September 29, 2025

Close Lobsters - Foxheads Stalk This Land (1987) ☠

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*First pressing.
Contains 10 tracks total.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Jangle Pop
Label Number: D2-73333
 
 
☠: Selected by Lass
© 1987 Enigma
In the mid-'80s, when Britain's underground music scene was dominated by jangly guitars, twee vocals, and fast rhythms, the Close Lobsters were there at the heart. The unusually named Foxheads Stalk This Land was not an album that suffered from over-production, however, this gives the songs a live, gritty feel. Influences stem, quite blatantly, from the Smiths, Orange Juice, the Byrds, and the Buzzcocks. Lyrically, the album does not bear close attention. Most songs comprise phrases which sound good when sung but not printed on a lyrics sheet -- perhaps that's how pop music should be. There is rarely a substandard track to be heard on this fine album, with "I Kiss the Flower in Bloom" being able to grace any Oasis or R.E.M. album. 
 
tags: close lobsters, foxheads stalk this land, 1987, flac,
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Luna - Lunapark (1992) ☠

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: 9 61360-2
 
 
☠: Selected by Lass
© 1992 Elektra
Luna's 1992 debut (originally released under the short-lived band name Luna 2 for contractual reasons) got most of its press due to Dean Wareham's former position as leader of the critically adored Galaxie 500, but his new cohorts Justin Harwood (bass) and Stanley Demeski (drums) were fresh from stints in the Chills and the Feelies, respectively. A rarity among albums by this type of alt-rock supergroup, Lunapark sounds like an appealing conglomeration of some of the best aspects of all three participants' former bands. Wareham's familiar bored whine and slow-motion guitar create an interesting tension when juxtaposed with Harwood's ultra-melodic bass and Demeski's hyperactive drums, as if each member is still playing with his old band. The album spawned two college radio hits, the deliciously depressive "Slide" (with its memorable opening line "You can never give the finger to the blind") and the jittery, propulsive "Slash Your Tires," but nearly all of the 12 songs have memorable guitar hooks, stick-in-your-head choruses, and a newfound sense of humor in Wareham's deadpan lyrics. Lesser-known gems include the surprisingly poppy "I Can't Wait" and the Television-like tension of the closing "We're Both Confused." Guests feature Wareham's old label head Kramer and Mercury Rev co-leader Grasshopper, who adds extra guitar to about a third of the album. 
 
tags: luna, lunapark, luna par, 1992, flac,
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Luna - Bewitched (1994) ☠

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: 61617-2
 
 
☠: Selected by Lass
© 1994 Elektra Records
Luna's second album drops the superfluous superscript (added to the band name on their first album for contractual reasons) and adds a second guitarist, Sean Eden. New producer Victor Van Vugt, who had previously done good work with Redd Kross and Kirsty MacColl, among others, strips away the reverb-happy haze that Fred Maher had coated 1992's Lunapark with, bringing Dean Wareham's vocals to the fore while (rather unfortunately) de-emphasizing Justin Harwood's bass and Stanley Demeski's drums. This makes Bewitched sound less unique than Lunapark, but happily, Wareham's songwriting is significantly sharper on this outing, with more direct lyrics and more memorable melodies. The witty breakup song "California (All the Way)" opens the album on a high point, and that quality level is maintained throughout the album. The addition of Eden does a lot to open up Luna's arrangements, since Wareham is an extremely distinctive guitarist who tends to get locked in the same sounds and patterns. Having a foil to play off of enlivens Wareham's playing, and instrumental passages like the extended codas of "Friendly Advice" and "Sleeping Pill" are much more interesting than similar bits on Lunapark. 
 
tags: luna, bewitched, 1994, flac,
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Luna - Penthouse (1995)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: 61807-2
 
© 1995 Elektra
Penthouse isn't as entrancing as Bewitched, since Dean Wareham is suffering a slight songwriting slump, yet the group's lush, droning guitars remain enchanting, and they're effectively fleshed out by primitive keyboards and strings. None of the songs are that dissimilar from each other, yet the washes of airy melodies and guitars make Penthouse quite listenable. And the album does feature one terrific bonus track with "Bonnie and Clyde," a cover of a Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot song performed in French by Wareham and Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab. 
 
 tags: luna, penthouse, 1995, flac,
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September 27, 2025

Various Artists - The Rapsody Ouverture - The First Movement - Лучшее Vol. 1 (2001)

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*This is an unofficial pressing released for the Russian market. 
Contains 22 tracks total.
Country: Russia
Language: English 
Genre: Hip-Hop, R&B, Downtempo
Label Number: None
 
