Last month, it was a wonderful write-up in Goldmine Magazine (Feb issue) of our groovy little store, full page-history, interview & pic of yours truly. A swell job & special thanks to our new pal - Bryan Reesman. My family is so proud. Heard from an old college friend for the first time in 20 or so years due to this piece and I must dedicate the upcoming Canterbury page of our website to him & our other roommates who cherished listening to Robert Wyatt, Henry Cow, Hatfield & early Zappa every night. Those were the days! At DMG, those special sounds still have a home. The article will be up soon on our website.  

This month, DMG is in the midst of promoting four concerts of challenging music, besides the usual free Sunday in-store series. Last weekend was the first two. Friday, it was the much anticipated MUNOZ QT. and ELLIOTT SHARP TRIO gig at the Knit. Attendance was pretty good, around 150, both bands played powerful, uplifting performances. The Knit couldn't quite get the sound right for Munoz's set, but that didn't stop him from playing numerous riveting solos, ending each with arms outstretched, howling as the spirits enveloped us all. Toronto pianist Bernie Senensky & drummer Bob Moses also played superbly. Elliott's trio with Melvin Gibbs & Sim Cain also blasted everyone to oblivion, with their whirlwind set. Thanks to journalists Richard Gehr & Kelvin Williams for their kind printed words in advance and no thanks to the two clowns at the NY Times who chose to ignore this magical gig, I guess they were too busy reviewing important stuff like Metallica videos. For shame.  

Extra special commendations to my good pal/our hero -HENRY KAISER for introducing us all to Munoz, coming to the dreaded big apple, giving a lovely intro from the Knit stage to get us all prepared and even playing a rare gig in this weekend sojourn at Roulette. He & John Oswald came to DMG Saturday afternoon, and were just incredibly charming & helpful to all customers who graced our doors. Their trio gig that night with pianist Greg Goodman was of course sold out and a perfect endeavor. They played as close to the audience as they possibly could, the vibes flowing between everyone ever so smoothly. All three of these players are masters, ideas bouncing back & forth, a marvel throughout their long 90 minute set. Goodman was the sort-of mc, telling oddly sarcastic stories from various sources, and even b ouncing ping pong balls inside the piano. Henry radiated good cheer, making lots of eye contact with everyone in view, played 3 different guitars in a variety of inspired ways. John Oswald played more excellent out alto sax than I can remember from any other previous gig. The trio even persuaded the shy Jim Staley to sit in on avant trombone. People came from far & wide (Boston & DC) to check out Henry and his pals. An amazing evening for all.  

This Sunday March 14, DMG is sponsoring our own Prog(ressive) Fest at the Knit at 8pm with a triple header of RICHARD PINHAS (from HELDON) & MAURICE DANTEC, NICK DIDKOVSKY (from Dr. Nerve) and LARVAL (from Ann Arbor). This should be a night of especially challenging sounds, so please come on down and be blown away.  

This Tuesday here at the store at 7pm for free will be a rare international improv duo of koto wonder & Tzadik recording artist Yagi Michiyo with monster electric bassist from Gawk & Carbon-Marc Sloan!!!  

And finally at the end of this month, we will be presenting the one & only CHRIS CUTLER- our favorite drummer & percussionist. Formerly of Henry Cow, Art Bears & News from Babel the author, Recommended Records founder and philosopher- will play his first solo gig ever in the US at Context Studios at 28 Ave. A (bet. 2nd & 3rd Sts.) at 9pm on Sunday March 28th. Also on the bill will be old school member of the early downtown scene- percussionist Charles K. Noyes- solo & maybe duo with Chris. Ikue Mori may also join in!! You don't want to miss this one.  

Coming up is Bruce Lee Gallanter from Downtown Music Gallery's annual best of/recommendation list of 1998. You will notice that my pop/vocal list is shorter than ever...is there less interesting pop? Am I growing up finally? Have I alienated enough major labels to not get many promos? Questions to ponder.  

I do feel that these lists are certainly more interesting, more informative, more entertaining, more exhaustive...than that ridiculous piece of shit pazz & jop poll that hundreds of so called critics put together each year for the Village Voice!! That last one was pathetic! What do you think!?!? Love, Bruce Lee Gallanter  

RECOMMENDED AVANT RELEASES OF 1998:   

