TRACK OF THE DAY - Led Zeppelin

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Various Artists (1998) -The Big Lebowski OST

Artist: various
Album: The Big Lebowski [OST]
Released: 1998
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 118 MB

The soundtrack to The Big Lebowski, the Coen brothers' follow-up to their breakthrough film Fargo, is an odd mixture of opera, world music, pop, jazz, exotica, folk and blues. In other words, it's as idiosyncratic as the Coens themselves, and the weird array of styles makes sense in practice, not on paper. Among the highlights are Elvis Costello's "My Mood Swings," Bob Dylan's "The Man in Me," Nina Simone's "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good," Yma Sumac's "Ataypura," Kenny Rogers' "Just Dropped In," Townes Van Zandt's "Dead Flowers" and Henry Mancini's "Lujon." The collection makes more sense if you've seen the film, but there are enough good songs and quirky humor to make it an enjoyable listen on its own terms. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (2002) -Gospel Train

Artist: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Album: Gospel Train
Released: 2002
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 55 MB

Alongside Willie Mae Ford Smith, Sister Rosetta Tharpe is widely acclaimed among the greatest Sanctified gospel singers of her generation; a flamboyant performer whose music often flirted with the blues and swing, she was also one of the most controversial talents of her day, shocking purists with her leap into the secular market -- by playing nightclubs and theaters, she not only pushed spiritual music into the mainstream, but in the process also helped pioneer the rise of pop-gospel. Tharpe was born March 20, 1915 in Cotton Plant, AR; the daughter of Katie Bell Nubin, a traveling missionary and shouter in the classic gospel tradition known throughout the circuit as "Mother Bell," she was a prodigy, mastering the guitar by the age of six. At the same time, she attended Holiness conventions alongside her mother, performing renditions of songs including "The Day Is Past and Gone" and "I Looked Down the Line."~ read more on allmusic.com

Aga Zaryan (2011) -A Book Of Luminous Things

Artist: Aga Zaryan
Album: A Book Of Luminous Things
Released: 2011
Quality: CBR 256
Size: 94 MB

”Aga Zaryan born January 17, 1976 - is an internationally recognized jazz vocalist of the new generation. Aga conveys the finest of the history of jazz to today's audiences, continuing the traditions of great artists like Shirley Horn, Carmen McRae and Joni Mitchell. She is known for her distinctive style, class and intimate approach to singing, with a characteristic lightness of phrasing and warm, slightly matte-toned voice. Aga Zaryan has been successful in integrating ambitious artistic goals with popular appeal, recording four albums to date, all of which have earned gold, platinum or multi-platinum status in Poland. In 2008 she was honored with the Polish muisic industry's most prestigious prize - The Fryderyk Chopin Award. She was nominated for the title of Woman of The Year 2008 by Gazeta Wyborcza-Wysokie Obcasy, one of Poland's most influential and widely circulated newspapers. Aga was also named Jazz Vocalist of The Year in the European Jazz Forum Magazine's yearly Jazz Top readers' poll in 2007, 2008 and 2009. more info

Seasick Steve (2011) -Walkin' Man (The Best of Seasick Steve)

Artist: Seasick Steve
Album: Walkin’ Man (the Best of Seasick Steve)
Released: 2011
Quality: CBR 320
Size: 194 MB

”Like T-Model Ford, Seasick Steve (aka Steve Wold) began recording his own music much later in life than other musicians. A storytelling singer reviving traditional country blues, Wold spent his childhood in California, but left home at 14. As a hobo, he traveled for several years, jumping trains and working odd jobs. After drifting around the U.S. and Europe, he finally ended up in Norway. Aside from his respectable musical background (which includes recording early Modest Mouse, appearing on BBC television, and playing with John Lee Hooker), Wold is also noted for his unusual custom-made stringed instruments. By the time he was in his sixties, he'd finally released some official material. His first solo album, Doghouse Music, out in late 2006, was performed almost entirely by Wold. Another record, Cheap, was recorded with the Swedish rhythm section the Level Devils. An amorous seven-track Valentine’s Day EP called Songs for Elisabeth (six of the cuts were culled from previous releases) arrived in 2010. With a rustic and at time almost punk blues approach to his material, Wold increasingly merged country blues trance boogie with a street holler voice that makes Tom Waits seem like a mainstream crooner, and the best of his songs carry a hard-earned wisdom that can only come from living on the street one block over from the edge of civility.” ~by Kenyon Hopkin, allmusic.com

Shirley Scott (1991) -Great Scott!

Artist: : Shirley Scott
Album: Great Scott!
Released: 1991
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 124 MB

”An admirer of the seminal Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott has been one of the organ's most appealing representatives since the late '50s. Scott, a very melodic and accessible player, started out on piano and played trumpet in high school before taking up the Hammond B-3 and enjoying national recognition in the late '50s with her superb Prestige dates with tenor sax great Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Especially popular was their 1958 hit "In the Kitchen." Her reputation was cemented during the '60s on several superb, soulful organ/soul-jazz dates where she demonstrated an aggressive, highly rhythmic attack blending intricate bebop harmonies with bluesy melodies and a gospel influence, punctuating everything with great use of the bass pedals. Scott married soul-jazz tenor man Stanley Turrentine, with whom she often recorded in the '60s. The Scott/Turrentine union lasted until the early '70s, and their musical collaborations in the '60s were among the finest in the field. Scott wasn't as visible the following decade, when the popularity of organ combos decreased and labels were more interested in fusion and pop-jazz (though she did record some albums for Chess/Cadet and Strata East). But organists regained their popularity in the late '80s, which found her recording for Muse. Though known primarily for her organ playing, Scott is also a superb pianist -- in the 1990s, she played piano exclusively on some trio recordings for Candid, and embraced the instrument consistently in Philly jazz venues in the early part of the decade. At the end of the '90s, Scott's heart was damaged by the diet drug combination, fen-phen, leading to her declining health. In 2000 she was awarded $8 million in a lawsuit against the manufacturers of the drug. On March 10, 2002 she died of heart failure at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia.”~ by Alex Henderson©

