Author Archives: John Rieger

DJ Assault: Off the Chain for the Y2K

DJ Assault, aka Craig Adams, is the Ayatollah of "Ghetto Tech", the Motor City club sound that marries the turntablist’s art with lyrics at the frontier of raunch. With its whacky chipmunk voices chanting x-rated lyrics at break-neck tempos, the … Continue reading

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Arturo Sandoval: For Love or Country, the Arturo Sandoval Story

Virtuoso Cuban Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval has another achievement to add to his Grammy-winning jazz albums and his stints with great symphony orchestras: a soundtrack album from the HBO movie of his own life. The subject of this Tom Sawyer-esque tribute … Continue reading

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Red Snapper: Our Aim Is to Satisfy Red Snapper

London’s Red Snapper is no stranger to modern studio tricks, but what sets this CD apart from the dance/electronic herd is the solid playing of Richard Thair on drums, David Ayers on guitar, and Ali Friend on acoustic double bass. … Continue reading

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Plena Libre: Mas Libre

Since 1994, Gary Nuñez and Plena Libre have almost single-handedly rescued Puerto Rico’s national rhythm, Plena, from obscurity and placed it solidly on the Latin charts. The tight, thirteen-piece orchestra’s eighth release, “Mas Libre”, deftly transforms this once-rural folk form … Continue reading

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Alf Clausen: Go Simpsonic with the Simpsons

In two collections of music from “The Simpsons”, “Songs in the Key of Springfield” and “Go Simpsonic with the Simpsons”, music director Alf Clausen gives a master class in composing for television. An admirer of Nelson Riddle and Henry Mancini, … Continue reading

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Broadcast: Extended Play Two

This Birmingham, U.K., foursome combine pop sensibilities with experimental oddities to produce dreamy, thoughtful music. Their new, five-song EP was recorded in their small home studio (in the bedroom), but is by no means lo-fi. Released: 9/19/2000 Label: Tommy Boy … Continue reading

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The Pharcyde: Plain Rap

The Pharcyde’s eccentric 1992 debut album changed the pattern of West Coast Hip-Hop, and helped hoist L.A. out of what one critic called “its bullets and bitches pigeon hole”. “Plain Rap”, The Pharcyde’s third CD after a five year silence … Continue reading

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Juno Reactor: Shango

Juno Reactor’s Ben Watkins is a musical world traveler. He’s camped in the middle of the Namibian desert to study the music of the Bushmen. On Shango, named for the Nigerian god of thunder, he blends the tribal evocations of … Continue reading

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Photek: Solaris

Rupert Parkes, better known as Photek, has been a dominant figure in Drum and Bass, but his latest effort, “Solaris”, is a departure. He explores other textures and tempos, from ethereal sonic washes to the distinctive “house” vocals of Robert … Continue reading

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Black Eyed Peas: Bridging the Gap

Known for their extravagant live shows, featuring break dancing and live musicians, the Black Eyed Peas paint hip-hop culture with a broad palette. Taboo is Native American and Hispanic, apl.de.ap hails from the Philippines, and will.i.am is from East L.A. … Continue reading

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