1.JOHN ZORN BAR KOKHBA-The Circle Maker (Tzadik) 2 cd set 
2.THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO-Sky Piece (Knitting Factory Works) 
3.DAVE DOUGLAS-Charms of the Night Sky (Winter & Winter) 
4.TISZIJI MUNOZ-Spirit World (Anami Music) 2 cd set 
5.JOHN ZORN'S MASADA-Tet & Yod (DIW) 
6.HENRY KAISER & WADADA LEO SMITH-Yo Miles! (Shanchie) 2 cd set 
7.JOHN ZORN-Filmworks VIII (Tzadik) 
8.JOHN ZORN-The Bribe (Tzadik) 
9.JOHN ZORN-Angelus Novus (Tzadik) 
10.PETER BROTZMANN-Chicago Octet/Tentet (Okka) 3 cd set 
11.MATT SHIPP HORN QUARTET-Strata (Hatology) 
12.WILLIAM PARKER/INORDER TO SURVIVE-The Peach Orchard (AUM Fidelity) 2 cd set 
13.ANTHONY BRAXTON-Four Compositions Quartet '95 (Braxton House) 
14.MUSIC REVELATION ENSEMBLE-Crossfire (DIW) 
15.MILFORD GRAVES-Grand Unification (Tzadik) 
16.FRED FRITH-Pacifica (Tzadik) 
17.NELS CLINE TRIO-Sad (Little Brother) 
18.FUSHITSUSHA-Withdrawe, this sable Disclosure ere devot'd (Victo) 
19.MASSACRE-Funny Valentine (Tzadik) 
20.JOHN ZORN-Aporias : Requia for Piano and Orchestra (Tzadik) 
21.RENE LUSSIER-Chronicle of a Genocide Foretold (Ambiances Magnetiques) 
22.MUJICIAN/KEITH TIPPETT QT.-Colours Fulfilled (Cuneiform) 
23.URI CAINE/GUSTAV MAHLER-Primal Light (Winter & Winter) 
24.MATT SHIPP TRIO-Multiplication Table (Hatology) 
25.BUTCH MORRIS-Conduction #70-Tit for Tat (For 4 Ears) 
26.NED ROTHENBERG/SYNC-Port of Entry (Intuition) 
27.TIM BERNE & MICHAEL FORMANEK-Ornery People (Little Brother) 
28.JOHN WOLF BRENNAN HEXTET-Through the Ear of a Raindrop (Leo) 
29.GRAHAM CONNAH-Gurney to the Lincoln Center of Your Mind (Rastascan) 
30.EVAN PARKER ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC ENSEMBLE-Toward the Margin (ECM) 
31.ZENFISH-Dreamtime [w/Keith Tippett, Nick Evans] (Slam) 
32.DAVE DOUGLAS QUARTET-Moving Portrait (DIW) 
33.CECIL TAYLOR QUARTET-Qu'a-Live at Iridium Volume 1 (Cadence) 
34.FRANCOIS HOULE 5-In the Vernacular-The Music of John Carter (Songlines) 
35.WALTER THOMPSON ORCHESTRA-The Colonel (Nine Winds) 
36.DAVE DOUGLAS-Magic Triangle (Arabesque) 
37.ANTHONY BRAXTON-Composition No. 10 & No. 16 plus 101 (Hat Noir) 
38.DAVID SHEA-Classical Works (Tzadik) 
39.ELLIOTT SHARP TECTONICS-Field & Stream (KFW) 
40.STEVE COLEMAN & 5 ELEMENTS-Genesis & the Opening of the Way (BMG) 
2 cd set 41.DEREK BAILEY-Takes Fakes & Dead She Dances-Solo Guitar (Incus) 
42.PETER BROTZMANN/DIE LIKE A DOG QT.-Little Birds Have Fast Hearts (FMP) 
43.VISION FEST VOLUME ONE-1997 Compiled (AUM Fidelity) 2 cd set  
44.JOE MORRIS QUARTET-A Cloud of Black Birds (AUM Fidelity) 
45.ELLIOTT LEVIN QUARTET-The Motion of Emotion (CIMP) 
46.TIM BERNE & HANK ROBERTS-cause & reflect (Level Green) 
47.SAM RIVERS & ALEXANDER VON SCHLIPPENBACH-Tangents (FMP) 
48.TIM HODGKINSON & OSSATURA-Dentro (ReR) 
49.JOHN ZORN/WAYNE HORVITZ/ELLIOTT SHARP/BOBBY PREVITE-Downtown Lullaby (DoF) 
50.BUTCH MORRIS-Berlin Skyscraper (FMP) 2 cd set  
51.HARRIET TUBMAN-I am a Man (Knitting Factory Works) 
51.WAYNE HORVITZ & ZONY MASH-Brand Spankin' New (KFW) 
52.DOUGLAS EWART & INVENTIONS CLARINET CHOIR-Angels of Entrance (Arawak) 
53.ROBERT DICK & SOLDIER STRING QUARTET-Jazz Standards on Mars (enja) 
54.PRESENT-Certitudes (Cuneiform) 
55.OTHER DIMENSIONS IN MUSIC-Now! (AUM Fidelity) 
56.ELLERY ESKELIN-ANDREA PARKINS-JIM BLACK - Kulak 29 & 30 (Hatology) 
57.EUGENE CHADBOURNE-The Insect & Western Party (Charm School) 
58.EVAN PARKER & EDDIE PREVOST-Most Material (Matchless) 
59.MYRA MELFORD & HANN BENNINK-Eleven Ghosts (Hatology) 
60.PHEEROAN AKLAFF-Global Mantras (Wink Music) 
61.MATT DARRIAU/PARADOX TRIO-Flying at a Slant (KFW) 
62.STEVE LACY-Sands (Tzadik) 
63.ROVA SAX QUARTET-Bingo (Victo) 
64.GUIGOU CHENAVIER-Rumors of the City (Cuneiform) 
65.ANOUR BRAHEM/JOHN SURMAN/DAVE HOLLAND-Thimar (ECM) 
66.BRAD SHEPIK & THE COMMUTERS-The Loan (Songlines) 
67.LOUNGE LIZARDS-Queen of All Ears (SBM) 
68.MARK HELIAS OPEN LOOSE-Come Ahead Back... (Koch Jazz) 
69.BILL FRISELL-gone, just like a train (Nonesuch) 
70.EYVIND KANG-Theatre of Musical Nades (Tzadik) 
71.WAYNE HORVITZ-Four Plus One Ensemble (Intuition) 
72.EVAN LURIE-How I Spent My Vacation (Tzadik) 
