ACTW: A Representative Playlist for Young Professionals in the Sunlight of their Lives

Chorders,

I would like to thank everyone that contributed to ACTW's first ever conglomerate playlist. It is an outstanding collection exhibiting both the prowess and cunning appreciation that all of our members possess. For anonymity's sake, the mgmt has elected to NOT reveal the names behind the choices in order to protect the innocent and be unnecessarily mysterious.

In honor of this momentous elation, the playlist will suffice as the album of the week for the next two weeks. This will allow all members to dig deeper into each selection. Remember: there's always room for more members, so recruit some friends why don't you.

Now feed your ears; they look hungry.

Thanks again,


Micah

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique 7.5.11 - 7.12.11

After much discussion about different genres and a general desire for more hip-hop, I think the stars aligned to be able to follow up "The Cold Vein" with "Paul's Boutique". Perhaps Japanese baseball stars, Fruit Stripe Gum, and the unanswerable question of how many mangoes exist in Jamaica are not diametrically opposed to the stark and bewitching verse of Cannibal Ox, but the carousing, pop culture-laced, irreverent humor of the Beasties is pretty damn close.

Fresh off the astonishing and unforeseen success of "Lisenced to Ill", The Beastie Boys moved to California, underscoring a growing gap with Def Jam, the label that had released "LtI". A public feud ensued, the Beasties moved to Capitol, determined to release a second album that showed that they weren't just white boys pumping bass, but intelligent, thoughtful men who happened to love hip-hop.

Although Capitol initially considered the album a huge flop, 10 years later it had gone double platinum thanks to an original and eclectic use of samples, unique lyrics and lyrical structures, and an unbelievably deep well of references, ideas, and beliefs that continue to reveal themselves listen after listen. It is consistently ranked as one of the best albums, regardless of genre, by those who create such lists.

Although Ad Rock appropriately begins the first true track with "Well I rock the house party at the drop of a hat", the album touches on important topics such as police corruption, objectification, and music history in addition to supplying beats and rhymes that can rival, if not surpass, any other rap or hip-hop then and now.

Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein 6.29.11-7.6.11

2001 on the Definitive Jux label.

Vast Aire and Vordul Mega unleash a tapestry of words over the part-post-apocalyptic, part-goth, part-concrete Gotham gargoyles perched over the frozen tundra of the ghetto production of El-P.

The album is sincere. The delivery style is more prose than poetry than prose, a winding narrative filled with wordplay, purposeful repetition, and stutter steps that refine what it means to be an urban poet.

Not a single song thrives on references and pop culture citations. Vast Aire even manages to rap a love song that avoids getting trapped in the clutches of post-modern irony.

And in the midst of all of the alien noises and bleakness, there is hope, transcendence through music, and some thoughtful advice.

If ever there was a hip-hop ALBUM with an arc, this is it.

Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um 6.21.11 - 6.28.11

I first discovered Charles Mingus' "Mingus Ah Um" five years ago when I decided I wanted to learn more about Jazz. After asking my friend--a formally trained base guitarist--he recommended this album. Here is a review of the album.....

Mingus' debut for Columbia, "Mingus Ah Um" is a stunning summation of the bassist's talents and probably the best reference point for beginners. The band includes longtime Mingus stalwarts already well versed in his music, like saxophonists John Handy, Shafi Hadi, and Booker Ervin; trombonists Jimmy Knepper and Willie Dennis; pianist Horace Parlan; and drummer Dannie Richmond. Their razor-sharp performances tie together what may well be Mingus' greatest, most emotionally varied set of compositions. At least three became instant classics, starting with the irrepressible spiritual exuberance of signature tune "Better Get It in Your Soul," taken in a hard-charging 6/8 and punctuated by joyous gospel shouts. "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is a slow, graceful elegy for Lester Young, who died not long before the sessions. The sharply contrasting "Fables of Faubus" is a savage mockery of segregationist Arkansas governor Orval Faubus, portrayed musically as a bumbling vaudeville clown (the scathing lyrics, censored by skittish executives, can be heard on Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus. The underrated "Boogie Stop Shuffle" is bursting with aggressive swing, and elsewhere there are tributes to Mingus' three most revered influences: "Open Letter to Duke" is a suite of three tunes; "Bird Calls" is inspired by Charlie Parker; and "Jelly Roll" is an idiosyncratic yet affectionate nod to jazz's first great composer, Jelly Roll Morton. It simply isn't possible to single out one Mingus album as definitive, but Mingus Ah Um comes the closest.