© 2001 Клуб Любителей "Rapsody"
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: various artists, the rapsody ouverture, the first movement, vol 1, 2001, flac,
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Various Artists - The Rapsody Ouverture: The Third Movement Лучшее Vol.3 (2003)

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*This is an unofficial pressing released for the Russian market.
Contains 19 tracks total.
Country: Russia
Language: English 
Genre: Hip-Hop, R&B, Downtempo
Label Number: None
 
© 2003 Клуб Любителей "Rapsody"
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
 
tags: various artists, the rapsody ouverture, the third movement, vol 3, 2003, flac,
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September 24, 2025

Ride - Smile (1990) ☠

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Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Shoegaze
Label Number: 9 26390-2
 
 
☠: Selected by Lass 
© 1990 Sire/Reprise Records
A pairing of Ride's first two EPs, Smile is a batch of eight muddy, shambling wrecks that run dangerously close to obscuring great pop songs. In fact, much of Smile makes My Bloody Valentine's blurry Isn't Anything sound as polished as a Steely Dan record. What makes the tunes remarkable is the spirit of the band, along with a complementary mix. The band probably knew exactly what they were doing, but wanted to sound clueless. It's the sound of four art students losing themselves in their record collections, wanting to sound naïve and fresh but well-studied. Mark Gardener sounds like he couldn't sing to save his life on "Chelsea Girl," but it's no matter. The relentless rush of Loz Colbert's drums and distorted guitars of Gardener and Andy Bell carry the song, topped off by a nifty wah-wah climax. Though the mid-tempo, chugging "Drive Blind" could be taken literally, it could double as a metaphor for throwing oneself headlong into a relationship -- closing your eyes and not caring if a brick wall or cliff is up a mile ahead. The remainder is filled out with sticky riffs and melodies which avoid sounding like the standard pop fair. It sounds a bit amateurish, and Gardener and Bell hadn't quite found their footing vocally. Nonetheless, Smile brought something new to the table, and the U.K. audience and more adventurous U.S. fans clutched onto the sound for dear life. Rightfully so. [Oddly, Smile's mastering comes from the vinyl versions of the EPs. If you can track down the CD versions of the EPs separately, you'll notice a difference in quality. Also, the disc was remastered and reissued by Ignition in the U.K. in 2001; unlike the other releases in the campaign, the new version has no bonuses.] 
 
tags: ride, smile, 1990, flac,
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Lodger - How Vulgar (2007)

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Country: Finland
Language: English 
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: 0946 372258 2 0
 
© 2007 Capitol Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
 
tags: lodger, how vulgar, 2007, flac,
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September 22, 2025

Raheim - Life After Hip-Hop (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: KE100
 
© 1997 Khari Entertainment
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
 
 tags: rahiem, life after hip hop, single, vinyl, 1997, flac,
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Blood Ceremony - Blood Ceremony (2008)

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Country: Canada
Language: English 
Genre: Doom Metal
Style: Traditional Doom 
Label Number: CDL427CD
 
© 2008 Candlelight Records USA
With '90s stoner rock all but obsolete, or at the very least acknowledged to have long ago peaked, the third millennium's first decade gradually ushered in an entirely new generation of retro-looking bands whose sights were set on invoking the creative spirit and sonic aesthetic of '70s hard rock and metal -- often with almost eerie precision. Arguably kicked off -- on the metallic front anyway -- by Sweden's Witchcraft, this latest wave can now count with Canada's Blood Ceremony, whose eponymous 2008 debut fairly reeks of sweet incense and Mary Jane, while reverberating with foreboding early doom, and obscure heavy prog, for good measure. The slow-building atmospheric synth intro, creeping riffs, and sinister themes of opener "Master of Confusion" quickly proclaim the group's intentions to this effect, but the real surprise is saved for second cut, "I'm Coming with You," which adorns its own doom-laden power chords and Satanic invocations with recurring flute flourishes in the best Jethro Tull tradition. Turns out vocalist Alia O'Brien is the one wielding said Transverse Flute, as well as providing the frequent organ sounds layered all over subsequent tracks like "The Rare Lord" and "Hop Toad," thus providing most of the distinguishing ingredients that elevates the LP above the vintage metal average. Ironically, O'Brien's voice may actually be her weakest instrument, proving merely adequate on most of these tracks; so it's a good thing she brings so many different talents to the table, or else, Blood Ceremony's debut might have turned out significantly underwhelming, given its obviously surprise-free sonic tribute to the pioneering giants of yesteryear (Sabbath, Tull, Bedemon, Black Widow, etc.), frequently amusing, cod-Satanic lyrics. At the end of the day, though, even the band seems to be having a little fun with their occasional absurdities in the name of Beelzebub, and their mastery of '70s heavy rock templates is nothing to look down upon, but celebrated for keeping this timeless period in rock alive and bleeding. 
 