No Blues - 4 albums

Artist: No Blues
Albums: Farewell Salabiye / Ya Dunya + Black Cadillac EP / Lumen / Hela Hela
Released: 2005 / 2007 / 2009 / 2010
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 77 + 110 + 118 + 117 MB

No blues is a unique project which explores the connection between two musical worlds: americana and Arabic music.
Both folk-blues and the Arabic taqsim (the improvised interplay without a fixed rhythm) are exceptionally suited for storytelling; the former in a somewhat rawer way, the latter mostly lyrical and melodic. In the same way as Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie documented their era in the early 20th century with their songs, the instrumentalist is the torchbearer of a centuries-old tradition in the virtually unwritten Arabic music culture. Traditional Arabic music differs from other music cultures in the way in which the music scale is subdivided. Thus the music can adopt forms that are nearly impossible in the western octave system.
In the No blues sessions the musicians soon succeeded in establishing a singular integration of folk-blues and Arabic music. A cross-breeding of Americana and Arabic music, we call Arabicana. Songs about ordinary folks, love and sadness, played and sung in the tradition that is characteristic for folk-blues as well as Arabic traditional music. ©

TRACK OF THE DAY - The Dreadnoughts

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MYSPACE
The Dreadnoughts on ICE-10

The Love Me Nots (2009) -Upsidedown Insideout

Artist: : The Love Me Nots
Album: Upsidedown Insideout
Released: 2009
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 92 MB

”Pop influences creep into singer-keyboardist Nicole Laurenne's songwriting on such tracks as "He's What I Want," "Karen (Get Yourself Out)" and "Train Wreck."
Detroit producer Jim Diamond (White Stripes, Romantics) pushes the band the most on "Fire & Ice," which is full of vibrato guitar, old-school fuzz tone and Question Mark & the Mysterians organ.
Laurenne injects soul and emotion into her vocals on the CD-ending "Undone."
Michael Johnny Walker rages on the guitar, letting things get particularly crazed on the in-your-face "You're Bringing Me Down" and the chugging "Not That Kind of Girl." His work on the slow "Undone" is some of his most passionate.
New drummer Bob Hoag weighs in on three tracks, including the Kinks-infused "The Kinda Love I Got," and bassist Kyle Rose Stokes makes the most of her first shot at recording with the group.
And this band still enjoys throwing down modern garage rock, such as the album-opening "Do What You Do" and "You Don't Know a Thing About Me."”©

The Love Me Nots (2011) -The Demon and the Devotee

Artist: The Love Me Nots
Album: The Demon and the Devotee
Released: 2011
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 86 MB

”In recent years, bands like the White Stripes (RIP) and the Hives have kicked off a revival and reappraisal for sounds born in a garage. The Love Me Nots, who are now on a fourth album with The Demon and the Devotee, are yet another entry into the garage rock revival, though the band’s sound is certainly much more polished and clean than that of many of its brethren. The “High Fidelity Stereo” logo that adorns the top of this disc is no joke. Throughout the course of this album’s 12 songs, singer-organist Nicole Laurenne lets loose her pipes in a giddy Sharon Jones-like imitation, and there’s certainly more hooks and swagger than you can shake a garage opener at.
However, The Demon and the Devotee‘s main flaw is that it is a bit too glossy, which threatens to devolve the entire exercise into 1980’s-style cocky arena rock. The ballad “Trouble” almost sounds like a Tom Petty knockoff. “She’s Nothing Like Me” veers into ‘Til Tuesday territory. However, there are a few standouts. “I’m Gonna Be Your Girl” is a sweaty, invigorating stomper that sounds like it was ripped from the Hives’ songbook. Album closer “The Girl Lights Up” has a Byrds-like jingle jangle to it that is utterly sweet and addictive. Ultimately, The Demon and the Devotee is a bit of a mixed bag, and it would work a lot better if The Love Me Nots exchanged the varnish of production for something a lot more fuzzy and hissing. Still, there’s some quality songwriting here at times, making the album worth checking out for those who like to kick back and listen to honest-to-goodness rock in the carport.” ~ Zachary Houle

Dirty Granny Tales (2008 / 2010) -Inversed World / Didi's Son

Artist: Dirty Granny Tales
Album: Inversed World / Didi’s Son
Released: 2008 / 2010
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 157 + 130 MB

Dirty Granny Tales describe themselves as: “What happens when music brings puppets to life? It’s when the Dirty Granny tells her stories…
This is not the sweet Grandma that will narrate a fairy tale for the children in front of the fireplace. She is not the one to knit a woollen scarf while the kitten cuddles on her feet.
This old woman is dirty, releasing a rotting smell. You can’t define the gaze on her face, because it’s absent, you can’t stand the timbre of her voice because it’s piercing your brain with the strength of a thousand needles.
Her guise is freezing cold, makes you wonder if she belongs to your World. What kind of stories would such a creature chronicle? Not the kind that work as a lullaby… The more repulsive her aura, the more you become bewitched. What is that she is knitting with her nails? Would you dare to try it on?”

