i could be in love with almost everyone, i think that people are the greatest fun

I've been tagged by the fantastic Daughters of Dawn Vintage to list for you my top five favourite albums of all time. Yeah, don't make it something tricky or anything, Tag. I've attempted this impossible feat before, but already a little over a year later, it's changed. It should be pointed out that I'm going for all over quality of an album itself, how much I'd want to listen to the entire thing, which is why some of my favourite artists (Parliament, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Sly & the Family Stone, etc.) are nowhere to be found.

Top 5 Favourite Albums of All Time
(subject to change)

1. Forever Changes by Love

I can hardly put my feelings toward this album into words. It's the most beautiful, stirring, breathtaking masterpiece I've ever heard. I haven't even listened to it in probably about a year because I react to it too emotionally. It really isn't for everyone, but if you "get it", it becomes vital.
If you only hear one song... "You Set the Scene"

2. Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
I bought this album pretty much because I felt like I should own it because it was such a "classic" -stupid I know, and I figured I'd probably listen to it once or twice then to the back of my record box it would head. My idiocy did not deserve to be rewarded with the agonizing gorgeousness and gorgeousity that is Let's Get It On. Like all good albums, this one grew on me. At first, I only listened to the title track...and then the title track and the next song...and then the first side...and so forth until I could listen to the entire album and just feel the soul wash over me, like a warm hug.
If you only hear one song... "Come Get To This"

3. After Bathing at Baxter's by Jefferson Airplane
I absolutely love Surrealistic Pillow but for me, After Bathing at Baxter's is a superior album. Much less radio-friendly than their previous album, it also features Marty Balin vocally more, which makes me happy as I adore his voice. However, my favourite song has Paul Kantner on lead vocals. Really, though, the whole album is phenomenal, definitely one of those LP's that you can put on a listen to from beginning to end.
If you only hear one song... "Watch Her Ride"

4. One Nation Under a Groove by Funkadelic
It was almost hard to choose one album to represent my P-Funk love, but then it wasn't, because this one is a clear favourite from beginning to end. One of the most brilliant tracks, frankly, I think is probably too avant-garde for most people, but "Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad" has a very special place in my heart. Another song with personal meaning is "Cholly (Funk Gettin' Ready to Roll)", about a certain "Cholly" (rhymes with Molly?) who discovers the funk and it changes their life. Hmm, sounds kinda familiar. If you're clever like me and copped the bonus edition, you'll also be treated to the heavy metal/funk (believe it or not, it totally works) cut "Lunchmeataphobia (Think!...It Ain't Illegal Yet)".
If you only hear one song... "One Nation Under a Groove"

5. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast
It easy for an album to have a bunch of great songs when it has 40 tracks. It isn't easy for an album for have 40 songs and have most of them be great. Ya dig? The split album was a brilliant move: Big Boi brings the innovative hip-hop and Andre 3000 brings the most awesome un-categorizable music.
If you only hear one song... "Prototype"

I shall tag Libby, Allison, Maya, Crazy Eddie and Jill.

we'll tiptoe to the sun and do thangs i know you like

Everyone loves a good, classic love song, with all the "love's too weak to define just what you mean to me" and "if God one day struck me blind, your beauty I'd still see" that that entails. Those lyrics are beautiful...but let's face it, just a little bit cheesy (and besides, the best part of "Adore" is the killer vocal performance).

Personally, I find much more unconventionally romantic songs to be much more personal and engaging.

Here's some of the songs I would be honoured to have played at my wedding and, boys, how you can translate the sentiment behind them into a killer Valentine's Day card sure to woo the woman of your dreams.

Favourite Unconventionally Romantic Songs

"The Goose" by Parliament
Maybe it's not wisest to compare your special lady to a goose, a peanut machine, and eagle eyes for a mole. But then again, George Clinton was never really all about the "Oh, baby, I love you so much". Frankly, I'd be much happier if a guy said to me, "I'm as happy as a monkey with a peanut machine since I found you, but I don't need no nut machine cuz I'm nuts all over you."
"Prototype" by Outkast

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know that my love for this song runs very deep. Some girls might be offended by his suggestion that she is very possibly not his soulmate, but perhaps the prototype. Also, that he feels the need to add "...again" to his "I think I'm in love"s. I find its honesty stunningly endearing.

