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What Have We Done (LP)
Dillon & Batsauce
Dillon & Batsauce deliver another healthy offering of traditional jazzy hip hop loaded with character and eccentric personal touches. Batsauce's beats have that special lo-fi charm that come from a true love of crate-digging, while Dillon's humorous bars cover plenty of fun topics, including hooping with Isiah Thomas. Pretty much anything Batsauce-related is an instant recommendation from me, so please support these two on their album so that Dillon doesn't have to spend the rest of eternity in a purgatory surrounded by wack rappers.
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North American Adonis (LP)
Buck 65, Doseone & Jel
The fact that this project has finally seen the light of day is beyond exciting, and I am super stoked to be able to stock a limited quantity of the LP pressing at Amoeba Berkeley. Buck 65 and Doseone trade bars back and forth with a hunger and passion that's like traveling back in time to an earlier era of abstract indie rap. Jel's beats are super raw throughout, with gritty samples and drums that knock with reckless abandon. Three top talents of the game, operating in top form. Get yours before they're gone and going for money on the internet.
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BLIP (LP)
NAHreally & The Expert
The Expert has been on a very strong run of collaborative LPs with different MCs over the last few years, and continues delivering the goods with this latest offering with New Jersey rapper NAHreally. This album pairs The Expert's sample-heavy psych production with NAHreally's clever conceptual lyrics and witty observations of society. Highlights include "Rapper Hands", which highlights the various ways that rappers use their hands when they rap, and "Movement & Light", where NAHreally and Hemlock Ernst imbue inanimate objects with a variety of emotions. Exceptional production throughout as always from The Expert, and a great project all around.
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The Wound Is Not the Body (LP)
B. Dolan
A very solid offering of new tunes from Rhode Island rapper and Sage Francis affiliate B. Dolan. This is Dolan's first album since he was hit with serious health issues and underwent spine surgery during the pandemic, and you can tell that he put his all into the writing and music on this project. Ant, Small Professor, Widowmaker, HEBL and B. Dolan himself provide some great production, but it's Dolan's thoughtful bars and distinctive voice that really tie this album together. The song "The Last Temptation of Wile E. Coyote" hit me in a way that few cuts from 2024 have, using cartoon imagery to describe different people who are stuck in cycles of self-abuse. What really struck me about this song is that rather than throwing these people under the bus for their abhorrent behavior, Dolan offers a different empathetic take through his Wile E. Coyote metaphor, with each person being a genius in their own right but losing out as they pursue and invest in the wrong things. This LP is worth the price of admission for this song alone, but there are plenty of other great creative tracks on here. Hats off to you Dolan.
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The Chalice and the Blade (LP)
Yungmorpheus & Real Bad Man
Yungmorpheus has been earning himself a pretty consistent spot in my Music We Like reviews with his streak of solid albums, and this new collaborative project with producer Real Bad Man is another notch in his belt. Yungmorpheus kicks blunted bars with an air of culture and sophistication over Real Bad Man's synth-y soulful production. Boldy James, Blu, Kool Keith, Theravada and Fatboi Sharif drop by for some ill guest verses. No complaints here, just another casual killer album from Yungmorph in the tuck.
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Butcher Baker Nightmare Maker
One of my favorite underrated 80's horror gems gets the deluxe 4K treatment that it rightfully deserves from Severin Films. Featuring an absolutely batshit crazy performance from Susan Tyrrell, who should have gained more horror recognition for her psycho role in this, this movie is fun and engaging from beginning to end. It also can be interpreted as an early gay rights film, with a homophobic bigot antagonist and a lot of likeable homosexual characters trying to make things right. A great 4K restoration that's essential watching for any 80's horror or grindhouse movie fan.
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Nightmare Beach
Do we really need an upgraded edition of this obscure Umberto Lenzi Spring Break slasher movie? The answer is a definitive YES! This a very underrated Florida-lensed Italian slasher flick that is a super fun time for any genre film enthusiast who doesn't mind a bit of schlock in their movie diet. Featuring the great John Saxon and Michael Parks, who are both there to collect paychecks, this ridiculous horror film also features an electric chair motorbike and a soundtrack that's so 80's it hurts. Love to see gems like this get some 4K respect.
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Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill (LP)
Donald Byrd
Finally! Super nice reissues of his early albums on Transitions Records. Crucial Byrd!
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Ska Shots (LP)
Skatalites et al.
More selections from the obscure yet amazing Top Deck label. One of the best and most underrated.
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Brooklyn Sounds (LP)
Brooklyn Sounds
Reissue of bad-ass and impossible to find Salsa dura album from the late 60's.
For fans of early Willie Colon. Let's hope they also reissue the follow-up album!
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Meditation in Dub (LP)
The Revolutionaries
Reissue of impossible to find late 70's album. Originals set you back three figures all day.
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Byrd's Eye View (LP)
Donald Byrd
Some of the most melodic soloistic ideas, mature as well as fun and child like blues. All around killer line up of musicians.
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Remembrance (CD)
Chick Corea and Bela Fleck
Extremely interesting concept that was done well by the greats.
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Civil War (BLU)
Alex Garland
Another home run from one of my favorite current filmmakers. Kirsten Dunst is magnificent, I love the minimal soundtrack, and the cinematography is breathtaking. A must see!
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