March 18, 2025

Velveteen - After Hours (1983)

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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: New Wave
Label Number: 80119-1-Y

© 1983 Atlantic
Velveteen is a duo featuring Sal Maida -- who played bass for Roxy Music, Milk & Cookies, Golden/Carillo, and Cherrie Currie, among others -- and vocalist Lisa Burns, once produced by Craig Leon when he had Willie Alexander & the Boom Boom Band up at Suntreader Studios recording in Vermont. The Boom Boom Band backed up Lisa Burns on a 1978 self-titled MCA records release during those sessions, performing material by Moon Martin, Jackie DeShannon, and the Box Tops. Five years later she changes styles from rock to dance. The black-and-white cover of this six-song Velveteen release on Atlantic entitled Afterhours has Maida with the obligatory sunglasses and Burns looking like a new wave chanteuse. They look smart, they look the part, and had the record sounded like the Velvet Underground meets Roxy Music as the title and image suggest, it may have made more of a splash. "Nightline" is the best song here, strong hook and crystal clear production, it's just that the Linn drums make for monotonous rock & roll and their sound dominates a recording which half rocks. It's good dance music -- material Sal Maida was familiar with having recorded on Gary Private's "Lonely Hearts," but the project may have been better served had Milk & Cookies re-formed to back up Burns the way Willie "Loco" Alexander's band did in the '70s. "Nothing to Do" slinks around in a nice and evil way, but had the wild abandon of a rock group interrupted the precision, the record would beg repeated spins. "Preoccupied" is the closest thing to rock, the Seeds' eternal "Pushin' too Hard" riff convoluted in a world where it -- and these musicians -- didn't really belong: the dance world. "Wild Rain" and "Get Wild" are the alleged obsession with uncontrolled emotion, a promise unfulfilled. If only the 1978 Lisa Burns disc had the production values she and Maida give this release -- much more precise and on target than Craig Leon's sparse underproduction. Lisa Burns has an appealing voice and style, and what she needed was a long-term record deal. Too bad "Nightline" wasn't a Top 40 smash; it's so hard watching important artists climb the mountaintop only to be abandoned at the summit. Lisa Burns falls into that category.

 tags: velveteen, after hours, 1983, flac, vinyl, 
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March 16, 2025

Trees - Sleep Convention (1982) ☠

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*First pressing. 
Contains 10 tracks total. 
Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: New Wave
Label Number: MCA-5348

☠: Selected by Lass
© 1982 MCA Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

 tags: trees, sleep conventions, 1982, flac, vinyl,
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Various Artists - A Matter of Degrees (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1991) ☠

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Country, Alternative Rock, Hip-Hop
Label Number: 7 82245-2

☠: Selected by Lass
© 1991 Atlantic Records
The university-set flop A Matter of Degrees is most memorable for JFK, Jr.'s cameo and its soundtrack, which fields a pretty accurate encapsulation of the U.S. college rock scene in the early '90s. Yo La Tengo, fIREHOSE, Uncle Tupelo, Schooly D(!), Throwing Muses, and Nova Mob all make fine appearances, and Miracle Legion fittingly cover Mission of Burma's "Academy Fight Song." Overall, it's rather mediocre fare. The only thing preventing the disc from playing like a college radio program circa 1991 is a public service announcement from Henry Rollins.

 tags: various artists, a matter of degrees, original motion picture soundtrack, ost, 1991, flac,
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March 14, 2025

Rawcotiks - Live Your Life/Magic Chef (12" Single) (1997)

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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: FIV 1001

© 1997 First Try Entertainment
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: rawcotiks, live your life, magic chef, 12 inch, single, vinyl, 1997, flac,
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March 10, 2025

DJ Eli • Shan Boogs - Cloudkickers (1999)

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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: FE-CK1

© 1999 Fondle 'Em Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: dj eli, shan boogs, cloudkickers, cloud kickers, 1999, flac, vinyl,
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March 08, 2025

DMX - Born Loser (12" Single) (1993)

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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: 42 74908

