Easy Star All-Stars – Dub Side of the Moon

Usually, the idea of a “genre tribute” to anything fills me with dread because of the many musical disasters in the last decade that had those words in their title.  Things like “An Orchestral Tribute to Led Zeppelin” or “A Country Tribute to Bob Dylan” are generally full of things that hurt my ears.  You’ll be lucky if your head doesn’t explode from hearing them.

So when the Easy Star All-Stars Came out with “Dub-Side” in 2003, I kind of groaned…steeling myself for the imminent disgust that I knew was coming.  But that disgust never came.  I found myself nodding, and saying “Wow!  This doesn’t suck!  In fact, this is pretty rad!”  (yes…I said ‘rad’)

It’s not too surprising that Pink Floyd’s seminal work translates so easily to the reggae format, but the All-Stars really make it work.  I like how the opening to ‘Money’ has replaced the cash machine noises with bong noises , and even the sick reggae drum and bass breakdown in their version of  ‘Time.’ 

And I’m not even a big fan of D ‘n B!

You can find the band touring a lot, I saw them perform this album a few years ago in Santa Monica (awesome!), and in 2006 they released a really good album of Radiohead covers aptly titled “Radiodread.”  Look for an album of original material coming later this year.

And thank you Easy Star All-Stars for not sucking!

SUPER BONUS!!! Money over Wizard of Oz!!!

Jackie Mittoo – The Keyboard King at Studio One

You like funky hammond organ? 

I know I do, and while most will acknowledge the likes of Booker T,  Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff…few know about their Jamaican counterpart Jackie Mitoo.  This is another of those magical Soul Jazz reissues that I can’t get enough of, and since much of Mittoo’s early work is hard to come by and most has never been remastered, this album serves as a fitting tribute to a real musical giant.

Mitto grew up in Kingston, Jamaica and was a gifted piano protege.  By age 14 he was already playing sessions for the Studio One label.  The the late 60’s he formed The Skatalites, one of the most influential bands in Reggae history, and was leading the house band for Studio One as well as Treasure Isle and Top Deck.  If you own any reggae from that era, most likely it’s got Jackie’s sound all over it.  And what a sound it is.

It’s not just Reggae or Ska, Mittoo’s compositions have a much warmer jazz feel to them while also incorporating a lot of soul influence as well.  His recordings all have a smooth buttery feel to them that’s just awesome.  If you want a soundtrack to your summer, this is it.

Soul Jazz did an excellent job of picking out the brightest  points of Mittoo’s career here, from the long and stirring ‘Oboe’ to the smooth covers of ‘Summer Breeze’ and ‘Norwegian Wood’ (titled Darker Than Black on the album.) And while this isn’t really one of his original albums ( find ‘Macka Fat’ if you can) it stands on it’s own in terms of content and consistency.  Below, a little video for ‘Juice Box.’

Now how can you beat that?

The Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride II

Where were you when you first heard Bizarre Ride II?  I was sitting on my dorm room floor drinking a gallon jug of Carlo Rossi Red Sangria.  Maybe you’ve never heard of it and maybe you don’t even like hip hop, but regardless o either…this album will make you smile.  It’ll make you sad…it’ll even make you shake your ass!  

Released in 1992, and oft considered one of the high water marks of hip hop’s golden era, the Pharcyde sadly never surpassed the brilliance of this opening salvo.  It plays as almost a companion piece to De La Soul’s ‘3 feet High and Rising’, but not quite as loopy.  Like A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Low End Theory’, but not so serious.  All I know is that if you have a party going on at your house and you throw this shit on…it’s like magic. 

Truth be told, the way I work my thang at a party, even Abba gets em hot.

From the hilarious “Ya Mama,” (which BTW has some really excellent remixes floating around, see the video below) and “Oh Shit”, to the deeply personal “ Passin Me By” the group hits it on all cylinders here.

On a side note, Red Sangria and Jack Daniels are not great things to drink together.  I know, I know…it sounds crazy. But when you ‘re talking to a girl and suddenly realize that you aren’t really speaking, and only vomit is coming out, that’s when you have such epiphanies.