1. Is Positive K wearing Joseph’s actual “amazing technicolor dreamcoat?”
2. Is chasing orange spandex suit-wearing women up a flight of stairs evidence of a serious psychological disturbance, or is it completely justifiable behavior?
3. Is Positive K’s ability to rap as both the man and the woman in the song one of the most supreme vocal achievements of the 20th century?
4. What does “I’m not a dove baby, so don’t play me like a clown,” really mean?
5. Should the styles of Puerto Rican video ho’s in New York City circa 1993, forever be known as of “The Rosie Perez” era.
6. If you were hitting on a girl and she asked you, “Are a you a chef? Cuz you keep me feeding me soup,” is the only acceptable response to nod your head, smile and mention that you are indeed a sous chef capable of making a spectacular pasta fagioli?
7. Was K’s usage of the word “ragamuffin,” the only time in U.S. hip-hop history that the word was ever used? Either way, can we all agree to bring back the word “ragamuffin,” because of how fun it is to write the word “ragamuffin.”
8. Should the styles of African-American video ho’s in New York City circa 1993, forever be known as of the “Tisha Campbell” era?
9. Was the moment when K declares that he’ll do anything for his women but “buy her things and take [her] out,” the basis for the philosophy of Outkast’s groundbreaking treatise on women’s lib, “We Luv Deez Hoez.” Specifically, the part where Big Boi says, and I quote, “I told y’all n—z about them taking them ho’s to the Cheesecake Factory, letting them order strawberry lemonade and popcorn shrimp….they ain’t gonna’ do nuthin’ but try to take all your motherfuckin’ cheese.”
10. Should the song end when Positive K refers to himself as “big daddy longstroke” and the girls’ man as “Pee Wee Herman?” I believe in chess they call that a checkmate.
Is a lead singer with a really cool hair cut. See Flock of Seagulls and/or Kid N’ Play. My Morning Jacket lead singer Jim James doesn’t really have a cool hair cut. Still, I think his band is pretty great. Labor Day has come and gone and I have neither the time nor energy for a long post at the current moment. I’m still recovering from an ill-advised trip to a NASCAR Rally on Sunday, which I hope to write about sometime soon if the ringing in my ears ever ceases.
Seeing as though today marks the beginning of Fall, there seems to be no better way to kick off the new season than with some songs from My Morning Jacket, a group whose lazy pretty Indian summer tunes seem tailor-made for the weeks that surround the harvest moon. In truth, if you really asked me my thoughts on what separates the good bands from the great, I’d probably answer that two of the most prominent marks of a great band are a deep catalogue chockful of standout B-sides and EP tracks, and the ability to cover classic songs and in the process re-write their very DNA. In my mind, My Morning Jacket succeed on both counts.
Another day, another journey into the Ameoba vortex. This afternoon, it’s siren called and by decree, I was forced to fork over the prerequisite $50 minimum. It’s going to be the only record store left in town pretty soon, which is kind of sad. But I’m pretty happy right now after this haul.
What: EPMD-”Crossover” 12″ vinyl single
Price: $6.98
Why: Because no one at Rawkus ever came close to writing an anti-commercial manifesto as good as this one. Plus, the B-Side, “Brothers from Brentwood L.I.” is one of the best of the era.
