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I hope you find your niche someday soon
1993 was another good year for music, with Nirvana’s In Utero, Radiohead’s Pablo Honey, The Smashing Pumpkin’s Siamese Dream, and A Tribe Called Quest Midnight Marauders, Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Fugazi’s In on the Kill Taker, Digable Planets’ Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space), The Breeders’ Last Splash, Dinosaur Jr.’s’ Where You Been, Sepultura’s Chaos A.D., Archers of Loaf’s Icky Mettle, Swervedriver’s Mezcal Head, Quicksand’s Slip, Bad Religion’s Recipe for Hate, and The Posies’ Frosting on the Beater – and I’m sure there are more I am missing!
All of these albums had a big impact on my musical taste, interests, and listening habits – though I’ll have to go with Fugazi and Quicksand as my selections to focus on this month. Just like last issue, I’ll include some brief words on a few other important albums – some of these are just too good to pass over completely.
Fugazi’s In on the Kill Taker (Listen) and Quicksand’s Slip (Listen) are both post-hardcore masterpieces. Both records acted as gateways into the world of hardcore for me – charting the course for some of the biggest changes in my life. (Even more on that in future issues!)
Fugazi led to their back catalog and all of the Dischord record label, while Quicksand led to Gorilla Biscuits, NY hardcore, and Revelation Records. To say that was life changing is an understatement.
Slip by Quicksand
Quicksand formed in 1990 with Walter Schreifels on guitar and vocals, Tom Capone on guitar, Sergio Vega on bass, and Alan Cage on drums. Schreifels was also in Gorilla Biscuits and Youth of Today, two of the biggest hardcore bands of the period. Capone spent time in Beyond and Bold. Cage played with Burn and Beyond. Vega played with Collapse and Absolution. A hardcore super group, no doubt.
Quicksand put out a 4-song EP on Revelation Records that year, which included three songs that would later appear on their first full length, Slip. That full length was released three years later on Polydor - a major label - which at the time was generally a controversial subject in underground music.
The album itself is amazing from start to finish. Every single song is good. Heavy, groove based riffs and a top notch bass/drum combo – the musicianship and song writing helped set Quicksand apart from the very beginning. Lyrically, Quicksand tends to focus on the personal: conflict, relationships, and identity. In many ways, it was a more refined and mature approach to classic hardcore song topics.
Let’s dive into some of my favorite songs on the album…
Fazer
What a way to start the album with drums kicking into a heavy groove. It immediately grabs your attention.
The lyrics of this song spoke to me because I felt out of place and awkward as a teenager - like most young people that find hardcore, punk, or some alternative means or outlet for creativity and expression. We’re looking for someplace to fit in and find others in a similar place.
Needing to find something Is everything ok I hope you find your niche, someday soon Easy to change your phase To move from where you stand But you got to keep that face Each change you plan Wonder Is everything ok The problem is hesitation
And as an introvert, “the problem is hesitation” rang completely true and that led to a lot of second guessing.
Dine Alone
For me this song is about knowing and believing yourself – rejecting the societal pressure to fit in.
It's a cinch To, pass the time with you But hard to pass the time alone Can you take it And it's true True, the couple next to you think you look strange Alone, what are your aims Or do you have any
Even this line: “No, I always go out eating with my best friends.” - can mean both knowing who your friends are and feeling comfortable with yourself - so even when you are alone, you are with a friend.
Unfullfilled
This is my favorite song on the album. Lyrically the entire song focuses on disappointment and regret:
Things you love but did not get And all the times you've been upset by Unfulfilled dreams and visions And the guilt for your wrong decisions
But Walter ends it with some great advice:
Time to reach out for what's real, It's easy to miss, insist, That you shouldn't always follow the first thing you feel.
The first thing you feel when you miss out on something or make the wrong choice is always disappointment. What you do after that is always the most important.
Omission
This song is about the stories we tell ourselves to avoid pain and sadness – to the point of not even recognizing yourself.
