the mediastore
the music department...we'll get you in the mood
Scientific research shows that the human brain is wired to understand music. We know what emotions a sudden swell or a thrashing guitar will create by instinct. Music can also play with your moods by changing them or intensifying the one you are already in. That's great for the writer who needs to be in a certain mood or wants to intensify their writing experience. The music featured here was specifically chosen for its mood enhancing qualities, its emotional range reaching from quiet introspection to rage to despair.
|
 special section: spoken word
1. The Legend: The Best of the Last Poets, by The Last Poets
The first jam-packed disc in this low-budget double set is full of so much crazy rhythm, jive poetry, brilliant lines, revolutionary rhetoric, hate, love, venom, vigor, incantatory genius, and over-the-edge performances that you'll hardly be able to listen to it in one sitting. The Last Poets don't need drum machines to reign supreme and have already been sampled plenty in hip-hop and electronic music. Ultimately, this is fierce, hefty-duty, musical spoken word that's among the most important of rap progenitors. learn more at amazon.com
2. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, by Gil Scott-Heron
learn more at amazon.com
3. Attack! Attack! Go!, by Beau Sia
For his debut, 22-year-old slam-poetry champ Beau Sia offers up 13 edgy confessionals touching on fame, money, sex, megalomania, and Asian cultural stereotypes, among a bazillion other things. Sia's clever words stream in deadpan delivery over a minimal, jazzy hip-hop soundtrack like some urban-targeted collaboration between Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-head, King of the Hill) and Steven Wright. He's at his best in the midst of a rant, and though he sometimes raves way off course, Sia always makes his way back to his favorite subject--himself. learn more at amazon.com
4. Grand Slam!: Best of the National Poetry Slam
learn more at amazon.com
5. Our Souls Have Grown Deep Like the Rivers, Various Artists
A very smartly assembled two-disc compilation of African American poetry, Our Souls Have Grown Deep Like the Rivers digs deep to unearth a wealth of unheard and rare material spanning almost the entire 20th century. The collection features some of the greatest names in black literature, and--as Al Young points out in the liner notes--it can be a revelation to hear, for instance, Harlem Renaissance leader Langston Hughes pronounce the word "Harlem" with utter pride and joy. Other notables include Ishmael Reed, Nikki Giovanni, Gwendolyn Brooks, Gil Scott-Heron, Maya Angelou, Rita Dove, W.E.B. DuBois, the Last Poets, Public Enemy, Wanda Coleman and more. learn more at amazon.com
6. The Beat Generation [Box Set], Various Artists
This three-disc set is a gold mine for anyone with even a passing interest in the music, the poetry, and the people of the beat era. The stars--Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Burroughs--are here, of course. But so are the players (Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan), the architects (Kenneth Patchen, Kenneth Rexroth), the cutups (Lenny Bruce, Lord Buckley), the pretenders (Rod McKuen, Edd Byrnes), the critics (Carl Sandburg, Howard K. Smith), and the heirs (Tom Waits). A great selection of vibrant poetry, hip music, and sonic ephemera. learn more at amazon.com
|
|
|
music
1. Dark Side of the Moon, by Pink Floyd
One of those albums that is discovered anew by each generation of rock listeners. This complex, often psychedelic music works very well because Pink Floyd doesn't rush anything; the songs are mainly slow to mid-tempo, with attention paid throughout to musical texture and mood. The sound effects on songs like "On the Run," "Time" and especially "Money" are impressive, especially when we remember that 1973 was before the advent of digital recording techniques. This is probably Pink Floyd's best-known work, and it's an excellent place to start if you're new to the band. learn more at amazon.com
2. Things Fall Apart, by The Roots
Although lyrical and musical vision is sorely lacking from most hip-hop, such qualities are cornerstones of the Roots' music. They intelligently linke hip-hop to its musical forebears funk and jazz, and their lyrics provide unique, postnationalist hip-hop critiques. The sextet takes on a more somber tone, but at no cost to their musical innovations. At a point when most rappers are running on fumes, the Roots are synthesizing new ideas. learn more at amazon.com
3. Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, by The Smashing Pumpkins
An epic 28 song recording spanning two discs, this may be the Pumpkins' best effort ever. The music itself is melancholy, yet almost hopeful at the same time. Billy Corgan's writing is tight and daring, covering a diverse range of styles. learn more at amazon.com
4. Requiem For a Dream Soundtrack, by Clint Mansell & the Kronos Quartet
Here, teamed with the Kronos Quartet--one of the world's foremost (and most progressive) string quartets--Mansell fuses big-beat, ambient, and driving chamber music. The result is a mesmerizing aural complement to an already mesmerizing film. Dark, unpredictable, and thoroughly engrossing. learn more at amazon.com
5. Like Water For Chocolate, by Common