73.DRAGON BLUE [TENKO]-Hades Park (Avant) 
74.FRED FRITH-The Previous Evening (ReR) 
75.STEVE COHN-The Beggar & The Robot in Diamonds (ITM) 
76.JOE McPHEE-As Serious As Your Life (Hatology) 
77.EVAN LURIE-How I Spent My Vacation (Tzadik) 
78.PHILLIP JOHNSTON-Music for Films (Tzadik) 
79.CURLEW-Fabulous Drop (Cuneiform) 
80.MAYA MASAOKA-What is the Difference Between Stripping & Playing Violin? (Victo) 
81.PAUL SMOKER/VINNY GOLIA QT.-Halloween, the Sequel (9 Winds) 
82.JOE MORRIS/KEN VANDERMARK/HANS POPPEL-Like Rays (KFW) 
83.ACCORDION TRIBE [GUY KLUCEVSEK]-s/t (Intuition) 
84.LOL COXHILL/VERYAN WESTON-Boundless (Emanem) 
85.NOEL AKCHOTE/EUGENE CHADBOURNE/MARC RIBOT -Lust Corner (W & W) 
86.ROY CAMPBELL/PYRAMID TRIO-Ancestral Homeland (No More) 
87.OLIVER LAKE STRING PROJECT-Movement, Turns & Switches (Passin' Thru) 
88.AALY TRIO & KEN VANDERMARK-Stumble (Wobbly Rail) 
89.THOMAS BORGMAN ORKESTRA-Kith n' Kin (Cadence) 
90.NAFTULE'S DREAM-Smash, Clap! (Tzadik) 
91.THINKING PLAGUE-In Extremis (Cuneiform) 
92.BRUCE ACKLEY TRIO-The Hearing (Avant) 
93.ANTHONY COLEMAN/SEPHARDIC TINGE-Morenica (Tzadik) 
94.BOBBY PREVITE/MARC DUCRET-In the Grass (enja) 
95.PABLO ASLAN'S AVANTANGO-Tango & Jazz (epsa) 
96.ELTON DEAN-Newsense (Slam) 
97.EKSTASIS [NICKY SKOPELITIS]-Wake Up & Dream (Cyber Active) 
98.JOHN ZORN-Music for Children (Tzadik) 
99.MARK WHITECAGE TRIO-Split Personality (G.M.) 
100.ANTHONY BRAXTON & LAUREN NEWTON-Compostion 192 (Leo) 
101.EVAN PARKER/AKCHOTE/CASSERLEY/RYAN-Live at Les Instants Chavires (Leo) 
102.HANS REICHEL & UCHIHASHI KAZUHISA-King Pawns (Zenbei) 
103.FRODE GJERSTAD/B. BRADFORD/B. BERGMAN/P. AKLAFF-Ikosa Mura (Cadence) 
104.ELTON DEAN/HUGH HOPPER QT.-The Mind in the Trees (Voiceprint) 
105.IKUE MORI-B-Side (Tzadik) 
106.IVO PERELMAN & MATT SHIPP-"Bandito of Santa Cruz" (Cadence) 
107.ONE WORLD ENSEMBLE-Breathing Together (Freedom) 
108.PETER BROTZMANN/M. GANIA/HAMID DRAKE-The "Wels" Concert (Okka) 
109.AMM-Before Driving to the Chapel (Marchless) 
110.DEAN ROBERTS-Moth Park (Formacentric) 
111.BJORNSTAD/D. DARLING/TERJE RYPDAL/CHRISTENSEN-The Sea II (Tzadik) 
112.TIM HODGKINSON-Pragma (ReR) 
113.MARC RIBOT & LOS CUBANOS POSTITOS-s/t (Atlantic) 
114.KLEZMOKUM-ReJew Venation (Bvhaast) 
115.DEATH PRAXIS [Tenko & Ikue Mori]-Mystery (Tzadik) 
116.MISAKO KANO QUARTET-Watch Out [w/ Thomas Chapin] (KFW) 
117.VERNON REID/ELLIOTT SHARP/DAVID TORN-Guitar Oblique (KFW) 
118.JOE FONDA/MICHAEL J. STEVENS GROUP-Evolution (Leo) 
119.YASHUHIRO OTANI-Brain Wash (Pale Blue) 
120.PHILLIP JOHNSTON/TRANSPARENT QT.-The Needless Kiss (Koch) 
121.EUGENE CHADBOURNE-Insect Attracter (Leo) 
122.JOHN HENEGHAN- The Day I Blew Up the Earth (MDG) 
123.JOEL FUTTERMAN/KIDD JORDAN TRIO-Southern Extreme (Drimala) 
124.LOREN MAZZACANE CONNORS-Calloden Harvest (Roadcone) 
125.EASSIDE PERCUSSION-ESP (Avant) 
126.MATT SHIPP & JOE MORRIS-Thesis (Hatology) 
127.FOMA-Frorma (Laybull Records) 
128.SONIC YOUTH & JIM O'ROURKE-Invito Al Ciolo (SYR) 
129.CHRIS BURN ENSEMBLE-Music for Three Rivers (Victo) 
130.THE INSTANT COMPOSERS POOL-Thirty Years (ICP) CD & Book  
131.ERNST REIJSEGER-Colla Parte (Winter & Winter) 
132.LEE RANALDO/WILLIAM HOOKER/O'ROURKE/GEBBIA-Clouds (Victo) 
133.FRED FRITH/JEAN-PIERRE DROUET-Improvisations (Buda Musique) 
134.MICHAEL MOORE TRIO-Bering (Ramboy) 
135.LA 1919-Giorni Felicia (Materia Sonori) 
136.OLIVER LAKE/REGGIE WORKMAN/ANDREW CYRILLE-Trio 3 at Willisau (Dizim) 
137.MICHAEL J. STEVENS & MARK WHITECAGE-Short Stories (Red Toucan) 
138.GUNTER MULLER & JIM O'ROURKE-Weighting (4 foe Ears) 
139.CASSIBER-Live in Tokyo & Ground Zero remixes (ReR) 
140.DEREK BAILEY & JOELLE LEANDRE-No Waiting (Potllatch) 
141.HASIDIC NEW WAVE-Psycho Semitic (KFW) 
142.WHIT DICKEY TRIO-Transonic (AUM Fidelity) 
143.ELLIOTT SHARP & FRANCES-MARIE UITTI-Improvisation (Lowlands) 
144.DIANE LABROSSE/IKUE MORI/MARTIN TETRAULT-Ile Bizarre (Am. Mag.) 
145.CHARLES GAYLE QUARTET-Daily Bread (Black Saint) 
146.DENIS CHARLES-Captain of the Deep (Eremite) 
147.CECIL TAYLOR-The Tree of Life (FMP) 
148.GLENN SPEARMAN/TRIO HURRICANE-Live at Fire in the Valley (Eremite) 
149.DEREK [BAILEY] & THE RUINS-Tohjinbo (Paradactile) 