I, said Why do I always have to spell it out for you? Our story is always changing We change it to hide the pain And when the truth rears Its ugly head, it's all too late Too late for the omission That you kept inside and wished it wasn't you
More from Quicksand
I’ve seen Quicksand probably five times and they’ve always been an amazing live band. Here’s a set from 2017 after they re-united as a 3-piece:
In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi
Fugazi is my all-time favorite band and I have this album to thank. Steady Diet of Nothing was actually my first introduction to the band, but I just couldn’t get into it at the time – it sounded almost industrial to my ears. (I like it now, by the way!)
In on the Kill Taker was the album that broke Fugazi into the “mainstream” in a sense that it hit at the same time bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth and others were redefining alternative music and creating fans all over the world.
Fugazi was formed in 1986 by Ian MacKaye (guitar, vocal - who was also in Minor Threat and Embrace), Joe Lally (bass), and Colin Sears (drums - who was also in Dag Nasty). Shortly after forming, Sears left to return to Dag Nasty and Brandan Canty (a member of Rites of Spring) replaced him on drums in 1987. Guy Picciotto (guitar, vocals - member of Rites of Spring and One Last Wish) would initially sing with them at early shows before officially joining the band in 1988.
Beyond their music, Fugazi was also famous for their business practices – releasing their own music, $5 shows, $10 albums, no other merchandise like t-shirts, and a staunch DIY work ethic. In reality, much of that came from the punk and hardcore scenes – they just were the face of a whole world that mainstream music fans weren’t aware of at the time.
The combination of this DIY work ethic and the political/social justice messaging in their lyrics won me over as a fan. Behind that, the angular guitar riffs, the reggae/dub influenced bass, and one of the best rock drummers of all time combined to make some of the most unique and creative punk music ever.
Let’s dive into some highlights from my favorite songs on the album…
Facet Squared
This song is about ugly nationalism – like patriotism used by default to cover for not even considering the impact of our country’s past/present actions or having a real solution to a present problem.
Pride no longer has definition Everybody wears it, it always fits A state invoked for the lack of position
Or this ending section, which I could read as either being so invested in the patriotism that we blindly follow along OR potentially the business investment in building a false image of our country that keeps us divided. Either one fits.
It's not worth, it's the investment That keeps us tied up in all these strings We draw lines and stand behind them That's why flags are such ugly things They should never Touch the ground
Public Witness Program
This song takes on special importance in 2022, with the horrible laws passed in states like Texas, Idaho, Florida and others that encourage people to turn in already marginalized people in the LGBTQ+ community.
The eyes have it and the eyes always will The eyes have it and they're watching you still You'll see, you'll see tonight I'll be watching cause I want you tonight All right
I have a feeling the song was originally about undercover cops and other law enforcement agents that have historically infiltrated activist groups in the past.
Returning the Screw
This song seems to be about backstabbing someone and then hiding behind “humor”. The chorus seems to contemplate revenge. The phrase “turn the screw” generally refers to doing something to someone in order to force them into action – “re-turning the screw” would be reversing that back on the orginal party.
Fine disservice Intended, too Check for the sender Sender was you The point has been recorded The malice has been revealed When I stripped away the humour From the arrow that it concealed
Smallpox Champion
This song is clearly about the U.S. government’s actions to spread disease amongst the Native American tribes as we expanded our footprint on the continent.