Les Mangalepa (2006) -Endurance

Artist: Les Mangalepa
Album: Endurance
Released: 2006
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 120 MB

“Based in Nairobi, Les Mangalepa are sovereigns in their own musical kingdom 'Le Royaume Mangalepa' - which extends far beyond Kenya to encompass Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia and DR Congo (ex-Zaïre).
The story of Les Mangalepa starts in the 1960s when, as members of Baba Gaston’s band in Lubumbashi, they led the migration of musicians out of Zaïre and into Eastern Africa, via Tanzania and on to Nairobi. Striking out on their own, they played their first gig as Les Mangalepa at the Park Inn, Nairobi, in July,1976.
The name was corrupted from the French ‘Marquez le Pas’ meaning 'marching time', in which they parodied the army style, laying down an irresistible beat, which became the stylistic expression for their ever-growing 'marching army' of fans. The songs in this collection are taken from the period when Les Mangelepa were in their full pomp. They conjure memories of a golden period of East African music when the crowds flocked to Uhuru Park, Garden Square, Tents Club and Park Inn. Those coming to the floor for the first time can anticipate a sense of surprise at the joy and vitality of these recordings” ©.

Hillbilly Hellcats (1998/2003) -Our Brand / Rev It Up With Taz

Artist: Hillbilly Hellcats
Album: Our Brand / Rev It Up With Taz
Released: 1998 / 2003
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 122 + 119 MB

The Hillbilly Hellcats play a heavy rockabilly that is analogous to Reverend Horton Heat. Indeed, each of their CDs were recorded with ex-drummer of that group, Taz Bentley. "Road Rage" is a good example of this heavy rockabilly, while "Everybody Was Drinkin' Martinis But Me" shows another side of the group, one that is humorous, strident and classically hillbilly rock. White trash and whiskey themes are the staples to their short but enjoyable compositions. They play original music that is consistently upbeat, true to rockabilly sound ideals and naturally enjoyable. ~ allmusic.com

Andre Williams & The New Orleans Hellhounds (2008) -Can You Deal With It

Artist: : Andre Williams
Album: Can You Deal With it?
Released: 2008
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 80 MB

”In 1998, at the age of 62, Andre Williams launched a new career as the Dirtiest Old Man in Rock & Roll with the gloriously lewd album Silky, and ten years later Williams just keeps getting dirtier, and just as importantly he seems to be having even more fun with it as he follows the good groove into his eighth decade. Many years of hard living are clearly audible in Williams' voice on the album Can You Deal with It?, which pairs him up with a band of ragged but right R&B mavens called the New Orleans Hellhounds, but if his instrument is a bit rough around the edges, the spirit is not just willing but raring to go, and this set manages to fuse the crazed, hallucinogenic rent-party vibe of Silky and The Black Godfather with full-strength soul and old-school funk backdrops that bring Williams' music of the '60s and '70s into the present day. Williams has made plenty of albums that are louder and crazier, but it's been a long time since he grooved as hard as he does on "Your Woman" and "If You Leave Me," and the rowdy country-soul vibe of "Pray for You Daughter" and "Rosalie" sounds downright playful, a quality that hasn't always been at the forefront of Mr. Rhythm's work. "Never Had a Problem" blatantly borrows its hook from "Should I Stay or Should I Go," but it manages to rock even harder than the Clash's variation on this theme, and "Can't Take 'Em Off" would make the ideal theme song for some particularly kinky and imaginative exotic dancer. The band (which includes whacked-out keyboard genius Mr. Quintron) grooves with gusto on these sessions, but it's Andre Williams who really brings this show to life, and whether he's moaning, laughing, scolding, or pleading, he's the raunchiest senior citizen on the face of the Earth and he's inviting you to one wild party on Can You Deal with It? The AARP ain't got nothin' on this man.” ~ by Mark Deming, allmusic.com

TRACK OF THE DAY - Dexter Romweber Duo

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Dexter Romweber on ICE-10

Various Artists (2002) -Punky Reggae Party (New Wave Jamaica 1975-1980)

Artist: various
Album: Punky Reggae Party (New Wave Jamaica 1975-1980)
Released: 2002
Quality: mp3 CBR 256
Size: 302 MB

Subtitled - New Wave Jamaica 1975 - 1980. Third in Trojan's series of deluxe genre-defining compilations highlighting the development of Jamaican music. Features 38 original reggae roots cuts from the late 70s, when reggae influenced the punk generation. Many recordings previously unavailable on CD. Highlights include, 'White Belly Rat' Lee 'Scratch' Perry, 'Man Next Door' Dennis Brown, 'Mr. Cop' Gregory Isaacs & 'Natural Mystic' Bob Marley & The Wailers.

Fernandez, Piazzolla, Sivori (2009) -Triathlon

Artist: Fernandez, Piazzolla, Sivori
Album: Triathlon
Released: 2009
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 146 MB

Natahaniel Mayer (2004) -I Just Want To Be Held

Artist: Nathaniel Mayer
Album: I Just Want To Be Held
Released: 2004
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 85 MB

”Although this soul shouter had a few hits in the early to mid-'60s (including the near classic "Village of Love"), it took nearly 40 years for Nathaniel Mayer to release his first album in 2004. While he's probably lost a few steps along the way, this is an explosive release that sounds as powerful in 2004 as it would have in 1964. With a searing, gritty voice somewhere between James Brown and Mitch Ryder and a terrific band that churns out tough garage R&B, this could have been recorded decades before it was released. That's a compliment of course, since there just aren't many contemporary soul discs that attack with this yard dog-styled intensity. Equally impressive is that all but three songs are original, written in the vein of classic Muscle Shoals-era Wilson Pickett without a hint of pretension or sense that Mayer is trying to emulate a long-gone style. There's a loose, natural swing to the music when the band, complete with snappy Farfisa organ and occasional horns, works a sizzling, unstoppable groove along with the singer. "You Gotta Work," "From Now On," "What's Your Name" -- just drop in anywhere and the churning funk-dance rhythms slice like the hardest-edged Southern R&B. A blistering, grinding version of John Lennon's "I Found Out" might seem like an unusual tune to cover, but it's one that the Beatle probably would have approved of due to the raw emotion Mayer finds in the lyrics. Just in case you think he's not as lip-snarling as he used to be, check out the lascivious, self-explanatory "Stick It or Lick It." Only the gutsy '50s ballad "You Are the One" interrupts the pace, but that proves Mayer is just as passionate on the occasional slow dance number as on the unhinged tracks that dominate the disc. At a brisk 35 minutes it's almost over too quickly, but hopefully listeners won't have to wait another four decades for its follow-up..”~ Hal Horowitz, allmusic.com

