Here are a few albums I highly recommend
The Bobby Hughes Experience “Fusa Riot” - A fast paced and upbeat but smooth fusion of jazz, samba, and electronic music. It’s a perfect for parties. Throw it on and everyone will want to know what’s playing.
Dusted “When We Were Young” - This is the illegitimate child of the trip hop band Faithless. A very relaxing album with a wide range of emotion, from upbeat to mellow to somber and intense. Great for watching the sunset on a beach. Not a perfect album though, the concluding tracks don’t live up to the incredible beginning and the final track is a throwaway techno remix.
The Avalanches “Since I Left You” - An upbeat, irreverent, party in a box. Sample mania, you never know what to expect next.
RJD2 “Dead ringer” - The debut album of a new artist that used to DJ and produce for MHz (who I’m not in love with), and its giving DJ Shadow a run for his money. Flawless production, excellent sample selection, funky beats, and tight emcees, this album is modern hip hop fusion at its best.
dZihan & Kamien “Gran Riserva” - The follow up to the extremely successful “Freaks & Icons.” dZihan (pronounced “Jay San” don’t ask me why) & Kamien have moved away from house/techno tracks to more jazzy downtempo music that still retains its dance club roots, and they pulled off the transition beautifully.
Kid Loco “Jesus Life For Children Under 12 Inches” - It says 33 1/3 rpm but you’ll swear its not breaking 15. A natural relaxant, the essence of smokey, downtempo, and best enjoyed when you’ve exhausted all your energy and. you. cant. move.
**N.E.R.D. ** “In Search Of…”- The most noteworthy commercial hip hop album in years. Producer and emcee Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes has put together an eclectic mix of gangsta party anthems and laid back groove tunes.
Prefuse 73 “Vocal Studies And Uprock Narratives” – Best described as glitch music, dark and at times harsh electronic beats and hip hop samples make for an unusual mix that seems like it should sound more discordant than it does.
Boozoo Bajou “Satta!” – Latin beats that will get you moving and then slow you down, a heavenly blend of Latin jazz, samba, bossa nova, dub, and electronic music.
Tortoise “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” – Detached, experimental rock that doesn’t rock, it rises, floats and drifts back down again. Guitars have never sounded so ethereal.
Cymande “Cymande” – A massively underappreciated 70’s Jamaican export. Reggae, funk, soul, and rock set a groovy tone for Rastafarian ideals of peace, love, nature, and of course weed.