McG's top 10 CDs for August 17

1. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme - I wanted to pick up the 2-CD deluxe edition of this stellar jazz classic, but opted for the 2003 single disc reissue. Sourced from a recently unearthed master, this sonic masterpiece is allegedly more perfect sounding than before. Whatever the case is, this is simply a masterpiece of an album.

2. Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First - Bad Religion's latest record keeps finding its way into my CD player. It's because the production is crisp, but not overbearing and the performance, especially the drumming is tight. BR's killer punk melodies and oohs and aahs, may sound similar, but Bad Religion's cultural and political observations have never sounded so fresh.

3. Bad Religion - Suffer - This is a newly remastered edition of this classic LP originally released in 1987. No bonus tracks or liner notes unfortunately, still, this is a kickass record that really put Bad Religion on the map and was the foundation for many great BR records to follow. Stripped down, to-the-point melodic punk that never loses its appeal.

4. Art Blakey - Unbreakable - At one point in time, I had a pretty killer jazz collection, but ended up selling it for $$$. I'm trying to build up my collection once again and this was on of my first acquisitions. Blakey's drum fills are subtle but amazing and his backing band, the Jazz Messengers, (including my favorite trumpetist, Lee Morgan), are smooth and sublime on this 1964 recording.

5. Elliott Smith - From a Basement on a Hill - Not sure if the copy I downloaded is the official advance copy, or one made up of demos and unmixed masters. Either way It sounds pretty close to what Smith's posthumous album will most likely be. There are several quiet acoustic pieces alongside a few louder, more rocking pieces. At least two songs have a heavy John Lennon and George Harrison influence. Not as immediate as "XO" and "Figure 8," "From a Basement on a Hill" will probably please fans nonetheless and will undoubtedly raise the question of what other Elliott Smith material we can expect from the vaults.

6. The Marked Men - The Marked Men - This first album by ex-members of the Reds has been getting consistent play in my car CD player. I just can't get enough of this hyper quick melodic punk. I think this might even be better than their current album, "On the Outside," which is also insanely catchy.

7. The Reds - It's About Time - The second and final album by the Reds, 3/4 of whom went onto form the Marked Men. While the songwriting is a little more primitive than what these guys have produced under the Marked Men moniker, this is essentially the same type great punk pop stuff played ridiculously fast and recorded in a charming and slightly crude setting.

8. The Briefs - Singles Only - This CD collects the bulk of the Briefs' 7" output. The band has always been really engaging, and their overly melodic singles always had a snide sense of humor. Why this band already isn't huge is beyond me. They are really great and some of their best tracks are here.

9. The Fall - 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong - Nice overview of the Fall's output from their early singles right up to the most current record. It's kind of startling to hear some of the drum machine driven stuff of the late '80s that was in vogue at the time. However there is plenty of the primitive pummel and the Fall's discordant drone here.

10. Lee Morgan - The Sixth Sense - This is recently reissue of "The Sixth Sense" was remastered by the premiere engineer of essential jazz, Rudy Van Gelder, who also presided over the original sessions. Morgan churns out some nice bop and a mellow ballad on this collection. Tacked on the end are three bonus tracks that don't quite fit the laid-back tone of this album, but are decent and upbeat boppers just the same.