ALBUM OF THE DAY
We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
A Tribe Called Quest, 2016
Join our 3pm daily “Album of the Day” listening sessions, when we play a complete album, uninterrupted, at full volume.
“We Got It from Here…” is an often-overlooked masterpiece by one of the most important American bands from the last 35 years. The album acts as a bridge between early 90s hip-hop and evolving, progressive techniques that would define the genre into the 2010’s.
The album’s many guest performances include Busta Rhymes, Jack White, Elton John, André 3000, and Talib Kweli.
This record was created amidst a deeply emotional reunion that tragically turned into a final farewell. Tribe had been through a bitter 18-year hiatus fueled by personal tension. Energized by a reunion performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2015, the band secretly began recording together again with the addition of Jarobi White, who hadn’t been a part of the group since the early 90s.
The project took a devastating blow when Phife Dawg passed away from complications with diabetes.
Despite warnings to not work as hard, Phife poured every ounce of energy he had into the project until he passed on.
I’m doing a free show (with RSVP) in Birmingham, AL on May 28! Presented by @seasickrecords and taking place at @highdive.bham - rsvp via the link in my bio. Thanks to Paul Janeway of @stpaulandthebrokenbones and Will Pearson of @iheartpodcast for moderating. Hope to see you! 🐅🐘
Album of the day…
RAM
Linda McCartney and Paul McCartney, 1971
Join us at 3pm today for our daily listening sessions. We will be playing one full album every day at full volume. So, stop by and enjoy Paul McCartney’s second (and arguably his best) solo album.
Released in May 1971, RAM arose from a period of intense personal and professional upheaval for Paul. Following the infamous bitter breakup of The Beatles, and the underwhelming reception to his independent lo-fi debut, McCartney, Macca retreated to a scenic farm up in Scotland with his young family amid a wave of personal depression and a sense of aimlessness.
Musically, RAM is a masterclass in orchestral “indie-pop” that has become much more relevant recently. It is a bridge between Brian Wilson’s rich harmonic chamber pop style and more recent artists like The Shins, Weyes Blood, and Mac Demarco. RAM is full of dense, multi-tracked vocal harmonies and a gritty “DIY” production style. These harmonies are also accompanied by sublime compositions of many different instruments and musical styles.
Unfortunately, many contemporary critics deemed the album as “monumentally irrelevant” or overly whimsical. This legacy has undergone a massive reevaluation, as new generations have discovered its importance in retrospect. The initial reviews and responses to RAM will go down as a massive miss by the music critics of the time, as it has become one of the most beloved solo Beatles albums of all time.
Tracks that have since then become favorites are, Too many people, Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey, Long Haired Lady, and The Back Seat Of My Car. A track to appreciate along with the album is “Another Day,” which was recorded during the RAM sessions and chosen as the album’s single. Paul McCartney chose to follow the longstanding Beatle’s tradition by leaving the single off the album.
Listening to RAM on HighDive’s world-class sound system is sure to be an experience you won’t want to miss.
Album of the Day
PET SOUNDS
Beach Boys, 1966
Join us at 3pm today for our FIRST daily listening session. This is something we are gonna try to do daily at 3pm. A full album, beginning to end, at a higher volume to encourage more intentional, active listening.
Why start with Pet Sounds?
What can we say about this album that hasn’t been said before. Probably nothing. There are so many angles:
Brian Wilson getting tired of the road and sending the Beach Boys out on tour while he hung back in LA and crafted this album in the studio. Working with the finest studio musicians around (the “Wrecking Crew”), this 24 year old auteur orchestrated an almost symphonic pop album. Paul McCartney famously took Pet Sounds as both a challenge and an inspiration while the Beatles crafted Sgt Peppers. Paul would later declare Pet Sounds to be essential to anyone’s “musical education.”
Pet Sounds stands not only as the apex of The Beach Boys accomplishments, but also as a watershed moment in the history of what pop music. Like Dylan showing that pop lyrics could be meaningful, Brian Wilson demonstrated through Pet Sounds that pop music could be musically complex, layered, dynamic, richly melodic, and use sophisticated instrumentation and arrangement. A few important notes we’d point out to any curious listener…
1. Vocal Harmonies
Brian’s essential talent was arranging vocal harmonies. There are incredible explorations of this online that reveal the nuance of the stacked vocals on this album.
2. Legacy
One of the most influential albums of all time. Its signature style has fallen in/out of fashion over the years. Special shout out to the magical @elephant6_recording_company collective who emerged in the 90’s and seemed not only driven by the Pet Sounds aesthetic, but are largely responsible for resurrecting interest in Pet Sounds at a time when the world needed it.
3. DRUMS!!!
Anchored by the terrific Hal Blaine, the percussion on this album is fantastic. Creative, thoughtful, layered, tasteful,…perfect.
VENUE UPDATE: Our show with Cass McCombs this Friday will now take place indoors in High Dive Hifi Lounge for an incredible experience in a high-quality audio space. All tickets for the show in the Lakeview Marina Music Park will be honored at High Dive. We can't wait to see you Friday!