Smallpox Champion U S of A Give natives some blankets warm like the grave This is the pattern cut from the cloth This is the pattern designed to take you right out Right out, right out, right out, right out, right out Right out, right out, right out, right out, right out, right out
and
Bury your heart U S of A History rears up to spit in your face You saw what you wanted, you took what you saw We know how you got it, your method equals wipe out Wipe out, wipe out, wipe out, wipe out, wipe out Wipe out, wipe out, wipe out, wipe out, wipe out, wipe out
23 Beats Off
There are a number of theories about the subject of this song, but I am in the camp of it being about Magic Johnson and HIV. Let’s look at the lyrics:
A name I recognise that name It was at the center Of some ticker tape parade
Championship teams have ticker tape parades (the Lakers won in 1987 and 1988 - just 3 years prior to Magic’s announcement and Magic was on the 1992 Olympic team that won a gold medal - after his announcement) and Magic was certainly a household name:
A name I recognise that name It was at the center Of some magnifying glass
A classic sports trope/cliche is “going to war” and “battling” the other team:
He used to pretend He was fighting some war somewhere Now everything depends On fighting some war
And finally:
He never thought he'd be an Exclamation point A demonstration of his disease A punctuation mark A household name with HIV
Cassavetes
Fugazi’s homage to Cassavetes is basically related to the directors’ DIY ethics, something the band always fully embraced – not only as a band, but for the record label their founder created, Dischord. Similarly, Cassavetes also formed a distribution company for his movies, Faces International.
In the lyrics:
Complete control, for Cassavetes If it's not for sale you can't buy it - buy it Sad-eyed mogul reaching for your wallet Like hand to holster why don't you try it - try it
Great Cop
A song about betrayal and distrust:
Got a lot of questions for me You got a lot of questions for me Got your finger pointing at me Distrusted I look for wires when I'm talking to you Distrusted I look for wires when I'm talking to... You'd make a great cop Said you'd make a great cop Said you'd make a great cop, you pig
Other Quick Highlights from 1993
Digable Planets’ Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) (Listen) and A Tribe Called Quest Midnight Marauders (Listen)
Musically not too far apart with jazz and bebop based beats and loops. Digable Planets had the added layer of jazz influenced lyrics and style, which ATCQ were master storytellers and lyricists. These two albums were the soundtrack to my time on the high school track team. They were top notch to listen to while running. Both groups are still very high on my list of favorite hip hop artists.
The Posies’ Frosting on the Beater (Listen) and The Smashing Pumpkin’s Siamese Dream (Listen)
I wore these two tapes out on a family trip out west in the summer of 1993 – in fact I bought the Siamese Dream tape in Bozeman, Montana before we headed south to Yellowstone National Park.
I was exposed to The Posies through listening to a great Canadian alternative radio station (102.1 CFNY-FM), particularly Alan Cross’ radio show “The Ongoing History of New Music” and George Strombo. That station was my introduction to Sloan, Tragically Hip, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Doughboys, and many other alt-rock bands I would quickly love. I also honed my ‘quickly hit record on the tape deck’ skills listening to this station!
Totally Digging
Here are some new(ish) releases I’ve been listening to and enjoying:
- Post Junkie Selfish Millennial Single Father Field Notes by downtalker
- s/t by Pile of Love
- Scenic Drive (The Tape) by Khalid
- Head of Roses by Flock of Dimes
- Richer Than I Ever Been by Rick Ross
- Dawn FM by The Weeknd
- Traveling by Rid of Me
- For a Birds Eye View by Cordae (potential album of the year shit, right here!)
- Sick! by Earl Sweatshirt
- Painless by Nilufer Yanya
- Your Neighbors are Failures by Bitter Branches
- Things Are Great by Band of Horses
(This issue took so long, some of these are actually older now!)
And some older releases that have made it (back) into regular rotation:
- My Life is Over and All Roads Lead to the Gun I & All Roads Lead to the Gun II by Militarie Gun
- Asymmetry and s/t EP by Cuffed Up
- Hunger for a Way Out by Sweeping Promises
- Let it Be by The Beatles
- Knocking the Skill Level by Garden Variety
- United by Fate by Rival Schools
Follow me on Last.fm to see more.
I also have two 2022 playlists up on Apple Music:
- Best of 2022 (newly released songs I’m digging)
- 2022/365 (which is a song-a-day project I’m doing this year)
Enjoy.
Musical Moving Pictures
Elsewhere
- Chorus.fm’s Staff “Best of 2021” lists
- Stereogum’s Best of 2021
- My favorite record from 2021 (still haven’t seen Ian Sweet on ANY list, which blows my mind)
Thanks for reading this issue of One Last Wish! Next issue we’ll see you in 1994.
