#also go listen to showbiz for me its an amazing album

[raprockcity-moved]

the drawing Does Not fit the tone of the song whatsoever but. i think it fits akira >>

[fuckheadwitha]

Listening to Rolling Stone's Top 500 Albums of All Time

Rolling Stone released an updated list of their top 500 albums of all time and being trapped in the purgatory of covid quarantine this seems like the perfect moment to tackle what an almost completely irrelevant former counter-culture institution has to say about music (we can’t actually blame Rolling Stone for this list, a huge number of musicians and critics voted to make it). I am going to listen to every single one of these, all the way through, with a level of attention that's not super intense but I'm definitely not having them on in the background as simple aural wallpaper. Two caveats though: I can make an executive decision to skip any album if I feel the experience is sufficiently miserable, and I'm also going to be skipping the compilation albums that I feel aren't really worth slots (best ofs, etc.). In addition, I will be ordering them as I go, creating a top 500 of the top 500 (it will be less than 500 since we've already established I'm skipping some of these).

Here are 500-490:

#500 Arcade Fire - Funeral

I can already tell I'm going to be at odds with this list if one of the most important albums of my high school years is at the bottom. That being said, I haven't actually given this whole thing a listen since probably the early 2010s, before Arcade Fire fatigue set in and the hipsterati appointed band of a generation just kinda seemed to fade from popular consciousness. I actually dreaded re-experiencing it, since the synthesis of anthemic rock and quirky folk instrumentation which Arcade Fire brought mainstream has now become the common shorthand of insufferable spotify friendly folk pop. Blessedly, the first half of the album easily holds up, largely propelled by dirty fast rhythm guitar, orchestration that's tuneful rather than obnoxious, and lyrics which come off as earnest rather than pretentious. The middle gets a little sappy and “Crown of Love”, a song I definitely used to like, really starts the grate. And then we get to “Wake Up”, whose cultural saturation spawned thousands of dorky indie rock outfits that confused layered strings and horns with power and meaning. This song definitely hasn't survived the film trailers and commercials which it so ubiquitously overlayed, but the line about "a million little gods causing rainstorms, turning every good thing to rust" still attacks the part of my brain capable of sincere emotion. This album is probably going to hold the top spot for a while, because although so many elements of Funeral that made it feel so meaningful, that made it stand out so much in 2004, have been seamlessly assimilated into an intellectually and emotionally bankrupt indie pop industrial complex, the album itself still has a genuine vulnerability and bangers that still manage to rip.

#499

Rufus, Chaka Khan - Ask Rufus

Before she became a name in her own right, Chaka Khan was the voice of the band Rufus, and it’s definitely her voice that shines amongst some spritely vibey funk. That’s not to say that these aren’t some jams on their own. “At Midnight” is a banging opener with a sprint to the finish, and although the explicitly named but kinda boring “Slow Screw Against the Wall” feels weak, this wasn’t really supposed to be an album of barn burners. This was something people put on their vinyl record players while they chilled on vinyl furniture after a night of doing cocaine. “Everlasting Love” is a bop with a bassline like a Sega Genesis game, and the twinkling piano on “Hollywood” adds a playful levity to lyrics that are supposed to be both tackily optimistic about making it big out in LA and subtly realistic about the kind of nightmare world showbiz can be. “Better Days” is another track that manages to be a bittersweet jam with a catchy sour saxophone and playful synths under Chaka Khan’s vamping. This album definitely belongs on a ‘chill funk to study and relax to’ playlist.

#498

Suicide - Suicide

We’ve hit the first album that could be rightly called a progenitor for multiple genres that followed it. Someone could say there’s a self-serving element of this being on a Rolling Stone list (the band was one of the first to adopt the label ‘Punk’ after seeing it in a Lester Bangs article) but the album’s legacy is basically indisputable. EBM, industrial, punk, post-punk, new wave, new whatever all have a genealogy that connects to Suicide, and it’s easy to hear the band in everything that followed. But what the band actually is is two guys, one with an electric organ and one with a spooky voice, doing spooky simple riffs and saying spooky simple things. Simplicity is definitely not a dis here. The opener “Ghost Rider” makes a banger out of four notes and one instrument, and the refrain ‘America America is killing its youth’ is really all the lyrical complexity you need to fucking get it. “Cheree” and “Girl” have almost identical lyrics (‘oh baby’ vs ‘oh girl’) but “Cheree” is more like a fairy tale and “Girl” is more like a sonic handjob. “Frankie Teardrop” has the audacity to tell a ten minute story with its lyrics, but of course there is intermittent, actually way too loud screaming breaking up the narrative of a guy who loses everything then kills his family and himself. The song is basically a novelty, and I think you can probably say the whole album is a novelty between its brevity and character. But for a bite sized snack this album casts a huge shadow.