© 1993 Ruffhouse/Chaos Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: dmx, born loser, 12 inch, single, 1993, flac,
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Rawcotiks - Nevertheless/Real Heads (12" Single) (1997)

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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: HP-2000

© 1997 Opposition Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

tags: rawcotiks, nevertheless, real heads, 12 inch, single, 1997, flac,
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March 04, 2025

Rawcotiks - Hardcore Hip-Hop (12" Single) (1996)

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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: 50088-12

© 1996 Freeze Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

tags: rawcotiks, hardcore hip hop, 12 inch, single, vinyl, 1996, flac,
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March 02, 2025

Various Artists - Twilight: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2008)

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*U.K. pressing. 
Contains 12 tracks total.
A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Pop Rock, Alternative Rock, Downtempo, Acoustic
Label Number: 515923-2

© 2008 Summit Ent./Chop Shop/Atlantic
Since Stephenie Meyer's hugely popular series of vampire books, Twilight, included thank-yous to the bands that inspired her writing, it makes sense that the Twilight soundtrack includes some of her favorite acts. Chief among them is Muse, whose darkly funky "Supermassive Black Hole" kicks off this mix of alt-rock brooding (Linkin Park, Collective Soul) and more eclectic -- but still mostly melancholy -- tracks. Paramore contributes two tracks, the churning "Decode" and the soaring ballad "I Caught Myself," neither of which match the best moments from the band's albums, even though Hayley Williams' crystalline vocals make a fitting backdrop to Bella Swan's supernatural love triangle angst. Most of Twilight follows suit with slickly dark songs like Mutemath's "Spotlight (Twilight Mix)" and Blue Foundation's "Eyes on Fire," and while they're not bad, they are predictable. The Black Ghosts' spookily folktronic "Full Moon" and Perry Farrell's dance-tinged "Go All the Way (Into the Twilight)" offer some changes of pace, with the former working better than the latter. The album's last moments offer a few glimpses of originality, even if actor Robert Pattison (aka beautiful teen vampire Edward Cullen)'s "Never Think" is heavily influenced by Jeff Buckley. Iron & Wine's "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" and Carter Burwell's "Bella's Lullaby" close the album on a relatively high note, elevating some of the overly typical choices earlier on the soundtrack. Even if it's often too predictable, Twilight fits the mood of the books -- and the musical tastes of the books' fans -- well enough to make it a reasonable success.

 tags: various artists, twilight, original motion picture soundtrack, ost, 2008, flac,
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Street Smartz - F-It-Less (12" Single) (1998)

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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: CRIM 008-1

© 1998 Tru Criminal Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

tags: street smartz, smarts, f it less, single, 12 inch, vinyl, 1998, flac,
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Various Artists - Threesome: Music From The Motion Picture (1994)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Pop Rock, Pop, Indie Rock
Label Number: EK 57881

© 1994 Epic Soundtrax
The soundtrack to the sex comedy Threesome functions more like a mid-'90s time capsule than a collection of film music, gathering shiny alternative rock-like Tears for Fears' "New Star," Brad's "Buttercup," and Jellyfish's "He's My Best Friend." The album also has its fair share of oddities, such as General Public's well-meaning but curiously flat cover of the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There," Teenage Fanclub's similarly 'off' cover of "Like a Virgin," and U2's somewhat hard-to-find "Dancing Barefoot" -- a song that wasn't collected on a U2 album until their 1998 Best Of 1980-1990 B-Sides compilation was released. Likewise, Duran Duran's live version of "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" didn't appear on one of their own releases until 2003's Singles 81 -- 85 collection. Human Sexual Response's "What Does Sex Mean to Me?" Bryan Ferry's "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" and New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle" are all apt enough for the film's themes, but aside from the formerly rare tracks it features, Threesome isn't an especially distinctive or entertaining soundtrack.

tags: various artists, threesome, music from the motion picture, ost, soundtrack, 1994, flac
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March 01, 2025

Various Artists - Mad Love (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1996)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Post Grunge
Label Number: 72445-11111-2