 tags: blood ceremony, blood ceremony album, 2008, flac,
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Blood Ceremony - Living With The Ancients (2011)

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Country: Canada
Language: English 
Genre:Dom Metal
Style: Traditional Doom 
Label Number: RISECD129
 
© 2011 Rise Above Records
 Canadian retro-rock quartet Blood Ceremony plod the same groove worn deep by Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, and other blues-rockers in the late '60s and early '70s. Their debut CD was a pretty decent effort, except for the vocalist, who was flat and tuneless. She's gotten better on this one, and her flute playing has improved, too; she multi-tracks herself on "Coven Tree" to excellent effect, sounding almost Ian Anderson-ish as the band cranks up the ultra-analog blooze/proto-metal riffage behind her. This record's sound is impeccable; it really could have been recorded in 1971. They even get the boxy drum sound right, something modern retro-rockers never manage. The lyrics are satanic hokum, calls to the Black Mass and whatnot, much like the similar Sabbath Assembly project, which set hymns written by post-hippie cult the Process Church of the Final Judgment to acid rock riffs. Living with the Ancients will absolutely appeal to fans of early-'70s proto-metal, but Electric Wizard fans should check it out, too; the band's songs have a similar incantatory power. 
 
 tags: blood ceremony, living with the ancients, 2011, flac,
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Blood Ceremony - The Eldritch Dark (2016)

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Country: Canada
Language: English 
Genre: Doom Metal
Style: Traditional Doom 
Label Number: RISECD164 
 
© 2013 Rise Above Records
 While most classic doom revival bands' inclination seems to be to put their heads down, grow their hair long, and follow in the footsteps of Black Sabbath, Toronto's Blood Ceremony are taking a different approach. Tapping into the more pastoral proto-metal sound of Jethro Tull, the band takes listeners on a sprawling and psychedelic journey on its third album, The Eldritch Dark. With a quasi-mystical combination of frantic flute, searing guitars, and brooding organ, Blood Ceremony pay tribute to the English prog bands that helped to shape heavy metal during its more elemental and formative years. With such careful attention to detail, The Eldritch Dark isn't just an homage to the sounds of the past, it's also a gateway to another era in metal history that, with any luck, more bands will go into and explore. 
 
 tags: blood ceremony, the eldritch dark, 2016, flac,
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Blood Ceremony - Lord of Misrule (2016)

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Country: Canada
Language: English 
Genre: Doom Metal
Style: Traditional Doom
Label Number: RISECD197
 
© 2016 Rise Above Records
Blood Ceremony have long held a special place in my heart. After all, 2013's The Eldritch Dark is one of my favorite albums of all time, the perfect listen for late night drives through the woods. Historically they are also a bit hit and miss; many seemed to feel that 2011's Living With The Ancients was a bit of a step back for the band. Still, there is something wonderfully eerie about Blood Ceremony and their obsession with bands like Coven and Black Widow. The visceral magic and otherworldly might that Blood Ceremony so easily harnesses often borders on transcendent. Their latest effort, Lord Of Misrule sees the band expanding on previous triumphs, and though I'm not sure that I prefer this release to The Eldritch Dark I can tell you this much: it's a damn good listen.

One of the things that has always made Blood Ceremony so good is Alia O'Brien's use of flute, giving the band a unique feel in their organ drenched, psychedelic soundscapes. After all, this is a group who don't just push boundaries but rather expand sonic possibilities in a genre that is too often cut off by stereotypical rock and roll tropes. Lord Of Misrule shines most brightly when Blood Ceremony fully embrace who they are rather than dawdling on bullshit notions that seem to be dominating the scene right now. The pure energy and tripped out beauty of these songs is only matched by the ethereal moments that caress the listener into a sense of sublime security. Inherently witchy, these guys are in a fight against a world that often eschews the old ways.

Long story short: Blood Ceremony have always embraced the pagan magic of their music. The band is at their finest when they readily engage with it and showcase the poppy magic that makes them so great. The album's second track, the inimitable "Loreley" is a perfect example of this. Blood Ceremony have always been against the grain and the more they showcase this the better off they are. When they fall into shouty vocals and stoner metal riffs I can't help but get bored, though. These guys have their thing, and the more they stick to it, the happier the listener is. Simply put, Blood Ceremony have some great fucking songs on this record, it just doesn't feel as universally solid as The Eldritch Dark was. It leaves me a little confused, wanting more, and not sure if the band can truly deliver.

