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Brighton Port Authority – I Think We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat (Southern Fried Records)

Norman Cook is counting on you NOT recognizing his name. Otherwise, the whole crazy story of his band, the Brighton Port Authority, falls apart. Norman’s story, and he’s sticking to it, is that he has rescued from oblivion the recently discovered tapes of the BPA recording in the 1970s with Iggy Pop, David Byrne, Emmy the Great, Jamie T, and a host of other guests. And yes, Iggy and David are here… but Emmy and Jamie weren’t even born in the 70s. And Norman Cook? Well he’s more famous as the artist Fatboy Slim. The Brighton Port Authority is relentless fun, a wild tour of modern rock and pop styles at breakneck speed. Here’s the song “Seattle.” --picked by John Schaefer [Amazon]

Joshua Redman - Compass (Nonesuch)

Joshua Redman’s new CD finds the veteran jazz saxophonist evoking the spirit of the great Sonny Rollins. Titled “Compass,” the disc has a crisp, back-to-basics feel. Think simple tunes, skeletal arrangements, and passionate, vigorous improvisations. The instrumentation consists almost exclusively of bass, drums, and Redman’s dazzling sax work. This cut is called “Hutchhiker’s Guide.” --picked by Brian Wise [Amazon]

Animal Collective, “Merriweather Post Pavilion” (Domino)


Our next CD pick is the latest from the group Animal Collective. Take a Philip Glass symphony, mix in some thundering dancefloor beats, and pour on a lot of Beach Boys sunshine … and you have “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” For their ninth album, the trio has fine-tuned the carnivalesque mania that drew fans from around the musical spectrum. And then, they cranked up the volume. The result is a whacked-out record that could stand as one of the year’s best. Here’s the track “Summertime Clothes” from Animal Collective’s new album, “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” --picked by Joel Meyer [Amazon]