Our new INDY CD choices

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SERART on Serjical Strike/Columbia - it's definitely a love or hate situation with this - I have not seen a project that has created so much conversation in a very long time. Don't be shy....check it out! If you can't find anything to program.....give to to your World Music programmer and THEY will!!! Serart (Bonus Dvd) ALSO....check out the DVD included in with the CD...very cool!

MORLENBAUM2 W/RYUICHI SAKAMOTO "A Day In New York" Sony Classical - B00006FIBOthis is "Holy Cow" stuff.....better than "Casa" in many opinions.....special CD coming soon!

KEIKO MATSUI "The Piano" Shout! Factory - Keiko at her very best...... Piano

DAVID ARKENSTONE "Spirit of Ireland" Greenhill - a complete "no - brainer!" Spirit of Ireland

RANDY ARMSTRONG "No Regrets" Domo - WONDERFUL CD all the way through - so many great tracks to choose from! No Regrets

DAVID LYNDON HUFF "WorldBeat Africa" Greenhill - David is always good...this is no exception! Worldbeat Africa

LISA LYNNE "Hopes and Dreams" New Earth - ok, you already know how I feel about this release and Lisa....she's the BEST! Hopes & Dreams

CHUCK BARRIS "Confessions of a Dangerous Singer" Domo - just to put a smile on your face! Confessions of a Dangerous Singer

"Ten"
10...Available here.
Kate Rusby
A celebration of Kate Rusby's tenth anniversary as a performer. Feature rare recordings, live tracks, and illuminating, newly-recorded versions of audience favorites. Kate Rusby's fragile, haunting voice and her delicate acoustic arrangements of traditional tunes and orginal songwriting skills are delightful on the cd "10". Rusby's subtle magic comes through again. If you haven'it heard her then discover one of the finest voices in British folk music...on 10... Audio CD released January 7, 2003 onCompass Records. Track Listings:
1. The Recruited Collier 2. I Wish 3. Over You Now 4. The Sleepless Sailor
5. The Fairest of All Yarrow 6. I Wonder What is Keeping My True Love
7. Sweet Bride 8. The Maid of Llanwellyn 9. The Wild Goose
10. Sir Eglamore 11. Night Visiting Song 12. Cowsong
13. Botany Bay 14. Drowned Lovers 15. Bold Riley
She's still only 20-something, but Kate can't be described as a rising star any more. Not when she's had two albums Hourglass and Sleepless selling like Yorkshire puddings. Not when she's been played on mainstream radio and established an ardent following among people who'd previously sworn blind they hated folk music. Not when she's had everyone from Bonnie Raitt and Richard Thompson to Andy Kershaw and Jo Whiley singing her praises.

"Downhome Sophisticate" Corey Harris Our price: $13.49 | You save: $4.49
...available here.
Corey Harris refuses to let the blues turn into a compost heap of recycled classics, preferring to experiment and invent new approaches and hybrids that will expand and enliven the genre. "Downhome Sophisticate"'s mingling of African roots music, psychedelic rock guitar, hip-hop, and samba with traditional Delta blues offers exciting, adventurous listening, despite a couple of tracks that don't succeed fully. It's perfect for dads who love cool music and it's just one of many great titles in our Father's Day Store.

Find the perfect CD for Dad in our Father's Day Gifts Store
...available here.


"Fantastic Damage" El-P Our price: $13.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
Eminem notwithstanding, El-P is one of the few Caucasian emcees that have had an appreciable popular impact. The beats are grimy (peep "Dr. Hellno and the Praying Mantus") and the lyrics dark and disturbing (on "Stepfather Factory," El-P pens autobiographical sci-fi rhymes about abusive stepfathers). The Def Jux apocalypse is now.

"Concrete Love" Julia Fordham Our price: $13.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
Julia Fordham's lovely, diverse new album "Concrete Love," which features guest stars India Arie and John Henry, proves that this jazzy folk-pop singer-songwriter is truly a breed apart. It's not released until June 18, but pre-order "Concrete Love" today and you'll get free, instant access to a digital stream of the entire album.

"Krishna Lila" DJ Cheb I Sabbah Our price: $13.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
The new DJ Cheb i Sabbah CD, "Krishna Lila," travels deep into the realms of traditional and sacred Indian sounds. It's one of those rare albums that melds Western dance music with Far Eastern musical traditions without being cheesy or pedantic.

"Finally We Are No One" Mum Our price: $13.99 | You save: $1.99
...available here.
Ready for more soaringly brilliant, atypically atmospheric, melodically moody music to float around your apartment to? No, it isn't a new Björk or Sigur Rós album, but the latest by Múm, the electronica/post-rock band who will rule your world entirely once you open yourself to them. "Finally We Are No One" is the kind of record that leaves you longing for shady childhood experiences you never even knew you'd had.

