Culture Greyhound

By name and public persona alone, ODB is probably the most well-known of the Wu Tang Clan, and his untimely death had nothing to do with it.  He was always known as the unstable one, but as time wore on, we all learned that wasn’t an act; Ol’ Dirty Bastard was crazy, and his unlawful antics, which landed him in jail many times, probably were the undoing of his once-productive career.

Long before things went out of control, ODB released the RZA-produced Return to the 36 Chambers, his first and best solo outing.  The taste of his psychotic brain we received on the Clan’s classic debut is in full form here – his rhymes are slurred, sporadic, sometimes incomprehensible, and always entertaining.  When he hits gold, it’s always hilarious, witty, unnerving.  At times we find ODB atonal, a-rhythmic, and unable to successfully put together a rhyme scheme.  Occasionally it sounds less like an established rapper and more like a drug addict’s clever tirade (and it probably was, in all honesty).  But you don’t come to ODB looking for the best spitin’ in the world – you come for the ride, and with party anthems like “Brooklyn Zoo” and “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” no doubt it’s a fun one.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Shimmy Shimmy Ya

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Baby C’mon

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Raw Hide

Today I continue a series of posts dedicated to the best albums of the last decade, posting analysis of one album at a time.

42. Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms

The summer of 2009 was fairly lazy and optimistic for me – Obama had just been elected, and music was particularly awesome.  I had a part time job driving around a bingo parlor lot as a “security guard” listening to satellite radio.  And that’s where I first heard “Deadbeat Summer,” the theme song to my life at that point.  I then saw Neon Indian at Monolith, ACL, and Fun Fun Fun Fest, where the show morphed from a mere electronic experiment to a full-blown chillwave dance powerhouse on stage.

The chillwave movement of 2009 was extraordinary in its remarkable presence and almost similarly immediate dissolving – the subgenre is basically dead at this point, or at least in limbo, as prominent chillwavers are trying new sounds other than the spaced-out, 80’s influenced, electro dance music that captivated us a couple of years ago.  Still, Psychic Chasms, my favorite album of that year, is a trippy, upbeat half hour of drug-induced Miami Vice fun.

Alan Palomo’s post-Ghosthustler project turned him into a blog-world superstar almost overnight, as leaked tracks were consistently lauded for their unique mix of sampling (some of which are familial – his father’s compositions, popular in the 1970’s in Mexico), muddy lo-fi production, and infectious melody, even more so than his dream-house effort Vega, which he all but abandoned once Neon Indian took off.  Psychic Chasms is a perfect introduction; either you get it or you don’t, either you’re dancing or you’re scratching your head.  Of course, with toe-tapping songs like “Terminally Chill” and “Should Have Taken Acid With You,” I don’t see how anyone could resist.

Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer

Neon Indian – Terminally Chill

Neon Indian – Mind, Drips

Fitz And The Tantrums – MoneyGrabber

buy album

The Go! Team – Apollo Throwdown (Star Slinger Remix)

source

Best Coast – Sunny Adventure

source

Purity Ring – Ungirthed

source

Yuck – Coconut Bible

source

Today I continue a series of posts dedicated to the best albums of the last decade, posting analysis of one album at a time.

43. Jurassic 5 – Power In Numbers

By 2002, the rap game was well aware of the J5 MCs and what they had to offer – a badass EP and the debut Quality Control had established the LA crew as a formidable presence on the scene.  They were certainly getting a lot of attention for their sound – a stripped-down, lyrics-based, old-skool approach, focusing on wordplay and intricate flow rather than heavy beats and sloppy sex rhymes.  As the group said it best on the hit “What’s Golden,” they weren’t “ballin’ or shot callin” but rather taking you “back to the days of yes-y’allin’.”  In the early 2000’s, J5 were a welcome break from the overproduced dreck that was just beginning to litter Top 40 radio (Ja Rule was still a prominent hit-maker at the time).

