Happy 25th birthday to Nevermind, Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Low End Theory

25 years ago today, three albums dropped that became game-changers. It wasn't planned. Nobody knew what they'd do. It was pure organic history and pure organic shifts in music with Nirvana's Nevermind, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magic and A Tribe Called Quest's Low End Theory.

All of them built up in their own way. Nirvana was blowing up in Seattle but Alice in Chains and Soundgarden were starting to make impacts on radio as well. The Chilis were Los Angeles legends just taking mainstream success with Mother's Milk but were known for punk-funk and rowdy shows around the country. Tribe? An incredible debut that had New York and others anxious to see what they'd do next adding to the Native Tongues landscape.

There's more than enough words on Nevermind today. The album that made most of us know who Nirvana was. The classic cover, the classic songs still getting play on radio so that when I was in high school (98-02), I knew them like they just came out. As much as Smells like Teen Spirit is overplayed, there's still a rush when you hear those opening chords and that chorus that brought in a new generation.

Now I've learned more about music to know Teen Spirit was heavily influenced by Boston's More Than a Feeling and The Pixies soft-loud dynamic (quiet on the verses, loud on the chorus - something you can really hear on "In Bloom").  "Come As You Are" stole the riff from Killing Joke's "Eighties" but it still sounds so murky and beautiful that you can't help but enjoy. It doesn't rob Nirvana of their power or how that album ushered in grunge in 1992.

Oh and "Breed" is one of my favorites because it hints at Nirvana's punk roots. To me, this song is all about Krist Novoselic's heavy bass and Dave Grohl's heavy drumming. Kurt Cobain has a nasty guitar solo that just fires me up but this was all about the total band just going all out, probably why I've had it on my running playlist a few times.

Contrast that with "On a Plain" which always moves me on the Unplugged version. Something about that record makes me feel the pain in Kurt's voice and it's perfect near the end.

Then we have Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Rick Rubin on board to help mature the Chili Peppers sound. But you know something funny? I waver on this album being my favorite sometimes with Mother's Milk.

Don't get me wrong. BSSM has my favorite Chilis songs. "Suck My Kiss" is just so raw and fun every time I hear it. The Power of Equality is one of the more underrated intros in their catalog. The title track has some heavy funk in there and "Sir Psycho Sexy" is hilarious and wild. And of course, "Under the Bridge" is a great love letter to L.A. and so uplifting to me even though it's a depressing revisit into drug abuse.

But something about it lacks the raw punk sound and wild energy of Mother's Milk. Part of that is Rick Rubin robbing that in folks he produces (and I wondered if my burned CD robbed some of that sound in college) but it's missing from BSSM. So I guess there's different things I love about BSSM than Mother's Milk but what I love is great.

You hear Anthony Kiedis show that he's a solid songwriter. You hear John Frusicante show why he's a musical genius even if the fame drove him away during the tour. His guitar work on "I Could Have Lied" is incredibly soulful and hints at the goodness he'd show on later albums. So the album has some wonderful highs I love all the time and it blew them up from the L.A. alternative scene they shared with Fishbone, Jane's Addiction and more to be rock legends.

I just have a weird relationship with it as a super duper Chilis fan. Oh and if you don't like "Give It Away" you don't have a soul. Period.

Now Low End Theory. I've written words already about this being the first Tribe album I heard but with Phife Dawg having left us, it's key to remember his presence is why this album stands out. We knew about Q-Tip being a great MC from the debut. We knew the first album was well-produced so the second would have it. But Phife's presence makes it have more oomph.

His intro on "Buggin Out" still gets me excited as much as hearing that bass kick in. His solo cut "Butter" showed the personality I'd become a fan of when I dug into Tribe.  And of course, his back and forth on Check the Rhime with Q-Tip became a new standard for group interplay.

I still love this album for what it has overall. The heavy bass sound. The immaculate production and Q-Tip giving us gems on "Verses from the Abstract" (The world is kinda cold and the rhythm is my blanket). It's hip-hop that was smoothed out but no less great. You can hear it now and know that the Native Tongues wasn't just De La Soul's left field greatness but it was also Tribe finding their own lane and giving us timeless music.