Mark Sultan (2011) -Whatever I Want / Whenever I Want

Artist: Mark Sultan
Albums: Whatever I Want / Whenever I Want
Released: 2011
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 185 MB

”…Two vinyl albums that draw on Sultan’s early rock palette of influences: garage rock, doo-wop, rockabilly, soul, country and psychedelia. Sultan performs three out of the 13 songs by himself, but elsewhere gets an assist from garage-rocking contemporaries like Jared Swilley and Cole Alexander from Black Lips and Choyce from Red Mass. The music is sweaty, anarchic, lo-fi hedonism, a beer-and-tattoos kind of music that sounds live on the record and even more live in performance. It’s a back to basics move, an attempt to return to the live, beating heart of rock and roll. It seems unlikely to either kill or save his art form — and again, what would either of those outcomes look like? — but it is certainly wrapped in sincerity.”FULL REVIEW

TRACK OF THE DAY - Th' Legendary Shack Shakers

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Carlos and The Bandidos (1999) -For A Few Dollars Less

Artist: Carlos and The Bandidos
Album: For A Few Dollars Less
Released: 1999
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 163 MB

”Carlos & the Bandidos were formed by Carlos Mejuto (singer) and Malcolm Chapman (lead guitar) in November 1995 and were joined by Neil Scott (bass), Roger Van Niekirk (drums) & Ricky Cooper (rhythm guitar). They've played all over the UK, most of Europe and have done three tours of the west coast of the US; alternating between weekenders like the Rock-A-Billy Rave, Viva Las Vegas to tiny small pub gigs on the outskirts of some forgotten northern hamlet. Often described as a Mexican Rock-a-billy band, their influences mainly stem from Carlos's spanish heritage and Malcolm's love of a minor chord or three, with influences that cross a very wide musical spectrum, and complimented by their self penned songs about broken relationships, death, drug addiction and the odd western-flavoured murder song and Carlos's some-what colourful stage gear. Odd really, cos it ain't like they're a miserable bunch of gits pining over loves lost in some pokey pub in London with a warm beer in their hands. Well, not often anyways. They've been on TV, had music featured in a film, fallen in dutch canals, been stranded up a mountain in the snows wearing hawaiian shirts and generally had a wonderful time, speading joy, a little wisdom and tequilas where ever they go. They've cut 3 CD's, an LP, a few singles and appear on a slew of compsitions.”Rockabilly Bash

TRACK OF THE DAY - Shanker Ganesh

Jo Basile (1963) -Paris With Love

Artist: Jo Basile
Album: Paris With Love
Released: 1963
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 55 MB

Various Artists (2007) -The Answer to Everything: Girl Answer Songs of the 60's

Artist: various
Album: The Answer to Everything: Girl Answer Songs of the 60's
Released: 2007
Quality: mp3 CBR 192
Size: 103 MB

”An astounding number of "answer" songs have been recorded in response to big hits in the history of the recording industry, though the phenomenon is more popular at some points than at others. This CD collects no less than 28 such items from 1959-1966, most of them from the early '60s, and all but one (Bertell Dache's "Not Just Tomorrow, But Always") sung by a woman vocalist or female group. As you'd expect, virtually all of these are novelties of sorts, and virtually none of them are in the same class as the songs they're answering. Nor were many of them successful in the marketplace, though a few of them (especially Jody Miller's "Queen of the House," fired off in response to Roger Miller's "King of the Road," and Jeanne Black's "He'll Have to Stay") were actually big hits in their own right, and a few others managed to reach the lower regions of the national charts. All that considered, this is actually more listenable than many skeptics might expect. The production is usually good, the rewrites usually reasonably witty, and the performances usually enthusiastic, even if in their heart of hearts everyone involved knew it was a long shot that these things were going to be smashes.” ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi

Bryan Ferry (1999) -As Time Goes By

Artist: Bryan Ferry
Album: As Time Goes By
Released: 1999
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 105 MB

Bryan Ferry invests considerable time and energy in cover albums (he should, considering that they compose a good portion of his solo catalog), treating them with as much care as a record of original material. He's always found ways to radically reinvent the songs he sings, so it's easy to expect that his collection of pop standards, As Time Goes By, would re-imagine the familiar. Instead, As Time Goes By is his first classicist album, containing non-ironic, neo-traditionalist arrangements of songs associated with the '30s. That doesn't mean it's a lavish affair, dripping with lush orchestras -- it's considerably more intimate than that. Even when strings surface, they're understated, part of a small live combo that supports Ferry throughout the record. He's made the music as faithful to its era as possible, yet instead of rigidly replicating the sounds of the '30s, he's blended Billie Holiday, cabaret pop, and movie musicals into an evocative pastiche. Ferry is at his best when he's exploring the possibilities within a specific theory or concept; with As Time Goes By, he eases into these standards and old-fashioned settings like an actor adopting a new persona. Since Ferry has always been a crooner, the transition is smooth and suave. He makes no attempt to alter his tremulous style, yet it rarely sounds incongruous -- he may sound a little vampirish on "You Do Something to Me," but that's the rare case where he doesn't seamlessly mesh with his romantic, sepia-toned surroundings. On the surface, it may seem like a departure for Ferry, but in the end, it's entirely of a piece with his body of work. True, it may not be a major album in the scheme of things, but it's easy to be seduced by its casual elegance.~ by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, allmusic.com