"I Love My Chick" by Busta Rhymes
Yeah, I know the original is "I Love My Bitch", but that one has completely different vibes and so this is one of the very rare times when I prefer the edited version of a song to the original. Here Busta praises his lady for wanting to "fuck in the clubs" and being "quick to do what she can, even if she had to get up and just lie on the stand." Among the other felonies he appreciates her committing for him is her willingness to "hold a stash for a fella" when he has to skip town.
Still, if a guy told me that his favourite thing about me was that I'm "the shit" and that I'm "truly thorough about the way that I be reppin' it hard", I would probably melt a little.

"If I Was Ur Girlfriend" by Prince
Undoubtedly one of the most stirringly beautiful love songs of all time, though the....phrasing of it all is undeniably quirky. Now, for those of you who couldn't figure it out, when Prince says "girlfriend" in this case he means "female best friend" - he's jealous of the closeness between between his girlfriend and her best friend. Even when taking this creative approach, Prince still knows exactly what women want to hear: "Would you run to me, if somebody hurt you, even if that somebody was me?" "Maybe you think I'm being a little self-centered but I want to be all the things you are to me" However, what strikes me most is "Can I dress you? I mean, help you pick out your clothes before we go out...I ain't saying you're helpless, but sometimes, sometimes those are the things that being in love's about"
My greatest dream would be to have a boyfriend that we could play dress-up and pick out our clothes together. Ahh, Prince.

unconventionally romantic

make me want you, make me miss you, make me wonder where you are, then forget you

You thought you'd heard every song they'd ever made a billion times...

Deep Tracks by Overexposed Artists:

"The Lady in My Life" by Michael Jackson

Okay, it's on Thriller, so it's probably the "deep track" most people have heard. Still, this is the song that proves my longtime belief that Michael Jackson is the best ad-libber of all time. (And here I'm using 'ad lib' to mean all the "ooh", "baby", "yeah", etc.) I usually start this song at the 2:30 point, as the last two and a half minutes are all gorgeous adlibbing. MJ 4 Eva y'all!

"Why Should I Be Sad" by Britney Spears
My favourite track off Blackout, this slow - but not, God forbid, a ballad - number is pop genius. Clearly intended as a kiss-off to K-Fed, I think it's beautiful. The one included on the playlist below is slightly slowed-down, but still fantastic.

"She Lives in My Lap" by OutKast
The B-side to the equally-genius "Prototype" (which I've raved about before), this dreamy song featuring voices and laughs from Rosario Dawson is quirky, sweet, creative and eccentric. I'm glad it wasn't played eight trillion times on the radio a la "Hey Ya" - it's much more meaningful this way.

"Wavin' Bye to the Train or Bus" by the Arctic Monkeys
This is another case, in my opinion, of a song that has kickass verses and a weak chorus. But the verses? Kickass indeed! Maybe one of my favourite Arctic Monkeys lines ever with the "Oh, baby, I'm wantin' to do you a swap/I'll give you anything, yeah, in return for them noises you've got"

"Distant Lover" by Marvin Gaye
I used to really dislike this track from Let's Get It On, in fact, it was the only song I didn't love off that album. However, suddenly one day, I listened to it and realized its genius and beauty in one flash. Especially the "please, please, baby" at 1:03.

deep tracks...

you could say that i'm a terminal case, you could burn up my clothes, smash up my ride - well, maybe not the ride

Continued from last post -

this wheel's on fire asked: "if you could switch your life with someone else's (permanently) who would it be?what's your favorite book? (the fall? dharma bums? stuart little?) Prince or the Artist Formerly Known as Prince? if i was married to mick, would you hate me? ;)patsy or eddie?are you sick of my questions yet? good :)why are you such a cool cat?"

A permanant life switch I would probably choose George Clinton.
My favourite book is The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe.
Prince!
If you were married to Mick, I'd probably just judge you from afar...I couldn't hate you for wanting what I want!
I am not familiar with these people.
No, I'm not!
I'm not sure - I think I was born this way.

