Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Typically soulful musings from Stones Throw breakthrough artist Aloe Blacc with "You Make Me Smile" lifted from his recent acclaimed Good Things album. Truth & Soul's Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman are on hand to provide the lovely production on a joyful tribute to romance and love with the singer thanking his better half for being by his side despite him being unemployed and broke. An extended version of "Politician" adds some weight on the flip.

Review: The 'Silent Night' 7" from Stones Throw features James Pants, Baron Zen and Vector Fields.

Review: Aloe Blacc's arrival on the radar of the record buying hoi polloi may have come via the title sequence of a HBO song, but it's richly deserved for a singer who has a weighty back catalogue to his name. From spending the late nineties as part of hip-hop duo Emanaon to a slew of releases on the esteemed Stones Throw imprint, the eponymous "I Need A Dollar" has thrown the spotlight on the Orange County resident and his second album Good Things takes full advantage. Central to the album is a theme of social commentary, clearly evident from the track titles and expanded lyrically by Aloe Blacc. Backed by some accomplished arrangements led by the Truth & Soul Records team and members of El Michels Affair, this is an album steeped in vintage seventies soul with a contemporary twist. The warm organ riffing of "Loving You Is Killing" and dirty funk of "Hey Brother" in particular prove to be most memorable.