– Jason
Early album of the year contenders - early March edition
Two of my favorite releases from 2022 (so far) have been released in the past couple weeks. The albums are so opposite in style and substance – and I’ve been flipping back and forth – it’s keeping me sane in many ways.
Painless by Nilüfer Yanya
Some of the most unique indie songwriting I’ve heard in a while. Every song is good. Her last full length, Miss Universe, was a very good album – this is otherworldly. And, hey, Pitchfork agrees.
Your Neighbors are Failures by Bitter Branches
Featuring members of hardcore bands Deadguy, Kiss it Goodbye, No Escape, Lifetime, Paint it Black, Walleye, and others. It’s everything you’d expect from that group and more. It’s everything I need to get through the insanity that is our world right now.
I am a lonely one But not a sad one I am a broken one But not a lacking one I am proud one And I know I’m not the only one Let’s be broken together Let’s be ugly together Let’s not talk of weather Or speak of things mundane Let’s celebrate Being Insane Let’s take pride In finding your lane Let’s build some regrets And wear them like tattoos Let’s find Some fears Carry them like weights
Apple Music users: get yourself a Last.fm account and a sweet iOS music app like Marvis or Soor to track your listening next year and you too can have reports galore.
My favorite albums from 2021
What a year for music! SO many good albums came out this year – it made it difficult to narrow it down to the finalists (see the playlist below) and then to the final 25. A handful of records could have easily fit in the #1 slot, but there’s one that has remained in heavy rotation for a majority of the year: Ian Sweet’s Show Me How You Disappear. It’s a criminally underrated album that I haven’t seen on any “best of” lists this year and I don’t understand why – so I’m changing that!
Ian Sweet is the stage name of songwriter Jilian Medford, who had released two albums prior to Show Me How You Disappear: the quirky, angular debut album Shapeshifter (Listen) and the more confident, yet still melodically discordant, Crush Crusher (Listen). The song “#23” off Shapeshifter was my introduction to Ian Sweet back in 2016 and I’ve been a fan ever since – seeing them open for Ted Leo in November of that year:
Medford has pushed boundaries and her sound with each album and her latest is no different. Released in March on Polyvinyl Records, Show Me How You Disappear is Ian Sweet’s most complete collection of songs to date. This time Medford moves from discordant guitar-based songs on previous albums to dreamy, minimalist beauty. The songs on Show Me How You Disappear flow and swell, build up and fade away, producing an almost dream-like state with Medford’s sweet (and unique) melodies layered on top – it’s a fantastic listening experience.
Medford’s lyrics have always been heavily personal, but this album took that to a new level after she spent two months in intensive therapy following multiple severe panic attacks in January 2020. The journaling and self reflection process from those therapy sessions are the lyrical foundation of the album.
From Polyvinyl:
Mesmeric and kaleidoscopic, shimmering with electrified unease, Show Me How You Disappear is both an exercise in self-forgiveness and an eventual understanding of unresolved trauma. Medford’s third record as IAN SWEET unfolds at an acute juncture in her life, charting from a mental health crisis to an intensive healing process and what comes after. How do you control the thoughts that control you? What does it mean to get better? What does it mean to have a relationship with yourself?
Medford via Apple Music:
“I don't think I would have written this kind of record or had the strength to keep writing if I didn't go to treatment,” she says. “I was processing things in real time. It is exactly what was happening in my life—I just made it to these songs.”
