Best of the 00s: Basement Jaxx, Cat Power & Clipse
Best of the 00s: Gabe Joins the 21st Century
Part 10: Basement Jaxx, Cat Power & Clipse
Nada Co-founders Matt and Gabe are listening to 197 of the music press’s picks for “best albums of the 00s” for a series called Gabe Joins the 21st Century.
Basement Jaxx – Kish Kash
A.V. Club #29
Gabe: Most of Kish Kash makes me feel like I’m walking back to my hotel room after a day of marketing. I pass a night club with a long line of kids trying to convince the doormen to let them in. The knowledge that I couldn’t get in makes me feel bad for a split second, until I remember that I don’t want to get in. But Kish Kash also contains “Cish Cash”, “Hot n’ Cold”, and “Living Room” which remind me of Outkast, Prince, and the Clash, respectively. If I held a dance party in my basement I would totally play those three tracks. But since that’s not going to happen, I’ll probably never listen to Kish Kash again. Grade: LIKE
Matt: I agree with The Angel Gabriel on this one. I recognize that’s it difficult to create disposable pop music this good, especially when it adeptly references such a wide array of sounds and styles, but ultimately Kish Kash still feels just that – disposable. I might bob my head like an aging white guy to “Supersonic,” “Right Here’s the Spot” or Deelite-ish opener “Good Luck,” but I’m never coming back to this record either. Grade: LIKE
Cat Power – The Greatest
Rolling Stone’s #26
Gabe: For better or worse, this is music for grownups. Cat Power’s torchy pop songs are tidy and tasteful, like later Van Morrison or maybe Squeeze. At times it sounds like she’s trying for Dusty Springfield which is fine. If you owned a restaurant and were going for a sophisticated/romantic ambiance you could do worse than The Greatest for background music. So I like it. I think it’s nice. Matt probably thinks it’s boring and he is right too. Grade: LIKE
Matt: Boasting smoky vocals, patient arrangements and a big, warm, soulful sound, The Greatest is just the type of album for a rainy, indecisive Saturday afternoon. There isn’t a bad track on the 12 song record from reclusive indie chanteuse Chan Marshall, so it’s unlikely you’ll switch it off. But there isn’t a single song that will stand out enough to make your next mix tape either. This pleasant “evenness” is either The Greatest’s greatest strength of biggest weakness, I’ve yet to decide. Grade: LIKE
Clipse – Lord Willin’
#34 on AV Club List
Gabe: Usually I can rely on my friends to tell me about all the best stuff. (E.g., four albums cracked all eight top 50 lists reviewed for this project, and I’ve got burned copies of all four courtesy of friends who realized that I wouldn’t hear them without a little help. From my friends). So why didn’t anyone burn Lord Willin’ for me? Pusher T and Malice tell the usual ghetto tales but with unusual wit and good humor. And the Neptunes’ music makes me bounce. Discreetly. Clipse may be gansta and they are certainly natural born storytellers, but keep in mind that Malice “Could never be a thug/they don’t dress this well.” Grade: LOVE
Matt: I give up. After months of listening intermittently to Lord Willin’, in part and in full, I just don’t have any strong opinions. So I’ll leave it at this: with tight snaps and cool beats (courtesy of the Neptunes before they were huge), this is quality hip-hop that nicely bridges the gangsta rap / backpack divide. I dig the vibe on “Virginia” and the horns on “Youngboy” are outstanding. Aside from that, nothing else grabs me. Grade: LIKE
More in this series:
- Part 28: Midlake, Missy Elliott & Modest Mouse
- Part 27: Luomo, Manu Chau & Microphones
- Part 26: Lil’ Wayne , Loretta Lynn & Los Halos
- Part 25: Klaxons, Les Savy Fav & The Libertines
- Part 24: Justin Timberlake, Kanye West & Kings of Leon
- Part 23: Johnny Cash, Josh Ritter & Justin Timberlake
- Part 22: Jens Lekman & Joanna Newsome
- Part 21: Iron & Wine, Jay-Z & The Jayhawks
- Part 20: Gentlemen Jesse, Grandaddy & The Hold Steady
- Part 19: Devin the Dude,the Deglados & the Fruit Bats
- Part 18: The Blood Brothers, The Coral & The Coup
- Part 17: Avett Brothers & Black Angels
- Part 16: Fennesz, Girl Talk & Grizzly Bear
- Part 15: Bob Dylan, Fiona Apple & Gilian Welch
- Part 14: Elbow, Exploding Hearts & Green Day
- Part 12: Dirty Projectors, Dizzee Rascal, & The Drive By Truckers
- Part 11: Damien Rice, Death Cab For Cutie & Deerhunter
- Part 9: Bruce Springsteen, Clinic & Crystal Castles
- Part 8: Bobby Bare Jr., Boredoms & Burial
- Part 7: 50 Cent, American Analog Set & Babyshambles
- Part 6: Boards of Canada, Brendan Benson & Bruce Springsteen
- Part 5: Bob Dylan, Bobby Bare Jr. & Bright Eyes
- Part 4: Animal Collective, Beck & Built to Spill
- Part 3: Basement Jaxx, Black Mountain & Blur
- Part 2: Animal Collective, Antony & the Johnsons and At the Drive In
- 00s in Review: Gabe Joins the 21st Century