What are you listening to at the present? (genres helpful)

[PartridgeSenpai]

My friend showed me Yonezu Kenshi's newer single [LOSER], and holy shit that guys is so good. She has his whole discography so she let me rip the MP3's to my PC, and it's all I've been listening to the past few days. I'm not even one to just casually listen to music, like, ever, but I've actually been walking around listening to stuff on campus, let alone when I'm sitting down ever. He tends to do either pop-ballads or more up-beat pop-songs. I highly encourage looking up the songs with English translations though, because all the ones I've seen have been so good!

[Sano]

Lost Emotions feat. Anthya - Heal (Mike van Fabio Remix)

Epic Trance

[J T]

I'm listening to gagaku, a type of Japanese classical music. This type of music was first imported to Japan from Chinese yayue music in the 6th and 7th centuries when Japan had become interested in diplomatic relationships with China. This is also from around the time that Dosho first brought Buddhism to Japan from China.

[marurun]

Just listened to the extended version of Ina Gadda Da Vida on YouTube. I have mixed feelings, but in the end, I do ultimately like it.

[stickem]

Just listened to the extended version of Ina Gadda Da Vida on YouTube. I have mixed feelings, but in the end, I do ultimately like it.

Check out slayers cover lol

[noiseredux]

Beastie Boys
The In Sound From Way Out
1996, The In Sound From Way Out is a collection of instrumental tracks from the Check Your Head and Ill Communication sessions. Some of these are taken directly from those albums, while others are alternate versions or were originally released as b-sides to singles. In spite of that, this holds together really well as a proper album. It takes heavy inspiration from 70's funk-jazz and even more so, soul-jazz. While the Beasties will always be remembered as a punk band who transformed into a rap group, it's awesome to hear their more downbeat influences with this collection. "Ricky's Theme" (originally from Ill Communication) is my real standout here. It is one of the most chill tracks of their career, and one that I could listen to over and over again. A lot of the record is pretty chill, but not this chill. This is definitely an instrumental record for hip hop fans.


John Coltrane
Blue Train
1958, This was the only album that Coltrane ever recorded for Blue Note. Isn't that weird? Anyway, while Trane was often known for breaking new ground with his releases - or at least doing something unique and interesting, Blue Train is pretty straight ahead. There's nothing crazy here, just some nice pleasant bop. The personnel is solid - among them Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Oh! And it was recorded by none other than Rudy Van Gelder. The opener and title track is a fantastic one, and Coltrane rides it out for ten blissful minutes. His take on "I'm Old Fashioned" is likewise recommended. Though not as adventurous as what will follow, Blue Train is a good starting place for those interested in investigating Coltrane.


Guru
Jazzmatazz Vol. II: The New Reality
1995, The second volume in Guru's Jazzmatazz series is part of a special era of acid jazz records for me. It was released at a time when I was young and infatuated with hip hop and hungry to learn about jazz music in the process. The New Reality is slightly less jazz-focused than the first volume. The samples and guests are there, but things feel tighter and less jammy than before. Guests this time out are a bit more diverse as well. Donald Byrd, Kenny Garrett, Freddie Hubbard, Ronny Jordan, Ramsey Lewis and Branford Marsalis are meshed with Chaka Khan (on the excellent "Watch What You Say"), Kool Keith, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jamiroquai and Bahamadia. Though subsequent volumes in the series would all but erase the jazz influence of these first two albums, and while this one is a bit more Wu-Tang than Weather Report, I can't help but really enjoy the balance that it created.


Monk Hughes & The Outer Realm
A Tribute To Brother Weldon
2004, This is another Yesterdays New Quintet spin-off one-off project. This one recorded under the guest of YNQ's Monk Hughes serves as a tribute to the late Weldon Irvine who sadly took his own life in 2002. This album also follows Madlib's Suite For Weldon that he recorded with Mr. Dibbs and Breakestra in 2003. Upon first listen I had a bit of trouble getting into this one. But slowly I found that repeated listens kept revealing new and amazing things. A warning, this is a dense record full of heavy, brooding, sometimes almost ugly sounds that - if you let them - will surround you like a fog and suddenly make a sort of brilliant sense and reveal a hidden beauty. The tempos here are kept slow - perhaps a reminder that this celebration is a eulogy. Totally recommended for those with the patience to let it grow.


The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble
Fall Suite
2009, Like Summer Suite, the second Last Electro album was released initially as a promotional item only. This one however did eventually get a limited release in Japan as well. Again, this is a full suite of new recordings that are combined into one long track. While the first album did totally have a Summer-ish feel to it, Fall Suite doesn't quite scream autumn to me. It's nice, though. Still good spacey headnod type jazz, if a bit less focused. While I don't rank it quite as high as Summer Suite, this one is still damn good and yet another in a long line of quality YNQ-related albums. Worth seeking out as long as you've already hunted down a lot of the heavy hitters first.

[J T]

You may know this already, but that Beastie Boys album is referencing this classic bit of early electronic music:



Love Blue Train.

I need to listen to Jazzmatazz 2. I've only listened to the first one, but the lineup sounds fantastic.

I've tried to like Monk Hughes, but I just find it too much. I can see how you would feel it like a dense fog, and I could almost get into that idea, but I just felt lost and unable to hang onto any particular musical idea.

[noiseredux]

Monk Hughes is something you need to spend a lot of time with to love. It is def challenging. Did you hear the Young Jazz Rebels album? Its similar but easier to get into.

[Sano]

Scooter - J'adore Hardcore

[Omerta]

Brad is gonna be so proud of me. Grabbed a brand new generic "Best of" Miles Davis CD for two shiny quarters.