Hello and welcome!
It’s a SPECIAL EDITION this week, folks!!!
Know why?
Because we have good news… Mates showed mercy!!!
And I still have a job.
It all went down, the day after new years…
It was about 3PM when I got called into Mates’ SPRAWLING office, adorned with pre-Elon Musk, Grimes ephemera.
A desperate man, I was about to break down, fearing the worst.
After 30 seconds of awkward silence, I blurted out, “Mates, remember how because of me, you heard Larry Young play the organ for the first time?
The room went dead silent for a clean minute… Classy Cassie even poked her head in to make sure everything okay. Once she saw it was a standoff, she quickly closed the door, and Mates whispered, “What?”
I said, “You know… back when you and Jack where in high school, and I had to drive you guys to some weak ass party that Daw was throwing in his backyard, and I put on that, “Let us go Into the House of the Lord?” It CHANGED YOUR LIFE, and you know it!!!”
If facial expressions can speak a thousand words, Mates might have written, “The Odyssey,” ON THE SPOT, because he knew what time it was.
He remembered the specifics of Mr. Young’s interstellar transmission— the specifics of the joy, the madness, and the virtuosity involved in a performance that may-well never be replicated so long as we live.
A tear forming in the corner of his left eye, he subtly nodded his head, and waved me away, saying, “You’re good.”
As I closed the door, TLC’s, “Waterfalls,” started BLASTING from his speakers, and I do believe a young man, still on the right side of 30, began to sob.
Long story short, it’s 2021, I’m still employed at Indie Pong, and Mates came to terms with how a handful of notes spewn from a cabinet running into a Hammond B3, forever changed his life.
Moving onto business though— it’s run-off night, and we need that BLUE, BLUE.
Sunday Monday Tuesday George needs that additional 2k stimulus.
PLEASE.
But yes, new year, new playlist, and ACTUALLY, a very special playlist, because this is the first Tuesday Time Machine playlist I EVER made.
January 2010 folks— a wild time to be alive.
I was beginning the second of three semesters that would make up my senior year, and the outcome was critical— I NEEDED these songs, so I could draw as much as humanly possible, and (hopefully) be employed when I graduated in December of 2010.
For those reading my column for the first time, as mentioned above, these monthly playlists which I’m re-visiting came about as a result of an idea I had back in January of 2010: an idea that would see me create one 80 minute playlist a month.
The reason for doing this was two-fold: I wanted to create and re-enforce very specific lived experiences and memories tied to music, and I wanted a rather consistent set of songs to propel me each month as I created my art.
In creating these playlists, I tried to make things flow— I wanted songs to segue very effortlessly (or abrasively) creating a sense of narrative.
Going forward, once a week, I’m going to update the Spotify playlist that you can find below.
I’d recommend not shuffling the songs, as they were sequenced the way that they were for a reason. To get the full experience, listen to them in the way in which I’ve arranged things.
Included below is a short description of the tune I’ve included, and/or a description of the specifics memory associated with it. If you’re not trying to read all of that, just hit play on the link below!
January 2010
1. Intro- Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
Yes, the merits of Bad Boys II can be debated, but the Brothers Folz are in general consensus that it’s a PRETTY clutch movie.
2. Shake Ya Tailfeather- Nelly featuring P. Diddy & Murphy Lee
Look, where were YOU in the summer of 2003!?
Trick question: I don’t care.
Because you heard this song and you LOVED it.
There are any number of things about this song that are great, but our main shout-out MUST got to Mr. Murphy Lee who name drops THE ENTIRE CASH MONEY ORGANIZATION save for Slim, Young Bleed, Mannie Fresh, and B.G.
Alright, maybe that’s not that impressive, because… well, he left off like half the roster.
In any case, we got a TURK name-drop, and we all know that’s a low-key power move.
Right?
3. Aquarius Sabotage- The Flaming Lips
My brother and I got into a HEATED AOL Instant Messenger dispute about the relative brilliance of this song, back in the day.
He wasn’t feeling it, but I LOVED it.
Look, anyone’s who’s been reading this column know how I feel about fuzz bass.
It’s NEEDED.
The outcome is CRITICAL.
The pretty shit at the end of this song is great too, but… let’s talk about the people who had the inside of their skulls rattled when they heard the extra bow-legged shit that got knocked out of those four strings for this song.