"Scenario" will be played forever and ever and ever and we'll get hyped like dungeon dragons with Busta. But today's birthday means we'll also miss Phife Dawg much more. The 5-Foot Assassin who gave us wonderful chemistry with Q-Tip and made Tribe one of my all-time favorites.  A classic album with bass and rhymes for days and helped usher in the alternative rap sound that Ultramagnetic MCs, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers and more started.

Happy birthday to three game-changers. Timeless works of art that will never leave my ears or many of us who grew up in their aftermath.

Greatest LA Band of my lifetime?

My post from Monday had a line that made a few folks wonder - I said that the Red Hot Chili Peppers were the best band Los Angeles has produced in my lifetime (since 1984). Outside of Guns N Roses, it's hard to argue against what the Chili Peppers have done to earn that.

Since their breakthrough album Mother's Milk in 1988, they've had a slew of hits and great albums while evolving from a punk/funk band to a rock band with solid melodies, brilliant songwriting and the ability to still keep it funky and raw. When their next album drops (soon I hope), it'll be one of the biggest rock albums of the year.

They're still relevant, their impact is rock solid and their legacy is still being written as one of the greatest bands of the last 30 years. Not to mention they're #1 on my must-see in concert list. But what about others who could make that argument for being LA's finest? For me, it all starts with Axl, Slash, and the boys.

Guns N' Roses had a six year run that rivals any band in music history. A sonic boom that paved the way for Metallica and Nirvana to kill the hair metal of the 80's and a rawness that captured the essence of the Sunset Strip back then.

Classic songs, a genre defining album, the powerful combo of Axl's voice, Slash's guitar and combustible creativity. Makes me wish Axl didn't blowtorch that legacy with his ego because had G'N'R lasted even 5-6 more years in that form, they wouldn't just be one of the greatest bands ever. They could arguably be the greatest band of the post-Led Zeppelin era.

Not a bad consolation to be cited as one of the greatest based on a perfect storm. But as we waited for Axl to drop Chinese Democracy, Slash and Co. made great music with Velvet Revolver and RHCP kept doing their thing. Greatness not denied, but never totally realized.

Fishbone came out around the same time as RHCP (even toured with them in 1988) and is the most underrated/underappreciated band of my lifetime. I didn't get into them until 2004-05 but once I did, it was easy to see why they don't get much love.

Their best albums ("Truth and Soul" and "Reality of My Surroundings") got them some moderate success but despite their ska/funk/punk/hard rock sound, the mainstream never fully came around to them. Those who saw them perform said they were the greatest live act they had seen. Even the ska revolution of the mid-90's didn't produce anymore fame.

By 1993, they lost guitarist Kendall Jones at their peak. Other members left and they continued to be a cult phenomenon. One day I hope to see them live and witness their genius. While they didn't get the full mainstream love (and were a victim of label politics), Fishbone had probably more influence on more bands in So.Cal than anybody. Just ask No Doubt or the Chili Peppers themselves.

(Edit: Somehow I forgot to mention this next band in my original post although they have my favorite guitarist and helped raise my awareness. What an IDIOT.)

Rage Against the Machine continued the legacy of The Clash, MC5 and Public Enemy as one of the only bands that mattered in the Clinton era (1993-2001) who didn't just rest on their laurels. They got angrier as they got older but they remained LA to their core - even naming their final original album Battle of Los Angeles.

Somehow they achieved more success than any political band in recent memory. In a time of prosperity, they stayed vigilant even on Saturday Night Live and at the 2000 Democratic National Convention. And sonically, they were just way too creative as Tom Morello made his guitar sound like anything and everything.

They got the hint. Music/message have to both be strong. But even though I like Zach and Co. and seeing them live in 2007 remains one of my highlights, I can't put them above RHCP thanks to their premature breakup. I would've loved for them to stay together during the Bush II Administration, especially in 2004. One of the 90's greatest bands and I'll always stay tuned to "Guerrilla Radio."

Jane's Addiction almost singlehandedly created the alternative rock scene. They're one of the most unique bands ever and I'm a big fan of Dave Navarro's playing - ironically I refuse to buy his only album with RHCP even though "My Friends" is a great song.

As great as their influence is and their songs are, their peak was almost shorter than Guns N Roses (3 years) and even though their song is in the intro of "Entourage," there's always a doubt that Jane's will ever stick around long enough to enjoy them. But their mark is set in stone.