Shankar Jaikishan & Rais Khan (1968) -Raga Jazz Style

Artist: Shankar Jaikishan & Rais Khan
Album: Raga Jazz Style
Release Date: 1968
Quality: FLAC (tracks)
Size: 262 MB

Shankar Jaikishan are probably the most versatile duos that hailed the music of Bollywood during the Golden Age of Indian Cinema, the 40s, 50s and 60s. The golden era of Indian film music can be associated with the musical giants of different capabilities and specialisations.
They had composed music in almost 200 films in a tenure of around 22 years.2 So great was the impact of their creative genius that it had a lasting impact on the music of the Hindi films. Shankar-Jaikishan understood the taste of the masses, were able to cater to them, as well as moulded their tastes. No wonder then that during their tenure as music directors, they were exceedingly popular and 75 per cent of the films for which their scores were everlasting hits – many have celebrated silver jubilees.
The team of Shankar Jaikishan consisted of Shankarsingh Raghuwanshi and Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal. Shankar (October 15, 1922 – 1987) was born in Punjab and trained under the famous Husnlal Bhagatram. He later settled down in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Jaikishan (1929 – 1971) hails from Panchal, Gujarat, India.
They were honored with the maximum number (nine) of Filmfare awards in the Indian film industry. In 1968, Shankar Jaikishan released an album, “Raga Jazz Style : Shankar Jaikishan with Rais Khan.”

Dead Combo (2011) -Lisboa Mulata

Artist: Dead Combo
Album: Lisboa Mulata
Release Date: 2011
Quality: mp3 FLAC (tracks) / mp3 CBR 320
Size: 266 / 108 MB

TRACK OF THE DAY - Коммунизм

Коммунизм on ICE-10

Samsara Blues Experiment (2011) -Revelation & Mystery

Artist: Samsara Blues Experiment
Album: Revelation & Mystery
Date of release: January 13, 2012
Quality: mp3 CBR 192
Size: 67 MB

”The record should be listened to without any interruption anyway. Running over 45 minutes, you can listen to it attentively without getting bored at all. If you are, you did something wrong. Samsara Blues Experiment again definitively did not: An intense bastard of a psychedelic record, which has to be part of every good collection.” READ FULL REVIEW

Tom Waits (2011) -Bad As Me

Artist: Tom Waits
Album: Bad As Me
Date of release: October 24, 2011
Quality: mp3 CBR 192
Size: 63 MB

A new Tom Waits album is an event and his seventeenth outing released after a few years is no let down. It starts with the gravel voiced troubadour yelling ‘all aboard’ and instantly you are transported into his fantastically surreal world of strange characters, pounding rhythms and clanking sounds as Waits hollers about a magically seedy underbelly of a long lost America of tattooed tear brawlers, snake oil charmers, broken hearted losers and faded grandeur, a world of seedy dance halls and long lost smoky bars.

The songs are, as ever, of the highest standard- squeezing melody from the stoniest of terrains, finding heart breaking tunes in the most clanking of soundscapes, there is dark humour and hollering blues, heart breaking ballads and zig zag wandering blues madness. Waits is king of all he surveys, every song is 3D, a movie on it’s own, close your eyes and you’re on a trip. FULL REVIEW

Various Artists (2011) -Those Shocking Shaking Days

Artist: various
Album: Those Shocking Shaking Days. Indonesian Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock And Funk: 1970 - 1978
Released: 2011
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 175 MB

”What are we grooving on when we listen to these myriad and multiplying rock/psych/funk/soul/gonzo compilations gathered from the nether-regions of the non-Western world? Is it the universal grok? Is it the self-satisfaction that our counterculture not only resonated, but also penetrated and incorporated every thing it touched? Whatever it is, we can rest assured that, instead of the hundreds of Midwest punk compilations that used to fill the “V/A” bins at our local record stores, which taught us state capitals never memorized in middle school, we now will finally stumble upon geographical truths beyond the usual reasons Americans learn the names of foreign countries: their genocides, our wars and cough syrup recalls.
The high-caliber re-mastered tracks compiled here just hint at a trove of music from the period, and one benefit of such excursions is that it allows us to rethink our own founding countercultural myths. To wit: the 1970s were also the high point of American minimalism, as Reich, Glass, Riley, Adams et al borrowed tone and temporality from the Gamelan orchestras of Bali and Java. But the well-known kebyar style of Gamelan, with its rapid dynamism and virtuosity present even in its name (byar = “flare”), is not the timeless Southeast Asian art form many suppose it to be. Waves of foreign encroachment, from Islam to Portuguese and Dutch usurpers, forced musicians from Java to flee to the Balinese kingdom for patronage. Out of this frothy cross-island mix, a slow, courtly style of Gamelan, gong gede (large gongs), became prominent from the 16th century onwards. After the Dutch finally conquered Bali in the early 20th century, court revenues were limited, funds for art support declined, and many gamelan ensembles were melted down or given to neighboring villages. In conjunction with new flows of money, tourists and eager Western patrons looking for that “traditional” Oriental fix, northern Balinese villages developed the kebyar style around 1915, and it quickly spread due to its faster tempo, wilder dynamics, and tempestuous dance choreography. All of the original 78-speed recordings of gamelan music in the 1920s, which aroused the interest of Margaret Mead among others, were in the kebyar style. According to musicologist Michael Tenzer, kebyar both “posed a strong challenge to the hegemony of court aesthetic” but also acted as “the vehicle for a musical renewal encompassing the courtly past within its domain.” Ditto the 1970s, I would argue, as this compilation exhibits both aspects of Third World “freedom rock” — selective use of Western popular music to frame and pursue local dreams and passions, while also critiquing the ham-fisted authoritarianism usually propped up by these very same Western powers.