#497

Various Artists - The Indestructible Beat of Soweto

The fact that this particular compilation always ends up in the canon has a lot to do with the cultural context it existed in, being America’s first encounter with South African contemporary music during the decline of apartheid (it wouldn’t end until a decade later in 1994 with the country’s first multi-racial elections). Music journos often bring up the fact Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the all male choir singing on the album ender “Nansi Imali”, sang on Paul Simon’s Graceland like their virtue is they helped Paul Simon get over his depression and not, like, the actual music. But also like, how is the actual music? Jams. Ubiquitous, hooky guitars propel the songs along with bright choruses over low lead vocals, but I didn’t expect the synthesizer on the bop “Qhude Manikiniki”, nor the discordant hoedown violin on “Sobabamba”. “Holotelani” is a groove to walk into the sunset to.

#496

Shakira - Donde Estan los Ladrones

So this is the first head scratcher on the list. It’s not like it sucks. And I think I prefer this 90s guitar pop driven spanish language Shakira to modern superstar Shakira. But I mean, it’s an album of late nineties latin pop minivan music, with a thick syrupy middle that doesn’t do anything for me. The opener and closer stand out though.  ‘Ciega, Sordomuda’, one of the biggest pop songs of the 90s (it was #1 on the charts of literally every country in Latin America), has a galloping acoustic guitar and horn hits with Shakira’s vocals at their most percussive.

#495

Boyz II Men - II

So, if you were alive in the 90s you know Boyz II Men were fucking huge, and the worst song on the album is the second track “All Around the World”, basically a love song to their own success, and also the women they’ve banged. You can tell it was written specifically so that the crowd could go fucking wild when they heard their state/city/country mentioned in the song, and I’m not gonna double check but I’m sure they hit all fifty states. Once you’re over that hump though you basically have an hour of songs to fuck to. “U Know” keeps it catchy with propulsive midi guitar and synth horns, “Jezzebel” starts with a skit and ends with a richly layered jazz tune about falling in love on a train, and “On Bended Knee” has a Ragnarok Online type beat. Honestly this album can drag, but you’re not supposed to be listening to it alone in a state of analysis, you’re supposed to have it on during a date that’s going really, really well.

#494

The Ronettes - Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes

A singles compilation of the Ronettes, the only ones I immediately recognized were ‘Be My Baby’ and ‘Going to the Chapel of Love’, the latter of which I didn’t know existed since the version of the song I knew was by the Dixie Cups, which was apparently a source of drama since the Ronettes did it first but producer Phil Spector refused to release it. I feel like as a retro trip to sixties girl groups it’s full of enough songs about breaking up (for example “Breaking Up”) getting back together (for example “Breaking Up”) and wanting to get married but you can’t, because you’re a teenager (“So Young”).

#493

Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear

This album only exists because Marvin was required by his divorce settlement to make it and provide all of the royalties to his ex-wife and motown executive Anna Gordy Gaye. It’s absolutely bizarre, phoned in mid tempo funk whose lyrics range from the passive aggressive (“This is what you wanted right?”) to the petulant (“Why do I have to pay attorney’s fees?”). There is a seething realness here that crosses well past the border of uncomfortable. I don’t think it’s an amazing album to listen to, but it’s an amazing album to exist: Marvin Gaye is legally obligated to throw his own divorce pity party, and everyone's invited.

#492

Bonnie Raitt - Nick of Time

I have never heard of Bonnie Raitt before but apparently this album won several grammys including album of the year in 1989 and sold 5 million copies, which I guess goes to show that no award provides less long term relevance than the grammys. The story around the album is pretty heartwarming, it was her first massive hit after a career of whiffs, and Bonnie Raitt herself is apparently a social activist and neat human being. I say all this because this sort of 80s country blues rock doesn't really connect with me, but the artist obviously deserves more than that. I unequivocally like the title track though, a hand-clap backed winding electric piano groove about literally finding love before your eggs dry up.

