Five Eight
Your God Is Dead To Me Now
Iron Horse Records
14 song CD/LP

The Athens-based juggernaut still rolls on, over two decades going strong, yet with only a handful of albums to their credit. But, oh what albums they are! This latest installment from Five Eight, their first since their eponymous 2004 release, is by far their most introspective and controversial, bringing together an amazing group of songs that are among their all-time best. There's anger, but it's focused; there's fiery rock, but it's purposeful and mature in execution.

Of course, the centerpiece here is the title track - which on first listen appears to be an atheistic screed against religious beliefs, but under the surface seems to be a commentary on the false gods of religious zealots. No matter how you slice it, it gets you and captivates you immediately. It's deep, it's thought-provoking, and it's one of the best songs Mike Mantione has ever written.

By the way, if you've never seen them live, you must. Make it a point.

MISH MASH Mandate: Losing My Religion
Five Eight Website

Max Roach
Live In Berlin
Jazzwerkstatt
5 song CD

This is a great 1984 live set from the piano-free Max Roach Quartet, which features Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Odean Pop on tenor, and Tyrone Brown on bass. The music ranges from the soulful take on Duke Jordan's Jordu to a free exercise on Coltrane's Giant Steps. The band is in top form, and Roach proves that he still had what it took to be a bandleader, pushing his band where he wanted, all the while maintaining enough creative control to rip out some great solos along the way. Highly recommended.

MISH MASH Mandate: Maximum Roach
Max Roach Live In Berlin @ Amazon

Refused
The Shape Of Punk To Come
Epitaph Records
2 LP/DVD/Download Reissue

One of the greatest hardcore/punk records of all time is getting the royal treatment with a deluxe 2LP set that includes a DVD and a live album download. Refused shook the underground scene and changed everything with this 1998 release, almost single-handedly creating the screamo genre along the way (for better or for worse). Indeed, it was the shape of punk to come, and 12 years later it is still the golden standard.

While the prospect of having this album on audiophile quality vinyl is enticing enough, the real treat here is the inclusion of the 2006 DVD documentary, Refused Are F****ing Dead, which documents the breakup of the band from a fan's perspective. Also of note is the accompanying download of Live At The Umea, which shows just how explosive the band could be on stage.

MISH MASH Mandate: Rather Be Dead
Epitaph Records Website

The Clash
The Clash
Drastic Plastic Records
180 Gram Vinyl LP

One of the most revered imported punk albums of all time is seeing new life more than 30 years after its initial release. The Clash's debut has been given the full audiophile treatment by Drastic Plastic and Sony, a limited edition, 180 gram vinyl LP reissue of the original British release in all its glory. Sound-wise, this release has never sounded better - even though it's a punk record that was recorded on a shoestring, the quality is much better than you might expect. My only complaint would be the lack of any extras (downloads, inserts, etc), but even then, this record is more than a fitting tribute to the groundbreaking sonic fury that is The Clash.

MISH MASH Mandate: What's My Name?
The Clash - Drastic Plastic

The Dave Liebman Group
Turnaround: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
Jazzwerkstatt
10 song CD

Jazz saxophonist Dave Liebman brings a new twist to the music of Ornette Coleman with this collection of tunes culled from Coleman's early career. Liebman's contribution comes in the form of adding harmony to Coleman's melodic themes, bringing a different interpretation to the music as it was originally recorded. Another interesting aspect comes in the fact that Coleman was not an influence on Liebman's own personal style, so Liebman is able to approach the music with a freshness that may not otherwise be there if he had. Guitarist Vic Juris backs up Liebman on the album, and provides the backbone for the harmony play between the two musicians. Their teamwork is excellent and they manage to take Coleman's work to a completely new level in the process.

MISH MASH Mandate: Harmonized
Dave Liebman Turnaround on Amazon.com

Chet Baker
The Sesjun Radio Shows
Out Of The Blue/T2 Entertainment
2 CD set

This 2 CD set pulls together 15 unreleased tracks from five different live performances by Chet Baker on Dutch radio between 1976 and 1985. There is a nice variety of moods presented here, thanks to the mix of musicians and instruments featured in each set. For example, the first set features trumpet and vocals by Baker, backed by flute, piano, and bass, while another set has him backed with vibraphone, bass, and drums. Central to it all is Baker, who is in top form throughout, executing his performance with his unique calm and cool, West Coast style. The sound quality is excellent, sure to please any fan of live jazz.

The disc is the first in a series of live performances on the Tros Sesjun radio program that ran from 1973 to 2004 in the Netherlands. Future releases will include Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Clark Terry, and others. Looking forward to hearing more!

MISH MASH Mandate: Lost And Found
Chet Baker Sesjun Radio Shows @ Amazon

Vinicius Cantuária
Samba Carioca
Naive France
9 song CD

Vinicius Cantuária delves into the essence of classic bossa nova, breathing new life into the genre by reviving the creative spirits of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, and Carlos Lyra. While Cantuária revisits the Brazilian icons of the past, he does not simply rehash their work or style. He is able to find his own voice, perfectly capturing the quiet and subtle restraint of the bossa nova. Cantuária barely lifts his voice above a soft level, riding just louder than a whisper, finding that romantic sweet spot where bossa nova comes alive and reaches for the heart. At times, his vocal style reminds me of a combination of Gilberto and Lyra, showing a slight yet engaging rasp that gives his voice an honest character.

MISH MASH Mandate: Boss Of Nova
Vinicius Cantuária Website