What about us, though? Why do we go to such lengths to seek out something so familiar? The story of the early 20th century gamelan switcheroo perhaps tells us that, to paraphrase Clifford Geertz’s notes on Balinese cockfighting, the most recent iteration of our love for Third World Rock is fundamentally interpretive: It is a contemporary Western reading of Western history and experience, or, more bluntly put, a story we tell ourselves about ourselves. read full review by Kevan Harris

Dusko Goykovich (2009) -Summit Octet

Artist: Dusko Goykovich
Album: Summit Octet
Release Date: 2009
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 120 MB

For the new album “Five Horns & Rhythm”, however, Goykovich assembled a somewhat smaller band, an international octet of masterful individualists. For them he arranged a bunch of his own tunes as well as a selection of so-called “standards”, among them Sam Jones’ “Unit Seven” and Jay McShann’s “Back At The Chicken Shack”. Partly familiar from his earlier albums (“Soul Connection”, “Bebop City”, “Samba Do Mar”, “Samba Tzigane”), Goykovich’s own tunes range stylistically from blues and bop to ballad and samba.

It is fun to hear some of Dusko’s best tunes played by this well-chosen band of musicians from eight countries, namely Australia, Bosnia, France, Germany, Italy, Macedonia, Serbia, and the USA. A summit meeting of sorts, this studio recording combines great solos, thrilling tunes, earthy grooves and nice arrangements set up for an unusual instrumentation. Dusko’s new album is a must for all friends of timeless high-quality swinging jazz. also released as ©

Various Artists (2006) -Joe Meek's Freakbeat: 30 Freakbeat, Mod And R&B Nuggets

Artist: various
Album: You’re Holding Me Down - Joe Meek's Freakbeat: 30 Freakbeat, Mod And R&B Nuggets
Released: 2006
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 161 MB

”Joe Meek is most famous for the records he made in the early to mid-'60s, even the best of which usually matched futuristic, one of a kind production with quaint, silly (if sometimes quite catchy) tunes. This has led many critics to charge, with some justification, that trends were passing him by as British Invasion groups with grittier, more creative material overran the globe. It's sometimes overlooked, however, that he made quite a few records with the new generation of self-contained, tougher mod/R&B-oriented British bands in the final two years or so of his life, even if these experienced little commercial success. A whopping 30 such sides from 1964-1966 are assembled on this quite interesting and occasionally thrilling (if uneven) compilation. Many of these tracks, incidentally, have previously shown up on other collector-oriented anthologies, going all the way back to the special British edition of the Pebbles series, Pebbles Vol. 6. But they're presented here with better sound quality, and certainly better liner notes, than those compilations often featured.” more info by Richie Unterberger, allmusic.com

TRACK OF THE DAY - The Dirt Daubers

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The Dirt Daubers - 2 albums

Artist: The Dirt Daubers
Album: The Dirt Daubers / Wake Up Sinners
Released: 2009 / 2011
Quality: mp3 VBR ~160 / CBR 320
Size: 88 MB

”J.D. Wilkes is a man of many talents: He’s helmed the Legendary Shack Shakers for the last decade-and-a-half, played harmonica with the likes of Merle Haggard, and earned the title of Kentucky colonel. Apparently, though, he didn’t feel like he was busy enough already, so he went ahead and created the Dirt Daubers in 2009. It’s a project that satisfies Wilkes’ more traditionalist side; whereas the Legendary Shack Shakers deal more in psychobilly and punk-blues, the Dirt Daubers—Wilkes, his wife Jessica, and Shack Shakers standby Mark Robertson—stick to a more rootsy bluegrass sound.”MORE

Renaud Garcia-Fons (2011) -Mediterranées

Artist: Renaud Garcia-Fons
Albums: Mediterranées
Released: 2011
Quality: FLAC (tracks)
Size: 393 MB

French double bass master Renaud Garcia-Fons has just released his new album, Mediterranees, in the U.S. The 18-track album is an exploration of the music of the Mediterranean, which Garcia-Fons attributes to his Spanish and Italian roots.
“There’s nothing ethno-musical or touristy about this project,” the bassist explains, “Simply a desire to be carried on a passionate thread of a script propelled by inspiration that places melody in a central space. After all, the uniting factor of all these different Mediterraneans is the taste for melody!” Renaud is no stranger to playing melody, as he is renowned for his arco work in thumb position and beautiful compositions.. (c)

Various Artists (1998) -60's Brit Girls

Artist: various
Album: 60s Brit Girls
Quality: mp3 CBR 192
Size: 95 MB

TRACK OF THE DAY - Кола Бельды

Various Artists - Time For Teenagers – Sweat Sounds For Young Dutch Dreamers

Artist: various
Album: Time For Teenagers – Sweat Sounds For Young Dutch Dreamers
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 162 MB

TRACK OF THE DAY - Аквариум

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TRACK OF THE DAY - Эдита Пьеха

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TRACK OF THE DAY - King Automatic

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Los Marauders (1992 / 1995) -You Make Me Cum In My Pants [7”] / Every Song We Fuckin’ Know!!

Artist: Los Marauders
Album: You Make Me Cum In My Pants [7”] / Every Song We Fuckin’ Know!!
Released: 1992 / 1995
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 145 MB

TRACK OF THE DAY - Wanderléa

Various Artists (2004) -Mr. Toytown Presents... Obscure Psychedelic, Popsyke & Softpop 45s, 1969-1974

Artist: various
Album: Mr. Toytown Presents... (Obscure Psychedelic, Popsyke & Softpop 45s, 1969-1974)
Released: 2004
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 102 MB

UK compilation focuses on singles by mostly European bands from the early 70s originally issued on small Spanish cult labels. 12 tracks with remastered sound & eight page booklet. Limited edition of 500 copies only!