150.STEVE LACY-Solo : Live at Unity Temple (Wobbly Rail) 
151.DEREK BAILEY & MIN XIAO-FEN-Viper (Avant) 
152.NORMAN YAMADA-Being and Time (Tzadik) 
153.DAVID WEINSTEIN-Perfume (Avant) 
154.TEIJI ITO-King Ubu (Tzadik) 
155.LITTLE RED SPIDERS-Music of the ...(TES) 
156.THE VANDERMARK FIVE-Target or Flag (Atavistic) 
157.ISTVAN MARTHA-The Wind Rises (ReR) 
158.ANTHONY BRAXTON-Octet NY 1995 (Braxton House) 
159.JOE MANERI-Coming Down the Mountain (Hatology) 
160.MISHA MENGELBERG-The Root of the Problem (Hatology) 
161.LEIMGRUBER/LEANDRE/HAUSER-No Try No Fail (Hatology) 
162.BEN GOLDBERG TRIO-Here by Now (Music & Arts) 
163.ROSCOE MITCHELL-Sound Songs-Solo Sax (Delmark) 2CD set  
164.ROVA SAX QUARTET-The Works-Volume Two (Black Saint) 
165.MARK CUNNINGHAM-Blood River Dusk (Por Caridad Productions) 
166.IVO PERELMAN-Seeds, Vision & Counterpoint (Leo) 
167.BILLY BANG & DENIS CHARLES-Bangception Willisau 1982 (Hatology) 
168.BRIGGAN KRAUSE/WAYNE HORVITZ/KENNY WOLLESEN-300 (KFW) 
169.MALCOLM MOONEY-The 10th Planet (MRM/Mute) 
170.BAUER GUMPERT PETROWSKY SOMMER/ZENTRAL QT.-Careless Love (Intakt) 
171.WILLIAM PARKER-Lifting the Sanctions (No More) 
172.BILL LASWELL-Nagual Site [Sacred System Chapter 3] (BMG) 
173.LOREN MAZZACANE CONNORS-Evangeline (Roadcone) 
174.DREW GRESS/JAGGED SKY-Heyday (Soul Note) 
175.BOUD DEUN-The Stolen Bicycle (Cuneiform) 
176.THE WHISTLING HANGMEN-Barhopping (Avant) 
177.JOELLE LEANDRE/WILLIAM PARKER-Contrabasses (Leo) 
178.BOBBY PREVITE'S LATIN FOR TRAVELERS-Dangerous Rip (enja) 
179.DOMINIC DUVAL & C.T. STRING QT.-The Navigator (Leo) 
180.SUBARACHANOID SPACE-Endless Renovation (Release) 
181.DAVID KRAKAUER'S KLEZMER MADNESS-Klezmer, NY! (Tzadik) 
182.ZEENA PARKINS-No Way Out (Atavistic) 
183.AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS-Assistant to the Assistant (Parallelism) 
184.PAUL PLIMLEY & TRICHY SANKARAN-Ivory Meets Doctor (Songlines) 
185.SABIR MATEEN TRIO-Divine Mad Love (Eremite) 
186.RUINS-Symphonica (Tzadik) 
187.JAMAALADEEN TACUMA-Dreamscape (DIW) 
188.LOREN MAZZACANE/SASHA FRERE-JONES-Standing Upright on... (Sub Rosa) 
189.ALAN LICHT & LOREN MAZZACANE CONNORS-Mercury (Roadcone) 
190.EUGENE CHADBOURNE-The Hellingtunes (Intakt) 
191.JEAN DEROME-3 Musiques Pour Ubu (Ambiances Magnetiques) 
2 CD set 192.EHRAN ELISHA/ROY CAMPBELL/WILBER MORRIS-Suite Empathy (Cadence) 
193.FRED VAN HOVE-Passing Waves (Nuscope) 
194.LES BATTERIES-Bell System (Rift) 
195.MICHAEL MARCUS & JAKI BYARD TRIO-Involution (Justin Time) 
196.JERRY GRANELLI & BADLANDS-enter, a dragon (Songlines) 
197.NRG ENSEMBLE-Bejazzo Gets a Facelift (Atavistic) 
198.HAMIET BLUIETT BARITONE SAX GROUP-Live at the Knitting Factory (KFW) 
199.JOHN LURIE-Fishing with John (SBM) 
200.GARY LUCAS-Busy Being Born (Tzadik) 
201.JAMES BLOOD ULMER-Forbidden Blues (DIW) 
202.JAMES BLOOD ULMER/ODYSSEY BAND-The Reunion (KFW) 
203.PERCEPTION UNIT-Tabor on the Moon (Orbital Vox) 
204.JERRY GARCIA & DAVID GRISMAN-So What (Acoustic Disc) 
205.THE L.S.ELLIS BAND-Children in Peril Suite (Music & Arts) 
206.BUN-CHING LAM-The Child God (Tzadik) 
207.MERZBOW-1930 (Tzadik) 
208.BEN GOLDBERG-Twelve Minor (Avant) 
209.SIR RICHARD BISHOP-Salvador Kali (Revenant) 
210.NE ZHDALI & THE BILLY TIPTON MEMORIAL SAX QT.-Pollo D'Oro (NML) 
211.MARIE McAULIFFE-The Ark Sextet (Koch Jazz) 
212.MAZZACANE/MONTERA/THURSTON MOORE/LEE RANALDO-mmmr (Xeric) 
213.JOHN FAHEY-Womblife (Table of the Elements) 
214.MAKIGMAI KOICHI & ANTON BRUHIN-Electric Eel (Tzadik) 
215.GISBURG-Trust (Tzadik) 
216.DAVID S. WARE-Go See the World (Columbia) 
217.DJANGO BATES-quiet nights (Screwgun) 
218.PERCY HOWARD/FRED FRITH/BILL LASWELL/CHARLES HAYWARD-Meridiem (M.S.) 
219.PAOLO LOTTI & HARMONIA-Hendrix (Materia Sonori) 
220.PAUL SCHUTZE-Green Evil (Tone Casualties) 
221.MIN XIAO-FEN-With Six Composers (Avant) 
222.MICHAEL FORMANEK-Am I Bothering You? (Screwgun) 
223.JON ROSE-The Fence (ReR) 
224.DAVID WATSON & THE WAX-Wax & Wane (Dr. Jim) 
225.BEN GOLBERG-Eight Phrases for Jefferson Rubin (Victo) 
226.ASSIF TSAHAR TRIO-"Ein Sof-Infinity" (Silkheart) 
227.GERRY HEMINGWAY QT.-Johnny's Corner Song (Auricle) 
228.MARK DRESSER/ANTHONY COLEMAN-Eye'll Be Seeing You (KFW) 
