Weeknd- Thursday

New free download mix-tape that follows up the critically acclaimed House of Balloons record released earlier this year. This 21 year old Toronto-based singer gained a lot of attention with deep atmospheric grooves buffered by vintage alto R&B vocals, singing incendiary lyrics about drugs and promiscuous sex, all of it peppered with profanities. There's not a lot of evolution to be found on this new set, but it's a fine compliment to House of Balloons, plus it's free so why complain.

Buy this record if you really just want to buy a record, but you can have it for free cos that's how they roll in Canada.

the-weeknd.com

Mr. Wiggle & Friends- A Classic Soul Journey

Mr. Wiggles, aka Sterling Harrison, presents a collection of mostly up-tempo R&B and soul numbers, mixing Sound of Soul recording artists with Mr. Wiggles original compositions. A native of Richmond, VA.,  Harrison's greatest claim to fame was having a young Jimi Hendrix play guitar in his backing band in the mid-60's, but he remained in relative obscurity until his death in 2005 despite an active recording career. Mr. Wiggles & Friends rip the album open with the muscular horns and funked-up bass of "You Upset My Mind" by Little Tommy. Brother Love's "I Can Be" is a sweet ballad in the Philly Soul vein while the Wigglin' Men lay down a spirited instrumental, "Wigglin'", that would fill any sock hop dance floor with its tremolo blues guitar fills and blazing sax solo. Mr. Wiggles himself does a hammy "Johnny B Goode" imitation on "Ride Paul Revere" and the gospel closer "Children of God" by Larry Sander feels out of place here, but the collection has enough satisfying material to validate Harrison's efforts.

Buy this record if you plan on overlooking your friend's stupid name because he has something important to say.

www.soundofsoulrecords.com

Don Covay- Funky Yo-Yo

Recorded in 1977, this would be the last Covay record until Adlib in 2000. Covay is best known for his song "See-Saw", but also penned some classics for other famous artists: "Chain of Fools"-Aretha Franklin, "Pony Time"- Chubby Checker, "Letter Full of Tears"- Gladys Knight & The Pips. The recording break was probably much needed because Funky Yo-Yo feels like a rehearsal, not a fully fleshed out album. The playing is sparse, often sloppy, with the band vamping while Covay tries to improv vocals seemingly made up on the spot. It's got some down-home blues coursing through it but overall it's really quite a mess and not what you would hope for from an artist the caliber of Don Covay. However, don't let this discourage you from checking out his back catalog.

Buy this record if the parole hearing's been postponed and you've just carved a shank out of your toothbrush.

www.discogs.com/artist/Don+Covay