V.A. - The Rough Guide To Cajun Dance (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

What is it about Louisianan dance music that keeps people listening? Is it the sheer danceability of it, regardless of the mood? Perhaps there's something in the omnipresent emotion that lets the musicians break the language barrier and put their feelings onto the listener. As one of many albums on the market in the current revival of popularity for Cajun music, the Rough Guide contribution to the current offerings is a welcome one. The major figures of the genre are present, as are a few relative unknowns with powerful abilities. The album opens up with the best contemporary Cajun has to offer, with a thumping dance from the Mamou Playboys. As it moves forward, it touches upon pieces from Beausoleil (surprisingly, the two Beausoleil pieces are the only appearances of a Doucet here) and the venerable Magnolia Sisters. Bruce Daigrepont provides a number worth hearing, as do the Balfa Brothers within a short span. D.L. Menard contributes a piece of his trademark country-inflected Cajun, and the Savoy Family makes an appearance (as with Doucet, a surprising single appearance from the stars of the genre). The compilers did a fine job of covering a range of works here, staying away from the most dated and scratchy recordings in favor of new recordings as available. The plan seems to have worked well, as the album shows off some fine stuff. Pick it up alongside other entries in the same field, such as Rounder's Cajun Music: The Essential Collection, and compare, then dig for the best on related albums. by Adam Greenberg
Tracklist:
1 Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys – My True Love (Voyage D'Amour) 4:01
2 The Jambalaya Cajun Band – Les Flammes D'En Fer (The Flames Of Hell) 3:52
3 Beausoleil – Valse Bébé 4:06
4 Zachary Richard – Madeleine 3:18
5 Magnolia Sisters – Dedans Le Sud De La Louisiane 3:15
6 La Bande Feufollet – McGee's Medley 3:41
7 Hadley J. Castille & The Louisiana Cajun Band – Chanson De Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras Song) 3:41
8 Balfa Toujours – Allons À Tepatate 2:49
9 Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys – La Toussaint 3:52
10 Mack Manuel, Jesse Legé & The Lake Charles Ramblers – Special Du Club Soixante-Treize (Club 73 Special) 3:16
11 Beausoleil – Parlez-Nous À Boire 3:36
12 Bruce Daigrepont – La Petit Cadeau (The Little Gift) 2:50
13 Dewey Balfa, Marc Savoy & D.L. Menard – J'Ai Fait Un Gros Erreur 4:19
14 The Balfa Brothers – La Danse De Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras Dance) 2:21
15 D.L. Menard – Listen To Me When I Talk To You (Écoute-Moi Bien, Porte Attention, Je Suis Après Te Parler) 2:56
16 The Savoy Family Band – Lake Arthur Stomp 4:08
17 Donald Thibodeaux & Cajun Fever – Lacassine Special 3:50