229.BRIGHT MOMENTS-Return of the Lost Tribe (Delmark) 
230.L'ORKESTRE DES PAS PERDUS-Maison douce maison (Ambiances Magnetiques) 
231.YUKO FUJIYAMA STRING ENSEMBLE-Tag (CIMP) 
232.CCMC-Accomplices (Victo) 
233.ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC FROM ARGENTINA-Travels of the Spider (Pogus) 
234.GIANNI GEBBIA-H Portraits (RR) 
235.ALVIN CURRAN-Theme Park (Tzadik) 
236.KRAMER-"Let Me Explain Something to You About Art" (Tzadik) 
237.KLAXON GUEULE-Bavards (Ambiances Magnetique) 
2 cd set 238.FRED VAN HOVE-Flux (Potlatch) 
239.MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD-Combustication (Blue Note) 
240.BILL BRUFORD & TONY LEVIN-Upper Extremities (Papa Bear) 
241.THE WASHINGTON STREET PLAYERS-The Bride. (M-Cons East) 
242.JONATHON LaMASTER-Saturnalia (Sublingual) 
243.BOUD DEUN-A General Observation (EHP) 
244.JOANE HETU-Castor et compagnie : Mets ta langue (Ambiances Magnetique) 
245.CHICAGO UNDERGROUND DUO-12' of Freedom (Thrill Jockey) 
246.MATT WILSON-Going Once, Going Twice (Palmetto) 
247.JEFF KAISER-Nothing is Not Breath-Music for Double Quartet (Nine Winds) 
248.DAVID BINDMAN TRIO-Imaginings (CIMP) 
249.STRING TRIO OF NEW YORK-Faze Phour : A Twenty Year Retrospective (Black Saint) 
250.RENE LUSSIER & MARTIN TETREAULT-Dur Noyan Dur (Ambiances Magnetique) 
251.THE RICH CORPOLONGO QUARTET-Smiles (Delmark) 
252.LOREN MAZZACANE CONNORS-In Twilight (Alien 8) 
253.FRODE GJERSTAD & THE CIRCULASIONE TOTALE ORCHESTRA-Borealis (Cadence) 
254.MACHINE FOR MAKING SENSE-Dissect the body (Split Records) 
255.THE SOEGAARD ENSEMBLE-Chronox (Leo Lab) 
256.AMMER.EINHEIT.HAAGE-Odysseus 7 (Invisible) 
257.HAMSTER THEATRE-Seige on Hamburger City (Cricetus Disc) 
258.CHARLES HAYWARD-Double Agents/Live in Japan Vol. Two (Locus Solus) 
259.BEN ALLISON-Medicine Wheel (Palmetto) 
260.THE KERRY STRAYER SEPTET-Jeru Blue: A Tribute to Gerry Mulligan (Palmetto) 
261.TYRONE HILL/MARSHALL ALLEN QUARTET-Out of the Box (CIMP) 
262.PATRICK ZIMMERLI-Twelve Sacred Dances (Arabesque) 
263.THURSTON MOORE-Root/Remixes (Lo Recordings) 
264.BORIS SINCLAIR HAUF-efzeg (Extraplatte) 
265.DONALD MILLER & MICHAEL J. SHOEMACHER-Flood (Warpodisc) 
266.THE ALT.COFFEE TAPES-s/t (Katahdin Recordings) 
267.HARVEY SORGEN/STEVE RUST/MICHAEL J. STEVENS-Novella (Leo) 
268.JOCHEN RUECKERT-Introduction (Jazzline) 
269.ELLIOTT SHARP & DJ SOULSLINGER-Rwong Territory (Cavity Search) 
270.LOREN MAZZACANE CONNORS-A Possible Dawn (Hat Noir) 
271.LUC FERRARI-Cellule 75 (Tzadik) 
272.COMMA-[voices] (Metatron Press) 
273.KATO HIDEKI-Turbulent Zone (Music for Expanded Ears) 
274.GREG OSBY-zero. (Blue Note) 
275.MARK HELIAS-Fictionary (GM) 
276.EUGENE CHADBOURNE-Jungle Cookies (Old Gold) 2 cd set  
277.LOREN MAZZACANE -The Bridge (Megalon) 
278.LIU SOLA-Haunts (Also Productions) 
279.PALINCKX-It's Frontal Dog (Victo) 
280.MARIE McAULIFFE'S ARKSEXTET-Plays the Music of Burt Bacharach (Avant) 
281.SUSIE IBARRA & DENIS CHARLES-Drum Talk (Wobbly Rail) 
282.LOREN MAZZACANE CONNORS & ALAN LICHT-Hoffman Estates (Drag City) 
283.EUGENE CHADBOURNE-"Total Tuesday" (Home) 
284.TIBOR SZEMZO-Relative Things (Leo) 
285.NICKY SKOPELITIS & RAOUL BJORKENHEIM-Revelator (Douglas) 
286.WILLIAM HOOKER-Hard Time (Squealer) 
287.PAUL BLEY/TONY OXLEY TRIO-Chaos (Soul Note) 
288.NARADA BURTON GREENE-Shades of Greene (Cadence) 
289.CARLA BLEY-Fancy Chamber Music (ECM) 
290.AUTUMN UPRISING-A Three Day Festival of Boston New Improvised Music (Tautology) 
2 cd set 291.SPENCER BAREFIELD QUARTET-Live-Detroit (Xenogenesis) 
292.KRONOS QUARTET/ALFRED SCHNITTKE-The Complete String Quartets (Nonesuch) 
2 cd set 293.BIGGI VINKELOE/BARRE PHILLIPS/PETER UUSKYLA-One Way Out (Slask) 
294.ROBERT M. LEPAGE/MARTIN TETREAULT-Callas: la diva et le vinyle (Amb. Mag.) 
295.GREGORIO/GUSTAFSSON/NORDESON-Background Music (Hatology) 
296.HARD RUBBER ORCHESTRA-Cruel Yet Fair (Victo) 
297.ELAINE RADIGUE-Trilogie de la Mort (Experimental Intermedia) 3 cd set  
298.DAUNIK LAZRO/CARLOS ZINGARO-Hauts plateaux (Potlatch) 
299.STEPHEN VITIELLO-The Light Of Falling Cars (JDK Productions) 
300.JOHN MAYER'S INDO JAZZ FUSIONS-Ragatal (Nimbus Records) 

