Solid Gold Popular Music Number Sixteen

Every week I post a song, for no reason other than it's fabulous. It may be old or new, obscure or over-exposed. No explanation, no fancy spiel, just solid gold popular music. Oh, and it's a secret, so you'll just have to trust me.

Solid Gold Popular Music Number Sixteen

Underrated: De La Soul Is Dead

When I started writing about underrated bands and albums last year, I really should have started here. In my opinion, this is the most underrated album in all popular music. It's big claim, and I'm sticking to it. I recall reading an article in Q a few years ago about the biggest mistakes in music, or something like that, and there at number one was De La Soul Is Dead, proof if proof be need be that everything printed in Q is wrong.

A little background. In 1989, De La Soul released Three Feet High and Rising, a record that changed rap music, and therefore popular music, for ever. It contained a unique mixture of goofy humour, anti-violence and hip-pop hits that crossed over to the mainstream in a way that few rap acts had managed at that time. It's main influence, however, was the phenomenal music, created entirely through sampling (hat's off to Prince Paul's production) that showed how using other peoples music could be just as creative as picking up your own instrument. They were hugely successful.

So how did they follow that? Two years later they released De La Soul Is Dead, and with the new album they rejected the image that had been partly foistered on them as the hippies of hip hop (the cover was a strong assertion that their flower power phase was over, as was the title). The other common assumption is that the music and lyrics took a much darker turn. This process of deliberately alienating their pop fans worked, and the album was nowhere near as successful as 3 Feet High.

But I never bought these arguments, and have never understood why the album has been so widely derided. Sure the album has darker moments (My Brother's A Basehead, Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa), but compared to most albums, it's a comedy fest. One track is based around an argument in a Burger King (Bitties In The BK Lounge), and there are scores of ridiculous samples and silly voices scattered throughout. Most incredibly, this may be one of the few hip hop albums where the comedy skits are actually funny (also true of the first De La album).

There are some irresistible pop hits too. Let, Let Me In, Pass The Plugs and Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) are as good as anything on 3 Feet High. The best song, however, is A Rolling Skating Jam Named Saturdays, as good a party jam as I've ever heard. The production is fabulous, built around a smorgasbord of samples:

• I Got My Mind Made Up" by Instant Funk
• "Ebony Jam" by Tower of Power
• "Good Times" by Chic
• "Evil Vibrations" by The Mighty Riders
• "Saturday in the Park" by Chicago
• "Grease" by Frankie Valli
• "Light My Fire" by Young-Holt Unlimited

And the amazing disco / piano breakdown in the middle? Oh, it's something else...

It's the kind of song that should be a classic, instead of something that people might remember as a minor hit from the early nineties. In fact, this could be said for the whole album. I think this is one of the greatest albums ever made, and the fact that it's so under-appreciated and often derided gets my goat. So get the album, and help me restore it to it's rightful place in the pantheon, not just of rap, but of pop music.

De La Soul - A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday's

De La Soul - New Music - More Music Videos

Solid Gold Popular Music Number Fifteen

Every week I post a song, for no reason other than it's fabulous. It may be old or new, obscure or over-exposed. No explanation, no fancy spiel, just solid gold popular music. Oh, and it's a secret, so you'll just have to trust me.

Solid Gold Popular Music Number Fifteen

Solid Gold Popular Music Number Fourteen

Every week I post a song, for no reason other than it's fabulous. It may be old or new, obscure or over-exposed. No explanation, no fancy spiel, just solid gold popular music. Oh, and it's a secret, so you'll just have to trust me.

Solid Gold Popular Music Number Fourteen

Solid Gold Popular Music Number Thirteen

Every week I post a song, for no reason other than it's fabulous. It may be old or new, obscure or over-exposed. No explanation, no fancy spiel, just solid gold popular music. Oh, and it's a secret, so you'll just have to trust me.