Tough, tough.
4. Pretty Girl From Chile- The Avett Brothers
Alright, I wasn’t really FOR these dudes, but then, when I heard they had a little metal band going before they jumped on the whole, “I’m rocking flannel, and it looks like my plane just crashed in the middle of Wyoming,” trend that was hot in the late 2000s/early 2010s, I put a little more respect on it.
5. The Sinking Belle (Blue Sheep)- Sun O))) & Boris
I can’t say for sure, but I do believe this song is what cemented my love affair with the whole, “please, can I drown in reverb?” aesthetic.
Jam on this, y’all.
You’ll start contemplating some shit, and probably achieve extra-blissful transcendence.
6. I Told Jesus- Stanley Turrentine
It’s been a long time since I went to CHURCH, but this song is pretty great.
I think Ron Carter plays bass on it, and Billy Cobham plays the drums which is especially impressive because… I mean, this song is QUIET, and we all know Billy’s not really for that shit.
This is a good song to brood too.
7. Kinda Like a big Deal- Clipse featuring Kanye West
You guys remember when Kanye was low-key bodying dudes who could REALLY rap on their own songs around this time?
Think about it…
Did it to Jay on, “Run This Town…”
Did it to Ghostface on the, “Back Like That” remix…
Idk, what it was, but this was also the period leading up to, “MBDTF,” so, I guess he was feeling himself.
8. Mundo De Ciegos- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
I took three years of Spanish in high school and my skills are… lacking.
In any case, this is a solo record, for ORL, but it sounds like peak-era Mars Volta, and I’m 99% sure the LIVING LEGEND, Mr. Thomas Pridgen is behind the kit for this one, so you know it’s a fucked up time signature and some fills you couldn’t play, even if you tried.
Good times.
9. Eulogy to Oscar Romero- Jean-Luc Ponty
If you know about my man Jean-Luc, you know that in the 70s, he was holding it down.
Pretty sure this album came out in the 80s, but it sounds like it could be on the Blade Runner soundtrack, so I’m with it.
10. All Day Sucker- Stevie Wonder
For a LONG time, this was my favorite song from Songs in the Key of Life.
I know, that’s a STATEMENT.
But listen… the Clav, the guitar, and the bass in the song are probably going to get someone arrested.
For all we know, there’s a dance party going in some abandoned church in Russia right now, and like, Dimas stepped on Kostya’s Air Max 95s while dancing to this, but he also grabbed Kostya’s gold dookie chain for balance mid-fall, and Lubo started swinging because he thought this was hostile, and now, the three of them have to sleep it off in the tank, unless they can bribe the police.
Potent stuff.
11. For Love (I Come Your Friend)- George Duke
For so many years, this was my A1 favorite George Duke song.
It might still be, but… idk, folks, just listen to this and allow yourself to love it.
12. Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat- Dr. Dre
From a production standpoint, this song is one of the most immaculate things Dr. Dre ever put together. Can’t really get behind the song as a whole, but, boy, oh, boy, did Dr. Dre get down to business behind the boards on this one.
13. Look On- John Frusciante
Part of what fascinates me about John Frusciante in that he probably loves Greg Ginn as much as he loves Jimi Hendrix.
Maybe that isn’t weird, but I feel like there’s opposition there.
In any case, it serves his music well, and this song splits the difference between like lo-fi punk, and guitar heroics.
I’m with it.
14. The Weary Kind- Ryan Bingham
I love this song so much.
I know. It’s kinda cheesy.
It might be some silly shit, but I love it, and that’s what it is.
15. Second Sunday in August- Weather Report
I have one degree of separation from the mighty Mr. Eric Gravatt, who drums on this song.
I used to work with his daughter.
She’s a wonderful person.
This is a wonderful song too— perhaps the epitome of pre-Jaco Weather Report.
Let it fill you with optimism, and make your day.
16. Better Believe it- Boosie featuring Young Jeezy and Webbie
Back in the day, I was low-key crushing on this girl who was really into Boosie, so I figured I should probably get up on his catalog.
I like this song pretty well.
It’s unfortunate, the falling out between Boosie and Webbie, but this is still a great track.
17. A Message- Coldplay
Look, I know I can’t defend myself here, but sometimes things are COLD…
And you just need to PLAY?
My hands are up.
I surrender.
You all got me.