Still, if you love old Blood Ceremony stuff then you are going to love this record. Objectively speaking, Lord Of Misrule is a great listen, it just doesn't always live up to the band's true potential. I hold them to a higher standard because I know they are capable of so much more. This is an album you will want to come back to time and time again though, there is a very real artistry behind the soundscapes and the pure poetic motion that falls into place with these songs. The druidic majesty of Lord Of Misrule will fascinate many a listener, and Blood Ceremony certainly know how to capitalize on that. Ever evolving and always interesting, this band has left me just a trifle disappointed, but I'm sure I will be coming back to Lord Of Misrule sooner than I would expect.

Score: 7.5/10
 
 tags: blood ceremony, lord of misuse, 2016, flac,
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September 17, 2025

The Crooklyn Dodgers - Crooklyn (12" Single) (1994)

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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: MCA 12-54883
 
© 1994 MCA Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
 
 tags: the crooklyn dodgers, crooklyn single, vinyl, 1994, flac,
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September 16, 2025

Rick Astley - Whenever You Need Somebody (1987)

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Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Pop Rock, Pop
Label Number: 6822-2-R
 
© 1987 RCA Victor
In the '80s and '90s, England's dance music team Stock, Aitken & Waterman was often accused of being too slick for its own good, and favoring style over substance. But the producers/songwriters (also known for their work with Dead or Alive and Samantha Fox) should definitely be proud of their work on fellow Briton Rick Astley's often captivating debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody. While the high-tech production is very '80s, Astley's soul/pop/dance music approach is very much a production of the '70s -- sort of the Average White Band meets Philly soul/disco meets Tom Jones. The best dance music works both on and off the dancefloor, and this certainly holds true on such slick yet gritty fare as "Together Forever," "Never Gonna Give You Up," and "Don't Say Goodbye." There are a few weak moments -- the lackluster "No More Looking for Love" being a glaring example -- but overall, this CD proved Astley to be a welcome addition to the British R&B scene. 
 
tags: rick astley, whenever you need somebody, 1987, flac,
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Vanessa Paradis - Variations Sur Le Même T’aime (1990)

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Country: France
Language: French (français)
Genre: Pop Rock, Pop
Label Number: 843 447-2
 
© 1990 Polydor
Having scored a pan-European smash three years earlier with her debut single, "Joe le Taxi," including nearly three months at the top of the charts in her native France, Vanessa Paradis reunited with producer Franck Langolff for this follow-up album. The legendary Serge Gainsbourg provided lyrics, but the results are hardly up to the treatments given his material by Jane Birkin. Paradis' vocals are wispy and pleasant enough, but the music is strictly pedestrian, slick dance-pop on tracks such as "Au Charme Non Plus" and "Amour Jamais." There's even a bit of grinding guitar bolstering "L'Amour en Soi," which seems blandly aimed at replicating Janet Jackson's "Black Cat." Her reading of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" has a quirky charm to it; although hardly making anyone forget the original, it wisely eschews the processed feel of the rest of the album and therefore stands out. 
 
 tags: vanessa paradis, variations sur le meme taime, 1990, flac,
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Vanessa Paradis - Vanessa Paradis (1992)

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Country: France
Language: English
Genre: Pop Rock
Label Number: 513 954-2
 
© 1992 Remark Records
French pop star (and significant other of Johnny Depp) recorded her English-language debut record in 1991; the self-titled disc was a bit of a flop commercially, but, surprisingly, succeeds artistically. Producer Lenny Kravitz gives Vanessa Paradis some of his best songs and she really can carry a tune with her breathy little-girl vocals. The highlights of the record are many, but the songs that will have you smiling like a fool at the sheer poptasticness of it all are the gliding funk with orchestra of "Natural High;" the strutting girl group of "Be My Baby;" the sweet-as-sugar sunshine pop of "Sunday Mondays;" the psych-soul of "Your Love Has Got a Handle on My Mind" (which features Paradis' most assured vocal and a nice background assist from Kravitz); and the sweet soul of "Just as Long as You Are There." Even her cover of the Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting for the Man" works wonders. It really shouldn't, but the propulsive beat and Paradis' sexy vocals somehow do the trick. The only song that falls flat is the autumnal folk of "Silver and Gold," as the ultra-serious lyrics and tone are painfully out of step with the glitter and groove of the rest of the record. Kravitz should be praised for his wonderful production. He rarely makes a wrong move and provides wonderful settings for Paradis to shine. It is too bad they didn't make more records together. Johnny Depp's gain is pop music's loss. Odds are there will never be a deluxe reissue (sadly), so you will have to seek this out in used stores and bargain bins. 
 