#491

Harry Styles - Fine Line

I do not think I have ever heard a one direction song because I am an adult who only listens to public radio. I’m totally open to pop bands or boy bands or boy band refugee solo artists, but I don’t like anything here. It’s like a mixtape of the worst pop trends of the decade, from glam rock that sounds like it belongs in a car commercial to folky bullshit that sounds like it belongs in a more family focused car commercial. This gets my first DNP (Does Not Place).

#490

Linda Ronstadt - Heart Like a Wheel

Another soft-rock blues and country album which just doesn’t land with me. But the opener “You’re No Good” is like a soul/country hybrid which still goes hard and the title track hits with the lyrics “And it's only love and it's only love / That can wreck a human being and turn him inside out”.

Current Ranking, which is weirdly almost like an inverse of the rolling stones list so far;

[eyecandyfilmjournal]

Giving Thanks

Despite our mixed feelings about Thanksgiving, we love to give thanks! Here is what our contributors are most grateful for this year.

This Thanksgiving, I’m really thankful for podcasts! And two podcasts in particular: Sleep With Me podcast and Wonderful!: an enthusiast podcast. Both of these podcasts are now a part of my routine; I sometimes can’t go to bed without listening to Sleep With Me, which is a podcast where the host tells you a story to help you fall asleep  (it is essentially the adult version of a bedtime story). I turn the podcast on, tuck myself into bed, and find it way easier to fall asleep, especially when I have a lot on my mind. I also love listening to Wonderful!, since it is a great way to start your day with some positivity. Listening to this husband wife duo talk about what they love every week really lifts my spirits, and I tend to listen to it when walking to class/school, or when I am otherwise not very excited to start the day.  Although these are just two podcasts in particular that I love, I also love the concept of podcasts and the opportunities they offer for creating content!

-Emily Millard Murphy

I’ve been in a bit of a musical rut lately. For the past six months or so, I’ve been listening to the same twenty or so songs on repeat and I just was not in the mood to explore other songs or artists. This was until I discovered FKA Twigs’ sixteen minute visual album M3LL155X (pronounced “Melissa”) a few weeks ago. To anyone who knows FKA Twigs or M3LL155X, you’re probably thinking “that album came out in 2015, why are you talking about it now?” To that I have no excuse; I had no idea what I was missing. I can tell you that I haven’t been able to stop listening, watching, or thinking about the songs or the visuals in the album since I first watched. FKA Twigs wrote, directed, composed, and starred in the short film, which does not have an overarching narrative, like Beyonce’s Lemonade, but does have recurring themes, such as the male gaze and feeling victimised as a woman (especially a woman of color) in pop culture. I guarantee you will love something about M3LL155X (which you can watch for free on youtube), whether it’s FKA Twigs’ amazing vocals, the mind bending visuals, or the expert choreography.

-Meghan Hebbard

To remain in the holiday spirit, I must say that I am particularly thankful for the film Embrace of the Serpent (2015). Although not dealing specifically with the Pilgrims and Native Americans of the northeast coast of soon-to-be colonized America, Embrace of the Serpent does portray the vicissitudes of white colonialism in the Colombian Amazon; an act of colonization that is both in the name of scientific pursuit and Christian morality. The two white anthropologists, one German and one American, who set out to explore the Amazon in an attempts to discover a hallucinogenic plant are constantly refuted in their actions by the knowledge and tradition of indigenous practices, of which they wish to study ‘objectively’. Embrace enables a wonderful criticism of ethnographic tendencies to otherize and objectify a people and their practices and is, otherwise, a piece of cinematographic beauty. I’ve also really enjoyed the album Long Season by Fishmans. Happy Thanksgiving; enjoy your dry turkeys!