Listen on Apple Music
Official Videos
The Top 25 of 2021
- Ian Sweet - Show Me How You Disappear (Listen)
- Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee (Listen)
- IDLES - Crawler (Listen)
- Pip Blom - Welcome Break (Listen)
- Dinosaur Jr - Sweep it into Space (Listen)
- Quicksand - Distant Populations (Listen)
- Manchester Orchestra - The Million Masks of God (Listen)
- Fiddlehead - Between the Richness (Listen)
- Turnstile - GLOW ON (Listen)
- Snail Mail - Valentine (Listen)
- Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams (Listen)
- Middle Kids - Today We're the Greatest (Listen)
- Shame - Drunk Tank Pink (Listen)
- TV Priest - Uppers (Listen)
- Topaz Jones - Don't Go Telling Your Momma (Listen)
- Porches - All Day Gentle Hold! (Listen)
- Jelani Aryah - I’ve Got Some Living to Do (Listen)
- FRITZ - Pastel (Listen)
- Wiki - Half God (Listen)
- Iceage - Seek Shelter (Listen)
- Cursetheknife - Thank You for Being Here (Listen)
- Tyler, the Creator - CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST (Listen)
- Rostam - Changephobia (Listen)
- Isaiah Rashad - The House is Burning (Listen)
- Remember Sports - Like a Stone (Listen)
Guilty Pleasure of the Year
- Olivia Rodrigo - SOUR (Listen)
Listen to the Finalists
2021 - Best of - Finalists by Jason Dettbarn
Best of 2021 - The Songs
If albums aren’t your thing and you like a little more diversity, here’s a collection of almost 200 songs that I’ve collected over the year. Follow me on Last.fm to see more of what I’m listening to each week.
Doing these year-end recaps is a great way to reflect on how important music is to our lives. I’ve really enjoyed focusing on music again through these One Last Wish posts – the intentionality that’s necessary to dig in a little deeper on these albums really makes me appreciate everything about the process of creating music and the power these songs can have on the artist AND the listener. It’s certainly made a huge impact on my life and I’m now seeing that play out as I take my kids to their first shows – seeing them sing along with Beach Bunny in Cleveland or be blown away by Mannequin Pussy in Rochester. It’s amazing to see and I’m thankful to be able to give that experience to them at the same age I experienced those same feelings and excitement for the first time.
Well, I can only hope 2022 brings more joy to our ears. I’m certain it will and I look forward to every Friday to pour over those new releases to find my next favorite album. In the meantime, next up for One Last Wish is the year 1993. See you in a few weeks!
So What'Cha Want
The year was 1992. Half of the year was me finishing 10th grade and the other half, the start of 11th grade. A critical time in any teenager’s life, as you transition to an upperclassman in high school. Music, of course, was still a huge part of my life as I started to branch out into new genres, including punk and hardcore music.
The new releases that meant the most to me that year (in the moment) were the Beastie Boys’ Check Your Head, Smeared by Sloan, Predator by Ice Cube, Sweet Oblivion by Screaming Trees, and Rage Against the Machine’s self-titled debut. Shortly after, other 1992 releases like Sugar’s Copper Blue, Jawbreaker’s Bivouac, Farside’s Rochambeau, Shudder to Think’s Get Your Goat, and Sonic Youth’s self-titled album would be added to the list. It was certainly a good and diverse/creative year for music.
Picking this issue’s focus was a challenge! I narrowed it down by selecting two “in the moment” albums: Check Your Head and Rage Against the Machine. From the “later” records, I would pick Copper Blue and Rochambeau – maybe even Bivouac. To compromise, I decided to focus on Check Your Head, but I will also comment on the three “later” albums, since they ended up being pretty crucial in the grand scheme of my life.
The Beasties
The Beastie Boys are the group that combined the genres that have impacted my life the most: hip hop, punk, and hardcore. (As well as some other genres I came to like: funk, jazz, soul, etc.) In fact, Check Your Head was the first album where they connected all of these styles and influences to create a collection of songs that would ultimately define the group for the remainder of their careers. They played instruments on many songs, weaved in a political/social consciousness, and did it all unapologetically as only the Beastie Boys can do. They proved they could do anything. This album might not get the cult attention of Paul’s Boutique or the massive hits of Ill Communication, but Check Your Head is just as important for this fact alone: you could tell they were finally exactly who they wanted to be as musicians.
Do what I do professionally.
To tell the truth I am exactly what I want to be.
Let’s dig in to my highlights!
Jimmy James
A funky, upbeat opening to the album (as well as the third single.) The song is a perfect opening to show off what the Beastie Boys were going to unleash with Check Your Head.
