CW’s Album Of The Week

Album: Paul’s Boutique

Artist: Beastie Boys

Year: 1989

Label: Capitol Records

Why you should hear it: Because there are few Hip Hop albums with such high-quality production and lyrics. While it was not as commercially successful as their debut, Licensed to Ill, it is definitely worthy of the heavy critical acclaim it has received in the years since it was released. The lyrical duties are all superb, with quick, witty lines and plenty of their usual back and forth rhymes. As fun as the MC’s are, it’s the production that is the most impressive. Handled entirely by the Beastie Boys and the Dust Brothers, there are 15 tracks that contain 105 samples, including everyone from Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to John Williams and Johnny Cash. The result is a densely packed album that can be overwhelming on the first listen, but opens up each time you hit repeat.

If you gotta pick one: Track 6 – The Sounds of Science – made up mostly of different Beatles samples like Back in the USSR, When I’m Sixty-Four, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and The End, it’s easy to see why the song got them in serious legal troubles. Regardless, the track’s great production is balanced with the type of lyrical performance you could only get from the Beastie Boys.

CW

CW Does The Weekend Movie

CW Does The Weekend Movie- Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)

Directed by Woody Allen

Screenplay by Woody Allen

Staring Martin Landau, Woody Allen, Alan Alda, Anjelica Huston, Mia Farrow, Sam Waterson

Awards:

David di Donatello Award for Best Screenplay – Woody Allen

London Critics Circle Film Award for Director – Woody Allen

London Critics Circle Film Award for Film of the Year

London Critics Circle Film Award for Screenwriter of the Year – Woody Allen

National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor – Alan Alda

New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor – Alan Alda

Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Woody Allen

Allen had apparently been unhappy with the ending to his previous movie, Hannah and Her Sisters, feeling it had too much of a “Hollywood ending”. So in response, he wrote and directed Crimes and Misdemeanors, a much darker and realistic film. Well, actually, it’s more like two films. One of them is a romantic comedy starring Woody Allen, who plays a filmmaker that falls hard for a woman while shooting a documentary on his brother-in-law. The other is a psychological thriller, where a successful ophthalmologist (Martin Landau) is forced to explore the darker side of human nature. The two distinct movies culminate into anything but another “Hollywood ending”. With great supporting roles by Alan Alda, Sam Waterson, and Mia Farrow, this is one of the best films of Woody’s career, and should be seen by all fans of dark comedies.

CW

JB Does Album Of The Week!

Album: Operation: Doomsday

Artist: MF Doom

Year: 1999

Label: Fondle ‘Em Records

Why you should hear it: Well, because it’s just flat out dope. I usually don’t throw around the word original. In fact, in general, I don’t really believe in originality, and especially not in music. That being said, MF Doom is one of the most original musicians I’ve ever heard. He fits in so many thoughts and words into each line, that you forget and completely accept that he often doesn’t even finish his rhymes in the normal spots in a beat you would expect from most MCs. It’s just unconventional enough that it actually works perfectly. That’s the emcee. What about Doom as a producer? In my opinion, he’s one of the best out there. This album flows so well and has so many interesting sounds and samples, including the most ambiguous Beatles sample ever. (Which is probably why he got away with it) All in all, MF Doom is simply for music fans. He’s not just for Hip Hop heads.

If you gotta pick one: Track 7- Tick, Tick…- How Doom, or Metal Fingers in this case, was able to use a sample from the Beatles song “Glass Onion” and apparently get away with it is beyond me. MF Grimm is actually the only one flowing on this track, but Doom speaks with his production. The beat slows down and speeds up, almost interacting with Grimm’s flow. A standard time signature is completely thrown out the window here and that, combined with the eerie violin from the Beatles sample, makes for something I don’t think I have ever heard before from anything else in Hip Hop.

JB

JB’s Weekend Movie

JB’s Weekend Movie- Blue Velvet (1986)

Directed by David Lynch

Screenplay by David Lynch

Starring Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern

Awards:

BSFC Award for Best Cinematography- Frederick Elmes

BSFC Award for Best Director- David Lynch

BSFC Award for Best Supporting Actor- Dennis Hopper

BSFC Award for Best Film- David Lynch

Fotogramas De Plata Award for Best Foreign Film- David Lynch

Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead- Isabella Rossellini

Joseph Plateau Award for Best Foreign Film- David Lynch

LAFCA Award for Best Director- David Lynch

LAFCA Award for Best Supporting Actor- Dennis Hopper

Montreal World Film Festival Award for Best Actor- Dennis Hopper

NSFC Award for Best Cinematography- Frederick Elmes

NSFC Award for Best Director- David Lynch

NSFC Award for Best Supporting Actor- Dennis Hopper

NSFC Award for Best Film- David Lynch

Sitges-Catalonian International Film Festival Award for Best Cinematography- Fredrick Elmes

