United 93

Despite its promising arc in the early '90s, the term "acid jazz" became a pejorative all too quickly. By the mid '90s, in order to stake claim to ears, minds and asses, deejays and producers were fleeing for the (then) perceived higher ground of the nascent drum & bass and jungle scenes, genres which themselves had woefully short lifespans. Into this mad dash entered United Future Organization's stunning self titled debut, like a groovy Robert De Niro airlifting himself IN to Saigon just as everyone else was leaving. And the results are remarkable from beginning to end, save perhaps for a palpable drop in energy in the album's last few tracks. But it is rare for any group to string together six consecutive tracks of such high quality and diverse sound to begin any record in their catalogue, let alone their official debut.

Megadeth have been through a lot of lineup upheaval circa the early 21st century, with longtime leader Dave Mustaine being the only familiar face left in attendance. But Megadeth's crunchy, venomous thrash has remained intact, as heard throughout their 2007 release, United Abominations (their first for the Roadrunner label). While many thrash-metal bands take the easy way out lyrically - by detailing their encounters with Señor Beelzebub - Mustaine has never shied away from voicing his opinion about politics and the state of the world. And as evidenced by such biting tracks as "Washington Is Next!," "Gears of War," "Amerikhastan," and the title track, Mustaine remains as outspoken as ever about what he's been seeing on CNN for the past few years…

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Farish describes his music as "positive chillout," though his fusion of dance, electronica, and chill-out has earned him a following that spans the boundaries of genre.
Ryan Farish's new album "United" picks up where Farish left off with his #5 Billboard Charting album, "Spectrum" (2015). Exploring the softer side of electronic music, United features 14 songs that carry a consistent theme of soaring, ambient guitars, warm analog tones and Ryan Farish's signature lush piano leads… melodies that at once will uplift the listener, but also bring about a sense of calm and hope, which is a familiar theme found in much of the artist's music.