Realistic, Ivy's debut album, sometimes lost its pop purity when an overly slick production smoothed it over too much – it was the laudable Apartment Life that seemed to take the band's plush sweetness where it really needed to go. Lately, an EP from the band's early days, doesn't suffer from an overly polished quality…

Marilyn Manson was really up to something, concocting a formula that combined the sounds of Kurt Cobain with the Love It to Death/Killer phase of Alice Cooper. God Lives Underwater understand that and work the concept to good effect though they don't take many of the interesting ideas presented on Up off the Floor as far as the potential demands.

The French Underground Black Metal Strike again !Seven Songs of Pure Hateful Agressive Black Metal with tons of Melancholy Hatred and Insanity !

Polish technical death metal band Decapitated are inarguably among the most talented and promising young bands to hit the genre in years. They established themselves in the US market with multiple tours including Summer Slaughter '07 (later again in 2010) before suffering a fatal bus accident in late 2007. "Carnival is Forever" is the first album since 06's critically acclaimed Organic Hallucinosis, which Revolver Magazine rightly called "Belligerently virtuosic." The album echoes the fans' anticipation and delivers a tense, precise and utterly powerful death metal assault.

Good early '80s trio session with pianist Horace Parlan working alongside bassist Reggie Johnson and drummer Alvin Queen. The material, mostly standards with some originals and ballads, isn't overly ambitious, but Parlan's dense, strong blues-influenced solos and good interaction among the three principals keeps things moving. ~ AllMusic

This was one of Flora Purim's finest all-around jazz recordings, and it is luckily available on CD. Purim is featured in a variety of challenging and stimulating settings: on two numbers ("Above the Rainbow" and "Tomara") with pianist McCoy Tyner; teamed up with tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson on Chick Corea's "Windows" and "Black Narcissus" ~ AllMusic

Harvey Mason certainly has a lot of talented and famous friends, and, fortunately for jazz fans, he called on them when he was making this 2004 album.Mason is primarily known as a session player for smooth-jazz dates, but this set comprises hard-bop jams and low-key, post-bop explorations.He shuffles his guests around in different trio configurations, allowing each to take a turn in the spotlight.