RECOMMENDED POP RECORDINGS OF 1998:  

1.SLAPP HAPPY-Ca Va (V2) 
2.ROBERT WYATT-Shleep (Thirsty Ear) 
3.PETER BLEGVAD-Hangman's Hill (ReR) 
4.SPIRITUALIZED-Live at Royal Albert Hall [2 cd set] (Arista/Dedicated) 
5.VICTORIA WILLIAMS-musings of a creek dipper (Atlantic) 
6.LONG FIN KILLIE-Amelia (Too Pure) 
7.P.J. HARVEY-Is this Desire? (Island) 
8.BELLE & SEBASTIAN-The Boy with the Arab Strap (Matador) 
9.EMMYLOU HARRIS-Spyboy (Eminent) 
10.KRAMER-Songs from the Pink Death (Shimmy/KFW) 
11.SONIC YOUTH-A Thousand Leaves (DGC) 
12.OLU DARA-In the World (Atlantic) 
13.ARTO LINDSAY-Noon Chill (Bar None) 
14.PERE UBU -Pennsylvania (Tim Kerr) 
15.VIC CHESTNUTT-The Salesman and Bernadette (Capricorn) 
16.KATE & ANNA McGARRIGLE-The McGarrigle Hour (hannibal) 
17.BOREDOMS-Super AR (Birdman/Reprise) 
18.THE SCHRAMMS-dizzy spell (Checkered Past) 
19.RUFUS WAINWRIGHT-s/t (Dream Works) 
20.MARIA MULDAUR-Southland of the Heart (Telarc) 
21.DIAMANDA GALAS-Malediction and Prayer (Mute) 
22.THE RESIDENTS-Wormwood-Curious Stories from the Bible (East Side Digital) 
23.DAVE ALVIN-Black Jack David (High Tone) 
24.SUSAN McKEOWN-Bushes & Briars (Alula) 
25.MARK EITZEL-Caught in a Trap & I Can't Get Out (Matador) 
26.TERRE ROCHE-The Sound of a Tree Falling (Earthrock) 
27.WAYLON JENNINGS-Closing in on the Fire (Ark 21) 
28.SUE GARNER -To Run More Smoothly (Thrill Jockey) 
29.ROY HARPER-the dream society (Science Friction) 
30.LUCINDA WILLIAMS-Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (Mercury) 
31.JOHN KRUTH-Last Year was Great (Gadfly) 
32.PALE NUDES-soul come home (Rec Rec) 
33.HECTOR ZAZOU-Lights in the Dark (Detour) 
34.THE REES SHAD BAND-The Riggley Road Stories (Sweetfish) 
35.GILLIAN WELCH-Hell Among the Yearlings (Almo) 
36.PETER CASE -full service, no waiting (Vanguard) 
37.LAURA LOVE-Shum Ticky (Mercury) 
38.JIM LAUDERDALE-Whisper (BNA) 
39.DANA & KAREN KLETTER-dear, enemy (hannibal) 
40.GOMEZ-Bring it On (Virgin Hut) 
41.damon & naomi-playback singers (Sub Pop) 
42.RICHARD BUCKNER-Since (MCA) 
43.LISA GERRARD & PIETER BOURKE-Duality (4AD) 
44.THIRD EAR BAND-Songs from the Hydrogen Jukebox (Voiceprint) 
45.MIMI GOESSE-Soak (Luaka Bop) 
46.ELLIOTT SMITH-XO (Dreamworks) 
47.MERCURY REV-Deserter's Song (V2) 
48.BILLY BRAGG & WILCO-Mermaid Ave. (Elektra) 
49.JESSAMINE-Don't Stay Too Long (Kranky) 
50.HOWE GELB-Hisser (V2) 
51.WILLIE NELSON-Teatro (Island) 
52.KATE JACOBS-Hydrangea (Bar None) 
53.SHELLAC-Terraform (Touch & Go) 
54.GLEN OR GLENDA-Reasons in the Sun (Shimmy/KFW) 
55.BOILED IN LEAD-Alloy (Omnium) 
56.IVOR CUTLER-A Flat Man (Creation) 
57.PIP PYLE-7 Year Itch (Voiceprint) 
58.HIGH LLAMMAS-Cold & Bouncy (V2) 
59.ADAM COHEN -s/t (Columbia) 
60.JAD FAIR & YO LA TENGO-Strange but True (Matador) 
61.DONNY RUBENSTEIN & ZONY MASH -A Man Without Love (self produced) 
62.GEORGE JONES-It Don't Get Any Better Than This (MCA) 
63.LOU REED-Perfect Night/Live in London (Reprise) 
64.LIZ PHAIR-whitechocolatespaceegg (Matador) 
65.SNOWPONY-The Slow Motion World of... (Radio Active) 
66.JERRY DOUGLAS-Restless on the Farm (Sugar Hill) 
67.DAVID LINDLEY & HANI NASSER -Live in Tokyo (Pleemhead) 
68.JON LANGFORD-Skull Orchard (Sugar Free) 
69.VAN DYKE PARKS-Moonlighting/Live at the Ash Grove (Warner Bros.) 
70.DOUG SEPTEMBER-Ten Bulls (Samson) 
71.BRIAN WILSON-Imagination (Giant) 
72.CHARMING HOSTESS-Eat (Vaccination) 
73.LITTLE FEAT-Under the Radar (CMC International/BMG) 
74.HUGH HOPPER & KRAMER-Huge (Shimmy/KFW) 
75.NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL-In The Aeroplane (Marge) 
76.ANI DIFRANCO- Little Plastic Castle (Righteous Babe) 
77.BARBARA MANING-In New Zealand (Communion) 
78.JONI MITCHELL-Taming the Tiger (Reprise) 
79.MADDY PRIOR-Flesh & Blood (USA Park) 
80.CHRISTINE COLLISTER-The Dark Gift of Time (Koch) 
81.PHILIP PICKETT & RICHARD THOMPSON-The Bones of All Men (hannibal) 
82.PASCAL COMELADE-The Slang of Noise (Le Disques du Soleil) 
83.CLOSED ON ACCOUNT OF RABIES-Poems & Tales of Edgar Allan Poe (Mouth Almighty) 

