Jεllyfiѕн - Spilt Milк (1993)

One of the best pop albums of the 1990's by a hefty margin and a textbook example of how good power pop should sound without getting stuck into typical album pacing issues. Lots to love here, including the cool as cool strut of 'New Mistake", minor FM classics like 'Bye, Bye, Bye' and 'The Ghost Of Number One' and the plucky acoustics of 'Russian Hill' that blooms like a flower into vintage, glorious Brian Wilson territory.

In other words, an absolute classic from two decades back, and essential listening if you have any interest in alternative rock. Or, hell, if you have any interest in music at all.

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Pαυl Hαяdcαsτlε - Jαzzmαsτεяs III (1999)

My favorite album from today's #1 contemporary electronic jazz producer. Features some absolutely killer vocal House cuts, but the instrumentals are in a dimension all their own as well.

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Dεpεchε Modε - Violαtor (1990)

Need I honestly embellish some bullshit reason for you to stick this methanized-or-mayhap-robotized pop classic somewhere in that unsightly wreck you call a collection? Really now? *laughs maniacally whilst not so subtly sneaking away to somewhere with better whiskey*.

Synths galore from every hipster's favorite 80's group...and it'll throck your socks off.

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Mαяcus D - Mεlαиcholy Hopεful (2012)

A couple of drinks by the harbor, watching tides roll through the sand. Or maybe its some lucid dream in motion, flowing like rain through a cloudborne subwoofer. D's first guest-populated collection is one helluva dope enclave as far as jazz-hop is concerned, bolstered by versers of smooth, well-tread pedigree like Cise Starr, Substantial and the elusive Funky DL. Furthermore, the samples are out of this world, as well as the production values. Just...dayum!

GG 2012

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Kεnmochi Hidεfumi - TIGER LILLY (2005)

A label mate of the late and great Nujabes (Hydeout Records), Hide-san specializes in Worldly, percussive instrumental hip-hop which proves a bit more hypnotic than your typical Japanese jazz-hop excursion, particularly on some of the drive-friendly longer cuts like 'Bridge Of Sunshine'. Steller!

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Thε Motεls - All Fouя Onε (1982)

Classic L.A. New Wave pop from the early part of the 80's. The more studious among you should recognize 'Only The Lonely', 'Take The L' and 'Apocalypso', but this whole set comes as keytastic and ear-catching as you could ask for from the time and place, so rejoice!

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Brαiи Police - Beyoиd Tнe Wαstelαиd (2006)

Hailing from the vulcan shores of Iceland and picked up by an independent American label back in 2005, these aren't your ordinary Police, no sirree! This fantastic debut is a fine honed arbalest of rock and wailing thunder, invoking at times the souls of more well known ancestors such as Atomic Rooster and Led Zeppelin, yet retaining a specialized gallop that makes them unique in a world full of bands who rumble and quake as hard as anyone in the last century.

Treasures such as this album are peerless things, styles aside. They pulsate, resonate, stand their ground no matter what era somebody decides to pluck them from beneath the layers of silt and forgotten press. Songs such as 'Mystic Lover' and "Thunderbird' would kick just as much ass on radio back in '75 as they would in 2012, and that should be good enough for all and any sceptics.

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