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(*No real order here. Just the way I could remember things.)

  Order from Oxford
1. Various Artists Oxford American 2008 Southern Music 2xCD (Giveaway w/Oxford American magazine)
Okay, it’s a premium that came with a (great!) magazine. But it’s still the best comp I’ve heard in way too long.

  Buy New or Used via Amazon
2. Various Artists Love is the Song We Sing 4xCD box set (Rhino)
Came out at the tail end of 2007, which qualifies, says I. Essential overview of SF psych/hippie/garage scene, 1965-’70.

  Buy New or Used via Amazon
3. The Oh Sees The Master’s Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In CD/LP (Castle-Face/Tomlab)
Ex-Coachwhips play under-the-radar gig at Bard that’s by far the best rock ’n’ roll show I’ve seen in many a moon.

  Buy New or Used via Amazon
4. Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band It Comes to You in a Plain Brown Wrapper 2xLP (Sundazed Music)
Safe as Milk and Strictly Personal sessions uncut and presented as the Captain originally intended. Great package.

  Buy New or Used via Amazon
5. Grinderman Grinderman CD/LP (Mute)
I know, 2007 again, sue me. Nick Cave and his Seeds put ballads on hold and rock the nasty all over again. And how.

  Buy New or Used via Amazon
6. Iceberg Slim Reflections CD (Uproar Entertainment)
About-time reissue of this fabled swatch of prime ’70s polyester pimpness. Funk and prose get no sleazier.

  Buy New or Used via Amazon
7. Kraftwerk Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution DVD (Chrome Dreams)
Informative doc about electro-pop founders and fellow Krautrockers like Can, Tangerine Dream, Neu!, Amon Duul, etc.

  Buy New or Used via Amazon
8. The Sacred Shakers The Sacred Shakers CD (Signature Sounds)
Reigning neo-country goddess Eilen Jewell and band in winning gospel guise. Have you heard the Good News?

  Buy New or Used via Amazon
9. Wooden Shjips Vol.1 CD/LP (Holy Mountain)
Tight round-up of unfindable OOP singles and EPs by fave contemporary San Francisco psychonauts. Brain-frying.

  Buy New or Used via Amazon
10. Kat Larios Bathos in Aqua CD (Safety Clyde)
Shocking debut by this Romilar-voiced local weird-acoustic chanteuse. Different and great in a slo-mo folk way.

Peter Aaron
Music editor, Chronogram magazine; contributor, Roll magazine, the Chrome Cranks, etc.