Apparently, Thom Yorke doesn’t like “High And Dry”. What is with this guy and his best songs? Anyway, don’t listen to Thom Yorke. “High And Dry” is one of my favorite Radiohead songs, and it’s from what I consider the second most essential Radiohead album, 1995’s The Bends. It’s certainly the song (and the album)… Read More “High And Dry” by Radiohead (1995)
“Driving With The Brakes On” is a heavy song that tackles a heavy subject with the sensitivity one would expect from a songwriter as talented as Del Amitri’s Justin Currie. The song’s narrator is a passenger in a car being driven by his girlfriend. He has accompanied her to have an abortion (Currie confirmed the… Read More “Driving With The Brakes On” by Del Amitri (1995)
Prince inhabits his guitar hero mode on “Dolphin”, revving up the power chords and dropping one of his all time best solos. It’s the best track on ‘95’s The Gold Experience LP and might be my favorite song of the many he made during his “Artist Formerly Known As…” period. “Dolphin” is clearly about reincarnation,… Read More “Dolphin” by Prince (1995)
“Doin’ It” is one of LL’s most fondly remembered songs, and it finds the rapper indulging his playfully nasty side. Over a chunky sample of Grace Jones’ exotic smash “My Jamaican Guy”, LL and his lady (played here by LeShaun) get extremely freaky. The fact that there’s an actual male/female dynamic at play separates “Doin’ It” from the… Read More “Doin’ It” by LL Cool J featuring LeShaun (1995)
The hip-hop “mom” song has become a trope; something the hardcore rapper does when he wants to show sensitivity and range. ‘Pac was one of the first to do it, and definitely the best (Ghostface’s “All That I Got Is You” comes in second). 2Pac struck the right chord between sentimental and soulful, with an assist from a… Read More “Dear Mama” by 2Pac (1995)
…it’s always nice when two entries blend together seamlessly. The Stones’ chart-topping classic “Brown Sugar”’s got a killer riff, a snarling vocal from Mick Jagger, and lyrics that some consider highly questionable. As for me, I consider the times and consider the context, and give the Stones a pass. Are the lyrics racist? I don’t… Read More “Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones (1971)/”Brown Sugar” by D’Angelo (1995)
The term “boy band” had not yet crept into the public consciousness when Take That released “Back For Good” in the U.S., but that’s not gonna prevent me from stating that the mid ‘90s were not kind to boy bands in America. Starting with “Please Don’t Go Girl” in the summer of ‘88, New Kids On The Block had a… Read More “Back For Good” by Take That (1995)
Five Star Jamz 