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Devin the Dude, “Do What You Wanna Do”

You’re never going to guess what this song is about! (It’s weed.)

The Pixies, “All the Saints”

23 years passed between Trompe Le Monde and Indie Candy, time where Frank Black spent a lot of time making records with a whole lot of people that weren’t the Pixies. But by the time he got around to making records with them again, it was only a partial reunion. Kim Deal didn’t return to the band, and as much as I like Santiago and Lovering, the first record really sounded like yet another Frank Black project and not the Pixies.

Big Audio Dynamite II, “Rush”

Whe Mick Jones left The Clash, he started a new band, Big Audio Dynamite. He wanted to explore the use of dance music techniques, sampling, and the like. That band too broke apart, but he took another run at things with Big Audio Dynamite II, where he was the only member in common. This is the first album from that second incarnation, and “Rush” was a decent sized hit. It’s pretty charming in how eclectic and playful it is, and the “rhythm and melody” section is a serious jam.

Beastie Boys, “The Sounds of Science”

My freshman year roommate couldn’t stand this track, and would insist on skipping it when we listened to this record. Which was often, it was an album we could agree on. I thought I lost that copy of Paul’s Boutique when it was in his car when the car got stolen. But! They found it, and he got the car back! The song that came on when he started it up? “Car Thief”.

The Wisdom of Harry, “Unit One”

I will look up little biographical details on acts when I’m doing this, to make sure I’ve got years right, or to spell names correctly, or whatever. And in the process, I’ll see some of what others have written about bands sometimes. When I did that for the Wisdom of Harry to check when this album came out (2000, which was earlier than I remembered), I noticed that the writer there compared this band to Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine, and Catherine Wheel. Uh.

Sweet Baby, “Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby (I Love You)”

I wonder if there was discussion about the correct number of “baby"s in the title, or if they just went with the line from the song and called it good.

UGK, “Life is 2009”

I don’t normally list the “featuring” in the title lines here, but it’s important that you all know that this features Oakland legend Too $hort, so of course this rules. I suppose you could have figured that out on your own. Well, whatever!

Floor, “Trick Scene”

Floor is one of the two bands that Steve Brooks leads. Initially, Floor broke up and Brooks formed Torche, but then he brought back Floor and a couple of Floor albums have been released while Torche has still been active. Because it’s the same guy singing and writing the songs, there’s not a ton to separate the bands. I suppose that Torche might be a little poppier? Anyway, both bands rule, and this Floor album (Oblation) in particular is outstanding.

The Marvelettes, “Please Mr. Postman”

“Please Mr. Postman” was the first ever number one hit for Motown, setting the precedent that so many other songs would later follow. And it’s easy to see, especially with that lead vocal performance. This is still a serious jam.

NxWorries, “Best One”

NxWorries is a delightful collaboration between Anderson .Paak and underground hip-hop producer Knxwledge, and it smokes. Knxwledge has always excelled at these kinds of dense, funky, kind of abstract beats, but working with .Paak gives them a purpose that showcases them better than his solo work. I’d love to hear a follow-up record to this thing.

Sleep, “From Beyond”

While doom metal in general traces back to Sabbath for inspiration, a lot of modern doom looks to Sleep’s Sleep’s Holy Mountain, along with a few other influences like the Melvins’ sludgiest work. This album really set the template though, which its ethos of staying exactly as slow and pounding as it wants to be. Much of metal had been getting faster and faster over the years, and the proof that you could be heavy while not trying to set any speed records really sunk in to a lot of bands. But even ignoring the influence, this stuff still smokes. But slowly.

Swans, “Half Life”

It’s stuff like this, from the early Swans career, that really drives home how appropriate the “no wave” label was for this. It just oozes nihilism.

Mos Def, “Mr. Nigga”

From Mos Def’s great first solo record, part of one of rap’s highest peaks, albeit a short one. This track is bolstered by Q-Tip appearing on it, driving home the song as a spiritual successor to A Tribe Called Quest’s “Sucka Nigga”.

Frank Black and the Catholics, “Bullet”

Frank Black went through a couple phases between v1 of the Pixies and v2 of the Pixies. After recording under just his own name, he apparently decided that his band rated a mention, and began recording as Frank Black and the Catholics. To my ears, this was the best phase of his post-Pixies career, and this record might be my favorite of the lot. There’s definitely plenty of the Frank Black madness here.