Merry Christmas to me

>> The Scrooge-like Mr. C shops for himself

by SCOTT C

Ain't nobody even trying to buy me music for Chistmas in my family. I remember the last stocking stuffer I got that I couldn't eat, and that was Heavy D and the Boys' Big Tyme (on cassette, no doubt!) back in 1989. People aren't buying CDs for gifts unless it's a specific request. Music is the one thing everybody who is out shopping will treat themselves to every time. So this is for you. After you're done with the spirit of giving, treat yourselves to one of these.



Augustus "Gussie" Clarke Black Foundation Dub (Motion) Gussie Clarke is one of dozens of dedicated Jamaican musicians and studio regulars that preferred to work behind the scenes. This collection of dubs is the hardest I've heard from someone who is relatively unknown. From the sorrowful and deep start of "Black Foundation" right on through to the finishing touch of "Loving Pauper," lovers of emotive dub and reggae will be very pleased.



Various The Soul of Science 2 (Compiled by Kirk Degiorgio & Ian O'Brien) (Obsessive) This is not your average collection of jazz/funk/electronica. From Uschi Classen to Dick Hyman, Bennie Maupin to Kaidi Tatham, this album is like opening a door into a secret stash of serious music. If you're looking for something to break the monotony of whatever music rut you've got yourself stuck in, then this is definitely it.



David Axelrod self-titled (MoWax)

This is a record that came out earlier this year that begs revisiting, especially around this Christmas time. If you like the real, gritty, orchestrated sound that provided the backdrop for hundreds of films in the late '60s and '70s, then you should check the Ax. This L.A. legend is revered by hip hop heads and old-school purists all at once, and it's mind-boggling to know that this record was recorded almost 30 years ago, and is just now seeing the light of day.



Anti-Pop Consortium The Ends Against the Middle (Warp)

There's a reason that this outfit of hip hop renegades are on Warp. It's because they challenge just about every notion of what hip hop should be while still maintaining themselves. Heads need to hear this, because it's another point of view from someone in the same boat, with a completely different paddle. Not exactly great for the Christmas party, but it'll get you thinking all right. Great gift for the hip hop head who thinks they have it all.



The Lord of the Rings Dramatized for BBC Radio in 13 episodes (Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio)

Here's one for the little nerds and the big nerds. This is an amazingly adapted version of the entire Tolkien trilogy on cassette, complete with an extended cast of serious British actors (some of whom are in the upcoming movie), sound effects and high drama. I'm told it's now available on CD (thanks to the movie hype machine) just in time for the holidays. If you're a fan, this is the next best thing to visualizing as you read--aside from watching a movie. Recorded at the BBC in 1981, this is a wonderful gift for an emerging Tolkien interest, or the nerdy know-it-all who's already seen the movie on the 'Net.