Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) - Six Suites for Solo Cello (1717-1723), played by Pierre Fournier

The heaviest of the heavy. The Six Solo Cello Suites are are a landmark musical creation, and I consider them to be among mankind's most inspired artistic achievements. Every movement is a journey of the soul, every minute that I listen to this music I can feel my mind slowly expanding and growing along with the flowing, endless counterpoint. I think I love this music so much because I truly don't understand it. I will spend my whole life playing and studying these pieces, and I know that as time goes on I will only have a heightened awareness of their mystery. Listening to this music, playing this music, just being around it in any way is a mystical experience. It is purifying sound. It reaches down into the depths of my spiritual being and fills my life with meaning. Its fucking mind blowing, MAN. Fournier is also a god. Go there.

Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto (1963)

An instant double shot of 'feel-good'. I hit play and all of a sudden I'm on a white shore, with a spliff in one hand, tequila in the other, and a supermodel on my arm. This is without a doubt this is one of the most classic albums of all time, of any genre, of any time period. The songs are all very subtle and sophisticated, but they are all executed with a grace and ease that is truly mindblowing. Everything about this is Smooooooooooooooooth..............

Loscil - Submers (2002)

This is like entering a dream. This is some really fucking cool ambient music, really spare, really soft, fluid. It's like being submerged in some sort of blue gel. It is definitely very cerebral, and it is a journey into the subconscious. Don't be looking for hooks, don't be looking for beats, but absorb yourself into the soundworld, and let yourself be consumed in the atmopshere. If you drift off to sleep, thats totally cool because just on the edge of sleep is when I think this music is most effective. space out

Rephrase - Swaps (2008)

AWWWWWW SHEEEEEEET YEAH ITS FRIDAY AND ITS TIME TO PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Throw this shit down and you'll have everybody getting down and having a good time. Two CD's worth of funky fat fresh beats, remixed by Rephrase and other DJ's. Dig it.

Serge Gainsbourg - Initials SG (2003)

Probably the best greatest hits compilation of one of the coolest mother fuckers to ever live. This is the sexiest French music you can find anywhere. Gainsbourg is one of the best genre hoppers of all time, and with one quick trip through this compilation you will find it immediately apparent. He effortlessly blends jazz, smokey-blues, world, pop, pyschedelia, reggae, and any sort of style he feels like exploring, all done in the most drunkenly suave way. The man was a walking scandal--the song 'Je t'aime....moi non plus' was a number 1 hit in the UK in 1968 and featured a recorded orgasm of his lover Jane Birkin. His music was banned in many countries and the Vatican made a public statement denouncing the song. All in all, the man was a poet and genius, and has been cited by many musicians as a major influence. He is a hero to me. Listen to his music, he holds the key to your heart. l'amour

ALASKAS - Set Yourself Free (2009)

Woah. WOAAAAAAAH. I am listening to this right now the first time through and I am a little bit blown away. This is a 25 minute sonic whirlwind. Its like a really aggressive, powerful, intense, and loud Panda Bear or something. Unlike Panda Bear who creates long, swirling, unfolding cosmic jams, ALASKAS songs are sharp as a knife. They submerge you in an altered state of rhythms and swirling hymn-like vocals that sound like they are bubbling up from the center of the earth. If you like mesmerizing rhythms of Animal Collective and Panda Bear, and if you like visceral noise jams, you really might want to give this a listen. I'll warn you though, this shit is LOUD. I'm definitely going to be checking back in with this one. poop

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Highfives and Handshakes Records

The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat (1968)

Now before you get lulled to sleep by The Velvet Undergrounds' self titled album, here's your wake up call. Of all the loud, abrasive, violent, drugged out, fucked up, ear splitting rock albums ever made, there is one that towers above all the rest, and it is this album. This is the noise rock rule book. There are no rules. This is completely insane. I'll be honest its not an easy listen, and if you're looking to sit back and chill out, this is not quite what you are looking for. This is 40 minutes of intense, disturbing, avant garde rock and roll. I think I love this album so much partly due to that fact that no one living in 1968 would have even kind of been ready for this shit. It's 2009 and I'm still breaking out in cold sweats. This record sounds so fresh and in your face it could have been recorded yesterday, but its 41 years old, and that is a true accomplishment. Can you tell I'm on a Velvet Underground kick right now? CrAAAAANK it up and get your musical brain aneurysm for the day here.