It's no coincidence that most top 40 rappers are under 25: rap revels in misspent youth. Which makes Common's adventures in adulthood so interesting. He's an astounding lyricist, always has been. But with Like Water for Chocolate he's made the tricky transition from b-boy to b-man without losing the magic. Chocolate may be a mature album, but it ain't stern: hilarious, poetic, musical, and intensely personal, this is Common at his finest. learn more at amazon.com
6. OK Computer, by Radiohead
A modern art-rock masterpiece. This album is unique in that it's not just a collection of songs like most recordings. It's definitely a case of the whole being more than the sum of its parts, with the music centered around the central theme of "the way machines dehumanize people." learn more at amazon.com
7. Blonde On Blonde, by Bob Dylan
This featured Dylan continuing to bend minds with his warped lyrics and phrasing. Even dashed-off numbers such as "Obviously 5 Believers" and "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" contribute to the crazed, fun-house ambiance. Dylan will never be this wild again. learn more at amazon.com
|
|
|
|
|
8. Black Star, by Black Star
Black Star proffers a more philosophical take on hip-hop and stands out simply because it's a great album, an intelligent, progressive, and funky piece of work that showcases two great MCs. Years from now this album will still be revered. learn more at amazon.com
9. As Seen on TV: Songs from Commercials
From the devastatingly simple "Pink Moon," sullenly crooned by the late Nick Drake, to the new wave-punk classic Buzzcocks tune "What Do I Get" to Sarah Vaughan's sassy "What Lola Wants," the 20 tracks here capture a snapshot of 21st-century, post-adolescent life as it is portrayed--you guessed it--through TV. The resulting cultural implications are probably too disturbing to explore (that we are a society where our musical touchstones are fabricated by commercialism), but if you can ignore the source, this compilation has plenty that will speak to the soul and get the body grooving. learn more at amazon.com
10. Pure Moods, by Various Artists
A bestselling compilation featuring new age, electronica, and hip-hop from a diverse range of artists. Great for when you're feeling introspective--or when you just want to feel that way. learn more at amazon.com
11. People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, by A Tribe Called Quest
One of the finest albums in hip-hop. It's easy to argue that A Tribe Called Quest reached their zenith on this, their debut album: though they went on to produce another world-class disc and broadened their palates and their consciousness, never again were they quite this naturally free and easy. Q-Tip and Phife's delivery is deceptively simple, flowing like wine and tasting like candy, and Jairobi adds some contrast. The music, so self-assured that it never raises its voice to make a spectacle, follows suit. learn more at amazon.com
12. Unplugged in New York, by Nirvana
Kurt Cobain has been called "the poet of alienation." Although it was released after Kurt's death, this is the last official album recorded by Nirvana. Surprisingly mellow, this album is haunting, compelling, and poignant all at once. Sheer brilliance. A must have. learn more at amazon.com
13. Physical Graffiti, by Led Zeppelin
This 1975 release came smack in the middle of a long and nearly mythic career. Playfully experimenting with new sounds, the band blended Middle Eastern rhythms, folk-stylings, heavy blues, and deeply impassioned rock riffs into a two-disc set that sounded as if they were still enjoying their place in the rock pantheon. As sprawling and adventurous as this collection is, there are some tracks so tightly focused--so ultra-Zeppelinesque--that it's tempting to name this as a number one or number two must-have. learn more at amazon.com
|
|
|
14. Let's Get Free, by Dead Prez
How did serious efforts to combat racism go outta' style in Hip-Hop Land? Who knows. But the battle ain't over. Dead Prez would rather defend free speech and poor communities than waste their Warholian 15 minutes obsessing over booze, blunts, and hos. Dead Prez's lacerating lyrical stance is unapologetically socialist and pro-black. Interestingly, their revolutionary tactics are not just political, but rather serve as a rallying point for the mind, body, and soul. This is geared toward those who would rather rage against the machine than be eaten by it. learn more at amazon.com
15. America Beauty: Original Motion Picture Score, by Thomas Newman
Filled with inventive instrumentation--tablas, bird calls, dulcimer, banjo, ukulele, detuned mandolin, and more--the score varies between highly rhythmic, world-music influenced passages and the more subdued. Throughout, Newman's score is inventive and a great complement to the dark comedy's numerous mood swings. learn more at amazon.com
16. De Stijl, by The White Stripes
As a Stripes fanatic, this is my favorite album of theirs. Bluesy & innovative, punctuated with sharp hooks. There's only two people in the band, but Jack White's jaw-dropping guitar work combined with Meg White's primitive beats erects a wall of sheer sonic fury. Essential. learn more at amazon.com
17. Live on Brighton Beach, by Fatboy Slim
On a crystal clear English summer's evening in 2001, Norman Cook played a celebrated DJ set in front of an estimated 30,000 loved-up Brightonians, generating two hours of typically hedonistic party mayhem. It's these two hours that make up a perfect souvenir of the night now known as "Normstock." Soundwise, the album sees Senor Fatboy doing what he does best--mashing up thumping dance floor favorites with a sweat-drenched party panache. learn more at amazon.com
