- "So I'm gonna spend the cash I've got, so I can be a cosmonaut, save you a seat in my earthling spot, I wish you could go with me, and show you what you never see." It seems like just yesterday that I was at the New York City CD release show for Lucky Day's sophomore release "Rise & Fall". Arelene's Grocery was the backdrop for a great evening of music. If you've seen the film "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist" then you've seen a glimpse of Arlene's Grocery. The film also takes you into Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady studios. Visiting Electric Lady has become a growing obsession for me but that's a story for another time. After Lucky Day's CD release show my friends and I somehow wound up next door at the Golden Slipper, a house of burlesque where our MC for the evening was a tall gay gentleman dressed in a tight shinny bunny costume. That's definitely a story for another time. "Second Last" is trademark Lucky Day with tight pop melodies, a hook that brings you back, and vocals that are silky smooth. Washington DC-area Lucky Day is in a bit of a hiatus at the moment but there are rumors that the lead singer has another project in the works- Lionel Jones. Details are scare but Lionel Jones will purportedly seek to revolutionize everything we know about music. If you have a red, green, and black liberation jump suit it may be time to dust it off.
2. Remix For P Is Free- Boogie Down Productions
- "I said to myself this tape sound funky, riding past the 116th street junkie. Because the girlies is free, 'cause the crack costs money, oh yeah, I said the girlies is free, 'cause the crack cost money, oh yeah!" I'm not sure where I was when I first heard "Criminal Minded" (1987) the game changing debut from Boogie Down Productions but if I had to guess it was sometime in 1990. I found the then essentially out of print album on cassette at the Granite Run mall. Score. Without being graphic, "Remix For P Is Free" tells the story of a Strawberry or two. What is a "Strawberry" you ask? N.W.A. provided the most succinct definition in the song "Dopeman"- "Strawberry is a girl selling p#ssy for crack to the dopeman." If you want a fascinating account of the crack-cocaine explosion of the 1980's with a heavy dose of government conspiracy theory, "Dark Alliance" by Gary Webb is a must read. The main focus of the book is the alleged direct CIA involvement in the spread of the drug. Even if the conspiracy theory stuff doesn't float your boat you'll get amazing insight into the story of Freeway Ricky Ross (the real Rick Ross). Freeway Ricky built an unparalleled crack-cocaine empire that at it's zenith in the 1980s brought him millions a week. Millions a week is a lot of rocks. Fans of newer hip-hop should recognize the beat for "Remix For P Is Free" as it serves as the musical basis for the phenomenal song "Definition" (2002) by Black Star- the duo of Mos Def & Talib Kweli.
3. Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's- Wesley Willis
- "McDonalds will make you fat, they serve Big Macs, they serve quarter pounders, they will put pounds on you, rock and roll McDonalds! rock and roll McDonalds! Rock over London, rock on Chicago, Wheaties- breakfast of champions." Where do I being with this musical masterpiece? The first time I heard this (in the early 2000's) on the radio I pretty much lost my mind. When I saw the film "Supersize Me" in the theatre and "Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's" came on I was unbelievably amused. The only musical moment that surpassed this in the film was the use of Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman" with the direct implication that Ronald McDonald is the fast food equivalent of a crack dealer who preys on children. "Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's" is brilliant on so many levels. Lyrically it's on par with anything folks like Dylan and Lennon/McCartney ever conjured up. The music is outstanding as well. If the music is not a pre-recorded Casio keyboard backing track, I don't know what is. My favorite thing about "Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's" musically by far is the breakdown. Who doesn't love a good breakdown? Where would hip-hop be if not for the breakdown? (the answer is nowhere). We get a 50 second breakdown (in a song that clocks in at 2:25) where nothing happens....other than the glorious Casio backing track doing it's thing. Genius.
No comments:
Post a Comment