Editors' Choice for March 2004

Compelling and provocative, this record finds Shepp exploring free jazz and earthier genres with a large cast of musicians.

— Christian Genzel

San Francisco twitchy art oddballs' sixth full-length, a conceptual song cycle about the title character.

— Patrick Sullivan

MF Doom and Madlib's only full-scale collaboration is an experimental hip-hop classic which has endured as both artists' most successful work.

— Paul Simpson

The composer's quietly magnetic second album showcases the potential of his fusion of classical music, electronics, and found sounds.

— Heather Phares

Dense, brain-stretching combinations of sounds balance the freedom of improvisation.

— Anthony Tognazzini

The band's ambitious full-length debut tackles love, loss, and racism with dense sonics and eloquent lyrics.

— Heather Phares

The debut that put these indie rock favorites on the map features their biggest and most beloved tunes.

— Neil Z. Yeung