© 1995 Zoo Entertainment/BMG Music
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

 tags: various artists, mad love, the original motion picture soundtrack, ost, soundtrack, 1996, flac,
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Various Artists - The PJs (Music From & Inspired By The Hit Television Series) (1999)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop, R&B
Label Number: HR-62170-2

© 1999 Hollywood Records
Like the show itself, the soundtrack to The PJs is studded with talent. A cast of urban music's hottest players fill out this collection, which includes veterans like Snoop Dogg, Goodie Mob and George Clinton, who performs the show's theme song. The album also includes new music from Jermaine Dupri and Da Brat ("It's Nothing"), Timbaland ("Talkin' Trash") and Raekwon with American Cream Team ("Giant Size"). The PJs' soundtrack captures the energy and creativity of today's urban music.

 tags: various artists, the pjs, music from and inspired by the hit television series, soundtrack, ost, 1999, flac,
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Asher D - Street Sibling (2003)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: ISOM31CD; 5087122000

© 2003 Independiente
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

 * Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled. 


 tags: asher d, street sibling, 2003, flac,
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The Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music (2003)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative County
Label Number: B0000076-02

© 2003 American Recordings
The Jayhawks' seventh album backs away from their "super-pop" releases like Smile and the underrated Sound of Lies and looks back to their earlier, rootsier sound. The band has whittled itself down again following the departures of keyboardist Jen Gunderman and longtime guitarist Kraig Johnson, leaving behind core songwriter and vocalist Gary Louris, founding member Marc Perlman on bass, and longtime drummer Tim O'Reagan assisted by newcomer Stephen McCarthy on guitar. Produced by Ethan Johns (and overseen by Rick Rubin), Rainy Day Music goes back even further than the band's first albums, channeling the ghosts of the Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Buffalo Springfield, and interpreting their '60s folk jangle and lazy, sunny harmonies through the Jayhawks' own sweetly awkward formula. "Madman," in particular, gives the listener a sense of Déjà Vu, sounding like a long lost CSNY demo, and the chiming Rickenbacker 12-string guitar of the leadoff track, "Stumbling Through the Dark," could've been lifted right from the master tapes of "Mr. Tambourine Man." The first six tracks are all vintage Louris gems -- trembling and honest, with warm melodies and hooks for days. Unfortunately, the album stumbles in the second half with the inclusion of two O' Reagan compositions (which try too hard to evoke John Lennon's world-weary mumble and Bob Dylan's nasal whine), and an unsuccessful stab at heartland gospel on "Come to the River." Although the summertime love song "Angelyne" and the waltzing "Will I See You in Heaven" provide bright spots near the end, the album never fully recovers. This is a real shame, since the whole affair starts so strong, and it seems as though if side B could've been trimmed by about four songs (and 15 minutes), Rainy Day Music would stand alongside their strongest albums. Still, fans who complained that their last two albums were "too poppy" or "not rootsy enough" should be pleased with this direction, and it's certainly an album that gets better with each listen, so it may yet prove to be worth its weight in acoustic gold.

 tags: the jayhawks, rainy day music, 2003, flac,
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February 13, 2025

Various Artists - Fresh Rap (1988)

By No comments
*Contains digitally remastered tracks. 
A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: NU 685-2

© 1988 K-Tel International (USA), Inc.
This budget compilation does have a representative crop of recent hits and typical K-Tel sound.
 
tags: various artists, fresh rap, 1988, flac,
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Naam Brigade - Early In The Game (2002)

By 
*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: 80119-01023-2

© 2002 Artist Direct Records
Regrouping after the retiring of the Task Force moniker subsequent to the shooting death of leader Q-Don took a few years, but the fruits of their labor came to fruition with a deal with Artist Direct and the Early in the Game debut. The disc has a few decent tracks, most notably the guitar-augmented, slamming "We Live It" and "Can't Let It Go," which incorporates Sting's "Shape of My Heart" and female vocal accompaniment of labelmate Sharli McQueen in a tale regaling the tough Philly streets. However, NAAM Brigade lacks a distinctive voice among the four MCs that make up the troupe, the production rarely stands out as anything special, and most of the lyrics don't expand much beyond the usual thugs-and-bitches musings, though the worst offender, "What You Doin' Wit Dat" (which features guest rapper Juvenile), is undeniably clever.

 * Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled. 


 tags: naam brigade, early in the game, 2002, flac 
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Various Artists - Beverly Hills Cop III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Promo CD) (1994)

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*This is a promotional copy with an altered track listing, 
not intended for consumer sale. 
This pressing contains 10 tracks total. 
A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: MCAD-11021

© 1994 MCA Records
Like the movie itself, the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop III is dull and uneventful, providing very few reasons to listen to this collection of safe, mainstream pop/rock.

 tags: various artists, beverly hills cop iii, 3, original motion picture soundtrack, ost, promo, 1994, flac,
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Various Artists - Coach Carter (Music From The Motion Picture) (2005)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop, R&B
Style: Gangsta Rap, Pop Rap
Label Number: CDP 7243 8 63164 2 4

© 2005 Capitol Records
The soundtrack to Coach Carter, a drama starring Samuel L. Jackson as the hard-line coach of a high-school basketball team, is much like that of many other soundtracks for major movies released since the early '90s. The track list reads like a mix of up-and-coming artists, big names dusting off B-quality material, and a handful of tracks that no one recalls hearing in the movie. (In fact, just over a third of the songs on this disc have nothing to do with the movie at all, apart from stylistic kinship with what does appear.) Many of the selections for artists included are very timely, since the likes of Ciara, Kanye West, Fabolous, Twista, and Chingy were all incredibly popular at the time of the movie's early-2005 release. By no means is the disc a throwaway -- Red Café's "All Night Long," the Game's "Southside," Ciara's "Roll Wit U" (if nowhere near as brilliant as "Goodies" or "1, 2 Step"), and West's over-a-year-old "Wouldn't You Like to Ride" (originally heard on a 2003 release from collaborator Malik Yusef) are significant standouts -- but a number of other tracks will resonate only with those who can place them in the context of the movie. Strange: Ashanti, who plays pregnant girlfriend number one in the movie and released a new album in late 2004, does not kick in with a contribution.

 tags: various artists, coach carter, music from the motion picture, soundtrack, ost, 2005, flac,
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February 12, 2025

Various Artists - The Fan (Music From The Motion Picture) (1996)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock, R&B, Hip-Hop, Trip-Hop
Label Number: TVT 8060-2

© 1996  TVT Soundtrax
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: various artists, the fan, music from the motion picture, ost, soundtrack, 1996, flac,
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Various Artists - Good Burger: Music From The Original Motion Picture (1997)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B, Hip-Hop, Post Grunge, Alternative Rock
Label Number: CDP 7243 8 57955 2 7

© 1997 Capitol Records
From a decadently funky version of The Police classic, "Roxanne" by Spearhead to 702's "All I Want," a blend of smooth, modern R&B and Jackson Five-ish retro '70's bubblegum-Motown, the soundtrack to GOOD BURGER satisfies. Here is a delicious sampling of urban and alternative music, including The Presidents of the United States of America, Redd Kross, and George Clinton with Digital Underground. Clinton is also paid tribute by Trulio Disgracias and De La Soul, who revel in a spirited version of Clinton's famous "Do Fries Go With That Shake?". GOOD BURGER mellows out with 1000 Clowns' "(Not The) Greatest Rapper" and Tracie Spencer's sweet R&B tune, "I'll Be There For You."

 tags: various artists, good burger, music from the original motion picture, ost, soundtrack, 1997, flac,
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Various Artists - Two Can Play That Game (Music From The Motion Picture) (2001)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B, Hip-Hop
Label Number: 088 112 711-2

© 2001 MCA/UMG Soundtracks
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

tags: various artists, two can play it that game, music from the motion picture, soundtrack, ost, 2001, flac,
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