The Godfather of hip-hop production, DJ Shadow, is probably recognizable to most as the creator of one of the best if not the best instrumental hip-hop albums ever made. "Entroducing..." is the album and is most definitely on my top five albums of all-time. Since that album was released in '96 I should probably stop talking about it and more about his second best album "The Private Press." Though impossible to live up to the expectations put upon it after "Entroducing...", "The Private Press" manages to avoid the sophomore slump. Like it's predecessor the album is almost strictly sample based; DJ Shadow once again makes the most of his 60,000 plus vinyl collection. Opening with a short voice track and moving into one of my favorites, "Fixed Income", you'll find yourself instantly immersed in the Shadow's vast soundscape. One minute you may be in a "... dark, but also not" place the next on a motorway at the mercy of some angry drivers. The album is a ride; a fun and thrilling trip provided by one talented producer. DJ Shadow did release one other album this decade, "The Outsider", which in my mind was a mess and though I am disappointed in the Shadow I look forward to his next effort which will in his own words "sound different than the last one". Sounds promising.
Standout tracks: Fixed Income, Giving Up the Ghost, Six Days, Blood on the Motorway, You Can't Go Home Again
Just to keep things interesting around here I thought I'd post this video of a guy performing "Fixed Income" on the guitar. It's pretty cool and he does a good job with it:
A new format for this blog is in the works so keep your eye out for it, it should be ready shortly
No comments:
Post a Comment