-Cole Nelson

It’s been a weird and sad and scary year, and like the last few years, I’ve turned to podcasts for some comfort. Hollywood Handbook is pretty hard to describe. An equally precise and absurdist satire of showbiz, HH pushes self-referential comedy to an insane point. In the best recent episode, Jason Mantzoukas stops by to promote Big Mouth on Netflix and share his puberty stories. Immediately, Jason and Sean and Hayes decide that all three of them went to a French boarding school together, where Sean’s clique was the faculty, and Jason was a 17 year old divorcee. Imaginative wackiness is getting me through right now. As Ron Howard (never) said: “Thanks. This helped.”

-Asher “The Stone” Guthertz

This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for Guillermo del Toro. Just in general, I guess. I’d hardly even heard of the guy before Pacific Rim, which, at the time, completely blew me away; it was so rare to see a big-budget, over-the-top action flick that had genuine heart in it. “Whoever made this actually cares,” I remember thinking. That’s what sets del Toro’s work apart for me: it’s so clear that he just really, really digs the movies. Everything he makes is a labor of love. This can be said for so many directors, of course, but I can’t think of anyone who tackles the strange, the fantastical, and the downright ridiculous as fervently and artfully as del Toro does. There’s Pan’s Labyrinth, of course, a downright beautiful film that I’ve heard referred to as “the first fantasy movie for adults.” Del Toro’s adaptation of Hellboy reveled in the absurdity of its premise, and wound up being one of my all-time favorite superhero films as a result. I won’t go through his entire filmography here, but rest assured, it’s good stuff. And now coming up we have The Shape of Water, a movie about a woman falling in love with a fish… monster… person? Honestly, if anyone can pull it off, it’s del Toro. Nobody in Hollywood is having quite as much fun as him, and it’s so inspiring to see.

(P.S. If you’re interested, you should look up the video tour of del Toro’s house, which is basically a creepy museum filled top to bottom with weird decorations and memorabilia. There’s a life-size statue of H.P. Lovecraft in the living room. Dude’s seriously bizarre.)

-Cole Kronman

[thebandcampdiaries]

Erik Odsell introducing new single "Love Riot" - A modern electro pop gem with a hint of 80s Nostalgia.

“Love Riot” is a brand new and exciting single by singer and songwriter Erik Odsell. This talented Swedish performer set out to create a lush, captivating and diverse sound that bridges the gaps between retro pop hooks and modern energy.

The song’s introduction and verses are rich and deep, reminding me of the sound of the best 80s pop. The synth lines are outstanding, and the drumbeat adds a very cinematic groove to the tune. If you thought the song sounded big up to this point, just wait until you get to the chorus. The hook sounds massive. The drum pattern becomes more intricate, as many melodic and vocal layers converge together into an amazing wall of sound, which suddenly gives a more modern feel to the song.

Production trickery and ingenious arrangements aside, Erik did an outstanding job on this track. His vocals are somehow intimate, yet full of energy, cutting through the mix just like a knife going through hot butter. The lyrics are also very personal and extremely easy to relate to, adding yet another layer of emotional depth to the mix. I am a firm believer that song lyrics should not only be “placeholders” for vocal melodies, but they should actively contribute to the song’s value. On “Love Riot,” Erik was determined to show the audience that a great song is all about the sum of its parts. Lyrics, production, vocal performances and musicianship are all outstanding in equal doses.

On another technical note - I love how Erik’s voice has been treated in the mix. The singing has a very polished modern tone, but his voice feels realistic and emotional, far away from that overly pitch-corrected vocal style that makes it almost impossible to discern a “human” quality in a track!

A true marvel of electronic pop, this song feels very “Scandinavian” in terms of production aesthetics, highlighting the region’s well-known history of excellent pop music, particularly in Sweden, which for decades has been at the forefront of the electro-pop scene. These northerners know how to make it catchy!

“Love Riot” is currently available throughout the major digital music distribution retail network, and you will be able to stream or purchase the song from your favorite platform.

Find out more about Erik Odsell and listen to his music on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/erikodsell/love-riot

We also had the chance to speak to Erik about his music and vision: read on to find out more! 

