Imagine an album with the raw, weird funk and sexuality of classic Prince, the pop-stylings of The Doobie Brothers. Oh and also imagine that the song "What A Fool Believes" by the Doobie Brothers is covered on said album. Now imagine that the album was recorded only with kids toys and instruments.

So goes the story behind Gizmodgery by Self. Gizmodgery is a unique album, featuring appearances from a one-string Children's guitar, a Sing 'N Speak Keyboard and countless other children's percussion instruments.

The songs (and most of the instrumentation) belong to the frighteningly talented Matt Mahaffey. The production is disturbingly high-class. The children's keyboards actually sound fantastic, their warm analog sounds in harsh contrast to the cold compressed digital keyboard sounds used in music today.

Matt's lyrics and vocals are cynical and oftentimes rooted in humor as is the case on Trunk Fulla Amps, which features several parodies on world-famous bands.

The album is stylistically rich. Between Hip-Hop, Funk, 90's Alt Rock and Heavy Metal, you'll feel full by the time Ilovetoloveyourlove, the album's romantic doo-wop closer, plays you out. This song features the most amazing guitar solo played ever played on one string. The next time you visit a newborn baby's house, maybe you and him can jam to some of the songs on here together (though definitely not Trunk Fulla Amps due to its gratuitous use of "the f word.")



(I can't stress how brilliant the rest of the songs on the album are. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Make sure to check out some of the other tracks which that youtube user has kindly uploaded.)

Jellyfish - Spilt Milk (1993)

This album is absolutely timeless. As each track weaves its way into the next, I sometimes forget that this album was released in 1993 by a band on the brink of destruction. This album feels more like a classic rock band (The Beatles, Queen) at the top of their game creating the masterpiece for which they'll be remembered.

This album has vocal harmonies that would make Freddie Mercury proud. Envious, in fact. In fact, the vocal work, on this album oftentimes sounds like a fusion Freddie Mercury and Brian Wilson's (The Beach Boys) . Really, the whole album is very reminiscient of Queen, with its ability to change dynamics at the drop of the hat; piano stabs transition into a hard-rocking stomp on the second track "Joining a Fan Club" which was preceded by a lullaby simply titled Hush.

It's really this album's ability to retain a sense of child-like wonder while still sounding totally honest that fascinates most. Sebrina, Paste and Plato is one part the tale of a classroom having lunch, two parts love song, 1 part random heavy riff, one part majestic orchestral fanfare outro. All in two minutes flat.

With its dopey but classic keyboards, expertly composed orchestral parts, laboured vocal harmonies and catchy melodies this album is already a winner. But with all the innocence and beauty, does it find any time to kick ass? With all the throwbacks to 60s and 70s rock, does it find a way to not sound dated? Hell yes, it does. Check out "All Is Forgiven", a track that almost rocks too hard for this album.

Spilt Milk is an eccentric mess... but not at all unaccessible. Check it out, because with its organic, one-take sound and the way it wears its feelings on its sleeve, it manages to evoke something that most music today can't: genuine human emotion.

Weezer - The Blue Album (1994)

1994 was a difficult year for commercial rock. Grunge was just about finished thanks in no small part to Cobain's untimely passing and mainstream pop was particularly uninspired. Everyone was rebelling violently and cursing angrily at nothing in particular. It began to feel as if in order to truly rebel, you had to be happy. And that's exactly what Rivers Cuomo did.

Combining the best elements of The Pixies, Nirvana, The Beach Boys and The Beatles Weezer's debut record set the world on fire. With its combination of thick distorted guitars over poppy hooks, clever dynamic changes and unprocessed vocals, it felt as if the album was recorded in the band's garage. The playing on the album has the energy and vigor of a high school band featuring the songwriting talent of a seasoned pro.

The album's lyrics are not technically jawdropping (Cuomo is no master of prose) but they feel effortless and pure. They are flawlessly imperfect. "Say It Ain't So," overplayed as it may be, is still a lyrical tour de force. It is the perfect expression of a young man's fear and resentment of alcohol due to its destructive effect on two of his mother's marriages. And that's not to discredit some of the more basic lyrics, as they all feature clever lines and heartbreaking earnesty.

The home to several hit singles, the album was both a critical and commercial darling. "Undone (The Sweater Song)" might just be the catchiest song ever written about an existential funk and "Buddy Holly" is a heartwarming tale of platonic love. But it's the deep album tracks that prove just what a unique talent and entity Weezer was. Despite not making a great album in over a decade, their fans have always stuck with them, and when you hear the final jawdropping guitar solo finale to the epic album closer "Only in Dreams", you will see why.