Sitges-Catalonian International Film Festival Award for Best Film- David Lynch

David Lynch is the master of creating worlds inside of other worlds. And Blue Velvet, to me, is the best example of this. With one of the greatest opening scenes in film history, you are immediately thrown into two very different frames of mind, a foreshadowing of the story to come. Underneath the comfort of your suburban neighborhood lies a dark world of crime and perversion. And in Blue Velvet, Frank Booth (Hopper) is the dark lord of this underground. Hopper plays one of the most disturbing movie characters I have ever seen. (See A Very Expensive Death’s Top Ten Greatest Movie Villains) This is a movie I most definitely recommend. It’s an indie genius from one of our most eccentric film making minds.

JB

CW’s Album Of The Week

Album: Hot Rats

Artist: Frank Zappa

Year: 1969

Label: Bizarre/Reprise

 

Why you should hear it: Because it is one of the most influential albums in the jazz fusion genre. If you’re like me, you like anything involving jazz and rock, especially if it involves the prolific Zappa. A true master of music in all of its forms, Zappa had recently left the infamous Mothers of Invention to compose, arrange, and produce this first album to be released under his name alone. At times tightly arranged and others only loosely structured, Hot Rats’ musical prowess never lets up. From the popular Peaches en Regalia to the shape-shifting It Must Be A Camel, this album demonstrated the depth Zappa’s music had and hinted at the sound he would cultivate over the next few albums.

If you gotta pick one: Track 5 – The Gumbo Variations – call me a sucker for extended jazz jams, but this song’s groove doesn’t slow down for nearly 17 minutes. You get a sax solo, a bass solo, a guitar solo, a drum solo, and a violin solo. The only thing you don’t get is a chance to breathe. Fans of the genre should not miss out on Zappa’s technique or his unique approach to writing.

 

CW

JB’s Weekend Movie

JB’s Weekend Movie- Bottle Rocket (1996)

 

Directed by Wes Anderson

Screenplay by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson

Starring Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Robert Musgrave, James Caan, Lumi Cavazos

Awards:

Lone Star Film & Television Special Award for Debut of the Year- Wes Anderson, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson

LAFCA New Generation Award- Wes Anderson

MTV Movie Award for Best New Filmmaker- Wes Anderson

 

Would you be there to stick by your friend even if he had pipe dreams of becoming a master criminal? Anthony’s (Luke Wilson) closest buddy, Dignan (Owen Wilson) has just those kind of visions for their future. Maybe just not wanting to disappoint, Anthony goes along with his friend on his quest for the most epic crime spree ever. However, things begin and end far less epic then they had planned for. Bottle Rocket has some of my favorite movie dialog ever. It’s quirky, funny, and honest all at the same time. Wes Anderson has become a star director and writer and has grown a huge following but this little known or overlooked first film of his is definitely up there with his huge hits. If you call yourself a fan of Wes and have yet to see this film, stop calling yourself one, now.

 

JB

CW’s Album Of The Week

Album: Illmatic

Artist: NaS

Year: 1994

Label: Columbia

 

Why you should hear it: Because if you haven’t heard this album, you haven’t heard the most densely packed album in the Hip Hop catalog. In less than 40 minutes you get three tracks produced by Large Professor; three tracks by DJ Premier; one track produced by Pete Rock; and a track by Q-Tip.The only guest spot on the album is also one of the most respected verses in the genre. And as good as all that sounds, it still doesn’t account for the legendary performance by NaS. Simply put, this album by itself cemented him as one of the premier MC’s in Hip Hop history. This all adds up to one of the greatest albums in any genre of music.

If you gotta pick one: Track 4 – The World Is Yours – honestly any track on the album could be here. I chose this track only because I got mad love for its producer Pete Rock and the famous NaS’ line, “I’m out for dead presidents to represent me.” Bottom line, you need to check out this entire album. 