Miss Karen asked: "would you rather be the muse or the musician?"
Hmm. Good question! Well, in terms of the person I am of this moment, I'd rather be a muse. In fact, forget what I said yesterday about homemaker, I think muse would be my chosen profession. However, who wouldn't love to be musically gifted?

Cate asked: "1) Have you read 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley and if yes, what did you think of it?2) What do you think about NIRVANA?3) (not so weird) What is your favourite film?"
I haven't read "Brave New World". I've read some other Aldous Huxley, such as "Doors of Perception" and "Island", but not "Brave New World". I'll add it to my list of books I should eventually get around to reading.
Nirvana is obviously a talented band, though not my cup of tea. It's just not the type of music that sets my soul on fire.
My favourite film is Almost Famous.

Sister Libby asked: "I have always (ok, no...just now) wondered what you're top 5 would be...I'm kind of thinking like, High Fidelity here...hm...maybe your Top 5 Loooove Songs, just a starter."

Now, Libby is clearly the type of person who just lives to torture me - a real sadist with a heart of the purest coal rejected by Santa Claus as it was "too much 'tough', not enough 'love'". When you say Top 5 Love Songs, do you mean the Top 5 Most Romantic Songs That I Like? My 5 Favourite Songs that Happen to Be About Love? Since the latter is too generic, here are the Top 5 Songs I Find Most Romantic:

1. "Adore" by Prince - it's cheesy as hell, but I can't help but say "awww". The lyrics seem like a bunch of smooth lines put together, but the sincerity behind them make it just so sweet
2. "Prototype" by Outkast - so beautiful and romantic

3. "Little Wing" by the Jimi Hendrix Experience - I've decided my goal in life is to be the girl in the song

4. "The Goose" by Parliament - seriously, I don't know if I've heard more romantic lyrics than this: "I'm as happy as a monkey with a peanut machine, since I've found you/Just imagine a monkey with a peanut machine, it's a dream come true/But I don't need no nut machine/Because I'm nuts all over you"

5. "Come Get to This" by Marvin Gaye - my favourite Marvin Gaye song...stunning



jess asked: "What is your favorite school subject?What Parliament songs do yu higly recomend?Who is you style icon?"
I won't lie, not a huge fan of school, but the subject this year I found most interesting was Comparative Civilizations. I loved learning about the Mayans, the Ancient Greeks and Romans, the origin of man - fascinating stuff.
Ahh, hard question. It really depends on the person, so I'll just tell you my favourite Parliament songs: "(I've Been Watching You) Move Your Sexy Body", "Agony of Defeet", "Funkentelechy", "Swing Down Sweet Chariot", "Flashlight", "The Goose", "All Your Goodies Are Gone" and "(You're a Fish and I'm a) Water Sign" - and that's just Parliament. Don't get me started on Funkadelic!

My greatest style icon is probably Anita Pallenberg - a mix of rock'n'roll, rich hippie and whatever the fuck she feels like. The quote that inspires my style is "Look at fashion and what they're doing, and then do what you want" - thanks, Cyndi Lauper!

Well, I suppose this is the "official" end of the questions and answers period, but at any time, if you have any questions, ask me, and I'll respond and let you know. Thank you for sending in questions and reading!

i've seen the future and it works

Next on the deliciously unchronological Favourite-Records-of-a-Decade list...the 2000s! So far, at least.

My Top 5 Favourite Albums from the 2000's:

Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below:
Now this album is amazing because it gives and gives and gives. 40 tracks, alll over the map. I've aways thought Big Boi's Speakerboxxx was unfairly overshadowed by Andre's much-more-eccentric Love Below, because Speakerboxxx is truly a fantastic and unique album. Had it been released alone, it likely could've received the full respect it deserves. However, The Love Below really is the star here. Andre lay it all out here, impersonating Cupid (the ridiculous and awesome "Happy Valentine's Day"), having a conversation with "God" ("Amen....sorry, sorry, A-lady"), and praising the classy broads ("Behold a Lady"). Outkast is hope for the new milennium.
Favourite track: "Prototype", one of the straight-up coolest songs I've ever heard

