.:.impossible

You should be able to find a copy cheap!

Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) GZA Liquid Swords Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Ghostface Ironman Method Man is always better on other people's albums, but Tical is good. I think most of these are available at yourmusic.com actually. Really, that first round of albums from everyone is great. This is the starting point, and the two releases by Ghostface this year are up there for sure. I haven't been a fan of RZA's own albums, but others may recommend them. RZA has also produced other 'wu families', but this is the source. While you're ordering hip hop, make sure you have a copy of Eric B & Rakim's Don't Sweat The Technique -and- Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em. Amazing.

So there's a Blue Note Finland? I had no idea. Swinger, if you can help me track down more of Pyysalo's music, I'd be grateful. Thanks!

Thanks! I tried to order the disc, but the site is not accepting my card for whatever reason... more proof that Finnish music isn't easy to come by! Damn.

Session in April, disc out in late summer, hopefully. I would like to include a DVD of some concert footage, maybe some studio stuff as well, but we'll see. It seems we're perpetually in debt and adding a DVD is just another couple thousand in the hole. Looking forward to it, whatever you decide to release!

Man, this is one of my points in the 21st thread...

Try searching for "Charlie Brown Christmas" or "White Dolphin Extinct".

What have you heard about this year's Sparklehorse? I haven't heard much surprisingly. Did you know he is recording something with Danger Mouse? Should be interesting, if nothing else. He performed with Christian Fennesz, now he's working with Danger Mouse. He's everywhere.

Damn, and here I was thinking how I liked the cover. I think it captures a certain spirituality. Design is so subjective... I had the opposite reaction from y'all!

Belle And Sebastian has a long line of good albums. I pull them out from time to time. I haven't heard the latest yet. I pick up their albums in the bins when I'm in the mood. Thanks for the recommendation.

Is anyone here familiar with Finnish vibist Severy Pyysalo? My brother gave me a disc of duets with Anders Jormin for my birthday this year. I don't know if I've mentioned it here or not. Highly recommended for those inclined. I just found a write-up at All About Jazz. Click here. Beautiful intrinsic music from two obviously well-studied musicians. This is fast becoming one of my most listened albums. Also released in 2006. I guess it would make two lists for me this year. Easily the most accomplished vibraphone playing I've heard in this four-mallet style. I try to check out as many vibists as I can, even if they aren't necessarily playing in a style that I am interested in. This guy has such a sound. Peaceful, natural, he makes the complex sound so simple. I've been very inspired by his sticking techniques and hear him combining techniques that I haven't heard elsewhere. But it sounds so natural. He doesn't sound like he's recording to wow anyone, which seems to be the case with a lot of tuned percussion. Anyone familiar with Pyysalo, I'd love to get your recommendations for more music, and where to find it! Finnish music isn't easy to come by.

Yeah, I want to check out that Willie. The songs I have heard on the radio are nice. Also want to check out that TV On The Radio... I wasn't a fan of the last one (felt like they were trying to combine too many ingredients if that makes sense), but I've heard good things about the latest. Then again, I heard good things about the last one too... what do you think?

Good news! Early Spring? Late Spring? Fall?

Wow. I'd have never expected to see something like this.

I also liked that Extra Golden album OK-Oyot. Extra Golden is an international collaboration between members of two bands: Otieno Jagwasi and Onyango Wuod Omari of the Nairobi, Kenya based benga band Orchestra Extra Solar Africa, and Ian Eagleson and Alex Minoff of the Washington D.C. based rock band Golden. The musicians met as a result of Ian’s doctoral research on Kenyan music. Danielson | Ships was fun. and what I've heard from the upcoming Deerhoof album sounds great, as always! Think About Life s/t is also good.

Yet I see drivers watching them up and down I-95 all the time. Crazy.

Update?

Up, because I live on the Southeastern seaboard now and would love to live vicariously through anyone who's taking advantage of an early season. I'm scheming on an early-Spring trip. We'll see what happens. I have to fly anywhere at this point. NC just ain't worth it to me. The lines are longer than the runs here.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

So, the rest of my family swears by Sweet 'n Low. This is my Grandfather's recipe. They all mix the drink just like that. I just can't deal with the taste of Sweet 'n Low, except in sweet tea. I went to sugar this year... big deal. It doesn't dissolve the way Sweet 'n Low dissolves, but I think it makes the drink so much better. Sorry Satch... I'm going back to azucar.

Absolutely. To me, this is implied. Now, what musicians do you feel are sincerely doing that today? I personally don't think the future of jazz is going to be a fusion with house music (which should be dead by now anyway... the drugs have changed) or other pop elements. Didn't house music try to bring in jazz influences in the early-nineties anyway? I don't really try to understand what the future of jazz is going to be, and I don't understand why people continue to try to assimilate this music within other musics, as if it doesn't have enough to stand on its own. Mitch had an opinion.

I've been listening to Skip James and Elizabeth Cotten this year, so what do I know about 2006.

I think the Beck album sounds like more of the same, almost like he is now parodying himself, as he has done with so many other artists. I liked Sea Change and hoped that he had grown up for good. The production on the new album is the only saving grace, but the material overall lacks the progress that I expected to hear. Red Hot Chili Peppers? What? Come on. Really? Oh well. As far as hip-hop goes, how could you leave Ghostface's two releases off the list. J Dilla? I liked the new Califone album, though not as much as previous albums. Got to see them play twice though, which was fantastic. I liked the Yo La Tengo album. Nothing new really, but I like the band. I have to put my brother's band's release on the list, even though it isn't on anybody's radar: ilad the spoon. I know there are people on this board who would appreciate the music. I like the Tortoise 3CD. I know they aren't too popular around here, but that's not going to stop me from enjoying the music. No cool contest here. I don't know. These are off the top of my head based on your list. I'm not very good at this because I never know if any album came out in 2004, 2005, 2006, etc. I get to it when I get to it. I did think that Gnarls Barkley came out last year though. Didn't it? Rather Ripped? I like it more and more. I think it is funny that people write off a band like Sonic Youth and they continue to make records 15 years later. I dunno...

Yes. I'm with you, but is there really doom and gloom, or is that just a longing for something that most of us never lived through, or will never again live through? It seems that there was so much progress over such a short period of time (decades). How long can a rate of discovery and change continue in any field? What I still don't get is that we all (I think) realize that the rate of discovery and change has levelled off (for now), yet there are hundreds of small record labels releasing jazz record after jazz record. We've got guys recording albums at a rate that not even there heroes recorded. Certainly they aren't trying to imply that they have more to say than their heroes did, are they? I get this feeling that there were more jazz records released in 2006 than there were in 1966. It makes no sense to me. I don't know if it is true, but it certainly feels that way. I'm having trouble putting my thoughts together. I love the music.

p.s. I think people are inherently interesting.