Answer: Thank you so much! It feels so good to hear you say that this song sounds personal and organic yet modern and polished ‘cause that’s actually exactly what I was going for when I started working with my co-producer, Henrik Hansson, with the production and recording of this song. It’s been 2 years since I released my last album, which is more of a pop/rock/singer-songwriter album than what Love Riot sounds like, and when I started working with my new album I felt I didn’t want to release another album sounding like my last one. So when I started recording Love Riot, which is the first single from the upcoming album, I wanted to make it more electronic, modern and “bigger” than my previous releases but still with an organic and personal feel to it. So we combined a rich, fat sound (with a lot of synthesizers and rhythm programming) with some organic/ acoustic instruments such as piano, an electric guitar, some real drums and real electric bass and I really like the outcome! It still sounds, and feels like “me” but with an updated sound.

Do you perform live? If so, do you feel more comfortable on a stage or within the walls of the recording studio?

Answer: I do perform live – both as a solo artist and in collaborations with others. I also used to freelance, playing and singing background vocals behind other artists in Sweden so I feel really comfortable on stage but I also love being in the studio – so it’s kind of hard to pick. Sometimes a live performance can bring out even more “feeling” to a song and melody than what you’re able to achieve in the studio but the studio also gives you the possibility to try out different things, which means that you get a chance to develop a melody or a line to perfection so I guess I want it all.

“Love Riot” is a very modern song, but to me, it also has some cool retro vibes, particularly reminding me of some 80s music. Was that an influence on your songwriting at all?

Answer: Not intentionally but maybe subconsciously. I grew up during the 80s and I’ve always loved strong melodies and strong hooks. At the moment I also feel that 80s retro vibes feel quite modern in pop today so I guess to me it felt more “modern” than “80s”.

You were in LA when you wrote the song. What is the biggest lesson you learn from writing and working on your music in Los Angeles?

Answer: I’ve been to LA quite a lot and I absolutely love LA. In some ways, I feel more at home in LA than I feel when I’m actually back home in Sweden. I love how the city totally revolves around the movie- and music business and how that attracts amazingly talented musicians and actors to try out their fortune. I love it when you’re out a bar and you start talking to a bartender who’s an actor or a musician and when you look them up online you’re always blown away by their talent – and they’re working double shifts in a bar trying to make ends meet and still working their ass off in showbiz to try to achieve their biggest dreams. I mean – there’s no other place on earth where you meet so much amazingly talented people at one place. Superstars, producers, industry professionals and aspiring young artist – you have it all in the city of Angels. So I guess the biggest lesson from LA is that, first of all, The competition is fierce and second, you never know who you’re gonna meet so you always have to be prepared to bring you’re A-game – but it’s also very inspiring. When I’m in LA I always get a feeling of “anything’s possible”.

Are you planning on touring in support of the single?

Answer: I’m not planning a specific tour in support of the single right now. Next up is the release of my second single from my upcoming album and then the album is set for release early spring next year. I hope I get a chance to go on tour with the whole album then!

Anywhere online where curious fans can listen to your music and find out more about you?

Answer: Absolutely! My official website is www.erikodsell.com but you can also catch me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erikodsellofficial and on Instagram, www.instagram.com/erikodsell and Twitter www.twitter.com/erikodsell. If you go to my Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCicRXQzUS4fUCYyZRFRVvGw, you’ll find my music videos, including a lyric video for Love Riot. You can also find my music on almost every major digital music platform there is, such as Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music etc.

[airadam]

Episode 100 : We Made It.

"One hundred on the percentage, I don't talk split..."

- Q-Ball

Wow, what a milestone! In the early days of the show I didn't know we'd still be here after this long, but focusing on just producing one show at a time has paid off. Every month I feel like I must have run out of tunes, but one hundred months in....not quite yet ;)

Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to listen. Please spread this one far and wide!

Twitter : @airadam13

For this month's charity draw (check the end of the show for details), the website to donate to is MSF, entries close on the 21/10/2017. 

