 | Stay Human by Michael Franti & Spearhead
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $5.42 An incredibly complete album - by turns ass-shaking, heart-rending, utterly inspiring...
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 | Red Hot + Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti by Various Artists
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $7.14 Amazing cast of characters, ups the ante on the relevance of Kuti's music today by adding touches of hip-hop and electronica, while still preserving Fela's unmistakable sound.
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 | Amos Lee by Amos Lee
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $3.44 A beautiful, soulful, heart-rending and incredibly complete album by a talented singer-songwriter with a voice that will conjure an unclassifiable ache in your soul. And you'll love every minute.
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 | Comfort Woman by Me'Shell Ndegéocello
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $4.68 Possibly the greatest album ever for making love. Sensual, beautiful, lots of reggae bass, but the sound textures and her voice suit the name of the album. Fuzzy. One of my all-time favorites.
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 | Brazilian Girls by Brazilian Girls
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $5.59 Sexy, moody, fun. Great rhythms, great atmosphere.
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 | DJ-Kicks by Thievery Corporation
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $8.93 A DJ session from an amazing group that creates their own incredible music as well. Sensual, mysterious, sounds from around the world (Caribbean, India, Middle East, Latin America). But always funky
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 | Trouble by Ray LaMontagne
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $6.84 A voice reminiscent of Otis Redding, more music that's good for the soul. A little derivative, but everything is so sweet, you won't care.
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 | Paul Simon by Paul Simon
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $5.98 Damn, this man is a MASTER songwriter.
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 | 7 by Zap Mama
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $4.22 Hard to choose just one of her albums - they're all incredible. But this one illustrates her range more fully than any other. And production by Michael Franti!
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 | Ozomatli by Ozomatli
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $2.38 This is one of the most original and exciting bands out there today, particularly as a live act. This is their first album, and still my favorite. But they are by no means running out of steam...
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 | White Ladder by David Gray
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $0.39 Incredibly complete album: beautiful melodies, interesting textures and lyrics, intense emotional quality. I sing along to every song and often still get chills.
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 | The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Buy new: $8.98 / Used from: $4.40 One of the greatest hip-hop albums ever made. Without question.
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 | Phrenology by Roots
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $2.74 Not just a hip-hop album. Not just a hip-hop group. Geniuses who represent American music and where it's going, particularly in their live shows. This album is an experience.
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 | I Want You by Marvin Gaye
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $4.79 I'm a Marvin Gaye freak. Some people might call me crazy for omitting "What's Going On?," one of the greatest albums ever, but I just wanted to hip people to this masterpiece of love and sexuality.
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 | Black on Both Sides by Mos Def
Buy used from: $2.99 Another Hip-Hop album that is not just a hip-hop album. A musical exploration from an incredible artist.
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 | Obrigado Brazil by Yo-Yo Ma
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $2.87 He's done some amazing collaborations. This one is captures the sensuality, playfulness, and rhythmic beauty of some samba, bossa nova, etc. Check out Appalachian Journey, too.
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 | Where Have I Known You Before by Return to Forever
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $4.49 I find a lot of 70's fusion cheesy. But this album transcends, in my view. Some beautiful moments.
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 | The Marciac Suite by Wynton Marsalis
Buy used from: $1.50 Marsalis is a master. I think he's produced a lot of great work. He has a lot of critics, but anything this playful, beautiful, and delicious just needs to be appreciated for what it is.
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 | Midnite Vultures by Beck
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $0.49 This is a subject of heavy debate with many people I meet, but I think this album is a masterpiece.
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 | Grace by Jeff Buckley
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $1.49 I believe this genius was capable of singing ANYTHING. The first song of his I heard was not on this album - it was "Everybody Here Wants You," and I thought it was a female R&B vocalist.
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 | Brown Sugar by D'Angelo
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $1.25 I LOVE THIS ALBUM! Underappreciated artist.
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 | Call Me by Al Green
Buy used from: $16.95 How do you pick just ONE Al Green album? "I'm Still In Love With You" and "Let's Stay Together" are awesome, but this album has my favorite song, "Have You Been Making Out OK?"
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 | Doin' Something by Soulive
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $3.40 Ass-shakin' funk and jazz technique without showing off. Classy, tasteful musicians that inject the classic soul-jazz vibe of Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, etc. with a hip-hop sensibility.
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 | President Alien by Yerba Buena
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $3.38 This album is so much fun I could mess myself. COULD but WON'T.
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 | Blazing Arrow by Blackalicious
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $3.17 Another hip-hop group pushing boundaries. A 9-minute suite on hear called "Release" with some incredible guests: Saul Williams and Lyrics Born (also has a great album).
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Listmania!