Hipbone Slim & The Kneetremblers (2011) -Square Guitar

Artist: Hipbone Slim & Knee Tremblers
Album: Square Guitar
Release date: October 2011
Quality: mp3 CBR 160
Size: 66 MB

”Hipbone Slim and the Kneetremblers take rock’n’roll, rhythm’n’blues – whatever you want to call it – and give it their own unique stamp and energy. They have somehow captured the true essence of rock’n’roll in a way that very few have been able to do in a very long time. Their new album Square Guitar is the finest offering so far.

The band is led by the ubiquitous Sir Bald Diddley, on guitar and lead vocals, a man who has been described as “Britain’s string king” in reference to his wild and fiery guitar style, influenced by Bo Diddley, Link Wray, Chuck Berry, Dick Dale and the like, and “Ricky Nelson gone very wrong” (with regards to his singing!). Also known for his very precarious stage antics, including the infamous “Pea Bug” which involves much rolling around on the floor during guitar solos! He is currently also working on a new band project with former members of Supergrass and Thee Headcoats (see Dirty Water Records release DWC1054).

Hipbone Slim and the Kneetremblers have four albums released on Voodoo Rhythm Records, receiving great critical acclaim and all considerable radio airplay, and have also recently released a joint album with Swiss Cajun kings, Mama Rosin. Mark Lamarr regularly plays their music and has also featured the band live in session. Never short of new ideas, the band have three more albums on the way, and play a set of nearly entirely original compositions. Their recordings have regularly been described as “scarily authentic” and live shows “totally out there”! They are ce rtainly very raucous and entertaining occasions . . . The band have toured extensively throughout Europe, with more dates across the continent over the coming year.” ~ © Dirty Water Records

Various Artists (2009) -Shadow Music of Thailand

Artist: various
Album: Shadow Music of Thailand
Released: 2009
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 97 MB

”SHADOW MUSIC was a broad term given to the Thai guitar pop movement of the 1960s and the groups that came out of it, all under the profound influence of early Western rock and roll. British instrumental wonders The Shadows (as in Cliff Richards & the Shadows) were the origin of the genre's title, also coined 'Wong Shadow' or early Thai 'String' music. Shadow records were often marketed as 'Thai Modernized Music' which it was in the truest sense. Traditional Thai melodies were given the Shadow treatment; incorporating rock, surf, a-go-go, exotica, soul, blues, Latin and other worldly styles of the times. Inventive compositions and instrumental genius meet the occasional odd vocal arrangement and the results range from plaintive guitar and organ-driven lullabies to full-blown electric garage folk-psychedelia! Featured on this collection are a handful of the leading recorded artists from the time; P.M. Pocket Music, The Son of P.M., P.M.7, Jupiter and Johnny Guitar. Throughout the 1960s, these groups forged a unique and highly self-referential Thai sound.” ~ Sublime Frequencies

Various Artists (1999)-For Adults Only

Artist: various
Album: For Adults Only
Released: 1999
Quality: mp3 CBR 192
Size: 103 MB

”The 25 tracks compiled on this single-disc compilation have been issued under a plethora of titles since the '80s -- most notably in the digital domain as Raunchy Rock & Roll (1995). Many of these dirty ditties have become legendary in frat houses and barrooms across the world, despite their initial obscurity due to excruciatingly poor under-the-counter circulation. A more sociological vantage point reveals a broad scope of musical styles, ranging from doo wop ("Don't -- Around With Love") to redneck country & western twang ("Pussy Cat Song"). However, there are a few pop music genres that seem to artistically lend themselves to the unadulterated and overtly sexual intonations -- some intentional, others quite serendipitous. Among the most authentic are the '50s rhythm & blues and doo wop styles which inform tracks such as "Derby Town" and "The Rotten Cock Suckers Ball" -- both of which became infamous platters for the Clovers. The latter title was revived by Frank Zappa as "Cock-Suckers' Ball" and issued on his live Does Humor Belong in Music? multimedia project from the mid-'80s. Likewise, there are '50s sock-hop ballads such as "It's So Hard to Say I Love You" and "Sit on My Face," and even rockabilly ("Yo Yo"). There are also garage rockers ("Baby, Let Me Bang Your Box") and a funky (literally!), randy reggae reading of Rare Earth's hit "Get Ready," which is subtitled "French Style." More modern rock & roll contributions include "-- Off" by, appropriately enough, the Dildos, as well as David Trout's double-entendre-laden "Fast Food Song." Other notable inclusions are Screamin' Jay Hawkins' R&B hoodoo "Bite It" and "Constipation Blues," as well as the incendiary coupling of Jackie Wilson and LaVern Baker on a wild take of "Think Twice," which was decidedly toned down for the legit 45 rpm (b/w "Please Don't Hurt Me") for Brunswick in 1965. Also in the mix are a few sides -- such as "Did He Eat Your Titty" and "Stickball" -- that defy category. For Adults Only is a refreshingly self-indulgent artifact that reflects the decidedly more carnal and base aspects of popular music. Potential enthusiasts should be aware of the sound quality, which vacillates from track to track. While not unlistenable, there is copious surface noise to deal with on a majority of the recordings.” ~ by Lindsay Planer, allmusic.com

Daniel Zamir (2010) -Gaagua Lekan

Artist: Daniel Zamir
Album: Gaagua Lekan
Released: 2010
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 151 MB