Playlist/Notes

Air Adam & Mega Ran : Pacman

Hitting you with a special right out of the gate! This is one of my own beats, done many moons ago when my man Kev 80s asked if I could make something out of sounds from the "Pacman" arcade machine. I sampled some audio out of an arcade emulator into the MPC and got busy; when I played it for Kev over the phone, he went out of his mind! I knew I had something, and I got this beat pressed onto a dubplate which some of you will have heard me pull out and play occasionally over the years. I've always thought it deserved some lyrics, and I was honoured to have Mega Ran bless it for a 100th episode special. Not only is he an ill MC, but one who knows his video games and has been a real pioneer in flipping gaming sounds and themes to devastating effect! No hook, just straight bars for you - I really hope you enjoy this one as much as I do every time I hear it :)

Visioneers : Apache (Battle Dub)

My man Bane pointed me in the direction of the Hipology 7" set by Marc Mac's Visioneers, and it's a nice five-disc, ten-track set paying respect to Hip-Hop's influence in his life. There's a mixtape of it on Bandcamp, but it's worth getting the full release! To start off a mini-theme in this part of the show, we go with their take on the classic track "Apache", a true foundation break of Hip-Hop. If you want a bit more background on it, check the film "Sample This"!

Ilajide : Apache 2

This man is one of my favourite producers of the last few years, and here he kills it with a great flip of the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five version of "Apache"(you can just hear him letting it play as I blend the track in). Slowed, chopped, and with some added ODB flavour, it's a monster that on its own makes a purchase of "Five Week Heet IV" worth it!

Nas : Made You Look

A lot of people like to talk down on Nas' beat selection, but in my opinion you have to give him this; whenever he needs to drop that one big street single, he can. "Nas Is Like"? "Get Down"? "The Don"? That's just three off the top of my head, and this one could well go ahead of all of them. Salaam Remi flips that "Apache" breakbeat but making it slower and more menacing and Nas is on top form setting out his stall on this first verse. When this track dropped it got everyone open for "God's Son", and you can guarantee crowd response in a Hip-Hop club when the hook hits. Just one verse here, then blending during the hook into a killer remix...

Nas ft. Styles P and Ludacris : Made You Look (Remix)

Eleven synonyms for "gun" in just the first three bars of his verse is what stands out for me on Nas' closer right here. You have to bring it when you get a verse like Ludacris' preceding lyrics, and while you don't hear it on this episode, Styles P also got it done. This remix was killing the net and mixtapes when it came out but to the best of my knowledge, it never got an official release - if you know otherwise, get at me!

Aim & QNC ft. Grand Puba and Sean Price : We Don't Play (Curt Cazal Remix)

A great union of Grand Central-connected acts, along with some big guests! The original from the "The Habit of a Lifetime (And How to Kick It)" LP with Aim's production is dark, but Curt Cazal takes the darkness in a completely different direction for this remix. Treat yourself with a bit of extra volume for this cut because even with just two bass notes every couple of bars, it definitely bumps! Lyrically, all the verses are solid but as usual, I think Sean P takes it. Also check the homage being paid to EPMD, first with the opening bars, and on the hook too!

Seanie T, Karl Hinds, Jeff3, and Skeme : Had E-Nuff

I can't count the times I wanted to play this on the show but just wasn't happy with the mix! From Seanie T's Western-themed "The Blacknificent 7" superteam (just four on this track) we have this thumping AA-side with all MCs sounding seriously vex over a Karl Hinds beat. The Guru sample for the hook is just the icing on the cake!

DJ Spinna : Fancy Pants

Always here for a DJ Spinna beat, and this is an old one which has only just become available. The "Unpicked Treats Volume 1" collection on Bandcamp is made up of unreleased beats from 2005 to the present, and if you're a fan it's definitely one to check. This track has that trademark squelchy keyboard low end he does so well.

Redman : Tonight's Da Night

From Red's debut "Whut? Thee Album", we take the start of the jazzy third single, which has a lyrical switchup after the first few bars, and then do a little switch of our own...

Royal Flush : Best Type Of Rapper

...into this - I did this transition once live and the crowd went mad calling for the rewind! Big tune from the 2005 "Street Boss" album by Queens' Royal Flush. I haven't been able to find a producer credit for this one, but it's an energetic, horn-laden track over a classic break with Flush's staple street braggadocio delivered with what is still a low-key flow.

Naughty By Nature : Craziest

In a time when Hip-Hop was much more localised (and NY-centric) than it is now, the all-area respect theme of this track was a rarity; the video does a great job conveying it too. A fantastic but in my opinion, under-appreciated single from the "Poverty's Paradise" LP. NBN self-produce the track, and the particular combination of sounds like little else while also being very comfortable/familiar somehow. Treach and Vinny then proceed to get amped on the verses (did Treach ever get his money from Jermaine?), and the hook is straight classic. I'd love to hear a Leeds, Manchester, or just a UK version of this one!