[MCA] This is a type of kinda like a formal dedication [MD] Givin' out a shout [AD] for much inspiration [MD] All I ever really want to do is get nice Get loose and goof a little slice of life [MCA] Sendin' out love to all corners of the land [AD] I jump up on the stage and take the mic in my hand [MD] I'm not playin' the role [AD] Just being who I am [MCA] And if you try to dis me, I couldn't give a damn
Samples include:
- “Surrender“ by Cheap Trick, from the album, Cheap Trick at Budokhan
- “Happy Birthday“ by Jimi Hendrix, from the album, My Best Friend
- “Foxy Lady" by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, from the album, Are You Experienced
- “I’m Chief Kamanawanalea” by the Turtles, from the album, The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands
Originally an instrumental groove, Jimmy James was said to be a tribute to Jimi Hendrix.
Funky Boss
Not much to this song, but to a teenager working their first low paying jobs, some with questionable bosses, it was enough.
Samples include:
- “Funky Worm“ by Ohio Players, from the album, Pleasure
- “Under Mi Sensi“ by Barrington Levy, from the single, "Under Mi Sensi”
- “Bicentennial Nigger“ by Richard Pryor, from the album, Bicentennial Nigger
Pass the Mic
A Beastie Boys classic and the first single off Check Your Head. One of my all-time favorites.
Well I’m on 'til the crack of dawn Mowing down emcees like I’m mowing a lawn I go off like nothing can faze me You think we'll ever meet Stevie? one of these days, D But I can stand my ground and I am down To wax an emcee who acts like a clown But for now, I’d like to ask you how You like the feel of the bass in your face in the crowd?
Samples include:
- Ron Carter
- “The Black Prince Has Arrived“ by Jimmie Walker
- “Big Take Over“ by Bad Brains, from the album, Bad Brains
- “So What Cha Sayin’“ by EPMD, from the album, Unfinished Business
- “Big Sur Suite“ by Johnny "Hammond” Smith
- “I Walk on Guilded Splinters“ by Dr. John, from the album, Gris-Gris
- “I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You“ by Funkadelic
- “Choir” by James Newton, from the album, Axum
Gratitude
The fourth single off the album with it’s instantly recognizable fuzzed-out bass guitar line. Another of my favorites. Pretty sure I got my wah pedal because of this song too.
Good times gone, but you feed it Hate's grown strong, you feel you need it Just one thing, do you know you What you think? That the world owes you? What's gonna’ set you free Look inside and you'll see When you've got so much to say It's called gratitude, and that's right
Lighten Up
Another song the Beasties played live as a band, with it’s funk, soul and African musical influences. Good stuff.
Finger Lickin’ Good
The group returns to it’s more classic hip hop sound, though the did also play their instruments on the backing track.
Well they call me Mike D with the mad man style I put the mic up to my lips and I can scream for a while Created a sound at which many were shocked at I’ve got a million ideas that I ain't even rocked yet I’ve got the light bulb flashing on the top of my head Never wake up on the wrong side of the bed
Samples include:
- “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues“ by Bob Dylan, from the album, Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
- “Breakout“ by Johnny "Hammond” Smith, from the album, Breakout (1971)
- “Three for the Festival“ by Rashaan Roland Kirk, from the album, We Free Kings (1961)
- “Dance to the Music“ by Sly & the Family Stone, from the single, "Dance to the Music/Sing a Simple Song” (1979)
An interesting aside on that Dylan sample:
Interviewed for a piece in Boston Rock, Mike D shed some light on clearing the Dylan sample: “Seven hundred bucks, but he asked for two thousand dollars. I thought it was kind of fly that he asked for $2000.00, and I bartered Bob Dylan down. That’s my proudest sampling deal.”
So What’Cha Want
Another classic track and the second single off Check Your Head.
