this youtube video may have turned me off of your recommendations permanently.

I absolutely abhor that video as well, as I previously mentioned. Of course, it's your loss anyways ;)

i meant the music...

I'm sure you did

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/albu...0a6/340666.jpg

RBX—The RBX Files (1995)
Despite the fact that it starts off with two consecutive intro skits and one of the bitchiest diss tracks ever recorded, this is really a pretty good album. So good, in fact, that I'm a little surprised I've never really heard anything about it before. Mood-wise I guess I'd compare it to Ice Cube since it's a mix of gangsta songs and socially conscious songs sprinkled with a sizable amount of five percenter silliness. That's not to say it sounds like Ice Cube though, RBX has pretty great style of rapping that's all his own. Definitely worth a listen if you like early to mid 90s west coast gangsta stuff.

Joy of a Toy is another of the great Soft Machine alumni albums. Light, folky, and at times surreal, psychedelic pop.



The Dukes of Stratosphear was simply XTC recording under a pseudonym, giving them an excuse to record a psychedelic tribute to the 60s. Though I daresay they did too good a job, because tracks like Mole from the Ministry supercede bands from the time. I love this EP.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...15766k8oly.jpg
Stereolab-Emporer Tomato Ketchup
Possibly my favourite Marxist post-modern pop album of 1996.

http://professorkeanbean.files.wordp...-suns-2009.jpg

Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

I had seen Bat For Lashes mentioned occasionally around here and finally checked her out. Gorgeous album...it is exactly what I was looking for last night. I was getting a bit stressed out and it was starting to get overwhelming right when "Peace of Mind" played. Man, I needed that. I have such a huge crush on Natasha Kahn now.

I've never listened to the EP individually, just the comp that includes the EP. "Mole from the Ministry" in indeed a great song. "25 O'Clock" gets on my nerves a bit though, but overall they were pretty great.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/urbanH/4492.jpg

Dug out a bunch of old CDs & came across this.
Reminded me of the days when I was a sexually confused 13 year old with no taste and this felt like the coolest album in the world.

Happy days.