Oneohtrix Point Never

Oneohtrix Point Never, “Lost but Never Alone”

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never is probably my favorite record from him since Replica. In a lot of ways, it evokes that record, giving a rare treat of throwback sounds from an artist who is always restlessly exploring. There’s a metaphor of flipping around a radio that ties the record together, which also feeds into my love of plunderphonics.

Madness, “One Step Beyond”

The second wave of ska, the two-tone bands from the UK, did not last very long, and didn’t really encompass that many bands. Part of the problem is that by the time this stuff got noticed outside of the UK, the key bands had pretty much all broken up or stopped playing ska. But the highlights of the second wave are great, and Madness’ first album is one of those highlights. It’s a fine example of the melding of ska with punk energy, and it’s hard not to smile through this.

2Pac, “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted”

All Eyez On Me represented 2Pac’s commercial peak, with the double-album selling tons of copies driven by “California Love”. Of course, it would be the last album he would make while alive, so we don’t know what he would have done after moving on from G-funk. If he’d been alive, there would have actually been many fewer 2Pac records, as I think he would have just moved on to acting and not much music would have been released. Instead, essentially every noise he ever made on tape would eventually get released.

The Beatles, “Eleanor Rigby”

This song might be my favorite for making up bogus new lyrics: “Joshua Buergel / Sits on the couch trying to think of a bit / Noone reads iiiit”

Oneohtrix Point Never, “Sleep Dealer”

Hot take time: Replica is real fuckin’ good!

…

I’m being informed that this take is ice cold.

The Exceptions, “Trailer Park Girl”

While The Exceptions are not remotely in the top tier of third wave bands, this is still plenty enjoyable, and you don’t have to just listen to the top bands in a genre. Well, you can do whatever you want. Except when you listen to this blog!

You know, now that I’m not linking out to YouTube, I suppose I don’t have to do these intros, do I? I mean, I don’t have to do any of this, I suppose.

Oneohtrix Point Never, “Same”

Our first go-around with Oneohtrix Point Never, with a track off his best album since Replica. Rather than diving deep on a time period and exploring all the sounds from there, Age Of draws widely from whatever noises Daniel Lopatin wants to use. The result is unpredictable, but always interesting, and not a bad spot to start listening to OPN.