LEATHAL WEAPON 3 - DIE HARD 2

ARTIST: A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
ALBUM: THE LOW END THEORY
SONG: BUGGIN' OUT
DATE:  SEPTEMBER 24, 1991
STATUS: ACQUIRED

Listening to "A Peoples Too Damn Long Album Title" I can't help but feel that Phife Dawg was Robin to Q-Tip's Batman. The same can't be said for "The Low End Theory", and this track in particular. Phife comes right out of the box swinging. His jittering intensity and ability to channel Jamaican influences are dynamic. Q-Tip's style, though cool, is a little less interesting.

That's why Quest is great. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg have such different styles and each is capable of pushing out in front of the other on a track or two before the other responds and raises his game.  Buggin' Out is Phife's territory.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE AND NARY A DROP TO DRINK

ARTIST: NIRVANA
ALBUM: NEVERMIND
SONG: COME AS YOU ARE
DATE: MARCH, 3, 1992
STATUS: ACQUIRED

The second single from Nevermind is certainly darker than "Smells Like Teen Spirit", but lyrically it carries on in the same vain. Making sense isn't important, at least not in a literal sense, but poetically something breaks through, some sense of being pulled in multiple directions and a deep suspicion of being manipulated, but not knowing why, and an understanding that not taking a stand, not getting engaged is the only way to break free.

LIKE CLIMBING THE ROPE IN GYM CLASS

ARTIST: GEORGE MICHAEL
ALBUM: N/A
SONG: TOO FUNKY
DATE: JULY 12, 1992
STATUS: ACQUIRED

For a fifteen-year-old boy there are just way to many super models in this video to handle in any constructive and productive manner, and for any serious music critic there's just way to much fashion in this video to take Michael seriously. Add that complaint to the general flotsam and jetsam of Michael's life; drugs, sexuality, charity, and its hard for some people to see to the core of his talent. He's a really good R&B singer, and one that's not afraid to make a big club anthum.

REX STARDUST

ARTIST: TOAD THE WET SPROCKET
ALBUM: IN LIGHT SYRUP
SONG: GOOD INTENTIONS
DATE: OCTOBER 31, 1995
STATUS: NOT ACQUIRED

I think these guys met while jamming out in the teacher's lounge. That's the only answer that makes sense right?

We tend to forget how big Toad the Wet Sprocket was. "In Light Syrup" was an album of B-Sides. That's right, the world's lust for Toad was so strong that they put out an album of songs that weren't good enough to be on previous albums or released as singles, and you know what, they're pretty good songs. The album toped out at #37 on the charts, and "Good Intentions" made it all the way to 23.

BIRCHMOUNT STADIUM, HOME OF THE ROBBIE

ARTIST: BARENAKED LADIES
ALBUM: STUNT
SONG: ONE WEEK
DATE: SEPTEMBER 22, 1998
STATUS: ACQUIRED

I'm pretty sure the verses have nothing to do with the chorus. On one side you have a song about relationships, fighting and making up, and on the other side you have just some of the maddest lyrics ever written. Seriously, whose Bert Kaempfert?

Also, I really have no idea what's happening in this video. Did they each get to pick a theme? Its going to take a week, or two days, that's all we know for sure.

THEY CALL IT ROAD ROCK! GET YOUR SUMMER OFF.

ARTIST: URBAN DANCE SQUAD
ALBUM: MENTAL FLOSS FOR THE GLOBE
SONG: DEEPER SHADE OF SOUL
DATE: 1990
STATUS: NOT ACQUIRED

UDS was way ahead of their time; releasing their rap/rock pioneer efforts two years before Rage Against the Machine even got together, and they're Dutch, which somehow makes sense. They love rock, they love rap, both those things are American so they must go together right.

My friend Joe picked up this album when we were 13. Deeper Shade of Soul was the only song on the album we liked. It wasn't necessarily that the rest of the album was bad, it was just too far out.

This song, and this video are perfect for the start of summer.

MEMENTO MORI

ARTIST: MAZZY STAR
ALBUM: SO TONIGHT THAT I MIGHT SEE
SONG: INTO DUST
DATE: OCT. 5 1993
STATUS: ACQUIRED

Mazzy Star made it cool to be sad, even sexy. Never officially released as a single, "Into Dust" haunts and simmers just below a boil.

We never know what's coming our way, and its usually more epic than we understand, and like us it is already returning to from wence it came, and that's all kinds of beautiful.

