Picks for a Penny returns this month with four cds that can be purchased on Amazon Marketplace for one penny and another cd that for a crazy splurge can be purchased for 78 cents. That’s right, Picks for a Penny is changing. From here on out, each edition of Picks for a Penny will feature four cds available for one penny and a fifth cd will be offered up as one that can be purchased for under a dollar. These are all recommendations based upon our own music collection but if you know of a cd that is currently selling on Amazon.com’s Marketplace for one penny and would like to see it as one of our Picks, let us know by emailing us at blogofsound@yahoo.com.

This month, Blog of Sound’s Picks run a fairly wide spread of genres from early 1990s hip-hop, pop, ska/punk, classic rock, and rock and roll in one of its purest forms. Enjoy these fine selections which you can pick up for less than an iTunes download.

Queen Latifah: Black Reign

Some of our younger readers might know Queen Latifah (aka Dana Owens) more for her work as an actress in films like “Set it Off,” “The Bone Collector,” “Bringing Down the House,” and “Chicago” but before she was lighting up the silver screen she was rap royalty. Sure, she’s singing some jazz tunes now but it’s hard to look away from a hip hop career that launched in 1989 and produced some of our favorite hip hop tunes. Not surprisingly, most of our favorites come from her 1993 release “Black Reign.”

“Black Reign” is fifteen tracks of hip hop that was released before the parental advisory tag took affect and beware: this album is laced with expletives that you might not want younger children to hear. But set that aside and you’ve got a solid album that showcases Latifah as a rapper and singer. This album hinted at the future for Latifah with songs like “Just Another Day” and “Weekend Love” which proved that not only is Latifah a great rapper but a smooth R&B singer.

These are songs that command respect and illustrates Latifah’s refusal to be limited in anyway. All that hip hop goodness for one penny!

Tracks to check out: “Black Hand Side,” “Listen 2 Me,” “Just Another Day,.” “U.N.I.T.Y.,” and “Winki’s Theme.”

Tracks to skip: “4 The Djs (Interlude)” and “Coochie Bang…”

Madonna: Ray of Light

Madonna is the queen of pop for a reason. She’s the mother of reinvention and well, an actual mother now. Her first new album since releasing 1994’s “Bedtime Stories,” “Ray of Light” was evidence that Madonna was back and ready to cause some commotion. But make no mistake, “Ray of Light” isn’t the “Like A Prayer”of 1998 this was a deeper album for Madonna (as deep as Madonna can be.) It’s mystical, upbeat, transcendental and downright fun.

This is the album that produced the title track “Ray of Light” complete with its frenetic video that could almost induce seizures, and singles “Nothing Really Matters,” “Frozen;’ and “The Power of Good-Bye.” Madge’s voice was stronger than ever on this attempt and its perhaps the most artistic and creative album she’s ever released. It’s electronic, pop, techno, and dance all at once. Hell, it’s Madonna (and it’s only one penny!)

Tracks to check out: “Ray of Light,” “Nothing Really Matters,” “SKy Fits Heaven,” “Frozen,” “The Power of Good-Bye,” “Little Star.”

Tracks to skip: “Candy Perfume Girl,” “Shanti/Ashtangi,” and “Mer Girl.”

Frank & Louie’s Greatest Hits

If you were alive in the 1990s then you probably remember the Budweiser Frogs. But do you remember the Budweiser Lizards, Frank and Louie? We do! And there’s nothing like the wit and wisdom of two beer-loving lizards to get you thinking about classic rock. And thanks to Budweiser you can listen to their hilarious commercials and listen to some tunes at the same time. If you’re like us, the commercials are the real attraction, however.

Aside from the commercials, there’s lots of great music on here ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Tone-Loc and Quiet Riot. And of course, don’t forget about Frank and Louie. Did we mention those classic commercials are on this disc for one penny?

Tracks to check out: “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, “My Sharona” by The Knack, “Louie, Louie” by The Kingsmen, “Cum on Feel the Noise” by Quiet Riot, and each of the commercials…

Tracks to skip: “Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine Band, “Wild Thing” by Tone Loc, and “Come Baby Come” by K7.

Smash Mouth: Fush Yu Mang

Before they were “All-Stars” Smash Mouth was “Walking on the Sun” with their release “Fush Yu Mang.” This is as close to true Smash Mouth as you can get before they became the biggest sell-outs since GreenDay. This is punk/ska rock that is hilarious and catchy. There might be only 12 tracks but this 1997 debut release is perhaps our favorite Smash Mouth release ever. And for a penny you can’t go wrong now, can you?

Tracks to check out: “Flo,” “Walkin’ on the Sun,” “The Fonz,” “Pet Names,” “Disconnect the Dots, and “Push.”

Tracks to skip: “Let’s Rock,” “Padrino,” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”

The Donnas: Spend the Night

If you’ve never heard The Donnas before, this might be the best introductory album you could get. It’s not their best work but it’s a damn solid album that will have you coming back for more everytime. This is the band’s fifth studio album, their first with Atlantic Records, and it produced the hit “Take it Off” which is now featured on “Guitar Hero.” Forget that The Donnas are an all-girl band and forget that they’re H.O.T. These ladies are a force to be reckoned with. They can rock harder than most guys and they put on a live show that would make Mick Jagger proud.

“Spend the Night” is straight ahead, balls-to-the-walls, all killer no filler rock and roll. From it’s first track “It’s on The Rocks” to it’s final track “5 O’Clock in the Morning” The Donnas will have you rockin (and if not, you don’t have ears. See a doctor. Immediately.) This is our splurge of the month, clocking in at 78 cents, “Spend the Night” is an absolute must-have for every self-respecting rock lover’s music collection.

Tracks to check out: “It’s on the Rocks,” “Take it Off,” “Who Invited You,” “All Messed Up,” “Dirty Denim,” “You Wanna Get Me High,” “I Don’t Care (So There),” “Pass it Around,” “Too Bad About Your Girl,” “Not the One,” “Please Don’t Tease,” “Take Me to the Backseat,” and “5 O’Clock in the Morning”

Tracks to skip: NONE. Check them ALL out. Now. Do it. Dammit. NOW!