The Atlantic Manor "The World Beneath this World is Brightening - Nine Songs"

(Do Too) I generally prefer fast to slow, loud to quiet, and gut feeling to thinking, but I have loved every slow, quiet, introspective, moody Atlantic Manor release ever, mainly becuase he manages to make low key, sad, outsider folk music that doesn't sound like anybody else's stuff. In the past I've compared him to Jandek, and the cover art and d.i.y. and mystery aspects of this one go along with that (as well as a few of the resonating bent notes here and there). But to be fair, Atlantic Manor is outsider only in the sense that he doesn't seem to be interested in playing the music biz game, not because his skillset is off kilter or "challenged" the way some of the weirder Jandek stuff is. This dude knows exactly what he's doing.

Teraform "Temporal Junk"

(Karamazov) When I get this feeling I need sax-ual squealing! Art noise angle rock jazz that made me terrawarm for their terraform!

No Mor Musik

(UgExplode) Feral free metal that eats your carcass from the inside. Fluctuates between the kind of minimalism you could mistake for an insect buzzing near your ear and the the kind of abject improvisational excessive fury that can kill its enemies with sound. Despite the artists (Nondor Navai, WWeasel Walter, Maslak) literally screaming on the disc about hating "conceptual bullshit" this record elevates conceptual bullshit to a new consciousness, or non-consciousness, where human instrumentalists somehow become possessed by rabid canine souls and play on despite the limited dexterity of blood and mouth-foam encrusted paws...or perhaps because of it. Mor please!

The Lou Grassi Band with Marshall Allen "Live at the Knitting Factory Volume 1"

(Porter) Grassi's is an earthly drummer, his hypnotizing beats seemingly emanating from a rainforest or jungle somewhere, where they lead an ancient civilization of jazz aborigines on a mission that will either be completed when they dress a giraffe carcass or when they score a Jim Jarmusch film. Marshall Allen is from outer space, his sax and flute sending signals to his interstellar armada telling them to conquer earth, but leave Manhattan alone until we finish this hot set. Put earth and space together and what do you get? Atmosphere!

Ari Shine "Ghost Town Directory"

(Beverly Martel) He's called Shine cuz he's so polished and slick! He's called Ari because...we'll maybe he's Jewish, I dunno. But I know what we should all call him...your next Canadian Idol!

David Vertesi "Cardiography"

(www.davidvertesi.coml) Should change his name to David VartEASY, because put this on the hi fi and you'll have your date in the sack before the sexy ghost song comes on (about the 24-minute mark, if you're trying to time your Viagra dose).

Weasel Walter-Mary Halvorson-Peter Evans "Electric Fruit"

(Thirsty Ear) Weasel Walter's drumming, whether he's wearing his hat as a practitioner of jazz, rock, black metal, no-wave, art, or noise, always takes the listener on a remarkable journey...down a flight of stairs. WW's remarkable audio simulation of a genius stickman taking an lengthy, rolling, tumble is so remarkable his fans feel the bruises afterward. So add the joyfully inventive blasts of Peter Evan's horn and the confoundingly beautiful mathematics of Mary Halvorson's guitar playing and what do you get? A 55-minute fall UP a flight a stairs! Fruit is good!

the part five "The Tightening"

(Cardboard Sangria) What I can't figure out is what jazzy post-punk pop music has to do with Party of Five? I must have missed that episode. Or been too captivated by Neve Campbell's smile to hear the soundtrack. OK, OK...it was actually Scott Wolf's smile, happy now?

Invisible Hand

(Funny/Not Funny) These hotties should be called Invisible Handsomes!

Slow Burning Car "Vol.2 - The Scattering"

(www.slowburningcar.com) I'd rather hear a Crow Burping Hard. But who wouldn't?