The database was updated today, for the first time in several months. All Consumer Guide records up through August 2008 are now in the database. Sorry for any confusion these delays may have caused.

New Consumer Guide for August 2008. Featured albums:

• Jean Grae: Jeanius (Blacksmith) [A-]
• Hammell on Trial: Rant and Roll (Righteous Babe) [A-]
• K'naan: The Dusty Foot Philosopher (iM Culture) [A]
• Seun Kuti + Fela's Egypt 80 (Disorient) [A-]
• Menya: The Ol' Reach-Around (no label) [A-]
• Nas: Untitled (Def Jam) [A-]
• Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump: Original Heavyweight Afrobeat, Highlife & Afro-Funk (Strut) [A-]
• Ponytail: Ice Cream Spiritual (We Are Free) [A-]
• Three 6 Mafia: Last 2 Walk (Hypnotize Minds/Columbia) [C]

New reviews:

• Dr. John and the Lower 911: City That Care Forgot (429) ***(*)
• Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (Disorient) ***(*)
• Bo Diddley: The Definitive Collection (Geffen) *****
• The Guide: Back Catalogue: Funkadelic

New Consumer Guide for July 2008. Featured albums:

• Atmosphere: When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Sh*t Gold (Rhymesayers Entertainment) [B+]
• Be Your Own Pet: Get Damaged (Universal/Ecstatic Peace) [A-]
• Blitzen Trapper: Wild Mountain Nation (Lidkercow Ltd) [A-]
• Al Green: Lay It Down (Blue Note) [A-]
• Honeyhoney: Loose Boots (Ironworks Music) [A-]
• The Kills: Midnight Boom (Domino) [A-]
• Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III (Cash Money/Universal/Motown) [A-]
• Lil Wayne: The Drought Is Over 2: The Carter 3 Sessions (mixtape4u.com) [A-]
• Lil Wayne: We the Best (RBC) [C+]

New reviews:

• The Dresden Dolls: No, Virginia . . . (RoadRunner) ***
• George Jones: The Hits . . . Then 'Til Now (Time Life) ****
• Steinski: What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective (Illegal Art) ****

New Consumer Guide for June 2008. Featured albums:

• Hayes Carll: Trouble in Mind [A-]
• DJ Yoda: Fabriclive.39 [A-]
• The Magnetic Fields: Distortion [A]
• No Age: Nouns [A-]
• Old 97's: Blame It on Gravity [A-]
• Orchestra Baobab: Made in Dakar [A]
• Santogold: Santogold [A-]
• Steinski: What Does It All Mean?: 1983-2006 Retrospective [A]
• Tokyo Police Club: Elephant Shell [A-]
• Leona Lewis: Spirit [B]

New reviews:

• Man Man: Rabbit Habits (Anti-) ***(*)
• No Age: Nouns (Sub Pop) ***(*)
• The Rough Guide to Congo Gold (World Music Network) ****(*)

New Consumer Guide for May 2008. Featured albums:

• The B-52s: Funplex [A-]
• Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark [A]
• Robert Forster: The Evangelist [A-]
• Kid Creole: Going Places: The August Darnell Years 1974-1983 [A-]
• Gabi Lunca: Sounds From a Bygone Age: Vol. 5 [A-]
• Man Man: Rabbit Habits [B+]
• James McMurtry: Just Us Kids (Lightning Rod) [A-]
• The Mountain Goats: Heretic Pride [B+]
• The Roots: Rising Down [A]
• DeVotchKa: A Mad and Faithful Telling [B-]

New reviews:

• Hayes Carll: Trouble in Mind ****
• Robert Forster: The Evangelist ****
• Willie Nelson: One Hell of a Ride ****
• Otis Redding: Otis Blue

MSN Music published a special Consumer Guide: World Music Edition:

• Les Amazones de Guinée: Wamato [A]
• Youssou N'Dour: Rokku Mi Rokka (Give and Take) [A]
• New York City Salsa [A-]
• Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues [A-]
• Tabu Ley Rochereau: The Voice of Lightness [A+]
• The Rough Guide to Congo Gold [A]
• Think Global: Women of Africa [B+]
• Umalali: The Garifuna Women's d Project [A-]
• Latin Reggae (Putumayo World Music) [C-]

New Consumer Guide for April 2008. Featured albums:

• Buck 65: Situation [A-]
• Dollar Store: Money Music [B+]
• Mariem Hassan: Deseos [B+]
• Jens Lekman: Night Falls Over Kortedala [A-]
• Los Campesinos!: Hold on Now, Youngster . . . [A]
• Kate Nash: Made of Bricks [A-]
• Setona & African Crossroads: [Live] [A-]
• Toumast: Ishumar [A-]
• Snoop Dogg: Ego Trippin' [B-]

New reviews:

• Del the Funkee Homosapien: Eleventh Hour ***
• Kathleen Edwards: Asking for Flowers ***
• Les Amazones de Guinée: Wamato ****
• The Coasters: There's a Riot Goin' On: The Coasters on Atco ****(*)
• Cymande: Renegades of Funk ***(*)