"SADNESS PART 1" IS JUST SO MUCH DEEPER THAN "SADNESS"

Artist - Enigma
Album -MCMX A.D.
Song - Sadness (Part 1)
Status - Acquired

There is something overtly art house and self serving about "Sadness Part 1", like a philosopher creating a ethical system to justify his own selfish desires. You don't understand the words, but you want it to be true. No matter how wrong it feels you can't bring yourself to strike it down. Its European, its Dance, its Fantasy, but its also very earnest and completely original and maybe there is something to spiritual enlightenment through corporal exploration. Maybe its sublime sadness. 

EVERYBODY NEEDS MARY J.

Artist - Mary J. Blige
Album - Share My World
Album - Love is All We Need
Date - 2-18-97
Status - Not Acquired

Every generation has a heart breaking soul singer. Our generation's was Mary J. She was also THE star of hip-hop  R&B. Synthetic beats behind a huge R&B voice. That voice is just real. With other singers "love is all we need" would sound saccharin and false, but through Mary it sounds prophetic. 

The version with Nas' versus is also worth checking out. He's very under-rated.

THAT'S LOVESHLY

Artest - The Shamen
Album - Boss Drum
Song - Ebeneezer Goode
Date - September 1992
Status - Not Acquired

My buddy Joe LaVall and myself saw this video one day on MTV and couldn't stand it. We couldn't tell if we loved it or hated, but we were addicted to these Scottish dance masters. We spent a good six weeks screaming "Ee's an Ebeneezzer Goode!" every time one of saw the other in the hallways between classes. Then we'd hit each other.  Eh, teenagers.

And yes, Ebenezeer is a not very vague drug reference. "Veras" rhyming slang for weed, plus lots of other drug references.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE

Artist - Freedy Johnston
Album - This Perfect World
Song - Bad Reputation
Date - 1994
Status - Acquired

My wife introduced me to Freedy Johnston, who was introduced to her by a youth minister. See, good things come out of organized religion. She was recently reading through a journal she kept while attending a summer photography course at Prat. She'd been to the Park that day and seen Freedy playing for free. Very excited.

Opening lines of this song just cut to the quick. "I couldn't have one conversation, if it wasn't for lies." We've all been there.

THE VERBING RANDOM NOUN

Artist - The Smashing Pumpkins
Album - Gish
Song - Siva
Date - August 1991
Status - Not Acquired

One of the great things about 90's bands was that people of different races or gender just showed up in bands and it didn't really matter. Case in point, the Smashing Pumpkins (stupid band name), Asian guy playing guitar, woman playing base, not really the point. Not even really a big deal. Just a rock band.

I love Siva. Its much more rock than latter Pumpkins' albums that became more studio oriented and precious, but in parts it breaks down and establishes that something that would make the Pumpkins stand out.

SO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND, IS THE TANK IN BOUNDS OR OUT OF BOUNDS

Artist - Master P
Album - Ghetto D
Song - Make'em Say UGH
Date - January, 1998
Status - Not Acquired

Two, things. One, after the East Coast / West Coast thing burned out after 2Pac and Biggie were killed rap started to splinter stylistically. Suddenly acts from places like Atlanta and Houston started showing up on the radio, and like early R&B each city had a very distinct sound. New Orleans No Limit definitely did.  New Orleans, like so many things, has its on flavor. and Two, Master P is a straight up hustler, and not even an original one. Puff Daddy had already mastered the trick of getting a lot of other rappers to rap on a track and throw his voice on the hook and call it his trick. What Master P added was well...I mean look at the video, what didn't he add. Platinum tank? check. Tank shoots into crowd? check.

P.S. No Limit crew definitely proving that a southern diet high in fat will require 9ft hoops for your video, because no one wants to watch lay ups.

GET AFTER YOUR THURSDAY!

Artist - R.E.M.
Album - Green
Song - Get Up
Date - September 1989
Status - Not Acquired

I know, I know. Their older stuff is where its at. That's what all the phony hippies say, but Green was the album that brought REM to public at large. "Get Up" was the fourth single from the album, and if the song wasn't awesome enough, the video should have warm fuzzies all over your face. Its a good thing.