Wiki Woes: Volume 2

Around a week ago, I noticed the Wikipedia page for Atlanta Hip-Hop was missing rap history from 2010 to 2018.  Jimmy Wales (Founder of Wikipedia, savior of college students) must be smiling down on me because my contribution hasn't been deleted.

God bless you, Mr. Wales.

I think I did a good job with my entry. I gave some solid facts about the chart positions of Atlanta rappers and the city's wider cultural influence. One rapper missing from the Wiki page is Soulja Boy.

Oh god no.

"Crank That" is seared into my memory. It was inescapable in 2007. To this day, I have flashbacks of gangly white kids desperately trying to do the Crank That dance in the hallways of Haines middle school.

Nobody needs to be reminded of "Crank That". I think I'll leave it off the Wiki page.

Listen to: Moanin'

When I first started this blog, I recommended everyone to listen to Led Zeppelin III. This album is sonically distinct among Led Zeppelin's catalog. I think it's a fresh take on a genre that can seem bloated and middle-aged.

Today I recommend Moanin' by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. While this is out of my standard Rock and Rap repertoire, I think Moanin' is essential listening for any music fan. Simply put, Moanin' is a fun album that can serve as an introduction to a massive and rewarding genre of music, Jazz.

Is it just me, or does Art look like Michael K. Williams?

Before I listened to Moanin', I thought jazz seemed pretentious, impenetrable and boring. But Moanin' is what jazz musicians call a Hard Bop album. Basically, Hard Bop musicians wanted to be the best, but they still wanted their music to reach the ears of the common man. hard bop jazz works so well because it is versatile and can be listened to in any situation. It's a stimulating listen in the car, great mood music for a party. Moanin' is a great way to trick people into thinking you are sophisticated.

The thing I find remarkable about this album is its ability to explore different facets of jazz while remaining a cohesive and entertaining whole. The title track "Moanin'" is a slinky number that shows the virtuosity of the Jazz Messengers while maintaining an easy, danceable beat. "Are You Real" is a fast-paced romp with dazzling solos and "Blues March" represents a return to the simpler roots of jazz.

"The Thunder Drum Suite" is a truly epic track. The drums start off slowly but soon are at a fast-paced, primal roll. Blakey, with all his skill, manages to make an 8-minute drum solo not only listenable but exciting. 

Give Moanin' a shot. Click the video above and listen for five minutes. Worst case scenario, you waste five minutes. Best case, you will find a new genre of music to love.  

The Needle Drop

Anthony Fantano is the reason I started to listen to music with a critical ear.  Fantano runs a website and a YouTube channel called The Needle Drop, where he reviews three to four albums a week and provides commentary on today's music scene. His prolific output has earned him the title "Internet's busiest music nerd" and over 1.5 million Youtube subscribers. 

Behold. 

At the bottom of every video description, Fantano writes, "Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?" This attitude is what allowed Fantano to become so successful. Instead of billing himself as an expert, Fantano bills himself as a guy with an opinion, just like you. He removes the "ivory tower" element from music criticism.

This attitude shows up in his camera work. Fantano's reviews consist of him talking straight into the camera. Using this technique, Fantano is able to provide the illusion of conversation. When watching a Needle Drop video, it often feels like you are sitting with your music literate friend. You feel like you're chatting about exciting new albums and Fantano is cracking jokes and being quirky. Reality TV shows like Jersey Shore use this same technique when they have the actors confess their private thoughts to audience members. 

May I suggest Spamthony Cramtano?

Fantano constantly interacts with his fans, which furthers the interactive, personal feeling his videos give viewers. Look at the picture above, where Fantano lets the web decide what he will say in his signature opening gag. Fantanto is the first internet literate music critic. He grew with the rise of memes. He has gained mass popularity on websites like 4chan and Reddit. Websites like 4chan are where many popular memes are created.  Through these memes, users have of course relentlessly made fun of Fantano, both maliciously and endearingly.  Despite their silly origins, these memes serve to brand Fantano into the collective memory of the internet, giving him permanence.

Pictured: Dead Meme (circa 2013)

Whatever you think of Fantano and his videos, it is clear to see he has tapped into some cultural paradigm that allows him to be so successful. As traditional music media like Rolling Stone loses credibility and readership, keep an eye on The Needle Drop. 

Gorillaz and Virtual Bands

Gorillaz just released a new album The Now Now. Below is the music video for "Humility", the album's lead single. The Now Now is fun. However, it lacks the creative daring of earlier Gorillaz classics like Demon Days and Plastic Beach. I recommend giving it a listen, but I also want to talk about the band Gorillaz itself.

Gorillaz is the brainchild of Damon Albarn, the lead singer from popular Britpop band Blur, and Jamie Hewlett, a cartoonist. The two set out to create a totally unique musical in response to the formulaic pop music they felt dominated the charts. In order to retain complete creative control, they decided to make the band in a virtual world. The concept was not new. Bands like Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Archies were also fake bands that released real music. While these bands have put out successful records, Albarn and Hewitt set out to push the limits of what a "virtual band" could be.

Albarn and Hewlett created a complex backstory for the band, which consists of the fictional Russell, 2-D, Murdoc, and Noodle. This story is woven into the records and media the band produces and will continue into the foreseeable future. It features madcap twists and turns, involving exorcisms, Japanese supersoldiers, and islands made of garbage.

In the video above we can see the characteristic elements of a Gorillaz production. Most noticeable are the four animated members of Gorillaz. Apparently, they got Jack Black interested, because he provides a cameo. By using the medium of animation, the characters are able to be totally unreal, yet interact with the real world at the same time.

Gorillaz is a fantastic blend of everything. Their music bends genre and their visual aspect bends reality. If your ever in the mood for a totally unique musical experience, I suggest going through the Gorillaz catalog.