Ghostface Killah

Ghostface Killah, “Wildflower”

Ghostface’s first solo record, Ironman, is very good. A RZA produced record from 1996 couldn’t help but be good. But I think Ghostface’s unique personality hadn’t quite fully come through, and the production hadn’t quite yet differentiated totally from the Wu-Tang Clan. So it doesn’t reach the heights of many of Ghostface’s later records.

Algiers, “Blood”

The first Algiers record is a heady mix of gospel and murky post-punk, a combination that immediately stands out from basically anybody else out there. While there are moments when you can kind of see the seams, it’s a prety incredible record, especially for a debut.

Next to the bass / turn up the radio!

J Church, “The Heroic Trio”

Cat Food is a quickie album that J Church threw together by recording some songs in a day, adding in a couple compilation tracks, and calling it good. But punk never really suffers from being a little slapdash, and the resulting album is pretty entertaining. Basically, Lance Hahn is good enough that most everything he does is worth listening to. This is how the album opens. It’s good! Listen to that solo!

Y’all, I screwed up. 4/14 is this project’s birthday, and I just flat missed it. I didn’t forget, I just didn’t get around to posting, and that’s a shame. I don’t want to neglect this! 471 entries over the first two years, right around two-thirds of days. Not bad! But, you know, I haven’t been carving out as much time recently. But nevermind that, I’m going to try and pick up the pace again! HIT IT, PLEXASAURUS REX!

Here’s today’s menu.

Leviathan, “-”

This is the intro to Scar Sighted, Leviathan’s 2015 album, a fearsome black metal album. Leviathan is the solo band of Jef Whitehead, who is also notable for starting one of the premier metal labels around, Profound Lore. This track is really just a build up to the start of the of the record, so I guess we’ll tackle it properly next time it comes up, along with maybe the controversy surrounding him.

It’s not great today.

Ghostface Killah, “Woodrow the Base Head”

I like the way that the music keeps coming in and out of this interstitial. That’s about the best I can say.

Jean Grae, “Fade Out”

The last track from her debut record, Attack of the Attacking Things (which is an amazing name), this album established Grae as an excellent new artist in hip hop. Her rhymes were really interesting, often twisty things, and it made for a pretty different record from most of what you could hear at the time. The only problem with her is that she just hasn’t made very many records. And this song is kind of short.

Some nice stuff today.

Hot Snakes, “Think About Carbs”

Listening to just the right channel on this song is kind of magical. Just Rick Froberg howling along with the drums except for the occasional burst of guitar until you get to the end. Just listen to those toms! Hell yes! Hot Snakes wooo!

Foetus, “The Ballad of Sisyphus T. Jones”

From Hide, this is Foetus at his bombastic, ridiculous best. I like this mode of Thirlwell’s, of making over-the-top songs that sound like songs from corny movies, but through a funhouse mirror.

Still haven’t missed a day yet this year!

Ghostface Killah, “Ghost Is Back”

I think Ghost’s skits just kept becoming less comprehensible as time went on. They’re not even really skits any more. There appears to be no bottom to the gibberish. Anyway, this is from More Fish, which isn’t as good as Fishscale. But still a decent album. Good song once it actually gets going.

The Mortals, “Hangin’ On”

The Seattle grunge scene wasn’t really the only game in town at that time. While those acts became nationally famous, there were other robust rock scenes in town at the same time. Estrus Records was at the center of a garage and surf revival, including bands like the Mono Men, Gas Huffer, Man Or Astro-man?, and today’s act, the Mortals. This is pretty nuts-and-bolts rock, but played with plenty of energy, so that’s welcome. The second Mortals record, Bulletproof, is probably their best.

Your periodic reminder that there’s an index to this nonsense. And here’s today’s music.

Ghostface Killah, “Be Easy”

From one of his best albums, Fishscale, and the best album he’s made that wasn’t produced by the RZA. This album finds Ghostface in top form, energetically spitting crazy nonsense, and he’s paired with some great production. On this track, Pete Rock is absolutely laying it down.

Paris Combo, “Moi, Mon Âme Et Ma Conscience (Live)”

This is the second time we’ve had Ghostface and the Paris Combo in the same playlist. This is Five Songs, baby!

Here’s your music today.

Ghostface Killah, “Be This Way”

From what I can tell, 2004’s The Pretty Toney Album didn’t seem to go over that well with critics. Perhaps because it’s an album where Ghostface started really pulling away from the Wu-Tang Clan. However, I think it’s really good - Ghost seems to be pretty loose, and while the album is sloppy in parts, it’s nevertheless really fun. After the relatively dreary Bulletproof Wallets, it was a relief for him to get back on track.

In other music news, one of my very favorite blogs of all time is now a book. Go look at the outstanding Ruth & Martin’s Album Club! Also, here’s today’s music.

Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge, “Blood on the Cobblestones”

Another track from the cinematic Twelve Reasons to Die, which is just a fantastic album. The various Wu-Tang projects were always at their best when drawing inspiration from movies and other visual media, and this album is no exception.