Capitol Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Ill Communication, the Beastie Boys' fourth studio album, remains a hallmark of their creative versatility. Released in 1994, this groundbreaking record merges hip-hop with punk rock, jazz, and funk, marking a significant shift towards live instrumentationia progression from their previous album, Check Your Head. Co-produced by the Beasties and Mario C, the album showcases their talent for genre-blending, featuring iconic tracks like the explosive 'Sabotage,' the funky 'Get It Together' with Q-Tip, and the raw 'Do It' with Biz Markie. The album also includes jazzy breakbeat grooves such as 'Root Down' and 'The Scoop,' along with instrumental jazz-funk tracks like 'Ricky's Theme' and 'Sabrosa,' and even nods to their punk roots with 'Heart Attack Man.' With further contributions from Money Mark, Eric Bobo, and Amery 'AWOL' Smith, Ill Communication is a testament to the Beastie Boys' ability to innovate. Now available on cassette for the first time ever, it continues to resonate as one of the band's most diverse and celebrated works.

Review: Alligator Bites Never Heal sees Doechii at her most introspective and ambitious, a 19-track mixtape (and now LP) where vulnerability takes centre stage. Departing from her club-ready bangers she explores raw themes of loss, pressure and self-worth. Opener 'Stanka Pooh' dives deep into spiralling anxieties but Doechii's wit keeps things balanced as she snaps back with her signature humour. Tracks like 'Bullfrog' and 'Nissan Altima' are drenched in Tampa's humid, swampy vibes while moments like 'Bloom' and 'Beverly Hills' highlight her melodic strengths. Navigating between raunchy bravado and emotional honesty, Doechii proves she's an artist defying any box.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve split on the bottom but otherwise in excellent condition***


Alligator Bites Never Heal sees Doechii at her most introspective and ambitious, a 19-track mixtape (and now LP) where vulnerability takes centre stage. Departing from her club-ready bangers she explores raw themes of loss, pressure and self-worth. Opener 'Stanka Pooh' dives deep into spiralling anxieties but Doechii's wit keeps things balanced as she snaps back with her signature humour. Tracks like 'Bullfrog' and 'Nissan Altima' are drenched in Tampa's humid, swampy vibes while moments like 'Bloom' and 'Beverly Hills' highlight her melodic strengths. Navigating between raunchy bravado and emotional honesty, Doechii proves she's an artist defying any box.

Review: Those who know are saying that Ice Spice is set to have a big year in 2023. The rapper is doing her own bit to make that come true with this, a first official release via 10K Projects/Capitol Records, which includes a single made with assistance from 'Gangsta Boo.' The Bronx rapper has generated lots of buzz up to now and this six tracker only builds on that with great production from RIOTUSA. It includes breakout single 'Munch (Feelings U)' and her newest hit 'In Ha Mood.' Add in catchy cuts like 'Actin' A Smoochie' and you have a real winner.

Review: Kali Uchis has always had a gift for building dreamy, insular worlds, but her fifth studio album feels like a quiet reckoning. She channels existential uncertainty into lush, open-hearted pop i a mix of glittery r&b, woozy soul, and downcast slow jams that seem to float between time zones. Written in the aftermath of what she's described as a "life-altering" experience, there's a newfound stillness here. 'Sunshine & Rain...' is all candlelight and quiet yearning, its soft-focus production the perfect backdrop for a voice that's more hushed and inward than ever. 'ILYSMIH' (short for "I love you so much it hurts") doubles down on vulnerability, with lyrics that feel read straight from a diary, tangled up in delay-drenched strings and pillowy keys. There's punchier stuff too i 'Territorial' and 'Daggers!' lean towards funk and psychedelia, but the tempo never really rises. Instead, the energy folds inwards. 'Silk Lingerie,' 'Lose My Cool,' and 'It's Just Us' feel like whispered confessions, suspended between dream and memory. Across all 14 tracks, there's a strong sense of intimacy and solitude: of letters written and maybe never sent, of a person quietly finding the strength to stay soft in a world that rarely offers the same back.