Rating System Best Albums Since 1965 Best Artists of 90s Best of 20th Century Best Reggae Albums Best Kosmische Albums Best New Artists Other Lists 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1949-1964

Think I'm obsessive? Go here and catch the list bug yourself, mwa ha ha haaaa:

Spiritualized, Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space (Arista)

Since Spacemen 3 splintered into a million directions, it would take a family tree historian to keep track of the remnants. If your tolerance for droning psychedelia is that of a normal person, you need not worry about most of it. But you shouldn't miss out on this one. The third proper album by Spiritualized is a decadent, luxurious bubble bath in zero gravity. Imagine Ren Hoek suffering from space madness -- a little cabin fever, a little too much Spectrum and Experimental Audio Research on the headphones -- thinking he has an ice cream bar with a delicious creamy center, he blissfully enjoys a lathery bar of soap. It doesn’t matter that it’s just a bar of soap, that it’s just another Brit band who can’t put on a good live show to save their lives. Sometimes you just have to lay back and take respite from the mundane absurdity that is life and take a bubble bath in zero gravity.

-- A.S. Van Dorston

Krautrocksampler: German Kosmische Music | Jun 1

All-Time Favorite Reggae Albums | Mar 13

The Stooges Play Madonna | Mar 11

Hard Rock Park | Mar 4

Nação Zumbi: Brainy Crabs & Cannibals | Feb 3

The Best Artists of the 00s (So Far) | Jan 29

Book Review: Lewis Shiner, Glimpses | Jan 21

2007 Year-End Summary & Fester's Lucky 13s | Dec 30

Woofers Go Wubble: Dubstep | Dec 10

Analog Vs. Digital Redux | Dec 5

2007 Reissues | Dec 3

End of Year Critic's Lists | Dec 3

The Next Great American Band | Nov 1

Complete Home Theater Systems | Oct 1

Criminally Underappreciated 90's Guitar Bands | Aug 1

1987: 20th Year Reunion | Apr 20

You can buy some of the albums reviewed/listed in Fast 'n' Bulbous, particularly imports and reissues, at The Ideal Copy. Since Amazon inhaled CDNow and Djangos lied and cheated me out of my affiliate credit, I'm banning corporate affiliates. Shop indie! If you can't find what you're looking for at The Ideal Copy, check Insound, Alldirect, Dustygroove, and Siren Disc for imports.

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Since October 1995, Fast 'n' Bulbous has been a one man operation, a labor of love rather than profit venture. I maintain an editorial policy of publishing mainly positive reviews, with the idea that people should be turned on to the best music. I only review what I feel like because I don't get paid for it. If you think I should review something I don't like, feel free to pay me. I will happily (or begrudgingly, depending on my mood) review crappy albums for $.50 a word. Don't think this buys you a positive review, this ain't Rolling Stone. Most likely I'll attack it like a rabid dog on a captured squirrel.

What with the fame, drugs, groupies and celebrity girlfriends, the only drawback to this site is the drain on my resources. I only receive promos for a fraction of the albums I review (email me at the address below and I'll send the address where promos can be sent). The cost of this obsession has set back my paying off student loans over a decade. And while I only review the cream of the crop, I have listened to thousand s upon thousands of albums ranging from average to vomit-inducing, so that you don't have to. While you spend your valuable time having a life, furthering your education, raising a family, making a real living, having fun, I take the bullet, sacrificing my time suffering through the pabulum to unearth the gems. Feel free to express your appreciation for this service with a donation!

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