Motley Crue? They ruled the 80's but let's be real. The only reason they're still relevant to most folks my age is because of Tommy Lee. I respect the Crue as legends and they're possibly the greatest hair-metal band but ask my peers to name a Crue song besides "Girls, Girls, Girls." Besides Tommy Lee's underrated drumming, they didn't musically add much to the game and their image trumped that.

No hate, just facts. In the same breath, you can argue N.W.A. was a band and deserves a role on this list. Unfortunately 3 albums means they're in the same breath as Jane's Addiction. They were the hip-hop Guns' N Roses and while their impact is untouchable, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube's solo work make you only wonder what they could've done if they weren't screwed over by money.

So there you have it. Oh wait a sec, what's this noise? My God! That could only mean one thing. I forgot about these guys!

Yep, Metallica started in LA. And they have everything the Chili Peppers have - longevity, impact, sales, hits, mainstream acceptance, relevance (thanks to their last album). Matter of fact, they and RHCP broke through (albums in 1988), changed the game (albums in 1991), went through an identity crisis in the mid-90's, came back with a force in 1999 (Californication and S&M) and still made an impact in the 2000's.

One of the greatest metal bands ever and among the greatest at their respective skills (James Hetfield - phenomenal voice, Kirk Hammett - Top 5 Guitarist of the last 30 years, Lars Ulrich - one of the greatest drummers ever and most versatile since he cowrites most of the band's lyrics).

You can't beat 5 straight No.1 albums. And even if I can't see them as an L.A. band like RHCP, they represent the best my city has to offer. So I guess the answer is a tie? Or a question for another blog.

By the way, the greatest band from LA period? These two trump everybody.

Electric Relaxation: Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge"

For my money, I'll argue that the Red Hot Chili Peppers (along with Guns N Roses) are the greatest band California's produced in my lifetime. And this is arguably the greatest song they've written, a love letter to our city. I listened to it again this weekend and figured it was time to share.

"I felt an unspoken bond between me and my city. I'd spent so much time wandering through the streets of L.A. and hiking through the Hollywood Hills that I sensed there was a nonhuman entity, maybe the spirit of the hills and the city, who had me in her sights and was looking after me." (from Anthony Kiedis' autobiography)

Anthony also said he wrote this in the depths of despair and loneliness. The story's been well-documented on how the music came together so I'll tell you why I love it.

It's beautifully written. It's sung with an emotional honesty that doesn't appear much on Blood Sugar Sex Magik underneath the punk-funk, sex talk and blistering energy. That opening line grabs you like he knows what he means "Sometimes I feel like, I don't have a partner."

If you're from LA, there's something in that which just gives you pride in being from here and also expresses how easy it is to feel lost in a city so big. In a sea of faces, it's easy to drown even when you have great friends. This is what I felt at some point this weekend and the song just reminds me that I'm not the only one while speaking to my mood.

But the chorus is so uplifting. When Anthony puts more force into those words, it's self encouragement. "I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day. Take me to the place I love. Take me all the way.". And suddenly I don't feel bad anymore, I want to do more to uplift myself and rediscover my good mood. Then there's that that heavenly ending - the hope that I can escape this bad vibe and find my place.

Granted AK ended it talking about escaping with some drugs under the bridge. But we all long for that escape. It's such a sad song but there's optimism in it. Maybe that's why I love it so much. A beautifully written ballad that not only is an anthem for my city but a message to anybody who's felt lonely and wants to rediscover that mojo.

(Sidenote: I'm actually not a big fan of Blood Sugar Sex Magik outside of a few songs. Something about its sound didn't grab me like the last 3 albums did and I actually like Mother's Milk as a whole.)

Thanks for the Memories, John

This is sad news to me that John Frusicante is leaving the Red Hot Chili Peppers again. Even though it was on great terms, it's a big loss because he's a driving force in their creativity.

I guess he still wants to follow his unique musical vision and few artists today can match the skill he has. But its a lot better than when he did in 1992, leaving the band because he was incapable of being a star and dealing with drug addiction.

People don't talk much about it, but his road to recovery is one of the best in recent music history. You can look at videos of him strung out and wonder how someone was probably near death can comeback and reclaim his throne as one of the best guitarists of the last 30 years. A child prodigy turned rock star turned drug addict turned clean visionary.

