Aight... (like "alright" in Brooklyn-slang)
Time for a new sorta' Top Ten List here at Positive Feedback. We gotta slap some Sonic Satori flava on this one. First off however, I've got to give shout-outs to Dr. D (a.k.a David Robinson) for coming up with a kick-ass word that spawned the title (Aural—as it was initially called the Aural Sex List) and to my girl Cierra: Who laced the title up nice and tight, inspiring me to keep this playlist going! This is the first volume of an up-coming series! While workin' on my Occupy Hi-fi On-The-Road series I complied a playlist on TIDAL called Sonic Satori's Ear-Candy List. I realize now that I should've indicated something referring to headphone listening into the playlist title, because I put the list together as a type of sonic acid test for headphone systems. Well—the wonderful thing about hindsight being 20/20 is that we can correct the silly mistakes that plague us when we reflect (or, more accurately, me—given my OCD). So, after a nice phone chat with Dr. D regarding the first issue of Positive Feedback with its new digital make-over, we decided I should make a playlist to blow your freakin' skulls back while rockin' your favorite cans!
Now, as I always say—and don't give a good sh__ whether I sound like a broken record or not (as you never know who's reading this right now): No matter what anybody tells me, or argues, I'll always believe it's all subjective. We're reacting to an artform: Music, reproduced by many other artforms: recording, playback, mastering, all sorts of things—and with music as the main ingredient/source, how can anybody be right or wrong? You know who told me "there is no wrong" when it comes to high-fidelity and especially musical taste? My 14-yr old nephew Jade. I cherish having Jade to speak with and brain-storm about this stuff. He has such a fresh prespective (he writes for me over at OccupyHifi.org by the way)... Anyway, sorry for the temporary diversion. Music excites and inspires me far more than other art forms. When the tunes are hummin' and I'm feeling it, my mind either goes nuts with tons of thoughts firing at once, from memories to dreams, or it clears. That reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Spirit Science:
That might sound silly or even a bit contrite at-first glance, but I believe it. Haven't you ever gone through something really heavy in your life: A break-up, an accident, something totally jarring - and every time you listen to music it's like the artists are singing about your life? You can't escape it. It all feels relevant, like your struggles are either pingin' out into the universe and coming back - or you're so pre-occupied with the current situation (most likely, but you never know) that everything's colored by your experiences. Bottom line: Who cares? That grand connection with the music, that's what it's all about. We can't control our hearts, or, perhaps I should only speak for myself: As a person who leads with his heart, I call myself a genuine music addict because it's like an elixir. I can be stuck in the deepest, darkest hole of depression and sadness and the right tune can pull me out into the light. Next thing you know I'm dancing, jumping around the Sonic Satori Personal Audio Lab, holding my cans on my ears like a five-year old. Or the opposite can be true as well. I can be hangin' out with my friends, feeling positive, next thing you know a particular song comes on and it stirs up all these emotions inside related to something from my past; or even something in the near-future I'm worried about—and the songs' got me. I get locked into this comtemplative state, and I gotta walk it through in my mind. Music's got that power over me, pure and simple, and I have no problem whatsoever submitting to it.
Now, for this, the very first volume of Sonic Satori's Aural Indulgences, I've compiled a playlist of ear-candy tracks (fun sounds for the cans or stereo systems) and also a few songs that resonate deeply with me personally. I sincerely hope you enjoy it:
Currently Available in TIDAL!
1) A Tribe Called Quest - "Stressed Out" - Beats, Rhymes and Life (documentary soundtrack)
Talk about pure ear-candy: If you're a fan of A Tribe Called Quest and you haven't seen Beats, Rhymes and Life yet (the documantary film), be sure to remedy that ASAP! "Stressed Out" is straight-up, old school Tribe wrapped in a nu skool approach. With a velvety bassline kickin' off the rhythmic goodness with a smackin' rimshot and a familiar sway, this Tribe joint brings my mind back to the early-nineties, and my feet right into the present. The native tongues are just showin' they haven't missed a beat. I can't stop myself from bobbin' my head to Q-Tips ever-masterful drum samples. The perfect track for driving to the beach, sunset, sh__, driving anytime!
2) Flako - "Lonely Town feat. Dirg Gerner" - Carving Away the Clay
"Lonely Town"s' got such a rollin', flowin' groove it's almost meditative. These ethereal (yet heavy and dimensional) strings kick things off, followed by this crushing kick drum. When Gerners vocal drops in, the combination of sounds creates a mellow, catchy sway that's so soothing it's a sincere pleasure to bump my head to this beat. I played the 45 RPM pressing at a Los Angeles & Orange County Audio Society get-together at a board members home - and next thing ya know Mr. President (and fellow PF scribe) Bob Levy is requesting a copy, and Chip Stern needed to have one as well! Goes to show what music does to supposed generational gaps. Sound like somethin' worth a listen?
3) Mumford & Sons - "Thomkins Square Park" - Wilder Mind
I recently reviewed Wilder Mind at OccupyHifi.org (soon to be featured here at Positive Feedback). I don't think I could describe the vibe of this tune and this record better than I did when it was initially washing over me. But, I will say that the things I mentioned above, about certain music triggering strong emotions and memories: This track makes me pump my fist and drive way too fast. Check it out. It's NYC power-pop at its finest.
4) Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg - "Still D.R.E" - 2001
The loopin' keys and thumpin' bass just scream West Coast hip-hop—and who better to repesent the left coast in this list than Dr. Dre and Snoop! This track features the two pioneers that slapped a whole new groove on hip hop culture when The Chronic dropped many years ago. If you're not into rap/hip hop then I suggest skipping this title. If "the beats bang" (as Dre says in the song) and you think this kinda music moves you - jump on in! The waters HOT.
