BUCK 65 – “SITUATION”
Buck 65 is a solo artist (real name Richard Terfly) born and raised in Nova Scotia, who started out as a hip-hop artist/MC/turntablist. In recent years, he’s added some rock and folk to the fold. Yep, that is indeed as strange as it might seem..but it works. Most tracks are still wiggle-your-bum groovy, while he name-drops anyone from The Buzzcocks, to Thelonius Monk, to Sid Vicious. Rock and hip-hop fans alike should dig this, and I saw him play a couple of weeks ago at the Iceland Airwaves Festival in Reykjavik..where he had the room in a frenzy. Find out for yourself, when Buck 65 plays Reggie’s Live on the South Side, on Nov. 21st.

THE CARIBBEAN – “POPULATIONS”
This is the 4th album by Washington DC’s The Caribbean. What should be noted, though, is that I don’t think that any song of theirs injects pictures of fruity umbrella-decorated cocktails, nor palm trees. Instead, this 3-piece makes experimental art-rock. Oh-oh…I said “experimental”..and I said “art rock”. But before that promptly turns you right off, know that there’s good song structure, and their albums end up sounding cohesive, as opposed to being an aimless mess. Let’s face it, experimental music can be that way. This band is perfect for playing on a groggy Sunday morning, or just while zoning out.