The Chili Peppers are one of my favorite bands ever and I was anticipating a new album next year and finally getting to see them on tour at some point. But now, it'll just be Anthony, Chad, Flea and hopefully a great guitarist who can capture some semblance of John's vibe.

It's been a great 10 years back John. Thank you for the music and I wish you well with your career.

Electric Relaxation Vol. 3: 2001-03 Edition

Looking back on it, most of the music that was released 2001-2003 still resonates with me in a real way. Maybe that's because I finally listened to more stuff and got exposed to a wider variety of things. Throw in that I transitioned from high school to college and you have music that fits a the mood I was in - reflective, optimistic, anxious for a new beginning.



Now when I listen to those songs or those albums - it gives me that good feeling that good music is supposed to do when you connect with it emotionally. Here's some of the albums/songs I still love.






Incubus - Morning View: More than anything, this album was bought for the sole purpose of me attending Pepperdine. The band made it in Malibu and I imagined listening to it on the shores of class. Alas, I ended up doing it in San Diego but it had the same effect.




It's probably the band's softest album but it's so peaceful that I would sit down and write some poetry to it. You can imagine the shores of Malibu in the background to "Just A Phase" and just zone out.



Switchfoot - Beautiful Letdown: I had heard of Switchfoot but this album felt like a challenge to me. A challenge to the world around me and the minute I heard "Meant To Live," I felt inspired. Lyrically, it touched on searching for something more than the simple thrills and living with a purpose and for teens, the message resonated.



They may be a Christian band, but they touch on universal themes that people can relate to. Plus they make great music and coming from San Diego, they connected with many at my school.




The Ataris - So Long, Astoria: The minute I heard "In This Diary" and heard that line "Being grown up, isnt half as fun as growing up" I was hooked on this album. When I heard "Boys of Summer" in my friend's room, I knew it'd be a hit once summer came around.


But this album was about being reflective (named after the town the "Goonies" lived in) and looking back on the younger days. It was the perfect summer album back in 2003 but now, it's an album that reminds me of being young and the fun I had back then.

Eminem - The Eminem Show: To this day, I'll tell anyone this is Shady's most personal album and maybe it's not better than Marshall Mathers LP, but its darker and realer.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way: I remember buying this the week before I left for college and I imagined listening to it in San Diego for the same reason I loved Morning View. It felt dreamlike and a good mood for being by the ocean.

It's a shame that I found out the band kinda feels ambivalent about it because it was mostly John Frusciante's input. But I love this album. I did drive down to San Diego once listening to this - PERFECT background music for the coast.

Zwan - Mary Star of the Sea - Billy Corgan's side band disintegrated soon afterwards but I really enjoy the album because lyrically Corgan was influenced by his faith.

Jurassic 5 - Power In Numbers : I really hoped J5 would've blown up from this album. Radio hits and quality music haven't sounded this good from the L.A. underground.

The Roots - Phrenology : Hard to follow up a classic but they did. The first album I bought from the crew and I loved every listen of it.

Musiq - Juslisen: This was the last thing I listened to when I had my final moments when my Dad. And aside from that, it's a dope R&B album from one of my favorite singers.

Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head : One of the best albums of the decade. I remember DLing it before I left for the summer and I listened to it right before I left. Phenomenal album from start to finish. I love Amsterdam, Politik, and of course "The Scientist."

Justin Timberlake - Justified: Don't Laugh - this album is probably one of the better R&B joints of the decade. He reminded me of Michael, George Michael that is. I heard the album the same night I heard Coldplay and loved it right away.

Sugar Ray - Sugar Ray: Don't Laugh Pt. 2 - this was their last hurrah and the boys of summer made a great album I enjoyed in 2001. "Satellites" still takes me to a special place, this album is great driving music.

The Starting Line - Say It Like You Mean It/Home Grown - Kings of Pop: I gotta put these two together because I saw them both in concert at my school and hearing both albums remind me of that show. My first punk show, my first mosh pit, raw energy that I still draw back to.

Nappy Roots - Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz: This is an album you don't hear too often on a mainstream level period, regardless of region. A song about being poor being a hit? Ballin on a Budget? This was some feel good hip-hop made the summer of 02 easy, breezy and manageable.

These down-home brothas made one of the last great Southern albums before the shift of crunk/trappin/club music that the South is more known for now.