Alto saxophonist Danny Zamir plays modern jazz that draws as much from klezmer as it does from Ornette Coleman. Born circa 1980 in Tel Aviv, Israel, Zamir was drawn to the sound of the saxophone at a young age and began studying the instrument at the age of 12. Hearing Charlie Parker for the first time had a great effect upon him, and from that point on, he focused on music studies. Zamir attended a Tel Aviv high school that specialized in the arts and offered an intensive music program. In addition to the music of Charlie Parker, some of Zamir's early influences include Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Pat Metheny. Zamir formed a trio called Not for Sale and eventually started listening to other musicians, as well. Of those he heard, Zamir was most impressed with saxophonist and experimenter John Zorn. In late 1998, he relocated to N.Y.C., where he met percussionist Kevin Zubek and bassist Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, with whom he formed SATLAH, as well as well-known N.Y.C. musicians including Zorn. Zamir has also worked occasionally with members of the downtown scene, including Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Marc Ribot, and Calvin Weston. SATLAH's recorded debut includes a guest appearance by Zorn and was released in March 2000 on the Tzadik label. Zamir followed it with I Believe, also on the Tzadik imprint, in 2008. ~ Joslyn Layne, Rovi

TRACK OF THE DAY - Ville Leinonen

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TRACK OF THE DAY - Центр

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King & Roomful of Blues (1986) -Glazed

Artist: Earl King & Roomful Of Blues
Album: Glazed
Released: 1986
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 108 MB

”The coupling of funky Crescent City guitarist Earl King with the East Coast-based Roomful of Blues wasn't exactly made in heaven (the band excels at jump blues; at second-line beats, they're fairly clueless), but it did mark the beginning of King's heartwarming comeback as a recording artist. King's songwriting skills were certainly in fine shape: "It All Went Down the Drain," "Iron Cupid," and "Love Rent" were typically well-observed originals.” ~ by Bill Dahl

Big Joe Turner & Roomful of Blues (1983) -Blues Train

Artist: Big Joe Turner & Roomful Of Blues
Album: Blues Train
Released: 1983
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 89 MB

”Big Joe Turner was a bit past his prime at age 72, when he recorded this set, but he was clearly inspired by the opportunity to sing with Roomful of Blues. Turner stars on seven numbers (including "I Want a Little Girl," which has a piano solo by guest Dr. John), and there are also two instrumentals that let the impressive band stretch out. With the group featuring guitarist Ronnie Earl, Greg Piccolo on tenor, trumpeter Bob Enos and trombonist Porky Cohen, among others, Turner was ably supported, and his high spirits made the music well worth hearing.” ~ by Scott Yanow

Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson & Roomful of Blues (1982) -Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson & Roomful of Blues

Artist: Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson & Roomful Of Blues
Album: Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson & Roomful of Blues
Released: 1982
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 89 MB

”If there were justice in the world, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson would have been able to tour with this type of group throughout much of his career. Roomful of Blues, a popular five-horn nonet, has rarely sounded more exciting than on this musical meeting with the legendary singer/altoist. Vinson himself is exuberant on some of the selections, particularly "House of Joy," one of five instrumentals among the eight selections. Whether one calls it blues, bebop, or early R&B, this accessible music is very enjoyable and deserves to be more widely heard. Among the supporting players, tenorman Greg Piccolo, trumpeter Bob Enos, and guitarist Ronnie Earl (in one of his earliest recordings) win honors.” ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi.

Various Artists (1993) -Girls Of Texas '60s

Artist: various
Album: Girls of Texas ‘60s
Released: 1993
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 96 MB

Various Artists (2002) -Japan Wild Favourites

Artist: various
Album: Japan Wild Favourites
Released: 2002
Quality: mp3 CBR 256
Size: 120 MB

OK 60s freaks...here it is, the best 60s Japanese compilation on the planet! Featuring 27 tracks of crazy assed Japanese beat, garage, punk and fuzz bands. Contains tracks by The Carnabeats, Jaguars, Dynamites, Mops, Golden Cups and The Spiders.

TRACK OF THE DAY - Calvary

Hugh Laurie (2011) -Let Them Talk

Artist: Hugh Laurie
Albums: Let Them Talk limited edition
Date of release: May 2011
Quality: FLAC
Size: 464 MB

“Let Them Talk” is the first album to be recorded by Hugh Laurie after signing to Warner Bros Records in 2010. Produced by Joe Henry and recorded in Los Angeles and New Orleans, the album is a celebration of New Orleans blues, a genre that drives Hugh’s musical raison d’être.
Spiritually inspired by similar genre albums like Ry Cooder’s ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ and T-Bone Burnett’s ‘O’ Brother Where Art Thou’ soundtrack, Hugh’s ‘Let Them Talk’ recordings bring together an extraordinary selection of heritage tracks, renowned musicians and vocal legends to champion this much neglected body of work.
Hugh drives the whole album on piano and vocals and is joined in the studio by the ‘Queen of New Orleans’ herself, Irma Thomas, blues piano and horns supremo Allen Toussaint, vocal legend Sir Tom Jones and in an especially momentous collaboration on ‘After You’ve Gone’ by his lifelong hero Dr. John. MORE INFO

TRACK OF THE DAY - Ska Cubano

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Jonathan Kane (2005 / 2009) -February / Jet Ear Party

Artist: Jonathan Kane
Album: February / Jet Ear Party
Released: 2005 / 2009
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 111 / 125 MB

”Kane’s modus operandi is quite simple. He starts with a bluesy riff, a short chord progression (or the illusion of a chord progression), a bit of melody, and a shuffling rock’n’roll beat, and then repeats it, and repeats it, and repeats it, gradually accreting new material as the song progresses, building a sense of anticipation until all the pieces all the elements align in an exuberant climax about three-quarters of the way through the song.“ ~ by Dan Ruccia, Dusted Magazine