Jeff Wayne – Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds (Sony)
The two-disc theatrical adventure manages to be frightening, captivating and hilarious all at once. Jeff Wayne ’s adaptation of H. G. Wells ’ 1898 novel has sold more than 15 million copies around the world, and has probably scared about as many children (myself included) who were forced to listen to it. It’s still one of the best selling albums in the Sony/BMG catalogue and an epic theatrical tale about aliens from outer space that I’ve come to appreciate since assuming they don’t exist.
Dead Prez – “Wolves” (Let’s Get Free, Loud Records)
An ideal intro to a striking album of political, racial and cultural commentary. A speech by activist Omali Yeshitela — an analogy between a wolf hunting method leading to self-induced suicide and the oppression of black America — set to a solid, simple, and ironically uplifting beat.
Fucked Up – Year of the Pig (Matador)
They’ve just released their latest in the Zodiac series (Year of the Ox) this September, but the Pig release still reins supreme. Beauty meets the beast in a house of blues.
The Mamas and Papas – “Shake It Up”
I came on to this song through a referral that described it as the perfect track to spin as you twist your way to sun rise after a big night out. It’s a perfect description for this version for the track — also covered by artists like the Beatles and Chacka Demus and Pliers — where the beat is as odds with the lyrics call out to cut lose.
Röyksopp – Senior (Import)
The dark and ambient all-instrumental follow up to their more upbeat 2009 release Junior is the angry black sheep to the younger bubbly sibling.
The Great Shark Hunt – Hunter S. Thompson (Pan Macmillan, 1984)
A brick-sized, 415g compilation of Thompsons greatest works. What’s most fascinating about the collection is the ability to observe the career and mindset of the Godfather of Gonzo between 1956 to the late 70s: his drug-addled beginnings to his beginning to lose his flair for words. Read his piece on his trip to *Earnest Hemmingway*’s hometown, and see if you can’t find any correlation between the misery of the last years of the authors’ lives.
Akron/Family – Love is Simple (Young God Records)
The Portland-based group’s album is truly hard to classify, which makes it so fantastic: folk-meets-country-meets-rock-meets-insects-meets-*Charles Manson* chants. It’s an epic and almost cinematic LP that’s perfect for highs, lows, and bike riding.
Anti-Flag – “You’ve Got to Die for the Government”
Holy Fuck – Latin (Young Turks)
The Canadian quartet has sculpted heavy, grinding noise into a decidedly catchy album that sounds as expletive as their name.
Depeche Mode – “Personal Jesus”
