Del the Funky Homosapien’s first album is called I Wish My Brother George Was Here. The George in the title is (at least indirectly) a reference to George Clinton.* The album itself is brimming with Parliament samples, and if you figured it came after Dr. Dre’s The Chronic because of it’s sonic similarities, I’d understand … Continue reading Del Before Dre (Themes And Trends With Dante Ross)
Tag: kids
Sunday Music: Personal Journalist / Sage Francis
It didn’t age well. And that’s ok. It’s still got merits. I have a series of Sage Francis quotes and references I repeat to myself regularly 20 years on. I’m not a college kid in a pre-social media era crafting AIM away messages anymore. All those bizarre curiosities have moved through and beyond subreddits by … Continue reading Sunday Music: Personal Journalist / Sage Francis
Show A Little Gratitude (Tracy Chapman Edition)
Tracy Chapman won her first CMA this year. It only took 35 years. And a Luke Combs cover of her song, “Fast Car.” Gratitude. Grateful for the recognition. Graceful during the long lags between receiving any. Tracy Chapman knows a thing (or 35) about gratitude. In 1988, when “Fast Car” was released as the first … Continue reading Show A Little Gratitude (Tracy Chapman Edition)
Even Kobe Was Never Jordan
Kobe was never Jordan. Because Kobe was Kobe. And Jordan was Jordan. We can compare the two. But a person is only ever themselves. It carries further. Lola Mure made the comment, “Even if you did the same trainings, spent the same hours and had the same philosophy as Michael Jordan, you’d never be him. … Continue reading Even Kobe Was Never Jordan
Sunday Music: 1001 By Glitterer
We saw Glitterer the other week and this song just stood out like crazy in the setlist to me: “1001” Shoegaze, at it’s best, combines melodic and harmonic tension and resolution. It usually requires the rhythm to be, sort of - plodding(?). Yeah, I’m not Wikipedia for this, but it’s the vibe I get. By … Continue reading Sunday Music: 1001 By Glitterer
Hitting The Shed (Studying Jazz, Studying Life)
When you’re learning to play jazz, you take a recording and break down everything - especially the improvisations, note for note. It takes patience and focus. There’s a reason jazz musicians call working this stuff out “woodshedding” (or “shedding,” or “hitting the shed,” etc.). It’s all about whittling the block down into tiny parts. After … Continue reading Hitting The Shed (Studying Jazz, Studying Life)
Sunday Music: Like Cold November Rain (Go Easy, Rider)
When your fiancé says “Let’s put some G N’ R on” you don’t argue. You embrace being 10 again, popping the cassette into the deck, and basking in the glory of using one’s illusions. Whatever age you were when you heard “November Rain” (or especially when you first saw the video), it sticks with you. … Continue reading Sunday Music: Like Cold November Rain (Go Easy, Rider)
Sunday Music: Electric Relaxation (Tribe)
Is “Electric Relaxation” one of the greatest songs ever? “Relax yourself girl please set-tle down” gets me going every time. Sexy as s***. And even if some of the lyrics are corny, they’re perfectly corny. But for the non-music nerds, I have to clue you in on something else that's going on. Part of Q-Tip's … Continue reading Sunday Music: Electric Relaxation (Tribe)
Podcast Of The Week: Kenny Beats And Rick Rubin (Again!)
When Kenny Beats explains how he mailed cassettes and headphones, with no labels, notes, or explanations, to a bunch of his favorite music people… wild. All he wanted was them to hear it. He had to make the packaging so curious somebody would press play. And it worked. Guy could have had a marketing career … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Kenny Beats And Rick Rubin (Again!)
Sunday Music: Happy Horror Business Halloween (With The Misfits)
October is for Misfits. I’ve got one particular song on my mind this year - “Horror Business.” There’s a weird, unsolved (re: not entirely worth solving) mysteriousness because the song references either/or the movie Psycho and the famous bathroom murder scene, and/or Sid Vicious’ girlfriend Nancy’s tragic bathroom stabbing and death. We’re not here to … Continue reading Sunday Music: Happy Horror Business Halloween (With The Misfits)