Derek Dunfee’s iPod Hit List
Metallica … And Justice For All
Bad Religion 80-85
Minor Threat The Complete Discography
Daredevil Jane Daredevil Jane
Diego Roots Good Times
Slayer Reign In Blood
Guns N’ Roses Appetite For Destruction
Pantera Vulgar Display Of Power
Johnny Cash Live From Folsom Prison
Social Distortion 1945
Studio One Reissues
The Best Of Studio One
Full Up: More Hits From Studio One
Bob Marley And The Wailers: One Love At Studio One, 1964-1966
Downbeat The Ruler: Killer Instrumentals From Studio One
Heartbeat Records
When most people think of reggae, they think of Bob Marley. And that’s fine. But if you dig a little deeper in the heart and soul of reggae, you’ll find a name that not many of us know, though we should. Clement Dodd was one of reggae’s most prolific and respected producers in Jamaica and the founder of the world famous Studio One in Kingston, Jamaica. After two decades, Heartbeat Records is reissuing some of Dodd’s and Studio One’s greatest collections. The first four are all must-haves! The Best Of Studio One is filled with classic reggae tracks from the early 60s that all summon good feelings. Full Up goes into the late-60s ska era and is sure to get you skanking. One Love At Studio One is an amazing two-disc set of more than 40 Bob Marley tracks recorded at Studio One-many of which are unreleased. Nothing is better for lounging around to than Downbeat The Ruler, all-instrumental irie from Studio One.
Ghostface Killah
Fishscale
Def Jam
Ghostface Killah is one of the few original Wu-Tang members who has consistently come out with great records. His first release, 1990′s Ironman, was an instant classic, and then The Pretty Toney Album was pretty ill. But stop the presses-Fishscale is amazing! It’s hard to imagine that Ghostface would ever come out with something that could even come close to Ironman, but trust me, get this new joint and you’ll see. Guests include Raekwon, The Wu-Tang Clan (yep, all of them!), Ne Yo, and more. All in all, Fishscale is the freshest hip-hop release of 2006 so far.
Aloha
Some Voices
Polyvinyl
Aloha is an Ohio pop-post-punk four-piece that, in the last six years, has built an impressive catalog of bubbly, intricate, and complex songs that have captured the minds of critics and audiences alike. On its latest release, Some Voices, Aloha winds and bounces through ten tracks of indie gold. Standout tracks include “Brace Your Face,” and the rocking little ditty “Your Eyes.” The vocals are soft and pretty, while the tricky drum tracks and multi-instrumental backing tracks make for a wild and fun sound. Fans of Joan Of Arc, Built To Spill, or Quasi will be pleased.
Melvins
A Live History Of Gluttony And Lust
Ipecac
When a band makes an album as loud and twistedly rocking as Houdini, it’s a shame when the band breaks up and none of us younger bucks will ever get to hear it played live ever again. Don’t worry, friends, the Melvins were recently invited to play the whole album live and record it for the All Tomorrow’s Parties “Don’t Look Back” series. The band absolutely smashes each song on this album, and your ears will be bleeding because of it. Such brutal and grungy hits as “Night Goat,” “Joan Of Arc,” and my personal fave, “Going Blind,” are all here. Put this in your stereo, crank the volume, and wear some earplugs for your own protection.
Lansing-Dreiden
The Dividing Island
Kemado
The illusive and mysterious Lansing-Drieden is back and trippier than ever. Its latest release is less frantic and more spacey than last year’s epic offering The Incomplete Triangle. You’ll get a lot of similar background sounds, the same soothing singing, and an extra dose of the trademark Lansing-Dreiden reverb-drenched waves of dreamy ooze. For a better look into the weird and wonderful world of Lansing-Drieden, check out lansing-dreiden.com-although, you’ll still be confused after that. Friends oDepeche Mode, Ride, or Primal Scream will be friends with L.D.
AWOL One & Daddy Kev
Souldoubt
c.r.a.s.
AWOL One is as close to a white Kool Keith as I’ve heard. This L.A. madman hit me off well on the first track of Souldoubt-then I became addicted to his rhymes and the tracks he rhymes over. I’m not claiming to know much about hip-hop, but I love DMX, I love Ghostface, I love The Geto Boys, I love GZA, I love Kool Keith, and right now, I’m loving AWOL One.
