Black Star, "Definition"
We've had Mos Def, we've had Talib Kweli, but now it's time for their collaboration. Black Star loomed large over the later careers of both men, and for good reason: this is easily one of the greatest hip-hop records ever made. Off the top of my head, there are only a very small handful of records I'd put ahead of it. The spare, precise, jazz-inflected beats married perfectly with the impossibly deft rhyming from Mos and Kweli. This album is basically perfect.
I had to stop the shuffle after this song to listen to "RE: DEFinition" once this song finished.
Elvis Costello, "Black And White World (Demo)"
I think I've got too many random-ass bonus tracks and ephemera from Costello. This stuff might be fine as an occasional listen, but it really kind of clutters up the joint around here.
The Blood Brothers, "Huge Gold AK-47"
It makes total sense that Guy Picciotto produced these guys, you know?
Otis Redding, "Come To Me"
My god, Otis.
Flop, "Idle Hands"
After the loose, goofy pop of their first album, Flop got swept up in the feeding frenzy of the 90s and ended up on Sony. A misguided record with slick production resulted, and it was a disappointment after their brilliant debut. They wound up back on their original home, Frotier, and put out one more record, World of Today. It brought them back to their roots, although I don't think the songs are quite as strong. Still, a worthy if forgotten record these days.
As a side note, how 90s is that album cover?