V.A. - The Rough Guide To Native American Music (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After providing Rough Guides for everything from reggae, salsa and flamenco to the music of South Africa, Eastern Europe and Brazil, the World Music Network's excellent Rough Guide series turned its attention to Native American music with this 18-song CD. Assembled in 1998, The Rough Guide to Native American Music isn't meant to be the last word on Native American culture, but it does offer an interesting, exciting variety of music by Native Americans. "Variety" is definitely the key word for this compilation, which ranges from the traditional to the contemporary. Some of the disc's more traditional offerings include R. Carlos Nakai's "Cleft in the Sky," Primeaux & Mike's "Healing Song," Peter Garcia & the Garcia Brothers' "Basket Dance" and the late Ed Lee Natay's "Sacred Mask Dance" (which was recorded in 1951). On other selections, you'll find Native Americans embracing everything from folk-pop (Joanne Shenandoah's "Tekanatsyaslitha" and Sharon Burch's "Sacred Wind") and Mexican ranchero music (Southern Scratch's "Cuatro Vidas Polka") to hardcore rap (Without Rezervation's "Are You Ready for W.O.R.?"). The latter is quite compelling, bringing to mind the searing political commentary of Public Enemy; "Are You Ready for W.O.R.?" finds Oakland rappers Without Rezervation pulling no punches as they rail against the oppression that Native Americans have suffered. Again, this collection isn't meant to be the last word on Native American music (for example, it contains nothing by Kevin Locke, an adventurous flute player from North Dakota). The collection only scratches the surface, and that surface is a very inviting one. by Alex Henderson  
Tracklist:
1 Chester Mahooty – Zuni Sunrise Song 2:25
Written-By – Mahooty
2 Walela – Cherokee Morning Song 4:31
Arranged By – Laura Satterfield, Priscilla Coolidge, Rita Coolidge
3 Sharon Burch – Sacred Wind 5:05
Written-By – Burch
4 Primeaux & Mike – Healing Song 3:23
Written-By – Primeaux/Mike
5 Southern Scratch – Cuatro Vidas Polka 4:09
Written-By – Southern Scratch
6 Judy Trejo – Doazi Tumbi 2:00
Arranged By – Trejo
Written-By – Trad Shoshone
7 The Garcia Brothers – Basket Dance 6:34
Written-By – The Garcia Brothers
8 R. Carlos Nakai – Cleft In The Sky 3:02
Written-By – R Carlos Nakai
9 Robert Tree Cody & Rob Wallace W. Will Clipman – White Buffalo 4:42
Written-By – Rob Wallace (4), Robert Tree Cody, Will Clipman
10 Without Rezervation – Are You Ready For W.O.R.? 3:46
Music By – Chris LaMarr
Words By – Nick Peace
11 Cornel Pewewardy & The Alliance West Singers – Kiowa Hymn 2:16
Written-By – Cornel Pewewardy
12 Joanne Shenandoah – Tekanatsyaslitha 4:00
Arranged By – Joanne Shenandoah, Tom Wasinger
13 Blackstone Singers – Victory Song 2:42
Arranged By – Blackstone Singers
Written-By – Trad Cree
14 Black Lodge Singers – Mickey Mouse 3:46
Written-By – Elgin Scabby Robe, Kenny Scabby Robe
15 R. Carlos Nakai & William Eaton W. Black Lodge Singers – Many Flags 4:50
Written-By – R Carlos Nakai, Robert Doyle, William Eaton
16 Burning Sky – Native Funk 4:12
Written-By – Aaron White, Kelvin Bizahaloni, Michael Bannister
17 Ed Lee Natay – Sacred Mask Dance 3:02
Arranged By – Ed Lee Natay
Written-By – Trad Keres
18 Bill Miller – Wind Spirit 2:53

V.A. - The Rough Guide To The Music Of Canada (2003) Mp3

Another in World Music Network's exhaustive Rough Guide to Music series, the Rough Guide to the Music of Canada is an excellent compilation of artists obscured by pop culture, like French-Canadian acts Florent Vollent and fiddler Emile Benoit, as well as those who skirt the edges (Bruce Cockburn, Natalie MacMaster), and covers ground old (Stan Rogers) and new (Matapat). From the French-Celtic styling associated with the Bretons and Acadians of Cape Breton, Newfoundland to the more western contemporary folk traditions and the influence of rock, the number of styles here are diverse but flow nicely into each other ,making for an interesting and enjoyable compilation of the diversity of Canadian music. by Gregory McIntosh
Tracklist:
1 Florent Vollant – Tshishe Manitu 5:51
Vocals – Zachary Richard
2 Hart-Rouge – J'ai Fait Un Reve 3:12
3 Bruce Cockburn – Creation Dream 4:01
4 Natalie MacMaster – Real Béatrice (Béatrice (Oggi Nevica) / Sean Sa Cheo) 3:34
5 Matapat – Matapat 2:53
6 Mary Jane Lamond – Domhnall Mac 'Lc Lain 3:32
7 La Bottine Souriante – Reel Du Forgeron (The Blacksmith's Reel) 3:48
8 Zubot & Dawson – Ed's Wake 4:51
9 Bill Hilly Band – Bulkley Valley Home 2:57
10 Crystal Plamondon – Ca Va Brasser 2:48
11 Anita Best – Kelligrew's Soiree 3:36
12 Silk Road Music – La Bastringue / Green Mountain Petronella 1:57
13 Kanehi:Io – Field Song 2:15
14 Wendell Ferguson – Rocks And Trees 3:19
15 Rheostatics – Seven 4:04
16 Cordes En Folie – Le Papillon (Bourree Du Papillon / Sans Crier Gare)    3:36
17 Longbottom – The Ballard Of Gordy Ross 3:13
18 Stan Rogers – Northwest Passage 4:47
19 Emile Benoit – Vive La Rose 3:20
20 Wade Hemsworth – The Blackfly Song 2:57
21 Tudjaat – Throat Singing 0:42