Freelance Whales - Weathervanes 6/13-6/20

Strawberries and Bananas,

Just went to this concert at the TLA a few weeks ago (a friend's friend's band). Great show, got to chill with them afterwards. They are definitely an up and coming I would say, as I am seeing them more and more on different advertising campaigns. Very cool music to listen to while working or hanging out; sorry guys, no baby making this time around!

I don't have too much to say. Just enjoy them, please!

Comments much appreciated (:

Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire de Melody Nelson 6.7.11-6.14.11

The first time I heard a song from this album, I knew nothing about its release, the artist, or even the lyrics. Perhaps this name sounds familiar because of his daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg (who recently released an album with Beck), or perhaps you are awesomely up on French pop culture and you are aware of Serge Gainsbourg's acclaim, but I was neither of these on first listen. I initially felt disconnected from the music because the lyrics are almost entirely in French and the music can be very vocally driven, which left me frustrated with my high school level French comprehension. However, I find the orchestration of each song timelessly appealing and completely communicative on its own. The style is hard to categorize, but it's somewhere in the jazz, funk, soul section maybe? If you are up for a challenge, listen to the cd straight through and see if you can grasp the concept. Oh and, don't read any further because I explain the gist below.

To quote wikipedia, "The Lolita-esque pseudo-autobiographical plot involves the middle-aged Gainsbourg unintentionally colliding his Rolls Royce Silver Ghost into teenage nymphet Melody Nelson's bicycle, and the subsequent seduction and romance that ensues." Released in 1971, a completely eccentric artist to precede many more.

Not your cd to play on shuffle. Let me know thoughts. Anyone keen to this cat already?

Stephen Marley - Mind Control 6.1.11-6.7.11

After seeing Stephen Marley perform at a Reggae festival in 2007, I went out and bought this album. Tracks 1, 2, 4, and 8 are my favorites, but the entire album is impressive (I didn't upload the talking interludes). Each track is unique from the next. I mean, lets be honest with our-music snob-selves, most reggae sounds pretty similar, but this album adds new melodies and instruments to traditional reggae. It has been in constant rotation in my CD player for years.

A little background on Stephen: He is the fourth son of Bob Marley (who's Wikipedia page I highly recommend checking out again). Until he came out this album, he spent most of his career producing and collaborating on the albums being released by his other brothers, Ziggy, the oldest Marley brother, and Damien, the youngest and most hip/hop. I read that Stephen greatly contributed to Damien's "Welcome to Jamrock" album--another seriously good album that you should check out if you dig this.

Last week, Stephen released his second album, Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life. I've liked what Ive heard so far, so I included the first single in the Dropbox folder. Its called "No Cigarette Smoking in My Room".

So light it up and take a puff and enjoy the Mind Control....

Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey 5.24.11-5.31.11

From Reality I Just Can't Drift: Exploring Reggae

This is the first of what will hopefully be many wanderings into the fog of assorted music genres.

In search of some of the most influential and highly regarded reggae albums of all time, Burning Spears' "Marcus Garvey" made appearances on nearly every top ten list. Burning Spear has been nominated for 12 Best Reggae Album of the Year Grammys, including 2 wins. Even though this album didn't win the award, it is regarded as Burning Spear's most influential album.

The album is named after famed Jamaican journalist and philosopher Marcus Garvey, founder of Garveyism. "The fundamental focus of Garveyism is the complete, total and never ending redemption of the continent of Africa by people of African ancestry, at home and abroad. It is rooted in one basic idea: 'whatsoever things common to man that man has done, man can do'. Therefore, Africa can become as glorious and profoundly advanced in the scientific and technological realm as any, when Africans will it to be." Sick.