Various
Stand Up And Be Counted
[I](Harmless)[/I]
The iconic sleeve, black athletes giving the Black Power salute at the ’68 Olympics, says it all. The blistering soundtrack to a heady period of riots and revolutions.
Necessary or evil? From the proto-rap of The Last Poets, to the pathos of Nina Simone‘s ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free’, to the sussed soul of The Impressions, ‘SUABC’ chronicles music with guts, intelligence and fire in its belly. Faultless, essential. 9/10
Various
I’m A Good Woman
[I](Harmless)[/I]
Sultry funk from less celebrated soul sisters, who the compilation contends paved the way for the likes of Missy, Macy, Lauryn et al. Forgetting that those artists write and produce for themselves, unlike the singers here.
Necessary or evil? High quality tracks, most of which are pretty unfamiliar. James Brown protege Lyn Collins gives the Godfather a run for his money on ‘Give It Up Or Turn It Loose’, while the likes of Betty Moorer‘s ‘It’s My Thing’ sound [I]sinfully[/I] funky. Delectably danceable. 8/10
Various
It’s A Shifty Disco Thing Vol 3
[I](Shifty Disco)[/I]
Compilation of tracks from the Oxford indie label’s singles club. Contains at least one [I]NME[/I] Single Of The Week (Murray The Hump’s lovely ‘Thrown Like A Stone’).
Necessary or evil? As hit’n’miss as such affairs tend to be, Shifty Disco certainly score more bull’s-eyes than you’d imagine. An eclectic grab-bag containing excellent tracks by Beulah, Scribble and Whispering Bob, amongst others. Of course, if you were [I]really[/I] cool, you’d have the original singles. 7/10
Various
Seka (Sister) Vol 2
[I](Twah!)[/I]
Benefit CD featuring numerous folkies and new-country types strumming in aid of the Seka house of seminars and recreation for traumatised women and children living in the former Yugoslavia.
Necessary or evil? Worthy causes often beget dull records, but this looooong album includes quality contributions from the likes of Tom Waits, Billy Bragg, The Mekons, Freakwater and Hazeldine. You can’t dance to it, but somehow that doesn’t really matter. 6/10
Various
Loose: New Sounds Of The Old West, Volume Two
[I](Loose)[/I]
Sequel to acclaimed y’allternative compilation, supping deeply of befringed, cowboy-booted post-grunge twangs. Perfect soundtrack for those mythical journeys across middle-America in a powder-blue convertible.
Necessary or evil? Exclusive tracks from the alt-country upper echelons (Lambchop covering Elvis Costello, new stuff from Giant Sand and Calexico) rub shoulders with obscure gems discovered by the Loose massive (the marvellous D Braxton Harris). Best sampled with a cold bottle of Bud at your side. 8/10