DJ Quik ft. B-Real : Fandango

I think this is an amazing tune, and I love to find opportunities to play it when I DJ. The first full track on the "Trauma" LP, it's just big sounding and driving, with the horns taking centre stage and reminding you of an HBCU marching band - if you can't get live to this one, you should seek medical attention!

DJ Quik ft. B-Real : Fandango (Live at the House of Blues)

There aren't that many live Hip-Hop albums so being able to do a mix like this is rare, but taking the opportunity to catch that crowd energy is a winner. This is from the "Greatest Hits : Live at the House of Blues" album, which was recorded in February 2006 and is a release absolutely worth having in your collection! B-Real's killer second verse gets the crowd hype here and Quik brings it home strong, while the band do an excellent rendition of Quik's original production.

Showbiz & A.G. : Silence Of The Lambs (Remix)

Claaassic Diggin In The Crates product right here. The original cut on "Runaway Slave" is dope, but this remix is just incredible. Those blaring, almost discordant horns scream to be heard over Showbiz' wicked drum sampler programming, before settling down into the groove of the verses. This is the time when both members were getting on the mic, before Showbiz (now just Show) decided to focus on his work behind the boards. He could easily have carried on, but given that he's responsible for beats like "Sound Of Da Police", he can be forgiven for rationing his time. One aside - check the low, distorted evil laugh during the hook!

Chemical Brothers : Chico's Groove

The Chemical Brothers' "Exit Planet Dust" was a huge debut release, which came to the attention of me and mine via the use of several tracks on Channel 4's NBA coverage back in the day :) While they're primarily a dance act, there were some more laid back cuts on the album, and this was a standout for me - the feel of the first part of the track before the bass section comes in is just gorgeous.

The Mouse Outfit ft. Black Josh and TrueMendous : It's Like That

New track from a Manchester crew who continue to go from strength to strength - if this is any indication of what their next album will sound like, they're onto another winner! Chini's beat is chilled but the drums snap, and as always the right MCs are drafted in to grace the track. Black Josh has been working with The Mouse Outfit for a while and delivers some solid lyrics, but is at least matched by the dextrous TrueMendous out of Birmingham, who shines on this one!

Camp Lo ft. Mecca : Sky Box

The closing track on Camp Lo's second album, the appropriately-named "Let's Do It Again", this gentle Jocko-produced track is a tribute to loved ones Sonny and Geechi have lost along the way. One of the rare five-star tracks on my iPods.

Tall Black Guy : Broken Lies

A little something from the "Mini Therapy Chops 3" single by TBG, laid back but very tech with the drum programming, throwing in some great rolls and cymbal work!

Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah : Rainy Dayz

Ok - I don't know if this is definitely my favourite Hip-Hop song, but is absolutely my favourite song on my favourite Hip-Hop album, the mighty and must-own "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...". A beautiful, dark, twisted beat from RZA in his golden period is the perfect setting to hear Rae and Ghost talk about being stuck in the drug business, with Blue Raspberry killing the vocals as the woman left at home worrying about her man. RZA cites it as one of his favourites, and with good reason. As far as my own relationship with this track; a) I played this once a day minimum for at least six months after buying the album, and b) that part where the audio seems to disappear towards end is the cue burn I put on this vinyl learning how to rock doubles on some highly unsuitable turntables!

Jan Hammer : It's Over

A short instrumental from the "Cocaine Cowboys" soundtrack. An amusing story about that OST is that the producers of the film were nervous about asking Jan Hammer to do something in the vein of "Miami Vice", in case he took offence and declared he'd moved past all that; as it tuned out, he had all the old synths upstairs ready to get busy!

Rakim : Bring It On

Very little available info on this one. It appears to be a remix of a 1995 track produced by Dominic Owen, but neither version was ever released. The sound quality on the white label compilation I have is pretty awful, but I tried to add a little top end to the EQ to counteract the worst of the muddiness. Rakim is in aggressive mode over a hard beat that definitely could have gone down well at the time, when the rugged East Coast sound was popular. This is the kind of relative rarity I love to share with you all!

Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!

Check out this episode!