When their sophomore effort Power In Numbers dropped, the immediate reaction was mostly of praise, but overall the consensus was that, while darker, it certainly wasn’t as good as the previous two efforts.  I disagree wholeheartedly.  With this disc, Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir, and Mark 7even demonstrated their versatile flow even further, alongside some of the finest work from the then-relatively unknown disc jockeys Nu Mark and Cut Chemist.  Big Daddy Kane shows up for the chorus-less highlight “A Day At the Races,” and Nelly Furtado, who had recently scored her first big hit “I’m Like a Bird,” appears for a commentary on complicated friendships between members of the opposite sex on “Thin Line.”  And stay tuned for the insect-infested and hilarious freestyle “DDT.”

In 2006, the crew released the lackluster Feedback and called it quits.  The majority of lyricists disappeared; Chali 2na continued to disappoint on his own, releasing a weak solo album.  Meanwhile the two scratchers in the background pursued their own projects and came up gold – both DJ Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist are two of the present day’s finest turntable masters.  Still, some of their finest work can be found on J5’s best album.

Jurassic 5 – A Day At The Races (Feat. Big Daddy Kane & Percy P)

Jurassic 5 – What’s Golden

Jurassic 5 – Thin Line (Feat. Nelly Furtado)

Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow

source

Millionyoung – Replicants

source

Nicki Minaj – Moment 4 Life (Star Slinger Remix)

source

Wavves – Mutant

source

M.I.A. – Internet Connection (Huoratron Rum Aid Rmx)

source

10. A-Trak – Dirty South Dance 2

A-Trak – We Don’t Want No Goblins

Dubstep and Southern rap were meant to be together, or at least they are when A-Trak’s behind the crossfader.  His second foray into mixing the two genres is a dance party like no other; stand by for the ending highlight, a mashup of Joker and Yung L.A.

9. Wavves – King of the Beach

Wavves – Post Acid

Nathan Williams’ 2009 and 2010 were completely different.  The previous year, he was an up-and-comer that crashed and burned publicly; now he is a renewed creative spirit with a diverse, improved sound.

8. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West – Monster (feat. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj)

Believe the hype – Yeezy’s fifth album is quite probably his finest work yet.  His rapping is smart and funny and his production is characteristically slick.  If he keeps making gold, we will continue to put up with his hi-jinks, Internet, interview, or otherwise.

7. One Wolf – One Wolf II: Secret of the Wolf

One Wolf – Backyard

Perhaps the doom and gloom from One Wolf’s self-titled effort has disappeared, but in its place is diverse instrumentation, inescapable pop hooks, and sharp optimism. A sonic collage of indie, Americana, and even metal, this is one that just grows and grows on you.

6. Thrift Store Cowboys – Light Fighter

Thrift Store Cowboys – Regardless

Lubbock’s elder statesmen etch their place in historic alt-country with this, their fourth and finest album.  Daniel Fluitt’s keen storytelling and unmistakable voice lead the listener on a gradual crescendo in under fifty minutes.  Give it one listen and observe the injustice – Deer Tick should be opening for these guys by now.

Continue reading

20. Vampire Weekend – Contra

Vampire Weekend – Cousins

19. Jeff the Brotherhood – Heavy Days

Jeff the Brotherhood – Bone Jam

18. Male Bonding – Nothing Hurts

Male Bonding – Year’s Not Long

17. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest

Deerhunter – Desire Lines

16. The Tallest Man On Earth – The Wild Hunt

The Tallest Man On Earth – King of Spain

Continue reading

30. Cloud Nothings – Turning On

Cloud Nothings – Morgan

29. Thw Walkmen – Lisbon

The Walkmen – Victory

28. ceo – White Magic

ceo – Come With Me

27. Drake – Thank Me Later

Drake – Shut It Down (featuring The-Dream)

26. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor

Local Natives – Airplanes

Continue reading

40. Games – That We Can Play EP

Games – Strawberry Skies

39. Delorean – Subiza

Delorean – Simple Graces

38. Brothertiger – Vision Tunnels EP

Brothertiger – Lovers

37. The Thermals – Personal Life

The Thermals – I Don’t Believe You

36. Diamond Rings – Special Affections

Diamond Rings – Show Me Your Stuff

Continue reading

50. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Round and Round

49. OFF! – First Four EPs

OFF! – Panic Attack

48. Marnie Stern – S/T

Marnie Stern – For Ash

47. Crystal Castles – S/T

Crystal Castles – Baptism

46. The White Stripes – Under Great White Northern Lights

The White Stripes – Black Math (Live)

Continue reading