Firstly, the use of the phrase "blissed-out" shouldn't simply be disallowed. Secondly, the term "soundscape" is a contrived, pseudo intellectual cop out for when writers don't have anything too valid to comment upon. And if you read anything from Pitchfork or the generally buoyant Brainwashed, you might run into those terms when exploring the new disc from Chicago's CAVE.

The LA torch of ska and reggae hasn't been past on from Hepcat - they're still there (the two singers on the right). But the Lions can definately work up a JA groove... Spotted via Amoeba's Twitter account...

I live for the funk, I'll die for the funk... For whatever reason, this weekend yielded a veritable slew of funk compilations mostly from Deejay Uilson, but also a good grouping from My Favourite Sound.

Kinda psyched 'bout this. Dug at Dancing Mood - and yes there are still people who care about ska...

There aren't too many records that can actually compare to Dins (Social Registry, 2006). It'd be nice if there were, but music geeks just aren't that lucky.

I don't know if I would have been able to identify this as a European outing judging the album by the art work on the front, but I could have made a good guess. Even with the solid colored squares and circles that are displayed for the listener to see, the music, at least the first half of the album is engorged with European style electronic hip hop.

booker t, demons teasing me, earth, wind and fire, funk, ike turner, james ensor, James Hunter, Jerry Reed, king khan, kool and the gang, labi saffre, Melvin Jackson, mix, mohawks, RnB, shuggie otis, soul, stevie wonder, the funky meters, the meters, the mighty hannibal, tina turner, wendy rene, 2008, Music, Pirate Satellite, Podcast

Allow me to say that I really enjoy reading Paste. I, however, hate year end lists more than I hate wearing tight pants in general - but specifically after a huge meal.

Made up primarily of Reverend Thomas Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique amongst various collaborators like Sufjan Stevens, The Welcome Wagon differs greatly from what might be expected from a short glance at the album cover.

There isn't one simple way to divide those artists that provide some similarity to Robert Zimmerman into a good and bad category while explaining why each effort has been relegated to either column.

This debut pretty much has it all. Simple melodies and percussion, ample guitar work and vocals that are friendly enough that one might be able to hear them emanating from your friends' kitchen.