JELLY BEAN BORITOS, TANGO MANGO, JOHNNY CASH AFRO HAVING

ARTIST: REDMAN
ALBUM: WHUT? THE ALBUM
SONG: TONIGHT'S DA NIGHT
DATE: MAY 4, 1993
STATUS: NOT ACQUIRED

Redman was every moral guardian's worst enemy. Not only was he not having it, but he was also smart and funny. Only Redman would write a smooth sounding jamb, take the joke a full thirty seconds into the song and then turn it around for the final three minutes. Its hard to play a rapper off like he's a dumb thug when he's bending the joke back over on top of you.

ACHING, BEAUTIFUL, AND ENJOYABLE

ARTIST: THE CRANBERRIES
ALBUM: TO THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
SONG: WHEN YOU'RE NOT ARROUND
DATE: NOVEMBER 1996
STATUS: ACQUIRED

Rarely is such a sad song so enjoyable. Without Dolores O'Riordan's distinctive Irish lilt, this song would sound even more like a broken heated miss you doo-wop charmer than it does. It makes you wish for drizzly grey skies and an angry see to gaze across.

ITS ALL ABOUT THE CREW

ARTIST: BEASTIE BOYS
ALBUM: CHECK YOUR HEAD
SONG: PASS THE MIC
DATE: APRIL 7, 1992
STATUS: ACQUIRED

I think they filmed half of what they needed for a video in black and white and then gave up and just shot three random scenes of the Beasties being the Beasties and called it a day. Works for me.

IN JAMAICA, ALL VIDEOS ARE WRECKX-N-EFFECTS VIDEOS

ARTIST: BORN JAMERICANS
ALBUM: KIDS FROM FORIGN
SONG: WARNING SIGN
DATE: 1994
STATUS: ACQUIRED

Thank god foe BET, bringing flavor into every cable loving corner of this great country in the '90's. Its the only way a suburbanite, even a sophisticated suburbanite like myself, was ever going to discover reggae, reggae/hip hop, bootie shorts, that girls like to wear bootie shorts, and spliffs. That brown paper bag will kill you.

Here's a fun thing to do. Its casual Friday, so on your lunch break go buy an air brushed shirt with your face on it and cane carved like a cobra. Wear the shirt and spin the cane when you return to work. See how long it takes to revoke casual Friday. Now everyone hates you, but they won't see you again until Monday.

HENRY ROLLINS CAN GO FUCK HIMSELF, BUT SERIOUSLY, MAD RESPECT TO HENRY ROLLINS

ARTIST: EDIE BRICKELL AND NEW BOHEMIANS
ALBUM: SHOOTING RUBER BANDS AT THE STARS
SONG: WHAT I AM
DATE: NOVEMBER 1988
STATUS: ACQUIRED

I often find my child self apologizing to my adult self for the musical choices he made (and my adult self always gracefully accepts), but not so with "What I Am". This song in no way surprises me as an adult after years of not hearing it, and it doesn't disappoint. Love the guitar solo, enjoy her voice, and the lyrics are ambiguous and thoughtful, never sure quite where the point is going.  Highly enjoyable.

Little known fact. Edie and the other new Bohemians recycled Simple Minds video concept, because it was good for the earth.

RICHARD LINKLATER DIRECTED THIS VIDEO AND EVERY VIDEO R.E.M. RELEASED IN THE 80'S. ITS A FACT.

ARTIST: R.E.M.
ALBUM: DOCUMENT
SONG: FINEST WORKSONG
DATE: MARCH 1988
STATUS: ACQUIRED

In 1998 I wasn't the most critical consumer of music, but the one weird chick whose older sister was in art school loved R.E.M. and took her to the concert and she wore the shirt to school the next day. Plus she was a stone cold fox, or so everyone said. We were all prepubescent and didn't really understand what that meant.

"Finest Worksong" is one of the best song names ever and it captures R.E.M at the height of their college radio chops. Its also a nice contrast to yesterday's liberating nihilism. Why think when you can do. Live in the moment. Code you little code monkeys code for life is a gift for today, and tomorrow you may be dead.

