Album Releases by Genre

Milk Man

Milk Man

by Deerhoof
March 9, 2004
The San Francisco noise-rockers' latest is a concept album about the Pied Piper-esque title character, who is based on the drawings of illustrator Ken Kagami.
Metascore:
74
User Score:
8.1
High Water (Mark)

High Water (Mark)

by El-P
March 9, 2004
The Def Jux rapper expands into the realm of modern jazz, with the help of Blue Series stalwarts Matthew Shipp, William Parker and Guillermo Brown.
Metascore:
71
User Score:
7.9
They Were Wrong, So We Drowned

They Were Wrong, So We Drowned

by Liars
February 24, 2004
The New York punk outfit moves even further away from the mainstream on this sophomore effort (a concept album about witch trials), which also sees them with a new rhythm section.
Metascore:
64
User Score:
8.1
Fabulous Muscles

Fabulous Muscles

by Xiu Xiu
February 17, 2004
This is the third full-length album for the challenging, intensely personal Bay Area post-punk outfit led by Jamie Stewart.
Metascore:
80
User Score:
8.5
Perpetuum Mobile

Perpetuum Mobile

by Einstürzende Neubauten
February 10, 2004
The German noisemakers return with a somewhat quieter affair, marking their first studio recording in four years.
Metascore:
71
User Score:
tbd
Hypnotic Underworld

Hypnotic Underworld

by Ghost
February 3, 2004
The experimental/psychedelic Japanese collective returns with their first album in five years, with co-founder Taishi Takizawa re-joining the group as a member (in addition to continuing to serve as the band's producer).
Metascore:
78
User Score:
8.3
Systems/Layers

Systems/Layers

by Rachel's
October 7, 2003
The fifth LP for the chamber-pop trio is a collaboration with the New York-based progressive theater collective SITI Company.
Metascore:
81
User Score:
8.3
New York Noise

New York Noise

by Various Artists
June 30, 2003
This 16-track compilation offers an impressive sampling of the New York underground scene from the late 1970s and early 80s, including cuts from "no-wave," post-punk, experimental and hip-hop artists such as ESG, Material, DNA, Defunkt, and Liquid Liquid.
Metascore:
80
User Score:
tbd
Blemish

Blemish

by David Sylvian
June 23, 2003
Sylvian's first studio recording since 1999's 'Dead Bees on a Cake' is much darker and more spare than that recording. The former Japan leader is joined by guitarists Derek Bailey and Christian Fennesz on several tracks.
Metascore:
76
User Score:
8.5
No More Wig For Ohio

No More Wig For Ohio

by Odd Nosdam
May 27, 2003
A member of fellow anticon collective artist cLOUDDEAD, Odd Nosdam returns with his second solo LP, a two-part disc that combines instrumental tracks and beats with a found-sound collage approach.
Metascore:
62
User Score:
8.3
The Complex

The Complex

by Blue Man Group
April 22, 2003
The multimedia collective known as the Blue Man Group, who can be seen and heard in ongoing theatrical productions in several cities, in television commercials for Intel, and even on a previous instrumental album 'Audio,' have released here something akin to a real rock'n'roll album. Their assortment of invented instrumentation is now accompanied by more traditional instruments, and vocals are provided by an array of guests, including Dave Matthews, Spalding Gray and Tracy Bonham. Included also are covers of "White Rabbit" and "I Feel Love."
Metascore:
60
User Score:
7.6
Wonderful Rainbow

Wonderful Rainbow

by Lightning Bolt
March 4, 2003
No, it's not *that* kind of drum'n'bass album. Instead, Rhode Island's Lightning Bolt literally consists of just two instrumentalists on drum and bass, and together the pair generate an experimental sonic fury on this, their second full-length.
Metascore:
81
User Score:
8.4
Anti-Pop Consortium Vs. Matthew Shipp

Anti-Pop Consortium Vs. Matthew Shipp

by Anti-Pop Consortium
February 18, 2003
Thirsty Ear's Blue Series continues with the unlikely pairing of avant-garde jazz pianist (and Blue Series curator) Matthew Shipp with the experimental New York hip-hop outfit Anti-Pop Consortium. This is also the very last album to be released by APC, who have officially disbanded.
Metascore:
76
User Score:
7.3
Equilibrium

Equilibrium

by Matthew Shipp
January 21, 2003
The latest installment in Thirsty Ear's Blue Series (which mixes cutting-edge jazz with elements of electronica and hip-hop), 'Equilibrium' showcases the talents of avant-garde pianist Matthew Shipp.
Metascore:
75
User Score:
tbd
Yanqui U.X.O.

Yanqui U.X.O.

by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
November 4, 2002
Slightly (and confusingly) changing their name to Godspeed You! Black Emperor for this outing, the Canadian instrumental band recorded these 5 tracks (clocking in at 75 minutes) with Steve Albini as a follow-up to their extremely well-received 2000 effort 'Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven.'
Metascore:
80
User Score:
8.6
Deathsentences of the Polished & Structurally Weak

Deathsentences of the Polished & Structurally Weak

by Negativland
October 1, 2002
Part book, part CD, this latest effort from the Bay Area collective was inspired by a trip to an auto junkyard. The jokes, satire, and subversion found in previous releases is absent this time around, instead replaced by a collection of letters and writings found in the auto wrecks presented in a 64-page full-color book, and, on the CD, a lyric- and melody- free noise assault that, as the band suggests, is the sound of their studio being destroyed in a car crash.
Metascore:
59
User Score:
tbd
C'mon

C'mon

by Town & Country
February 19, 2002
'C'mon' is the third full-length release for the experimental Chicago-based instrumental quartet.
Metascore:
68
User Score:
tbd
Life On A String

Life On A String

by Laurie Anderson
August 21, 2001
This is Laurie Anderson's first music release since 1994's 'Big Red.' Originally conceived as a studio verision of her recent theatrical production "Songs and Stories from Moby Dick," the thirteen-song album contains only three tracks from that show, supplemented with newer material. Guest musicians include Lou Reed, Dr. John, Bill Frisell, Mocean Worker and Van Dyke Parks.
Metascore:
67
User Score:
8.7
Go Plastic

Go Plastic

by Squarepusher
June 26, 2001
This is the fifth full-length release from Tom Jenkinson (aka Squarepusher). "My Red Hot Car" is the lead single.
Metascore:
70
User Score:
8.7
Ovalcommers

Ovalcommers

by Oval
May 22, 2001
Markus Popp returns with eleven untitled tracks of noise and sounds of skipping CDs. Some people like that.
Metascore:
74
User Score:
tbd
Dizzy Spells

Dizzy Spells

by The Ex
April 24, 2001
The first album in three years for the Dutch collective. This 12-track set was produced by Steve Albini.
Metascore:
82
User Score:
tbd
A Chance To Cut Is A Chance To Cure

A Chance To Cut Is A Chance To Cure

by Matmos
March 13, 2001
The fourth LP (and the first on Matador) from the experimental San Francisco outfit is a concept album about plastic surgery, utilizing samples from actual surgical procedures in its seven electronic/techno tracks. A track from this LP was included in the Whitney Museum's Bitstreams Exhibit in Spring 2001.
Metascore:
80
User Score:
7.8
The Sleepy Strange

The Sleepy Strange

by Japancakes
February 13, 2001
The Athens, GA indie experimentalists follow their 1999 debut album with a new 7-track album.
Metascore:
66
User Score:
tbd
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven

by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
September 12, 2000
The second proper album from the Canadian instrumentalists consists of four independent works(each 18-22 minutes long).... yes, that's 2 songs per CD.
Metascore:
84
User Score:
8.8