 

CW

JB’s Weekend Movie

JB’s Weekend Movie- Cadillac Records (2008)

 

Directed by Darnell Martin

Screenplay by Darnell Martin

Starring Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union, Mos Def, Beyonce Knowles

Awards:
Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble Cast

Black Reel Award for Best Film

Black Real Award for Best Supporting Actor- Jeffrey Wright

Image Award for Best Supporting Actor- Columbus Short

 

Cadillac Records follows the rise and fall of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess (Brody). Chess played a major roll in the early Chicago blues movement. He also was the one to discover and sign the true “King of Rock & Roll”, Chuck Berry (Mos Def). But blues legend Muddy Waters was his first and most successful early act. The first thing you notice about this movie is Jeffrey Wright as Muddy. He learned to play the guitar for the roll, and the dedication paid off. The authenticity of his roll shines through all the rest. Beyonce’s performance as the amazing Etta James was really only notable for her singing, but god damn if it doesn’t make you pissed like me to see that she can sing songs like that, yet chooses to resort to her “Sasha Fierce” image. (I just threw up a little bit) She could probably single handedly bring great soul music back if she’d get her head out of her ass. Anyway, as for Adrien Brody, well, he’s always great. Also, watch for Columbus Short as Little Walter. He turns in a great, overlooked performance.

 

JB

Top 10 Best DJ Premier Produced Songs

They don’t call him DJ PREMIER for nothing. His style and sound is legendary, making him among the ‘premier’ Hip Hop producers to work with. His signature scratching sound and impeccable song construction make him one of the best music producers ever, in any genre. So to honor the Preem man, ‘A Very Expensive Death’ has compiled (nearly impossibly) the Top 10 Best DJ Premier Produced Songs. Which is word… 

 

10. Crooklyn Dodgers ‘95- The Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers

 

Exceptional production over this laid back beat earned this track a definite spot in our top ten. Again, Premo proves he can do it all, this time scattering horns over the subdued piano.

 

9. Jeru The Damaja- Ain’t the Devil Happy

 

A heavy, heavy beat from Premier, with some of the darkest strings he’s ever used. And the way he scratches RZA’s laugh to make it sound demonic is just bad ass.

 

8. KRS-One- KRS-One Attacks 

Absolutely no one can use your own words against you like DJ Premier. And that’s what MC’s love so much about him. This track doesn’t even have a verse from KRS, but yet, it’s as repeatable as any song on this list. This is the reason the call him “DJ” Premier.

 

7. Mos Def- Mathematics

 

One of my favorite Hip Hop songs and its due in part, (besides Mos Def’s perfect flow as usual) to the flawless production from Premier. Also, Primo’s legendary scratching skills are on full display here.

 

6. NaS – Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park)

 

Another great example of Primo’s versatility, this time using some soulful keyboard textures and background vocals. He creates the perfect atmosphere for NaS to sit back and reminisce.

 

5. Gangstarr- Mass Appeal

 

Just some great production from Primo here. The beat draws you in, making you salivate for Guru to come in with the first verse. But you don’t need Guru to rush it or anything, cause you could just let the beat ride for a while also.

 

4. Notorious B.I.G. – Unbelievable

 

Most of Premier’s strongest songs ease you into the beat, getting your mouth to water a bit before you get the full taste. Well not with this song. Primo hits you upside the head with this ferocious beat the second it starts.

 

3. D.I.T.C.- Da Enemy

 

Just a phat ass beat with awesome production and one of best uses of a sample at the end. “What would you do if a vicious enemy suddenly started coming at you, armed to the teeth, and ready to kill you?” Perfection.

 

2. Showbiz & AG – Next Level (Nyte Time Mix)

 

This is Premier at his best, heavy drums, groovy bass, smooth scratching, outstanding production, and perfect samples. And as always, it’s perfectly suited for AG’s funky, fluid flow.

 

1. NaS- 2^nd ChildHood

 

“Cause when I flow for the streets, who else could it be, N-A-S, NaS. Resurrect through the birth of my seed. Queensbridge, Make everything right.” One of, if not thee best scratched compiled hooks ever. And with that laid back beat, it’s probably the most slept on Premier track there is. Don’t believe us? Please, just listen again!

 

JB, CW

CW’s Album Of The Week

Album: The Album

Artist: Latyrx

Year: 1997

Label: Solesides

Why you should hear it: Because this is another great album for those of you heading into the summer months. With tracks like “Balcony Beach” and “Burning Hot in Cali on a Saturday Night”, you can’t escape the West coast vibe. This Oakland-based group, made up of Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truthspeaker, come through with great rhymes and unique deliveries. The production is top notch, handled by Lyrics Born for half the album, and by DJ Shadow and Chief Xcel (of Blackalicious) for the rest. The combination of Born’s ultra laid back flow with Lateef’s more aggressive sound is something you definitely want to hear.

If you gotta pick one: Track 2 – Say That – following the chaotic opening track, which featured two verses delivered at the same time, one heard in the right channel and the other heard in the left, the group played it smart and scaled it back.  The second track, produced by Lyrics Born, features a great synth effect over a basic rock beat. As infectious as the beat is, the verses are what stand out, with an absolutely flawless delivery from Born.

 

CW