RECOMMENDED INSTRUMENTAL POP RELEASES OF 1998:  

1.GASTR DEL SOL-Camofleur (Domino) 
2.PULLMAN-Turnstyles & Junkpiles (Thrill Jockey) 
3.DON CABALLERO-What Burns Never Returns (Tough & Go) 
4.GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR-xxxf#a#%xxx (Kranky) 
5.THE GRASSY KNOLL-III (Antilles) 
6.DIRTY THREE-Ocean Songs (Touch & Go) 
7.THE GHASTLY ONES-A-Haunting We Will Go-Go (Zombie A Go-Go Records) 
RECOMMENDED WORLD MUSIC RELEASES OF 1998: 1.ETHIOPIQUES-Volume Four (Buda Musique) 
2.IVA BITTOVA & VLADIMIR VACLAVEK-bile inferno (Indies Records) 
2 cd set 3.SUSSAN DEYHIM & RICHARD HOROWITZ-Majoun (Sony Classical) 
4.DRUMS OF DEATH-Field Recordings in Ghana (Avant) 
5.BERNARD WOMA-Live at Pito Bar (Avant) 
6.MARYAM MURSAL-The Journey (Real World) 
7.SAINKHO NAMCHYLAK-Naked Spirit (Amiata) 
8.SANNA KURKI-SUONIO-Musta (North Side) 
9.HASSAN HAKMOUN-Life Around the World (Alula) 
10.HAMDULILLAH-Fes Festival of World Sacred Music/Vol. Two (Sounds True) 
11.BALI-Le Jardin Des Dieux (Buda Musique) 
12.GUZHENG-The Art of He Baoquan & Sun Wenyan (World Music Library) 
13.SHESHBESH-s/t (Tiptoe/enja) 
14.CHABBIAT MUKAN-Xinjiang Mukan Art Ensemble (World Music Library) 
15.DEEP RUMBA[Kip Hanrahan]-This Night Becomes a Rumba (American Clave) 
16.HEGE RIMESTAD-White Arrow (NorthSide) 
17.VARTTINA-"Vihma" (Wicklow/BMG) 
18.MICHAEL ATHERTON-Ankh: The Sound of Ancient Egypt (Celestial Harmonies) 
19.WALDEMAR BASTOS-Pretaluz [blacklight] (Luaka Bop) 
20.GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA-Ron Roco (Nonesuch) 
21.GERARDO NUNEZ-Calima (Alula) 
22.JIANGNAN-Miniature Ensemble of... (World Music Library) 
23.JPP-String Tease (NorthSide) 
24.CUBANISMO!-Reencarnacion (Hannibal) 
25.DJELI MOUSSA DIAWARA-FlamenKora (Melodie) 
26.PINARENO-From the Tobacco Road of Cuba (Alula) 
27.STELLA CHIWESHE-The Healing Tree/The Best of... (Shanachie) 
28.U YEE NEW-The Spellbinding Piano of Burma (Shanachie) 
29. THE DAKTARIS-Soul Explosion (Desco Records) 
30. LILI BONICHE-Alger Alger (A.P.C.) 

