Thievery Corporation has dedicated this album to Antonio Carlos Jobim- the mastermind behind Bossa Nova. It seems to me that this is a fitting dedication, as well as an obvious source of inspiration. This album incorporates bossa nova sounds, as well as many other influences (most noticeably Dub) into a well blended and pleasurable listening experience- a sound that is just as appropriate for sitting around and reading as it is for playing in the background of some super-hip cocktail party complete with martinis and spies.

Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi is some of the best Acid Jazz that I think I have ever heard. Before I hear this album I thought that United Future Organization was the cream of the crop- and while they still remain up there on my list, this album blows anything by UFO away. The thing that had impressed me about UFO is also what impresses me so much about Thievery Corporation- sophistication. And let me tell you, this album is plenty sophisticated. Thievery Corporation is big on style (just looking at the inside of the CD jacket will tell you that).

OK, but what about the music. Back to that. Thievery Corporation takes heavy bossa nova and dub influences and adds an appropriate dash of easy listening, drops it all to some dope mid-tempo beats and produces a sound that that is both sophisticated and easy to listen to.

All things considered, Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi could easily be considered the Getz/Gilberto of this decade.

Freakin' Canada. I don't understand you. Why do you produce such good comedians and such bad musicians?

I am not even going to bother re-listening to this album before I finish this review. It's bad. Just as bad, if not worse, than any other Rush album. I don't need to be reminded of the sound elves might produce if they were rock stars. I can't think of many more bands that I wouldn't want to hear even more, except maybe Boston or one of those countless whiney-chick singers whinin' it up on alternative radio these days. Shut up!

Anyhow, Roll the Bones is a horrible album. I am ashamed to own it. But not as ashamed of the Roll the Bones bootleg t-shirt that I have floating around here somewhere. I'm glad I didn't pay for either of these items. I think that shirt might make great kindling for my fireplace, or possibly a great rag to wash my car with, or maybe I'll keep it on hand for next time Grandpa leaves a drinking glass in the middle of the floor for me to step on. No wait, I will hold onto that shirt for the next time I run out of toilet paper. I don't know if I can wait that long.

Anybody want a CD?

First of all, let me say that this album is out there. But that can't really be much of a surprise considering that this is Stereolab we are talking about. What a freaky combination of noises. The thing that sets this album apart in my mind is the fact that they really go all out in their freak out (that rhymed, so you know it's true). This album incorporates much more orchestration that any other of Stereolab's albums. At any given time in Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night, Stereolab can and will blurt out a random piece of orchestration that may feature some combination of stings and horns. This randomness is by no means bad, but rather what makes this album so fantastic to listen to. As I listen to it I think, "Hmmm, I never would have thought to put this beautiful string section here."

It's rare that musicians can trick me into listening to their musical freak-outs, but Stereolab always can, and Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night is no exception. Most often when I here music becoming too tangential (see "Art-Rock" or anything "avante garde") I have the same reaction as Harvey Keitel in "The Bad Lieutenant" when looses money on the World Series- shoot the radio. I can't stand hearing these knuckle-head musicians go on their arty little "jams". I don't need to be in the same discordant hell that these guys have dwelling in their brains. Stereolab, like John Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders, manages to freak out without offending me. Why is this? I think that is a knowledge of how to properly use discord in music. When properly understood, a lack of harmony can sweeten the harmony. Stereolab knows this, and that's why they are so good.

But I digress. Let me say a few specific things about Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night. This seems to be a typical Stereolab album, which is to say, fantastic. The vocals, despite being in French so often, are outstanding- with much obvious homage paid to Astrud Gilberto. The instrumentation is very much in keeping with the Stereolab sound, except for parts of Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night sound like they were composed as opposed to written. Me likey!