"Wood/Water" Promise Ring Our price: $13.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
Filtering their own brand of emo through a gentler, singer-songwriter haze, the Promise Ring bring a mellower but no less emotional tone to "Wood/Water," the third album from this Milwaukee quartet.

"Every Day" Cinematic Orchestra Our price: $13.99 | You save: $1.99
...available here.
"Every Day," the second album from the Cinematic Orchestra, is thankfully more of the same dark jazz and downbeat loops that made their debut such a hit with the critics two years ago. Plus, it features guest spots from soul diva Fontella "Rescue Me" Bass and agile U.K. rapper Roots Manuva.

"Astral Weeks" Van Morrison Our price: $8.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
While Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks," the breathtaking jazz-folk album from 1968, is by no stretch of the imagination an "indie" album, it is arguably the best album ever made, period. And it's currently on sale, so do yourself a favor and buy an extra copy to give to a friend who's never experienced its lyrical, spontaneous splendor. It's just one of the many great titles in our Summer Savings at $8.99 Sale.
Save on great products from top brands during our Memorial Day Sale, along with everyday savings on books, music, DVDs, and videos perfect for summer.
...available here.


"Storytelling [SOUNDTRACK]" Belle & Sebastian Our price: $12.99 | You save: $0.99
...available here.
Plenty of bands have written scores to imaginary movies. Belle and Sebastian, however, have composed an imaginary soundtrack to an existing movie; only six minutes of this music was actually used in the film, and much of it was completed after the film was released. The weird thing is, it all fits together rather nicely, as "Storytelling" is a more consistent beast than their last couple albums. Amidst the lilting instrumentals and snatches of dialogue from Solondz's fine movie, there are a clutch of quietly impressive songs. "Black and White Unite" continues Stuart Murdoch's artful reorganization of the legacies of Love and Simon & Garfunkel, while on "I Don't Want to Play Football" he chooses to stereotype himself further as the sickly child always picked last at games.

"I, John" John Forte Our price: $14.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
Former Fugees affiliate John Forté (recently sentenced to 14 years in prison) wrote the music for "I, John" in a cathartic burst of introspection during the brief period of time between his indictment and trial. Forté plays violin and keyboards, and even programs some great reggae, funk, and jazz beats, while Tricky, Esthero, and Carly Simon's contributions make this thoughtful, lushly melodic collection beyond eclectic.

"Fields & Streams" Various Artists Our price: $14.99 | You save: $1.99
...available here.
"Fields & Streams" is another adventurous compilation from Olympia, Washington's infamous indie label Kill Rock Stars. True to KRS style, most of the 45 previously unreleased songs come from female-driven bands. Divided into two CDs--the "fields" part and the "streams" part--the bands vary from unpolluted stalwarts (Mecca Normal, Quasi, Butchies) to current crit faves (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erase Errata) to tomorrow's darlings (ooh, the suspense). Clocking in at over 150 minutes, the topography of "Fields & Streams" is varied, but if you've been paying attention to Kill Rock Stars (or independent music in general) for the past two or three years, you're more than likely familiar with the genre-bending sounds that fill this collection.

"Blazing Arrow" Blackalicious Our price: $11.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
Don't skip out on rap's most underrated duo (Gab, Xcel), as guest producers ?uestlove of the Roots, Cut Chemist of Jurassic 5, and DJ Hi-Tek spice things up. The guest vocal appearances are even more impressive (Ben Harper, Dilated Peoples, Saul Williams, former Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach de la Rocha), but what do you expect from a group who featured spoken-word luminary Nikki Giovanni on their last set?

"The Naked Dutch Painter and Other Songs" Stew Our price: $13.28 | You save: $0.70
...available here.
Stew fronts the Negro Problem, a singular musical entity on the indie-pop landscape, and his second solo effort, "The Naked Dutch Painter," is extraordinary. Stew creates 21st-century cabaret that's influenced by Kurt Weill and others yet doesn't deny the historical existence of rock, punk, and R&B. A wonderful vocalist who interprets the words he's singing just like a "real" cabaret performer, he's masterful at giving voice and edge to his own excellent tunes. Did we mention that the album's pop-rock songs are also awesome? And that Stew's jokes on the live tracks are really funny? It's true.

"Alice" Tom Waits Our price: $12.99 | You save: $4.99
...available here.
Leave it to the idiosyncratic singer-songwriter Tom Waits--who, let's face it, is every bit as nutty, possessed of genius, and into doing things his own way as Prince--to put out two albums on the same day after not having released any new music in three years. Taken together, the lovely, Tin Pan Alley-ish "Alice" and the bluesy, percussive "Blood Money" mark a return to Waits at his best. He hasn't sounded this great since his mid-'80s heyday; these albums are cause for celebration among longtime fans and an excellent introduction for the neophyte.