Y'all suckers write me checks and then they bounce So I reach into my pocket for the fresh amount See, I'm the long leaner Victor the Cleaner I'm the illest motherfucker from here to Gardena
Samples include:
- “I’ve Been Watching You“ by Southside Movement from their self-titled debut album (1973)
- “Just Rhymin' with Biz“ by Big Daddy Kane from the album Long Live the Kane (1988)
Time for Livin’
The story behind this hardcore influenced track:
The music is by a really great but unknown, and I believe unreleased, early ‘80s New York hardcore band called Front Line. Yauch was particularly fond of this one song by them and had asked Miles Kelly, Front Line’s guitar player, to show it to him. I kind of remember Yauch would just play it on his bass every now and then when we would be messing around. One day after playing it a bit with Yauch showing me the arrangement, we decided [to] put it on tape. As usual for the time, Mario C. was ready to roll. I think we did a few takes, and then we had it.
Something’s Got to Give
This mellow song has serious dub influences. From Ad Rock:
“Something’s Got to Give” is one of my all time favorites ‘cause of all the elements inside; mixing live music with samples of our live music, live vocals with samples of our vocals, the lyrics and their sentiment, and the fucked-up bass.
The Maestro
Some skronk-y funk. Not sure if that’s even a word! I can picture this on a soundtrack for a 70s blaxploitation film.
Yeah, you motherfuckers, I'm all that I see you lookin' at me sayin' How can he be so skinny and live so phat? You know why, cause I'm the maestro
Groove Holmes
From Genius.com:
Richard Arnold “Groove” Holmes was an American organist who performed in the genres of hard bop and soul jazz. His most notable recording is “Misty” (1965). With virtuoso groove and technique evident in “rapid, punctuating, and pulsating basslines,” Holmes’ work is regarded as antecedent of acid jazz. One year following his death, Beastie Boys paid tribute to Holmes on this track.
Live at PJs
Another super funky live-band-backed track with Ad Rock on vocals.
Well! Back to the back to the beat, y'all Down with the sound so sweet, y'all Just how fresh can you get, y'all? Those that are blessed say yes y'all
Professor Booty
The fifth single off Check Your Head. Samples include:
- “Give It Up“ by Kool & the Gang, from the album, Kool & the Gang (1969)
- “Loose Booty“ by Willie Henderson, from the album, Dance With the Master (1974)
- “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Babe“ by Jimmy Smith, from the album, Blacksmith (1974)
Interestingly enough, for being a single the song was only performed live twice.
In 3s
An instrumental, but a good one.
Namaste
A smooth instrumental with MCA"s poetry over top.
To my mind I brought the image of light And I expanded out of it My fear was just a shadow And then a voice spoke in my head And she said, Dark is not the opposite of light It's the absence of light And I thought to myself She knows what she's talking about And for a moment I knew what it was all about
Listen to the whole record on Apple Music:
Beyond the music, the Beastie Boys were a big part of my friendship group, including road trips to see them at Lollapalooza in Saratoga in 1994 and later (1998) in Barrie, ON. We played in a very Beasties-like band in college called the Butter Cream Gang (named after we found this movie during a late night trip to Blockbuster) and jammed many times after that with my newly purchased wah pedal. Honestly, after probably Fugazi (more on them in a future issue!) and Run DMC, the Beastie Boys were one of the most influential bands in my life.
The Others
’Copper Blue by Sugar (Listen)
The first album from Sugar and Bob Mould’s first band (non solo work) after Husker Du. It’s an amazing collection of power pop breakup songs that only Bob Mould can write. It was one of those albums I fell in love with the first time I heard it from Chris Fritton on the bus ride to high school. Highlights include: “Changes”, “Hoover Dam”, “Fortune Teller”, and “A Good Idea”.