Classic Pick Of The Month
Gary Numan
The Pleasure Principle
Beggars Banquet
Yes, you have heard the song “Cars.” No, you probably haven’t heard any of the other songs on this amazing album. As the godfather of electro-pop, Gary Numan took a Bowie-esque attitude, fused it with Kraftwerk sensibilities, and popped it up a little bit to create a perfect album for the computer age. Beauty can be found in songs like “Tracks,” while jagged electro-rock leaps from songs like “M.E.” and “Observer.”
EP Of The Month
Timmy Curran
Citsuca
Foe
This is not EP Of The Month because Timmy Curran is a great surfer. This is EP Of The Month because it’s a damn good EP. Timmy’s voice has a charming tone, while his simple song structure is both endearing and calming. Comparisons to Jack Johnson will no doubt arise, but I’d say comparing Timmy’s sound to Iron And Wine or early Paul Simon would be more accurate.
Four Quick Hits
Espers II
This quietly beautiful record filled with dreamy chamber music and moving vocals will have you swaying back and forth like a weeping willow. Sounding like a modern/female version of Gordon Lightfoot or a dreamier version of Cat Power, II will have you in a trance in no time.
Whirlwind Heat Types Of Wood
Whacked out friends of Jack White (The White Stripes) put together another eclectic mix of spazzy frantic rock that twists the genre up like a bass-line-driven electro-funk factory. Think Ween meets Devo meets The Liars meets Brainiac.
Push To Talk Push To Talk
This is a nice blend of Tears For Fears and Phoenix-good indie-pop with a danceable backbeat, nice music for a small, hip party. I bet this band would be cool to see in a small club somewhere.
Men, Women, And Children Men, Women, And Children
Electro-disco funk rock that will have you and yours shaking off those winter pounds-fans of The Faint, Fisherspooner, or !!! will be feeling this one.
Games
Kingdom Hearts II/PS2
Disney/Square Enix
I’m not sure what this game’s all about, but I do know that it’s really popular with young people and it’s a big adventure game. I played it super late-night and its beautiful graphics pulled me in, as well as the cool characters you run into along your adventure. Overall, this is a great game for kids or people who like to look at trippy worlds, like me.
Sonic Riders/PS2
Sega
Dude! Sonic is surfing, bro! Well actually, Sonic The Hedgehog and his friends are doing some kind of hoverboard races around these crazy tracks at high speeds. Multi-player action makes this game a nice break from the standard car-racing games and sports games that you and your friends all battle on right now.
DVD
Coachella
Goldenvoice/Anti
Concert DVDs usually bum me out because while I’m watching, I just get jealous of all the people who were actually at the show. The Coachella DVD is no different (except I was at one of the shows). Filmed in bright vivid colors and focusing on the crowd just as much as the bands, this DVD will give you an accurate Coachella experience, only you’ll have to set your thermostat to 110 degrees to feel the actual desert heat. It’s worth the price solely for the live performances of The Arcade Fire, The Flaming Lips, Oasis, The Polyphonic Spree (look for me in front of the stage), The White Stripes, and many more.
Sacre Bleu
O’Neill/Sky Rondent
Rochelle Ballard and Melanie Bartels star in this travel film that follows the twosome around the globe and back. Beautifully filmed and tastefully scored, Sacre Bleu offers a nice insight into the world of traveling female surfers. Melanie is great as the funny cohost with Rochelle adding great commentary as well. Bottom line, these chicks are surfing really well in small waves and grinding barrels. Blue Crush who? Sacre Bleu is the real deal.
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight
EMI
Filmed in 1983 on David Bowie’s Serious Moonlight tour, this concert film shows David during one of his coolest phases as The Thin White Duke. The set list is fantastic and takes you through the years with songs like “Heroes,” “Golden Years,” “Let’s Dance,” “Life On Mars,” and many more. The concert looks so fun and any fan of Bowie will be wishing upon wishes that they were in the audience. Also included is a documentary about the Far East segment of the tour. Another Bowie must have!
