Taxi Wreckless Eric Big Smash (Stiff 1979) |
 | Once Upon The Seas Of Abyssinia T-Rex Best of T Rex(Universal 2000) |
 | Let Those Blue Skies Gorky's Zygotic Mynci How I Long to Feel That Summer(Mantra 2001) |
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