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When you loaded this page, I was listening to:
Courtesy of Kung Tunes

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... - 73:34 - 1995
Yo son, yo son, yo kid, word son, yo kid, yo yo check this out kid, word sun, muvfa fuckers be trippin, kid, it's mad son, shit, you know what I'm sayin son.... Now, find an old scratchy record with a skip or two and repeat the above lines over and over like a snot nosed grammar schooler with a Glock. Viola, now you to are well on your way to embarking on a lucrative career with the corporate Wu-Tang empire. Which ever record company exec approved this shit should be ashamed. The only people getting jacked are the other fools like me that dumped $18 on this piece of crap.

Rapeman - Two Nuns and a Pack Mule - 44:01 - 1988
I don't know the circumstances leading to the arrival or departure of this group other than it's Steve Albini of Big Black, and as far as I know this was their only release. All that aside, this CD floored me. I was not expecting what is essentially Big Black with a drummer to sound so good. The drummer was like an adrenalin shot to the heart for Albini et all. Although the instrumentation is almost identical on every song, this CD hammers you with interesting, pounding drums, bright power twang guitar, and even a touch of funky bass. Sounds similar to the Jesus Lizard (maybe some of them are in this band. I don't know, I'll have to compare liner notes later. They are buddies anyway. Chicago/Sub Popers) I bet they put on some killer shows. Cool ZZ Top cover too.

Rare Earth - Greatest Hits and Rare Classics - 70:43 - 1991 (72-78)
Rare Earth is a band that has all but been erased from the music history books. These were some of the funkiest white guys you are likely to find. They were a strange bird in that they were a white Motown band that did cover tunes as well as songs written for them. I guess what the weird thing is that it worked, and not in the way that Pat Boone ripping off Little Richard did. At their best, they put me in wah wah guitar, wok-i-che - wok-i-che heaven. There are 4 songs in particular that have been rocking my world since I was about 6 or 7 years old! As they progress into the late 70's disco creeps in and the whole thing turns to shit.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik - 72:37 - 1991
I always liked RHCP as people, and although I thought what they were trying to do was a good idea, their music pretty much sucked. All that changed with Mothers Milk. All the things I liked about MM were honed even further on BSSM, into what I consider to be their finest hour (+12). With the ever vivacious Flea at it's core, RHCP were probably the funkiest white guys in the 90's. Original fans probably hate the more soulful ballads that finally won them massive air play, but admittedly, I'm rather fond of them as well as the full on funk rock of songs like "Suck My Kiss." To sit through a 70 minute CD without losing interest is a wonderful thing.

Vernon Reid - Mistaken Identity - 63:18 - 1996
Crap, burned again! The thing about taking chances is, you have to take a chance. But I'm thinking "hey, it's Vernon Reid (Living Colour's resident genius and exceptional guitarist) how bad could it be?" Well, as it turned out, not too bad, but not too good either, and certainly not what I expected. This is the type of rap jazz that I would suspect Bill Lasswell to have a hand in. Predominantly instrumentals, most of this material is generally pointless, dated, and boring. There is also a small amount of multimedia, that finishes just as you start to get into it.

The Residents - Heaven? - 65:13 - 1986
There is no doubt in my mind that The Residents are THE strangest band of the 20th Century. To start with, they shroud their identities under their uniform, which is typically a tuxedo and top hat, with a huge eyeball for a head. They are also one of the most long running bands, perhaps even longer than the Stones. (and with infinitely more imagination) It's hard to describe The Residents sound, because it is unique unto itself. Sometimes it's kind of like the elevator music on your way to Hell. Extremely experimental, but always structured, these performance artist also extend their vision beyond music, and into their shows, art, and multi-media. This is one half of a compilation set, (the other being Hell) that has a pretty good assortment of material.

Max Roach - To The Max! - 101:08 - 1991
I really don't know much about Max Roach, other than that he is a somewhat famous Jazz drummer/arranger, and since I'm into drums, I thought I'd check him out. The general vibe on this 2 CD set is similar to that of Sun Ra's eccentric/eclectic/Fantasia-esque hippopotomi party groove. There's lots of percussion based activity, and even a warning not to play a certain section too loud, or risk hearing or equipment loss. Although the tempo usually keeps moving pretty good, and there are some good rhythms, some of the choral vocals get on my nerves, and generally speaking this isn't really my bag - not bad though.

The Rolling Stones - Singles Collection: the London Years - 135:34+ - 1989 (00-00)
Wow, the Stones have got to be the longest running band in all history. During that time they have done some great stuff, however, most of the songs they are remembered for came from the first quarter of their existence. Compiled on these four disc are about 80 songs that cover a wide, albeit not whole, spectrum of the Stones early work. There are a billion hits you've heard, a million hits you've forgotten, and a mix of interesting, goofy, bad and cool songs. One really interesting period that you've probably not heard is their psychedelic efforts, strange stuff. The Stones were an amazing band, and this is a great box set of songs you don't normally hear on the radio.

Roni Size - Reparzent - 140:04 - 1997
Finally, a DJ that doesn't fuck around when it comes to dropping beats. I have gotten so frustrated at the likes of Chemical Brothers, Goldie, and Aphex Twin, all of which have more than enough skill to "rock my world", but for some reason, they feel compelled to languish in endless dull pieces that make me grate my teeth with anticipation for the next hot track. Even though Roni keeps it going pretty steady, his cuts don't quite have the complexity they need to really make them something more than adrenalin boosters. So although Goldie may have more potential, while he is dragging his dick in the dirt, I'll be listening to this double dose of drum and bass.

RUN DMC - Tougher Than Leather - 40:29 - 1988
RUN DMC is credited with kicking off rap to the masses, and unlike other breakthrough bands like Sugar Hill Gang, RUN DMC has created an enormous body of work spanning over a decade. And, guess what: by in large it's mostly great stuff. I wouldn't say they lived up to the self proclaimed title "King of Rock", however, they have definitely earned a place in the rap monarchy. "Tougher Than Leather" affirms their skill and mastery of this medium and I think is arguably their best work.
yeah, I know, these reviews are a little screwed up. I'll straighten it up later.

RUN DMC - Tougher Than Leather - 40:29 - 1988
Even though RUN DMC have always had a goofy stereotypical image, and their incessant rhyming tends to cut at their respectabliliy, when it comes to pumping out the music, the boys don't mess around. Jam Master Jay drops some serious beats on this one, and that's what really makes this CD stand out. I think this CD got overlooked because it came at a time when rap was really branching out in all directions, and people were generally bored with rhymers like RUN DMC, however I think "Tougher Than Leather" is arguably their best work and affirms their skill and mastery of this medium.

RUN DMC - Down With The King - 49:41 - 1993
After a long period of sabbatical, RUN DMC returns with a slightly new, somewhat confused image: Onyx on God. They also come with a new approach to music making that's interesting. If most of these tracks remind you of something else, it's because almost every track is produced by or collaborated with a different member of "todays hottest rap artist". In some ways this works, like the title cut (with Pete Rock and CL Smooth) which is an exceptional track, and in other ways it is kind of odd and doesn't fit hearing them try something new. Other collaborators include: Q-Tip, the Bomb Squad, EPMD, and Onyx.

Rush - Chronicles - 144:24 - 1990
Frankly, this is more Rush than I'm prepared to digest in one sitting, however, the fact remains that this trio has a unique sound and the hit songs are really great. Also Rush is more of a concept album kind of band, and you might be better served with individual albums that form a feeling and storyline rather than dislocated and reassembled chunks of the whole.
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