RECOMMENDED REISSUES & HISTORIC RECORDINGS OF 1998:  

1.SOFT MACHINE-Virtually (Cuneiform) 
2.ROBERT WYATT-Rockbottom (Thirsty Ear) 
3.ROBERT WYATT-Ruth is Stranger Than Richard (Thirsty Ear) 
4.HUGH HOPPER-1984 (Cuneiform) 
5.ELTON DEAN-Just Us (Cuneiform) 
6.CARAVAN-Songs for Oblivion Fisherman (Hux Records) 
7.KEVIN AYERS-Too Old to Die Young (Hux Records) 
8.BOB DYLAN-The Royal Albert Hall Concert (Columbia/Legacy) 2 cd set  
9.THE NUGGETS BOX-Original Artifacts from the First Psychedelic Era (Rhino) 4 cd set  
10.SUN RA-Calling Planet Earth (Freedom) 3 cd set  
11.MILES DAVIS-The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings (Columbia/Legacy) 
12.TIM BERNE-The Empire Box (Screwgun) 5 cd set  
13.SONIC'S RENDEZVOUS-"Sweet Nothing" (Mack Aborn Rhythmic Arts) 
14.BRYAN MACLEAN-ifyoubelievein (Sundazed) 
15.KING CRIMSON-The Night Watch (Discipline) 2 cd set  
16.MILES DAVIS/BILL LASWELL-Panthalossa (Columbia) 
17.JOHN COLTRANE-Living Space (Impulse!) 
18.ARCHIE SHEPP-Mama Too Tight (Impulse!) 
19.ALBERT AYLER-Live in Greenwich Village/The Complete Impulse Recordings (Impulse!) 
20.STEVE LACY-Scratching the Seventies (Saravah) 3 cd set  
21.RAHSSAN ROLAND KIRK-Aces Back to Back (32 Jazz) 4 cd set  
22.ELLIOTT SHARP-ARC 3: Cyberpunk & the Virtual Stance (Atavistic) 
23.JOHN ZORN & SATO MICHIHIRO-Ganryu Island (Tzadik) 
24.DON CHERRY & KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI-Actions (no label) 
25.LYDIA LUNCH-Queen of Siam (Atavistic) 
26.FRANK ZAPPA-Mystery Disc (Ryko) 
27.SOUTHWEST F.O.B.-The Smell of Incense (Sundazed) 
28.ROBERT WYATT-Dondestan-Revisited (Thirsty Ear) 
29.KEVIN AYERS & ARCHIE LEGGETT-Banana Follies (Hux Records) 
30.COLUMBIA-PRINCETON ELECTRONIC MUSIC CENTER-1961-1973 (New World) 
31.DINO VALENTE-s/t (Koch) 
32.PROCOL HARUM-First Album...Plus (Westside) 
33.SANDY DENNY-'Gold Dust' Live at the Royalty (Island) 
34.CHRIS SMITHER-another way to find you (Hightone) 
35.BILLY JOE SHAVER-I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (Koch) 
36.TONY CONRAD-Early Minimalism (Table of the Elements) 4 cd set  
37.JIMMY GIUFFRE-Free Fall (Columbia/Legacy) 
38.TAL FARLOW-This is Tal Farlow (Verve) 
39.HERBIE NICHOLS-The Complete Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note) 
40.JOE HARRIOT-Indo-Jazz Fusion Volumes 1 & 2 (Verve/Europe) 
41.THELONIUS MONK-Live at the It Club-Complete (Columbia/Legacy) 2 cd set  
42.ROBERT WYATT-Old Rottenhat (Thirsty Ear) 
43.PHAROAH SANDERS-Thembi (Impulse!) 
44.WILLIAM BURROUGHS-The Best of... (Mouth Almighty) 
45.BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING CO. w/ JANIS JOPLIN-Live at Winterland '68 (Col./Legacy) 
46.JOE MANERI-Paniots Nine (Avant) 
47.NICO-The Classic Years (Chronicles/Polygram) 
48.EUGENE CHADBOURNE-Volume 2: Solo Acoustic Guitar (Rastascan) 
49.WILLIAM PARKER-Through Acceptance...(Eremite) 
50.GONG -Family Jewels (GAS) 2 cd compilation  
51.PAINKILLER-The Complete Studio Sessions (Tzadik) 4 cd set  
52.ARNE NORDHEIM-electric (Rune Grammofon) 
53.MUSIC ELETTRONICA VIVA-The Sound Pool (Spalax) 
54.FOLKE RABE-What?? (Dexter's Cigar) 
55.OS MUNDI-43 Minuten. (Repertoire/Brain) 
56.JULIUS HEMPHILL/WARREN SMITH-Chile New York (Black saint) 
57.STRENGTH IN NUMBERS-Telluride Session (MCA) 
58.ROBERT WYATT-The End Of An Ear (Sony UK) 
59.DEXTER GORDON-Live at Carnegie Hall (Columbia/Legacy) 
60.THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET-Buried Treasures/Live in Mexico City (Columbia) 

RECOMMENDED DUB RELEASES OF 1998:  

1.DUB SYNDICATE-"Fear of a Green Planet" (Shanachie) 
2.SINGERS & PLAYERS-War of Words (On U Sound/reissue) 
3.AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE-"Environmental Studies" (On U Sound/reissue) 
4.BIM SHERMAN-Across the Red Sea (ON U Sound/reissue) 
5.AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE-Off the Beaten Track (ON U Sound/reissue) 
6.TRUMYSTIC SOUND SYSTEM-Product Three (Mutant Sound System) 
7.BILL LASWELL/STYLE SCOTT-Dub Meltdown (WordSound) 
8.DUBADELIC-Bass Invaders (WordSound)