This is a MOG sneak attack of stream of consciousness music engagement.Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra (Boulevard de l'Independance) has one of the finest, fullest sounds of any modern African music. The drum sound (particularly on the first song) is unparalleled in the field. Any Afrobeat heads must not miss this.Hector Zazou, Bony Bikaye and CY1 created an amazing album called Noir et Blanc in 1983. On the back of the reissue (on Crammed Records as part of their Global Soundclash 1980-89 Series, which has more than a couple other items I'd like to check out), there's a quotation from International Musician: "Fela Kuti meets Kraftwerk on the dance floor." Yes, believe it or not, it is as good as that. A reissue comes to the rescue. Guess what? No gushing, superfluous liner notes either. Thank lord.I want to send a copy of Caetano Veloso's new album, Ce, to every band that Stereogum labels a Band to Watch. I want to see them all quit rock music within a week. (Either that or just take some time off to think.) Effortless freshness.So now here's what happens when I hit shuffle on my mp3 collection and list the first 25 unedited.The Smiths "Shakespeare's Sister"Morrissey "At Amber" (oh man, a favorite; and yes, it really did just go from that to the next)The 6ths "Oahu" (features 25 minutes of Omnichord arpeggios with gradually increasing space between each one; way to trip out, Merritt)Macha Loved Bedhead "How Are Your Windows?" (this is one of 80 5-second tracks just like it; curse them!!)New Power Generation "(Eye Like) Funky Music" (one of Prince's best straight-up '90s funk songs, primarily thanks to the chipmunk-funk rhythm guitar, originally displayed in fine form in "Erotic City," the best song ever made)Stereolab "Diagonals" (I made a music video to this song in middle school; in it, items hanging on my kitchen wall switch places magically every 40 seconds or so)Plus-Tech Squeeze Box "White Drops" (this band's Fakevox album is one of the only pure examples of J-pop in my collection)France Gall "Le Temps de la Rentree"Ween "Flies on My Dick"Caetano Veloso "Neide Candolina"Tortoise "Almost Always Is Nearly Enough"Momus "Noah Brill"Raymond Scott "IBM Probe"The RZA "Ode to O-Ren Ishii" (this track is completely ridiculous and I don't like it)Moondog "Novette No. 1 in D Flat Major, 1st Mov."The The "Slow Train to Dawn"Elliott Smith "A Question Mark" (never considered Mr. Smith as exceptional as some do, but boy, I sure like this here XO album)Gary Wilson "Mary Had Brown Hair"OOIOO "Fossil"Steely Dan "Green Earrings"Randy Newman "Bet No One Ever Hurt This Bad" (haven't given this album much of a listen [Randy Newman], but I at least know it is, to some degree, good)Kate Bush "The Painter's Link"The Attractions "Damage" (yes, that's the Attractions sans Elvis, Steve Nieve as frontman... and it's good! This song particularly sounds like the pop side of Low, helped in no small part by the drum effect)R. Stevie Moore "Hate Epidemic" (from the Ballbearings Pinatas compilation from u.s. to i that came out this year that also happens to feature two tracks by me)Beck "Static/Diamond Bollocks"And, finally, "Stunna Glasses at Night" is currently blasting at a party that's either in my building or in the building across the street. I am hoping I will be able to go to sleep within the next hour. Headphones may be required. (Now it's "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. People are -singing- screaming along. I am not a fan of any of this and yet it reminds me that I've got a freshly downloaded copy of "Promiscuous" in my folder, and I might as well play it. Sadly, when this song is over, the party will not be.)