The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt

Artist: The Tallest Man on Earth

Album: The Wild Hunt

Year: 2010

Genre: Folk/bluegrass

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And Kristian Matsson does it again. Beautiful bucolic imagery, with a touch of optimism that 2008's Shallow Graves was lacking. This album is adventuresome in lyricism, and also as far as Matsson's typical sound goes. If anything, it further proves that Matsson has a beautiful voice, and a gift for songwritin'.

Fog - Fog

Fog - Fog
Year: 2002
Genre: Turntablism/Experimental
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And now we have come full circle on the interesting and eclectic music career of Andrew Broder with his debut album, self-titled Fog. The album is, once again, very different from all of Broder's work, this one centered on atmosphere and record-scratching. While the end result is not nearly as sublime as Fog's other albums, there are still a few utterly fantastic moments, namely the track "Check Fraud." Give it a listen, it will definitely give you a new perspective on the things turntablists can do.

Bygones - By-

Bygones - By-
Year: 2009
Genre: Math Rock/Noise Rock
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Bygones is the latest expedition embarked by the psychotic rhythm genius that is Zach Hill (of Hella, The Ladies, a hundred other bands), along with Tera Melos' guitarist Nick Reinhardt. The combination is an obvious match, and a perfect and beautiful union of musical insanity ensues. The duo screams through ridiculously technical sonic goodness with the trademark virtuosity that has earned each of them their names in the math rock community. This album is fucking AWESOME.

Ólafur Arnalds - Eulogy for Evolution

Ólafur Arnalds - Eulogy for Evolution

Year: 2007

Genre: Classical

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Ólafur Arnalds is an Icelandic, multi-instrumentalist artist who is just trying to bridge the gap between pop and classical music. Basically, he's trying to find a way to make classical music accessible to everyone. He weaves wonderfully minimalistic post rock with the excitement of a well-done movie score. But for this album, you won't even need a moving picture. Every time Arnalds' bow meets whichever stringed instrument he happens to be playing, emotionally saturated music bursts forth to assault your ears with beauty that is almost diaphanous....his songs are practically weightless. He doesn't just pluck his violin, he plucks at your heart strings, too. And boy howdy does Arnalds know how to crescendo! Just when you think you've got it all figured out, he whips out an electric guitar and effectuates a surprising, yet satisfying way to end the album. A must-have for anybody, not just Yann Tiersen fangirls like myself.

Fog - Ditherer

Fog - Ditherer

Year: 2007

Genre: Experimental-ish

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Andrew Broder's Fog proves that sticking to a genre is for losers. Ditherer is Fog's fourth LP and after thousands of listens, this is still one of my favorite albums. It's an experimental opus of sorts, with the closing song being one of the most beautiful things this group has ever created.

Greg Graffin - Cold as the Clay

Greg Graffin - Cold as the Clay

Year: 2006

Genre: Alternative Country/Bluegrass

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At some time or another, the lead singer of every long-standing punk band has to stand alone and put out a singer/songwriter album. Greg Graffin, lead singer of the practically antediluvian punk band Bad Religion, first put in his requisite solo album in 1997. It was a clear divergence from the fast-paced, guitar heavy harmonies of BR, but yet, somehow still sort of what you would expect. Come 2006, Graffin released a second solo album. Once again, breaking away from the punk visage, Graffin wields his acoustic guitar, and from that comes.....bluegrass? Yes, bluegrass. Graffin consummates a unique marriage of twangy country and power ballad. Much of the album is steeped in beautifully eerie, bucolic lyricism, and helped along by the occasional banjo, mandolin, fiddle and piano. If it isn't mind-blowing enough at face value, also consider the fact that this comes from the man whose metier is politically charged, harmony-heavy punk songs. Consider this his magnum opus.

Team Teamwork - Ocarina of Rhyme

Team Teamwork - Ocarina of Rhyme

Year: 2009

Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop

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Koji Kondo is the illustrious composer for the classic video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (among various other Nintendo games). Now, his score was nearly perfect, and I didn't realize it was missing anything until I heard this album. The thing it's missing, you ask? HIP HOP. Some of my favorite rap artists have collaborated to concoct a flawless stew of nostalgia and modern mash-up perfection. From top 40 rappers like Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z, to beloved undergrounders MF Doom and Aesop Rock, a host of artists come together to create what can only be described as the most bitchin' fraternization of hip hop and video games to date. The best part? None of the rappers cleared rights to Kondo's songs, so they can't charge so much as a rupee for the album. May your conscience rest in peace knowing that this download is slightly more legal than the rest.