5) Nosaj Thing - "Cold Stares" Feat. Chance The Rapper & Maceo Haymes - Fated
"Stares" is just a slick-ass track. It thumps, it's also quiet in a future r&b/minimalistic sorta' way. The vocals are silky-smooth, sitting beautifully in the mix. Hats off to Nosaj Thing for both the soul and creativity of the track, and the stereo mix is superbly executed. This is a home run for me and my sonic arsenal. If you're into more slow-tempo drum-n-bass, or what I would call future r&b (Shlohmo is a good example of that sound) give Fated a spin - and especially this cut. I reviewed the record over at OccupyHifi.org.
6) Eskmo - "Cloudlight" - Eskmo
This has been a key track in the Sonic Satori audible arsenal for years - but it never gets old! I've been referring to "Cloudlight" here at Positive Feedback for years now. It's tough to summarize just about anything Eskmo does. It's part dub-step, part old school drum-n-bass, part found-sounds. I's a magnificent barriage of different sounds seemingly collapsing on you—sounding like a Transformer changing from a car into a robot! Hope that doesn't scare you off. It's worth the trip.
7) Nas - "One Mic" - Illmatic
Off the now legendary follow-up to his original Stillmatic (also a fantastic documentary) "One Mic" is, IMHO, one of the most-imspiring tracks from Nas. I listen to this song, and I feel like I can take on the world. Again: This is the straight-dope when it comes to hip hop. Through a heaving thumpy kick, the hard slap of a snare drum, minimal bells and effects, Nas manages to carve out a timeless anthem with "One Mic". It's all about no matter what success he's attained materialistically, he never forgets where he came from and in the end all he needs is the one main tool for his art: A microphone. Give it a spin.
8) Frou Frou - "Hear Me Out" - Details (International Version)
Special thanks to my dear friend and partner over at Audio360 (yes, there will be rebirth there - we're not sure when—but we're on it) Warren Chi for re-introducing this song back into my weekly playlist. I remember hearing Frou Frou's "Let Go" during the closing scene of Garden State (also highly recommended BTW) and thinking I gotta have this. I gotta admit I'm not a huge fan of the entire LP, but "Hear Me Out" is a terrific pop song, and it's also (as Warren pointed out) a killer track for headphone listening. Just imagine light-hearted female vocals, a nice, soft breaky-beat, with cresendos and a great flow. It's like a perfect song for getting your Sunday going after sleeping in.
9) J Mascis - "Me Again" - Tied to a Star
If you were ever a Dinasour Jr. fan, you were a J Mascis fan - you just didn't know it at the time. The frontman for that band, and now much more, Mascis puts his magic down on this minimally gorgeous guitar-driven pop ballad. And what's at the cruz of almost every brilliant pop ballad? A broken heart, or a break-up: Love broken, essentially. This song can bring me to tears, as it's doing right now. It's got these wonderfully airy vocals from Mascis, and these seerminly hovering guiitar licks, it's just a beautiful song—plain and simple.
10) Shlohmo - "Fading" - Dark Red
I reviewed Dark Red over at Occupyhifi.org. This is another case where, when I was initially experiencing this record, there were all these raw feelings and emotions that came with it—that to try and replicate that would, I feel, be a disservice to Shlohmo—whose art I respect most highly. So I would love to ask ya to check out the album review to gain some insight on the sound in this sonic gem.
11) M83 - "Midnight City" - HurryUp! We're Dreaming
This was (and still is) anthemic for my generation, and it's also the track that put M83 on the map. Why? This is another song that presents a descriptive challenge - as it's more like a nightlife soundtrack than a song. So perhaps the term "track" actually works well here when describing "Midnight City", as it's structured like a song, but flows like eighties nolstalgia wrapped in a modern musical package. There're verses, a chorus, breakdown, all the necessary song ingredients - but the pulse is non-stop, whether breakin' or building back up. It's the kind of track I've played while driving to the Pacific Ocean with my good friends, smiles on our faces, hands out the windows feelin' the breeze, just feeling grateful to be alive.
And, admittedly, I felt obligated to include this track in the list because it always reminds me of someone I love very much, and I haven't been honest about that for a long time. Believe it or not, because music is so inspirational to me, listening to this track gave me the guts to tell them how I felt. So now, when I hear "Midnight City" it's like muscle memory - if I'm doubting myself, but I'm using my whole heart in whatever I'm doing, I remember that it can't be wrong or right. It's a feeling, and I just gotta trust my gut and move forward. For that, I'll always have a special spot in my heart for M83. If you can relate I recommend picking that beach destination, grabbing some people you love, and hittin' the road...
12) Mobb Deep - "Hell on Earth (Front Lines)" - Hell on Earth
Now you could be the most Zen'd out cat around, if you rock Deeps "Hell on Earth" and you don't wanna hit something (in a good way, or is there...) then I think you maybe dead inside. The Mobbs collective lyrical flow, sittin' over a slickly, wavering, pounding bassline makes me pump my fist in my seat. The rhythm here - the way it grabs me (and a few readers of Sonic Satori): It's tough to describe precisely why this track cuts straight to my soul unless you've spent awhile living in a major city, or maybe even had a run-in with the law once or twice.
But, and this is not an insult for those of us who've spent more time there than we ever could've wanted: This is ghetto soul. There's angst, sex, violence, everything you probably thought when you read the bands name and the title of the record above! It's like aural therapy after a long, emotionally drainin' day. Crank this bitch up!
And Remember - Whole Playlist availabe in TIDAL!
Until the next installment: Music Saves Lives. Great Sound Moves Souls.