Black Mountain - In the Future:
I'm so pleased that I discovered this band, and this album because it reminds me that rock'n'roll didn't die in 1980 when Led Zeppelin split up. Dark, mysterious, hard and heavy, it is a masterpiece. The spectacular cover art? A bonus.
Favourite track: "Wucan", one of the most amazing songs I've ever heard

the Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not:
It's been awhile, hasn't it? But that doesn't mean I have any less love for the brilliant Arctic Monkeys debut. The best part is definitely the lyrics, astonishingly mature. But, really, what can I say that hasn't already been said about this superhyped record?
Favourite track: "From the Ritz to the Rubble"

Michael Jackson - Invincible:
This is almost embarassing, but the album is so great I don't mind. As a fomer hardcore MJ fan, I've heard pretty much every song he's ever released. Of his albums, Invincible is still one of my favourites, and I listen to it even more than I listen to Thriller (not that I listen to Thriller a lot). Sure, a lot of it is pretty generic, but the ballads are beautiful and the dance tracks are fun. Michael proves his voice is still fantastic, and a good time is had by all. Would prefer a less...stark cover though.
Favourite track: "You Rock My World", in my opinion, the greatest MJ song of all time

Van Hunt - On the Jungle Floor:
I got this album for $3 at a thrift store, not expecting too much, but once again, I got ridiculously lucky. It's so refreshing to see a neosoul artist being so creative. Sometimes he sounds like Lenny Kravitz ("Ride, Ride, Ride") and sometimes he sounds like Prince ("If I Take You Home[Upon...]"), but he always sounds like something new and beautiful.
Favourite track: "No Sense of Crime", a soul version of a Stooges song (all I can find for free is a 30-second clip, but if you like what you hear, it is worth purchasing!)

i met a gypsy and she hipped me to some life game/to stimulate then activate the left and right brain

In general, hip-hop videos suck. Everyone knows what to expect: semi- (but more like semi-not-) dressed women looking bored out of their skulls writhing while the rapper throws money around. And yet, sometimes hip-hop artists think completely outside the box, making creative and amusing videos. I've got three artists in particular in mind.

One of my favourite artists, Outkast, always makes sure their videos are fun and original.

What I love about the "Rosa Parks" video is how well it showcases Andre 3000 and Big Boi's personalities and differences. The phone call at the beginning especially, with Big Boi wanting a typical, "pimpin'" hip-hop video and Andre 3000 pulling for a "space/futuristic" theme, until they eventually settle on doing both. And behold, a brilliant video that reminds me so much of my precious Parliament/Funkadelic. And the true stroke of genius? The harmonica solo.

Prototype

Now I had no idea that "Prototype" was a single or even had a video until I was researching this post. I have Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, so I'd heard the song, but watching this video made me realize that Andre 3000 is probably my soulmate.

See also: "Ms. Jackson", which, for some reason, features a house full of animals; "Hey Ya", which, yeah, you've heard a million times, but if it's been awhile for you, listen again, it sure feels nice, doesn't it?; "Roses", another one illustrating the difference between Andre 3000 and Big Boi; "Morris Brown", the colourful, Sesame Street-esque clip I was going to feature before I discovered "Prototype"

Kanye West:


I have been watching Kanye West's "Flashing Lights" video so much lately. It's just purely hypnotizing. I hate how short it is...it leaves you going, "What??"


I think I've mentioned a few times on this blog what a huge fan I am of the song and video for "Can't Tell Me Nothing". It seems sort of like a prequel to "Flashing Lights", with the desert and the car and the girl. It's still my favourite Kanye West song.

See also: "Stronger", featuring the gorgeous Cassie

Busta Rhymes:


I rarely listen to Busta Rhymes, but it seems like whenever I do, I'm impressed. I got into "Don't Touch Me" thanks to the Adam Sevani/ACDC video and its video is typical Busta Rhymes: funny, high energy and very watchable.

The best part of "Light Your Ass on Fire" is the "hmmm"s (the first is around 00:22), but the rest of the video is great too. It's just straight-up fun.
See also: "Touch It", an interesting video for an interesting song.

I'm not saying these are the only hip-hop artists with great videos. Lupe Fiasco, Ludacris, Eminem (what on earth happened to him?), Missy Elliott and a bunch of others have all released creative and funny clips. These are just a few of my favourites. Enjoy!