Solid Gold Popular Music Number Thirteen

Random Thoughts While Listening To Yeah Yeah Yeah's - It's Blitz

Firstly, let me apologise for the lack of proper blogging around here recently, I've been rather busy. But I'll be back in the saddle in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, here are some random thoughts I managed to squeeze in...

Pre-amble: I've talked on this blog before of my appreciation for the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. I've always been really impressed by them, and the unique pop madness that they manage to pull off. But just like Franz Ferdinand they have reached third album time, when the people who used to ape their every move are now all blase, and they've got to pull something out the bag to keep people interested. I'll think they'll manage it, but we'll see

Track 1 (Zero): It begins with pretty dynamic synths, drum machines and Karen emoting away over the top. In fact it sounds like the entire thing was created synthetically, apart from the singing of course. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that Nick Zinner's an amazing guitarist so he won't be wasted. I suppose Johnny Greenwood on keyboards didn't make Kid A a bad record, so...

Track 2 (Heads Will Roll): It sounds like an early 90's rave record at the beginning. This too is a splendid thing. Oh, this is pretty groovy, sounds a bit like DFA remix from 2005, which can only be good. A little more guitar in there , but none of the whirlwind that Zinner offer creates. This is very dancey, and rather fine.

Track 3 (Soft Shock): There's more of Karen's proper singing on this track. I like her voice a lot, she's got a great rock voice, expressive, individual and identifiably her own. Much like her wardrobe.

By the way, don't expect much lyrical focus in this. Unless I'm forced to, lyrics are not what I find particularly interesting. Music lives in my hips, not my brain.

Track 4 (Skeletons): She's crooning again, over an Autobahn era Kraftwerk electronic pulse. Then there's some drumstick action like Adam & The Ants, and some almost bagpipey action (I HATE BAGPIPES, but this is okay). They've got to make a video for this on a clifftop somewhere, November Rain style. I'd be dead impressed if they did.

Track 5 (Dull Life): So this is probably closer to what people expect from the YYY's, i.e. it's more indie. Still, they do this sort of thing really well. Really really well.

Track 6 (Shame and Fortune): Kanye would like this beat. Not sure he could do much with that thick guitar hook though, but he's a cool guy, so he'd probably dig it. Much like I dig that terrific cover. More eggs in rock, says I.

I have a feeling that this album is a grower. I like it, but it hasn't blown me away yet. There hasn't been a Maps or Date With The Night yet. There's still time though.

Track 7 (Runaway): Oooh, that's a nice piano sound, could be time for a ballad. This is rather lovely, and features some great shimmering guitar from Nick Zinner. I'll say it again, the man's a brilliant guiatrist, God knows how he makes those sounds.

Track 8 (Dragon Queen): Kudos for the title, anything that sounds like a C64 game sounds good to me. There is a element of 80's pop to this album, but don't be deceived, it's only a touch. Maybe it's all those synths, although this chorus is pretty breathy (an 80's sound, if ever there was one).

Track 9 (Hysteric): This track is pretty unremarkable. I mean, I like it, but it's probably the weakest so far. So next month it'll be my favourite.

Track 10 (Little Shadow): Church organs? Acoustic guitars. Check out the Arcade Fire over there. For about 5 seconds. It's end the album with an epic ballad time. The YYY's are different from other 'indie bands' (I felt dirty just typing it), in that despite their occasional forays into noisiness, especially live, they have a real pop sensibility. The album is crafted, with just the right balance of styles to keep everyone happy. Apart from the hipsters, but they're never happy.

Post-amble: It's definitely a grower. On first listen, although I liked it, it's a little underwhelming. But I'm going to give it time, and I would urge you to do the same. Unless you're a hipster, of course.

Solid Gold Popular Music Number Twelve

Every week I post a song, for no reason other than it's fabulous. It may be old or new, obscure or over-exposed. No explanation, no fancy spiel, just solid gold popular music. Oh, and it's a secret, so you'll just have to trust me.

Solid Gold Popular Music Number Twelve