NEVER FORGET

Also, Willie D is an American treasure. On point.

That time Glen Campbell got on a psychedelic Beach Boys trip. R.I.P.

Been deep into some classic rock explorations this week while at work, for whatever reason, and I thought it's worth pointing out that Iron Butterfly have some of the most hilariously, cringingly clunky lyrics from a period when clunky lyrics in rock were not in short supply. Total Spinal-Tap-level awfulness.

Was browsing recent DJ Shadow tonight, and it still hurts how he lost the plot so heavily. I'd much rather he continued making okay hyphy records than whatever sub-trip-hop wallpaper he seems to be putting out these days. His output from 1991 through 2002 is still spotless though; holds up beautifully and his attention to the textures and nuances of his sample sources (lots of great 70's prog, psych, and synth rarities; I’m pretty sure I was compelled to give Tangerine Dream more than a cursory glance thanks to him) is still underlooked in a lot of ways. This 45 is one of the best things he's ever done. The Dark Days documentary is pretty powerful and intense too; haven't seen it in years, but highly recommended.

R.I.P. to Peter Principle of Tuxedomoon, who passed away suddenly earlier this week. All their early EP’s and albums are essential listening; a still quite underrated group who never fit any easy categorization.

Was jamming this today and could’ve sworn it was some UK garage joint from the late 90′s. A banger from 2013 that throws back, but doesn’t come off as a retread or petty nostalgia. Massive tune.

Theo Parrish’s superb Parallel Dimensions LP just got reissue recently. Don’t sleep. Number one summer jam right here. Gorgeous.

Both Puce Mary and Pharmakon were incredible last night in L.A. Crazy soundsystem in a synagogue with incredible acoustics. The low-end was un-fuckin’-real. Still wish Frederikke’s first few records would get a much-needed vinyl reissue so I don’t have to pay $70 on the collector’s market, but in the meantime, here’s some live action from last year.

So hey, this era Crimson was also the musical guest on Fridays way back when. Next best moment to the live Kaufman throwdown.

Fripp, Belew, Bruford, and Levin invented “post-rock” way back in ‘81 (though shout to Red Krayola for probably doing it even further back with God Bless The Red Krayola in 1969). Discipline still obliterates every also-ran math-rock wannabe.

Straight up, Funkadelic is probably the greatest band of the 70′s, of any genre. I don’t think that gets acknowledged enough. An absolutely untouchable conglomeration of talent, incredibly powerful and bizarre songs, just everything. Greatest rock band of that era, greatest soul band of that era, greatest funk band of that era.

This was composed in 1959 and still sounds utterly timeless and unfamiliar. A true pioneer.

Not much else to say, except that on what has to be my 500,000th listen to these intoxicated demons’ classic Street Level (or self-titled, whichever you prefer) LP, this is still easily in my estimation one of the top three best-produced hip-hop albums ever. Ju and Les (and shouts to V.I.C. and Lucien) went all out, and in spite of grumblings over their smart-ass, vulgar lyrical content, it fits perfectly in all its unapologetic, over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek crassness. So yeah, 500,000 listens and still not tired of this. You..you...better...ask...somebody.

I can’t really say much about Raida that hasn’t already been said millions of times over, but no matter how many times I watch/rewatch/relisten to his routines, my jaw is always hitting the ground. Raida perfectly balanced the physical showmanship of his craft with a meticulous musicality that a lot of turntablists overlook or simply can’t duplicate (the way he cuts up the “Sucker MC’s” drums at the offset is masterful). A special note should be made of his ingenious juggle of “Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll” and “Good Times” at the same damn time; both basslines have always been so eeirly similar to my ear that I’m glad it’s not just me. And yeah, the LL “ninja of rap” routine....Raida could not be fucked with. His loss is still so gutting.

Blackhearted Skavengerz were a ragga/dancehall-based hip-hop crew (or maybe a hip-hop-infused ragga/dancehall crew more accurately) from Brooklyn (I believe) with some Beatminerz/Boot Camp Clik associations and a brief tenure on Guru’s Ill Kid imprint. They put out a 12″ in the mid-90′s (and I believe one of their members did the hook on the video/radio edit of “Sound Bwoy Burriel”), but it’s their demo tape that produced my favorite cut of theirs. I first heard “Point Of View” on an Evil Dee mixtape from 1995, and it’s a monster. Not sure who produced it, but it exemplifies how the often-unjustly-maligned dancehall/hip-hop intersection is untouchable when pulled off right. The chopped-up bit of “I’m Your Puppet” the bounces throughout over those HEAVY drums is a thing of beauty. Wish someone had put this on wax.

I don’t know how many times I’ve listened to Jim O’Rourke’s Insignificance. I’ve always loved O’Rourke’s most headstrong “rock” record despite the consternation of those treading firmly on the line of Remove The Need and I’m Happy And I’m Singing And 1,2,3,4 (no slight against those albums at all). Even in the vein of pop composition, O’Rourke is a strikingly intricate and careful arranger. The structures here are all over the place, and the use of repetition and looping near delirious, but it has a directness in its actual songs and subtle meticulousness in its DNA I’ve seen few accomplish so seamlessly.