Maybe I'll do a post on some of the singles from that era that stuck with me but you can probably imagine the singles from these albums had a big effect on me.

Flashback Friday: 1999 Albums

It's hard to believe that these albums are 10 years old. But more importantly, it's crazy how many these albums sold. This was the beginning of the end for albums consistently selling like crazy because Napster was looming and completely changed the music game.

To me, the biggest surprise of the 2000's was when Usher, Outkast and Norah Jones sold over 10 million copies of their albums. All it did was remind me of how our favorite (and not so favorite) artists used to do it in 1999-2000. You could pretty much go platinum easily if you had a monster hit like "Mambo No. 5."

It was the year of pop success that wouldn’t stop til 2001. Shania Twain, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock were the faces of music. Again it boggles my mind that this year was 10 years ago. A lifetime ago when the record industry was in the middle of making its last stand and pop stars were seemingly made overnight.

It was the perfect storm of MTV’s “Total Request Live” blowing up and a year where people wanted to party. It was like everybody wanted to end the 20^th century on top and pretty much, nearly everybody did.

Favorite 5 Albums of 1999

1. red hot chili peppers – californication

2. rage against the machine - battle of los angeles

3. mos def – black on both sides (Black Dante's Illmatic)

4. moby – play (changed the game with marketing despite no hit single until summer 2001)

5. the roots – things fall apart

* right at No. 6 - Dr. Dre 2001

Top Comebacks

1. Santana

2. TLC/RHCP

3. Dr. Dre

4. Slick Rick (Street Talkin was the joint)

5. Jordan Knight/Joey McIntyre (tie - all the New Kids fans came out the wood work for these two. Top 10 hits for both)

6. Stone Temple Pilots (“Sour Girl” is still one of my Top 5 STP joints)

Top debuts (besides the Mighty Mos Def)

1. Ja Rule (hip hop’s next big superstar)/Britney Spears (Queen of Pop til 2004)

2. Christina Aguilera (pop’s greatest voice since then)

3. Eminem

4. Dixie Chicks (country wouldn’t be the same)

5. Slipknot (brought some much needed edge to rock)

6. Ricky Martin (everyone was “Livin La Vida Loca” that summer)

*other notable debuts – Pharoahe Monch, Staind, Lil’ Wayne, Jessica Simpson, Q-Tip

Career-making Albums

1. Creed – Human Clay (hailed as the kings of rock before the backlash started)

2. DMX – And Then There Was X (the last No. 1 album of the century and believe it or not, the 2nd biggest 1st-week sales of the year behind the Backstreet Boys...just a reminder how HUGE this guy was and how far he's fallen.)

3. Limp Bizkit - Significant Other

4. Backstreet Boys – Millenium (hate to put a pop joint on here, but it signified the rise of pop taking over the radio and the biggest artists selling a million in their 1^st week - everyone who sold a mil)

5. Blink 182 – Enema of the State (hello Travis Barker, hello pop charts, hello plenty of imitators)

6. Hot Boys – Guerrila Warfare (another key cog in Cash Money’s takeover)

7. Incubus – Make Yourself (possibly their best album and just like Moby, another 2-year build to greatness)

Great Albums that came through

Method Man & Redman “Blackout” (“Da RockWilder” is one of the best beats of the last 10 years)

Kurupt – Streetz is a Mutha (West Coast Classic)

Jimmy Eat World – Clarity

Jennifer Lopez – On the 6 (more on this in Flashback on Latin Pop)

Eve – Ruff Ryders 1^st Lady (the last female rapper to debut with an impactful career – sorry Remy Ma, Scenario 2000 smashes most posse cuts since then)

ODB – N***a Please

Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile

311 – Soundsystem

Foo Fighters - There is Nothing Left to Lose

Metallica – S&M

Biggest American Flop: Robbie Williams. The biggest pop star in England tried to make a splash over here and after being signed to Capitol Records, he only went gold. Consider him the music version of soccer, everyone else loves him, we don’t (“Millenium” is a great pop song though)

* Of course that doesn’t includes Memphis Bleek, whose debut flopped in 1999 and he’d keep trying to make hits to no avail. If you couldn't sell during THIS time, is it any surprise he didn't sell this decade?

That's Flashback Friday, hope y'all enjoyed it!