 | Third by Portishead
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $5.49 After a painfully long hiatus, the legendary group is back, and the album's a stunner! The sound is fresher than ever; this is no half-hearted band reunion here. More live sounding and less reliant on samples than the previous works, some "fans" of the band have been reviewing it poorly because it's not "Dummy", but I give the band extra props because their sound evolved and it's breathtaking!
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 | Late Night Cinema by Blue Sky Black Death
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $8.18 This production duo from the Bay Area has done beats for several respectable MCs in the game, but this is their first instrumental album, and it's about as close to perfection as you can get! Comparisons to early Shadow & Blockhead aren't far off, but this is a unique sound that has to be heard.
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 | Walking Backwards by Clutchy Hopkins
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $6.29 Beautiful instrumental hip-hop and downtempo played with live instruments and drums by the emerging legend Clutchy Hopkins. No one knows for sure who he is, but I know this album is some moody & groovy shiznit! A must for a variety of instrumental music lovers.
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 | The Odd Couple by Gnarls Barkley
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $3.05 With all the fanfare and critical acclaim that followed this duo's debut, it would be really easy to suffer the sophomore slump, but Gnarls Barkley delivers again. Some of the songs retain a similar feel to "St. Elsewhere", but others tread an entirely new ground...hopefully this means the group will continue to grow with each album. Kudos!
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 | Manifest by Chessie
Buy new: $10.98 / Used from: $0.09 Gorgeous instrumental electro-rock full of pensive, slow-builders and ambient, washed-out interludes. Highly recommended for fans of Do Make Say Think, Lymbyc Systym, et al. Zone out and give it a listen!
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 | In Rainbows by Radiohead
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $4.10 Another incredible album by the best band in popular music. The download concept was revolutionary, but I'm an artwork and packaging geek, and it rocks too! The download actually came out in '07, but the official record release was 1/1/08, so what better way to start the year! Fans of the band will not be disappointed, and if somehow you've never heard them, this is a nice place to start.
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 | Quaristice by Autechre
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $6.86 Lovers of glitchy electronic music have long revered this duo, and on their ninth release they continue to inspire. This album has much shorter tracks than the last, and a little more accessibility, but longtime fans will still be plenty giddy!
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 | Turning Dragon by Clark
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $5.84 British producer Chris Clark continues to evolve and adapt with each release, and once again he doesn't disappoint. This album is much more beat-heavy electronica flavored than "Body Riddle", but Clark's melodic feel and ambient undertones are still there. Bump this!
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 | Live at Low End Theory by Daedelus
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $3.79 Daedelus in all his rare beauty captured live & put on disc! A few tracks are a bit too dance-techno for my taste, but there's plenty of the patented nostalgia sound, so fans who have yet to see the man in concert should definitely listen.
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 | The Outside by Eliot Lipp
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $2.01 To be honest, I thought Eliot Lipp's last couple discs were disappointing after his killer debut, but he's back on track with this one. Slammin' beats with plenty of retro synth lines and a dusty sample here or there, it's Eliot doing what he does best! He also takes it a little further out there on some of these tracks...which is nice:?
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 | Live at the Royal Albert Hall by Cinematic Orchestra;The
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $5.99 Catching TCO live in the States is a rare and beautiful thing, and I consider myself lucky to have seen them deliver an amazing show a few years back in Chicago. For fans who haven't seen them in concert, this disc is a great example of their live sets, backed by a full orchestra on this night & captured in great sound quality.
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 | Monstre Cosmic by Monade
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $7.00 Laetitia Sadier's side project isn't too far removed from her main band Stereolab, but the sound is better than recent 'Lab offerings in my opinion. This album is Monade's best yet, flowing nicely from beginning to end & showcasing Sadier's angelic voice throughout.
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 | Western Water Music Vol. 2 by Nobody Presents: Blank Blue
Buy new: $16.99 / Used from: $2.98 Nobody a.k.a. Elvin Estrela is back with his unique West Coast blend of psychedelic folk & hip-hop, this time featuring the lovely vocals of Niki Randa throughout the album. The title sort of implies a sequel to his previous "Western Water Music" disc, but this one is a much more unified effort, with angelic vocals in the forefront. Bien hecho!
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