EVERYONE OWE'S MR. CAGE FIFTEEN CENTS IF WE GO EXACTLY FOUR MINUTES AND THIRTYTHREE SECONDS WITHOUT MAKING A NOISE

ARTIST: LIVE
ALBUM: THROWING COPPER
SONG: LIGHTING CRASHES
DATE: FEBRUARY 24TH, 1995
STATUS: ACQUIRED

Its the moments of silence and quite into which the great unknowable of life rushes in and overwhelms us. This is why so many fill their lives with effort, achievement, activity and distraction. it so powerful its frightening. Yet, if one can get over the initial fear, nothingness and meaninglessness can take you on a rush of ride.

So stop for about five minutes and just breathe. Listen to the song if you want. Its fucking good, but you know, silence is good to, and its never really silent. JOHN CAGE SAYS "SUCK IT"!

MONDAY'S ARE MADE FOR FIGHTING!

ARTIST: THERAPY?
ALBUM: TROUBLEGUM
SONG: SCREAMAGER
DATE: FEBUARY 7 1994
STATUS: NOT ACQUIRED

I remember when my good friend Dave came up to me after studio and asked if I wanted to go to Therapy.  That was a little awkward, I had no idea we had that kind of relationship, much less that our relationship needed work. He then explained that Therapy? was a band from Northern Ireland with short, neat, sensible hair cuts. Kind of a Northern Irish Helmet, with more snare.

PETTY AND CAMPBELL WERE MADE FOR FRIDAYS

ARTIST - TOM PETTY
ALBUM - FULL MOON FEAVER
SONG - LOVE IS A LONG ROAD
DATE - 1989
STATUS - ACQUIRED (WAY ACQUIRED)

I remember reading a review of Petty and the Heartbreaker's work. The reviewer said something like, "well you really listen to for the music, not the lyrics." That may have been true for 80's Petty, but starting with Full Moon Fever that all changed. Petty and the Heartbreakers became true American story tellers.

Full Moon Fever sounded like your older brother's album, but it was also one of the first albums that burned itself into your soul. This is fucking rock. No explanation mark needed. Mike Campbell, Petty's underrated lead guitarist wrote this little gem that's buried on album of chalk full of awesome.

AND I CAN DO THIS

ARTIST - FOO FIGHTERS
ALBUM - FOO FIGHTERS
SONG - FOR ALL THE COWS
DATE - NOVEMBER 20, 1995
STATUS - ACQUIRED

Its kind of crazy how good Foo Fighters are. Sure the band never reached the iconic status of Nirvana, but some of that had to do with time and place. A song like "For All The Cows" shows that Dave Grohl was just as willing to follow his voice as Kurt Cobain was. Maybe it lead to a different place, but much respect to Mr. Grohl, drummer for one of the greatest bands ever, and leader of one of the most underrated bands ever.

THIS IS THE THIRD BEST THING I'VE EVER DONE

ARTIST - NIRVANA
ALBUM - BLEACH
SONG - ABOUT A GIRL
DATE - OCTOBER 1994
STATUS ACQUIRED

Actually "Bleach" came out in 1988 and sold relatively well for a Sub Pop release, but it didn't garner wide spread exposure until after Coabain's death. His suicide led to a wide spread search for any additional Nirvana material.

"Bleach" is a great album. Nowhere near as good as "Nevermind" and "In Utero" but even if those albums hadn't come out Nirvana could have been proud of the work they'd done. For the most part it sounds like Nirvana, but its clear Cobain grew a great deal as song writer between recording "Bleach" and "Nevermind". That being said, "About A Girl" sounds a lot like "Nevermind"; much more so than other songs on the album. The similarity actually highlights the difference between Dave Grohl brought to the band for "Nevermind". Great Cut

SOMETIMES TUESDAY IS JUST ANOTHER MONDAY, BUT SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT SO BAD

ARTIST - TOAD THE WET SPROCKET
ALBUM - DULCINEA
SONG - SOMETHING'S ALWAYS WRONG
DATE - 1994
STATUS - NOT ACQUIRED

Toad felt a lot, but some how that doesn't feel dirty. It feels good when its done so well. Toad was the sensitive band you never had to apologize for, thought I can't figure out where these four guys could have met.  DMV? Flight to Charlotte? Seriously, in what universe are these guys friends?

BIG SUITS YOU SIR.

ARTIST - PAVEMENT
ALBUM - BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS
SONG - SHADY LANE
DATE - MAY 20, 1997
STATUS - ACQUIRED

They had me with the headless lead singer, and the hook. So sweet. Pavement was always to cool for melodies, but some how it comes together.  Ease into your Monday folks.