18. The Best Of The Doors, by The Doors
The hits are here: "Light My Fire" with Ray Manzarek's keyboards on a dizzy, psychedelic spree; "People Are Strange," with Morrison's tortured psyche barely being held in check; "L.A. Woman," with its bluesy sexuality. More important, favorites of fans are here, like the controversially (at the time) explicit "The End," which was one of the first of Morrison's forays into narrative poetry. In hits like "Break on Through," "Hello I Love You," "Roadhouse Blues," and others, The Doors melded psychedelia, blues, hard-edged rock, and poetry from the edge like no other band before. The Best of The Doors is a trip in every sense of the word. learn more at amazon.com
19. The Book of Secrets, by Loreena McKennitt
This album has a spiritual flavor, taking the listener around the world with music tinged with Celtic and even Eastern sounds. McKennitt's style and skill make her albums among the best a writer can listen to. learn more at amazon.com
20. Reflection Eternal, by Talib Kweli & Hi Tek
Talib Kweli is probably the only MC who could do justice to "For Women," Nina Simone's righteous, ragged battle cry, and he does so with his cover. That cut illustrates this album's timeless quality, its personal poeticism, and its strength. Kweli's lyrical skills have only improved over time, approaching the stuff of legend. And producer Hi-Tek's supple grooves balance the wordcraft perfectly. learn more at amazon.com
|
|
|
|
|
21. Automatic for the People, by R.E.M.
A fragile album of soft melodies and string arrangements. The sympathetic ballad "Everybody Hurts" must have prevented countless suicide attempts, while the Andy Kaufman tribute "Man on the Moon" (with Michael Stipe affecting an Elvis Presley imitation) and the rock-into-oblivion "Drive" are among the quartet's strongest hits. (The opening line, "Hey, kids, rock and roll," isn't so much a rallying cry as an expression of anxiety.) learn more at amazon.com
22. The White Album, by The Beatles
This was meant to be the record that brought them back to earth after three years of studio experimentation. Instead, it took them all over the place, continuing to burst the envelope of pop music. Lennon and McCartney were still at the height of their powers, with Lennon in particular growing into one of rock's towering figures. But even McCartney could still rock, and the amazement on "Helter Skelter" was that he had vocal cords at the end. Some records have legend written all over them; this is one. learn more at amazon.com
23. Black on Both Sides, by Mos Def
A manifestation of compelling, honest hip-hop. The genre's underground torchbearer, the mighty Mos Def, injects intellect, humor, and knowledge into all of his rhymes. Overall, the album has an understated quality, but pure enjoyment comes with discovering the clever lyrical gems Mos drops. Whether rapping, singing, or lecturing, Mos Def is firmly rooted in African American consciousness and examines social issues with great ease. learn more at amazon.com
24. William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet: Music From The Motion Picture, Volume 2
From the famed prologue spoken over a choir singing with dramatic urgency to the hard-driving music played during Romeo's escape from Mantua, this album has it all. It manages to be gorgeous and compelling while capturing all the intense emotions of Shakespeare's tragic story. A worthy addition to any writer's library. learn more at amazon.com
25. Life, Love and Leaving, by The Detroit Cobras
The Detroit Cobras are an underground rock & roll act that pays homage to the decades of artists who have hit the vinyl before them. These Motor City garage rockers combine gospel, soul, R&B, and '50s rock & roll to create a unique mix of retro innocence and tight, danceable music overflowing with rhythm and grit. Frontwoman Rachael Nagy croons with class and soul, with a low, hearty voice that sounds husky and warm. learn more at amazon.com
26. A Day Without Rain, by Enya
A radiant, beatific collection of works that command attention with their cathedral-like resonance as they soothe your spirit with some of Enya's loveliest, most graceful voicings ever. The disc's opening three tracks (including the spellbinding "Only Time") form a gorgeous trilogy that suggest Enya has deepened her focus on the nexus where sophisticated pop and regal mysticism, the twin rivers of her singular sound, form a seamless intersection. learn more at amazon.com
27. Legend, by Bob Marley
Every song is inspired and in a class of its own, whether it's the real version of "I Shot the Sheriff," the hymnlike "No Woman, No Cry," or the sheer joy of "Jamming." Even allowing that Marley never wrote any bad material, Legend is still the crème de la crème--the heart and soul of the Jamaican people packed into one 5-inch compact disc. Marley was unique, and the message of this record, more than any other, is that he died far too soon. learn more at amazon.com
|
|
|
|
We Need You!
We're looking for your favorite music to write by! Have anything that you think other Xenith readers would be interested in? Then send an e-mail to centaurus7@aol.com with the album and artist's name and we'll post it in our Reader's Choice section.
|
|
|
|