tags: vanessa paradis, vanessa paradis album, 1992, flac,
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Everything But The Girl - Amplified Heart (1994)

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*U.S. pressing.
Contains 11 tracks total.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Pop
Label Number: 82605-2
 
© 1994 Atlantic
Despite its title, Amplified Heart is one of Everything but the Girl's more acoustic works. A simple instrumentation of guitars and keyboards, augmented here and there by British folk-rock veterans like Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson, and Dave Mattacks, serves to set up a series of songs of romantic disillusionment. Declaring "my life is just an image of a roller coaster, anyway" and "I don't understand anything," among other things, over and over the songs speak of confusion and disappointment deriving from failed love affairs. The approach is much more introspective than that taken on the group's previous album of new music, Worldwide, but Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt's musical restraint supports it well. This is an album to listen to when you've just broken up with your lover, or even when you're just in the mood to think about lost lovers from long ago -- self-pity set to music. 
 
 tags: everything but the girl, amplified heart, 1994, flac,
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September 13, 2025

Melakii - Ghetto Passion (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: GC-101
 
© 1998 Ghetto Child Entertainment
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

*Notes from the author:
The tracklist printed on this record's label is incorrect. I have only ever personally seen this record twice in my life, and both copies had the same incorrect track listing. Since this is, to my knowledge, the only recording Melakii ever released in his musical career, I believe the pressing plant and record company both used the wrong track list. Below, you can view the tracklist as printed on the label, along with my corrections for each track title.

Tracklisting for Side A (according to the label):
A1: Ghetto Passion (Smooth Version) (Clean)
A2: Ghetto Passion (Smooth Version) (Dirty)
A3: Ghetto Passion (Smooth Version) (Instrumental)

In reality, there are no "clean", "dirty" or "radio" & "street" versions of "Ghetto Passion" on this pressing. The track contains no profanity anywhere in its lyrics. A1 is what's labeled as the Smooth Version (more on this later.) A2 is actually the instrumental track, and A3 is the acapella track, which, again, contains no profanity or censored lyrics.

Tracklisting for Side B (according to the label):
B1: Ghetto Passion (Rugged Version) (Clean)
B2: Ghetto Passion (Rugged Version) (Dirty)
B3: Ghetto Passion (Rugged Version) (Instrumental)

As with Side A, there are no "clean", "dirty" or "radio" & "street" versions. The Rugged Version of "Ghetto Passion" reuses the same lyrics as the Smooth Version. B1 contains the Rugged Version, B2 is actually the instrumental track, and B3 is the acapella track.

*Possible discrepancies between track versions: 
I personally believe that the track titles for the Rugged and Smooth versions were mistakenly swapped. Based on the different mixes and production styles, it seems likely that the version labeled as the Rugged Version is actually the Smooth Version and vice versa.

*While I cannot definitively prove that the track titles for the Smooth & Rugged versions were swapped, I encourage listeners to compare both versions and decide for themselves. 

For reference, this rip contains the correct track listings for A2, A3, B2, and B3.

tags: melakii, ghetto passion, single, vinyl, 1998, flac,
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Bedroom Produksionz - Non-Fiction/Temple No. 8 (12" Single) (2000)

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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: KLP 122
 
© 2000 K
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
 
tags: bedroom produksionz, productions, non fiction, temple no 8, number 8, vinyl, 2000, flac,
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Mýa - My First Night With You (New Remixes) (1999)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Language: English, Spanish (Español)
Genre: R&B, House
Label Number: INTDM-97059
 
© 1999 University Music/Interscope
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: mya, my first night with you, new remixes, 1999, flac,
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September 12, 2025

The Merry Thoughts - Millenium Done I: Empire Songs (1994)

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Country: Germany
Language: English 
Genre: Gothic Rock
Label Number: BN 468
 
© 1994 Dion Fortune
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
 
 tags: the merry thoughts, millennium done empire songs, 1993, 1994, flac,
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Rosetta Stone - Adrenaline (1993)

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Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Gothic Rock
Label Number: CLEO 12752
 
© 1993 Cleopatra
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
 
 tags: rosetta stone, adrenaline, 1993, flac,
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