"Loveless" My Bloody Valentine Our price: $8.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
In 1991, My Bloody Valentine unleashed the shimmering, electric-guitar-driven "Loveless," a warm, sonically adventurous album dripping with sexual energy that still sounds way ahead of its time today. It's just one of the many great alternative rock titles in our Classic Hits Sale.

Save on almost 500 titles starting at $7.99 in our Classic Hits Sale!
...available here.
Save up to 30% in our special Spring into Savings Store, plus find all you need for Easter. And don't miss our free Super Saver Shipping offer on orders of $99 or more (some restrictions apply).
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NEW

"Geogaddi" Boards of Canada Our price: $13.99 | You save: $4.99
...available here.
Boards of Canada's sophomore album, "Geogaddi," is finally here, and this spacey, submerged, thoroughly lovely album was well worth the wait. This is warm, brilliant, and somnambulant electronic psychedelia that will undoubtedly grace many music fans' top 10 lists for 2002. It's absolutely essential listening.

"James Scott: The Complete Works 1903-1922" Guido Nielsen Our price: $22.78 | You save: $1.20
...available here.
It's springtime; add a lilt to your step with the addictively melodic, intricate ragtime tunes of neglected composer James Scott. The Basta label delivers another beautifully packaged, great-sounding work with this double-disc set of Scott's complete oeuvre, deftly played by the acclaimed pianist Guido Nielsen.

"Executioner's Last Songs" Pine Valley Cosmonauts Our price: $13.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
Now here's a rarity: "Executioner's Last Songs," a benefit compilation record for a righteous cause that's as together musically as otherwise. Better yet, this collection actually has a sense of humor, as the finest alt-country singers join Mekons founder Jon Langford's Pine Valley Cosmonauts to belt out gruesome traditional murder ballads in support of the anti-death-penalty cause.

"Definitive Jux Presents II" Various Artists Our price: $14.49 | You save: $1.49
...available here.
"Definitive Jux Presents II" lures us in with "Dead Pan" (some new Aesop Rock abracadabra) and "Stepfather Factory," where producer/label-owner/rapper El-P steps away from the mixing board to deliver one of the most devastating hip-hop tracks of 2002. It's this song, along with RJD2's "I Really Like Your Def Jux Baby Tee" (a brilliant instrumental destined to make DJ Shadow miscue with envy) that makes "DJXPII" worth its asking price.

"Global" Carl Cox Our price: $14.99 | You save: $2.99
...available here.
Carl Cox adds to his own legend with his latest release, "Global," a no-frills mix that strings together only the juiciest bits from artists like Lovesky and New York DJ Angel Moraes. As if that isn't enough, we've also got an amazing sample of Cox's legendary skills on our Digital Downloads page, where you'll find an extended mix of "Put Your Hands Up," available free from your friends at Amazon.com.

* Read more about Carl Cox's "Global"
...available here.
* Download Carl Cox's "Put Your Hands Up"
...available here.
* Check out our interview with Carl Cox
...available here.
"In the Light of the Sun" Bellrays Our price: $14.99 | You save: $1.99
...available here.
Originally self-released on cassette by the Los Angeles-based soul-punk pioneers, this debut album is a real treat. Like all Bellrays albums, "In the Light of the Sun" revolves around the prodigious vocal chops of Lisa Kekaula, the former jazz singer whose intense gospel-soul delivery is expertly matched by the band's riotous, guitar-driven delivery.

"Walking With Thee" Clinic Our price: $13.99 | You save: $3.99
...available here.
Do us a favor: give the new Clinic record a few spins before you judge it, OK? 'Cause while "Walking with Thee"'s repetitive, spooky charms are not as immediately apparent as those of their EP collection and first album, with "Thee" Clinic truly come into their own. They're now poised to become as important and inventive as the bands they so readily--and excellently--crib from (Suicide, Velvets, New Order, Can, Augustus Pablo, Neu!, et al.).

"Lazy Dog, Volume 2" Ben Watt Our price: $20.88 | You save: $1.10
...available here.
Everything but the Girl's Ben Watt and his Lazy Dog partner Jay Hannan created quite a stir with their first release in 2000 (which by the way topped our Best Dance of 2000 list); now they're back with "Lazy Dog, Vol. 2." It's another glorious piece of deep, deep house, filled with an easy charm and a seriously rump-shakin' ambience.

"Loud" Timo Maas Our price: $13.28 | You save: $0.70
...available here.
Timo Maas looks to broaden his audience with "Loud." He puts his production skills to work on a set of songs rather than a straight mix, making for an ambitious creative challenge. Not that the record doesn't move; with vocalists MC Chickaboo and Finley Quaye, as well as Martin Bettinghaus on the darkly disco "That's How I've Been Dancin'," Maas still finds time to throw down the thumps that made "Music for the Maases" such a blast. Maas tweaks the formula just enough to pull in the mainstream while showing he's got more up his sleeve than giant beats.

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