Funny enough, Husker Du had an influence on Nirvana, which in turn had an influence on Bob Mould and Sugar:
The popularity of Nevermind and its grunge sound had a profound impact on Mould. In an interview with NPR, Mould said: "When Nevermind came out, that album changed the way people listen to music. A lot of the songs that I had been writing in 1991 led up to my next group, Sugar — and had it not been for Nevermind, I don't know if Sugar's Copper Blue would have stood a chance in '92.Wikipedia
Rochambeau by Farside (Listen)
Farside’s debut full length. At the time, this record broke every assumption of what a “hardcore” band could be with acoustic guitar parts and well sung, emotional and thought provoking lyrics. At the time they were essentially an alternative band with former hardcore band members (even Zach de la Rocha was in the band early on!), which automatically put them in the hardcore scene. For me personally, this made for an excellent gateway into the classic record label, Revelation Records, and an entire music scene. Farside went on to release two more classic albums, Rigged and The Monroe Doctrine – both of which are must listens. They are one of my favorite all time bands, for sure.
Bivouac by Jawbreaker (Listen)
This was one of the first albums I bought based on a zine, more specifically Maximum Rock and Roll. I got it on cassette at the mall record store of all places. Jawbreaker is a top 10 band for me and this was the starting place. I started liking Jawbreaker because they were punk as fuck, but they weren’t stereotypical punks. They liked poetry and wrote music that wasn’t regular punk music - it was noisy, fast, aggressive, and poppy. Other releases to check out (all crucial in their own way): Unfun, 24 Hour Revenge Therapy, Dear You.
Playlist
With this issue’s focus on 1992, I put together a playlist of some great songs from that year. Listen on Apple Music.
Totally Digging
Here are some new releases I’ve been listening to and enjoying:
- True Love by Hovvdy (Listen)
- Wayfinder by Boy Scouts (Listen)
- Piecework by Kowloon Walled City (Listen)
- Half God by Wiki (Listen)
- Distant Populations by Quicksand (Listen)
- The Color Blu(e) by Blu (Listen)
- This Place You Know by One Step Closer (Listen)
- Where I'm at Now by S. Raekwon (Listen)
- Puppies Forever by BLACKSTARKIDS (Listen)
- I Don't Live Here Anymore by The War on Drugs (Listen)
- Radical by Every Time I Die (Listen)
- Fun House by Hand Habits (Listen)
And some older releases that have made it back into regular rotation:
- American Nervoso by Botch (Listen)
- We are Romans by Botch (Listen)
- In Place of Real Insight by Karate (Listen)
- s/t by Karate (Listen)
- Like Nirvana by Cub Sport (Listen)
- Being There by Wilco (Listen)
- Closer Still by Change (Listen)
- Mirrorland by Earthgang (Listen)
- Trial by Verbal Assault (Listen)
- The Pace is Glacial by Seam (Listen)
Follow me on Last.fm to see more.
Musical Moving Pictures
Elsewhere
More live music! This time it was Hop Along at Mohawk Place in Buffalo, NY. The band and crowd were amazing. We need more shows like this so musicians leave our town and encourage others to visit. Too many touring musicians skip over Buffalo for no good reason.
🔗 Michelle Zauner (AKA Japanese Breakfast) on Sable’s Wistful Soundtrack
In her own words, Michelle Zauner, aka indie-pop artist Japanese Breakfast, didn’t grow up in a household of high culture. She wasn’t shown fine art, foreign directors, or classic literature by her parents in Oregon during the 1990s. What Zauner had was video games, first on a Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and then on a PlayStation.
🔗 The 200 Best Albums of the Last 25 Years, According to Pitchfork Readers
A pretty solid list and ranking, in fact I own 20 of these on vinyl. A few albums that shockingly aren’t listed: Being There by Wilco, Black on Both Sides by Mos Def, 100 Broken Windows by Idlewild, Relationship of Command by At The Drive-in, Mass Romantic by The New Pornographers, The Argument by Fugazi, Fantastic Damage by El-P, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood by Neko Case for example.
Thanks for reading this issue of One Last Wish! Next issue we’ll see you in 1993.
Seeing Wilco for the third time triggered a listening binge. Picked up the deluxe re-issue of Being There today at Revolver Records.
I went a little crazy with the 1992 playlist in preparation for the next issue of One Last Wish. So many good albums came out that year. 91 songs so far and I don’t think I got everything!