Exotic Nucleotic
Starbird productions
Something’s fishy on the East Coast, and I like it. In a valiant D.I.Y. effort, Jason D. Page has put together quite the cast of “characters and f-king weirdoes” in order to fill over an hour’s worth of surfing, partying, puking, reckless driving, and barroom antics. People like Furry Murray, Smut Bucket, Boner, and Horski Jammer fill scenes between shredders like Shea Lopez, the Hobgoods, and Peter Mendia. Some great East Coast action and even some nudity make Exotic Nucleotic a good warm-up for the Florida summer.
Creepy Fingers
Veeco
What’s creepier than a snail on your face? I’ll tell you-pollution. Okay, now that that P.S.A. is out of the way, open up your DVD players and insert your Creepy Fingers DVD for the latest look into the warped minds of Veeco productions and R.T. Thomas. Artsy fades, trashy-rock music, and a grip of ripping from Veeco’s army of young wave slayers, including Jay Quinn, Mike Morrissey, Bol, Nate Tyler, Killian Garland, Andrew Doheny, and friends. Of course you also get Dean Morrison, some crazy Gavin Beschen footy (Gavin also scores his own soundtrack with an amazing guitar jam), and Bruce going wild. Creepy Fingers is an artistic look at surfing with a good message-be good to nature and nature may be good to you, as will this film. DVD also comes with a killer soundtrack CD.
Netflix Pick Of The Month
Wet Hot American Summer
With summertime peaking its little head around the corner, it’s time to get in the mood. And there’s no better movie to get you ready for summertime fun than Wet Hot American Summer. Rated R for awkward sex, drug use, cursing, and camping, this hilarious romp through summer camp is guaranteed to pop your funny fuse.
und the globe and back. Beautifully filmed and tastefully scored, Sacre Bleu offers a nice insight into the world of traveling female surfers. Melanie is great as the funny cohost with Rochelle adding great commentary as well. Bottom line, these chicks are surfing really well in small waves and grinding barrels. Blue Crush who? Sacre Bleu is the real deal.
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight
EMI
Filmed in 1983 on David Bowie’s Serious Moonlight tour, this concert film shows David during one of his coolest phases as The Thin White Duke. The set list is fantastic and takes you through the years with songs like “Heroes,” “Golden Years,” “Let’s Dance,” “Life On Mars,” and many more. The concert looks so fun and any fan of Bowie will be wishing upon wishes that they were in the audience. Also included is a documentary about the Far East segment of the tour. Another Bowie must have!
Exotic Nucleotic
Starbird productions
Something’s fishy on the East Coast, and I like it. In a valiant D.I.Y. effort, Jason D. Page has put together quite the cast of “characters and f-king weirdoes” in order to fill over an hour’s worth of surfing, partying, puking, reckless driving, and barroom antics. People like Furry Murray, Smut Bucket, Boner, and Horski Jammer fill scenes between shredders like Shea Lopez, the Hobgoods, and Peter Mendia. Some great East Coast action and even some nudity make Exotic Nucleotic a good warm-up for the Florida summer.
Creepy Fingers
Veeco
What’s creepier than a snail on your face? I’ll tell you-pollution. Okay, now that that P.S.A. is out of the way, open up your DVD players and insert your Creepy Fingers DVD for the latest look into the warped minds of Veeco productions and R.T. Thomas. Artsy fades, trashy-rock music, and a grip of ripping from Veeco’s army of young wave slayers, including Jay Quinn, Mike Morrissey, Bol, Nate Tyler, Killian Garland, Andrew Doheny, and friends. Of course you also get Dean Morrison, some crazy Gavin Beschen footy (Gavin also scores his own soundtrack with an amazing guitar jam), and Bruce going wild. Creepy Fingers is an artistic look at surfing with a good message-be good to nature and nature may be good to you, as will this film. DVD also comes with a killer soundtrack CD.
Netflix Pick Of The Month
Wet Hot American Summer
With summertime peaking its little head around the corner, it’s time to get in the mood. And there’s no better movie to get you ready for summertime fun than Wet Hot American Summer. Rated R for awkward sex, drug use, cursing, and camping, this hilarious romp through summer camp is guaranteed to pop your funny fuse.
