Tuesday Stroll

The Elite Five

2. Madlib: Vol 3-4 In India

This is being released under the 'Beat Konducta' moniker, but make no mistake, this album is all Madlib. Most indie hip-hop heads pay enough reverence to Madlib, but there are still a lot of kids out there who don't heed respect to the guy. This album is an instrumental and from the tracks that have been posted on 'lib's myspace, it will be a sweet album for freestyling. As the name suggests, there are a lot of samples that are India-inspired. If Madvillany caught your throat, this one should be sure to please.

3. Honorary Title: Scream and Light up the Sky

I heard these guys a few years back when they put out Anything Else but the Truth. They have that typical Doghouse records feel to them, where their music is bordering along the 'emo' genre but there are some very strong and smart elements that keep it outside of the stereotype. But really, who knows what this one is going to be like. You will, if you buy it... so please do.

4. Ben Harper: Lifeline

It really pained me that There Will be a Light and Both Sides of the Gun didn't do very well commercially. I remember sitting at the record store that I used to work for and watching those albums not fly off the shelves. It just reminds me of the sad, common condition that the music industry is in when a genuinely talented musician, who really has a handle of his craft, isn't held in as much esteem as A.F.I. or James Blunt.

5. New Buffalo: Somewhere, Anywhere

I never really gave The Last Beautiful Day much of a chance when it was released in Canada on Arts & Crafts. It kind of bugged me that A&C served Canadian music so well and then started releasing stuff from international artists. Actually it sort of offended me in some weird, pseudopatriotic way. But I don't really see anything about New Buffalo that I would outright dislike. Maybe you aren't as stubborn as I and can get some enjoyment out of the album. Plus the singer kinda looks like Emily Haines, so there you go.

Remember Me?

6. Kalan Porter: Wake Up Living

What more can be said really...

7. Collective Soul: Afterwords

Although they did release something back in '04, Collective Soul have really been off the radar since they put out 2000's Blender, arguably even before then. Something tells me that this one isn't going to give them the same attention they got back in the 90's, and that's kinda sad.

Not My Bag - Maybe Yours?

8. Super Furry Animals: Hey Venus!

Something about Super Furry Animals really bugs me. Maybe it's how the NME used to tote them around all the time. Maybe it's because I just really don't like a lot of artists from the UK. For those who DO like the Super Furry Animals, then yeah, this album's coming out too.

9. Northern State: Can I Keep This Pen?

I don't know how I really feel about Northern State, the tri-fem hip hop act. They're now on Mike Patton's Ipecac label, which kinda seems weird seeing as its Mike fucking Patton. Adrock has done some production on this album and seeing how The Mix Up -- the Beastie Boy's latest, instrumental, album -- was so sweet, I'm sure the beats on this album will be good, I'm just not sure I'm too down with the girls