This week we continue with our series of episodes focused on great music cities. We discuss the history, the bands, the venues and the events that make a place special for creating, playing and recording music. For Los Angeles Part 2 we start in the early 80’s to cover great records by bands representing the Latino and African American communities, we, revisit the Sunset Strip and stop in Compton for two albums that will surprise no one before wrapping up with some 90’s punk rock and three amazing albums released within the past decade.   Here’s a list of all the records we discuss across the two episodes:   1. Laurindo Almeida and Bud Shank Brazilliance 1953 https://open.spotify.com/album/42lJ7eXcaA7QKHSEjvd5Cx 2. Beach Boys Pet Sounds 1966  https://open.spotify.com/album/6GphKx2QAPRoVGWE9D7ou8 3. The Doors The Doors 1967 https://open.spotify.com/album/1jWmEhn3ggaL6isoyLfwBn 4. Joni Mitchell Court & Spark 1974  https://open.spotify.com/album/2akjxkzFolkeV72Yyv5KrM 5. Steely Dan Aja 1977  https://open.spotify.com/album/51XjnQQ9SR8VSEpxPO9vrW 6. Van Halen Van Halen 1978 https://open.spotify.com/album/7DdEbYFPKTZ8KB4z6L4UnQ 7.Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Damn The Torpedoes 1979 https://open.spotify.com/album/708Whrc4abJEtqBINv9S2b 8. The Blasters American Music 1980 https://open.spotify.com/album/6wIkvvwJ5Pr3j1kEVG7F81 9. X Los Angeles 1980 https://www.discogs.com/X-Los-Angeles/master/52625 10. Black Flag Damaged 1981 https://open.spotify.com/album/34aFnrFRBlErcbU6moRZR3 11. Los Lobos …And a Time to Dance1983 https://open.spotify.com/album/4s0KqbaatwnqGiIEMVjnc9?si=s7uNPcznRySNbIrLIdvdSQ 12. Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies1983 https://open.spotify.com/album/4hLSbWJ8HL8MUfIwrTP2EO?si=LeuVsoM9Ra-ffPDYmQh1TA 13. Fishbone Fishbone1985 https://open.spotify.com/album/4dN5Fffx4bMjbN2U0boTL9?si=TVgAFfHcS9W3cSOCpHYcgg 14. Guns & Roses Appetite For Destruction 1987 https://open.spotify.com/album/5JKFiC2WVi9HtvJEm8CUB8?si=Bd4FKTFgSqSrDdc9vBGuCA 15. NWA Straight Outta Compton 1988 https://open.spotify.com/album/0Y7qkJVZ06tS2GUCDptzyW?si=frzgdfOjSc2SNRyHFTqgMg 16. NOFX The Longest Line 1992 https://open.spotify.com/album/0pwLAY3H4kkrldJTCMe3vt?si=hKhJMZHiSb2GF3lTw6ciiQ 17. Hepcat Right on Time 1998 https://open.spotify.com/album/5n7IeJHvlLtCo3HW5vgCqu?si=jEWKgZevS8GbszLfmJuibw 18. Allah-Las Allah Las 2012 https://open.spotify.com/album/6ngfWAdXwSHcccXuqDymAj?si=zxxFX48CSBWUxyRTDtUwXw 19. Kamasi Washington The Epic 2015 https://open.spotify.com/album/0EaJARlHPWOIXs5cnsUhuN?si=pYF5Ehh-Sc2NwdGOclVTIA 20. Kendrick Lamar DAMN 2017 https://open.spotify.com/album/4eLPsYPBmXABThSJ821sqY?si=1fSGBHMKR5-3vriu3X538g   huntsmanhill.com #huntsmanhill Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/1298220429/playlist/4gy1wWwypkoFS2lUztvZ44?si=waSq07DBQlq3x9G1_nK0pg

 

In 1988 Bad Religion’s Suffer dropped like a bomb in the middle of a punk rock underground that was on the verge of going overground.  Long before their circled cross logo would becomes ubiquitous at Home Topics in malls across America they were upping the ante musically.  As NOFX’s Fat Mike puts it “Suffer was the record that changed everything”    huntsmanhill.com #huntsmanhill Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1298220429/playlist/4gy1wWwypkoFS2lUztvZ44?si=waSq07DBQlq3x9G1_nK0pg

Fugazi mattered.  From their strict $5 admission policy, to never selling merchandise to infamously preventing their audiences from slam dancing they lived and breathed the DIY ethic and set the standard for every other band to try to live up to.  Their approach to the business side of music was admiral and impressive but insignificant if the music itself wasn’t great and it certainly was that.  From the airtight rhythm section of Joe Lally and Brendan Canty to the perfectly unique vocal interplay of Ian McKaye and Guy Picciotto they were a perfect musical storm that made six incredible albums starting with 1990’s Repeater.    Recommended Listening   Fugazi Live Series  https://www.dischord.com/fugazi_live_series   Rites of Spring Rites of Spring  https://open.spotify.com/album/2xtDqnjyKOuOd3Y9wl3Thx?si=9hbwvgErTo2dFYKRHjbQkA   Embrace Embrace    https://open.spotify.com/album/6hgvPpFtEUDYVsBwvkiSty?si=vJiqxFclQu6551JcLoU57Q   Movie Instrument  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230334/?ref_=nv_sr_6   Book Our Band Could Be Your Life https://www.amazon.com/Our-Band-Could-Your-Life/dp/0316787531/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523419216&sr=8-1&keywords=Our+Band+Could+Be+Your+Life     huntsmanhill.com #huntsmanhill Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1298220429/playlist/4gy1wWwypkoFS2lUztvZ44?si=waSq07DBQlq3x9G1_nK0pg

This week we manage to get out of the 80’s and beyond the 90’s to focus on modern day hip hop..  We don’t spend nearly enough time talking about contemporary records and there’s no better reason to than to praise the merits of the mighty Run the Jewels.  We decided to tackle their second album from 2014 but that’s more or less arbitrary, any of the three albums they’ve released to date is worthy and we touch on them all this week.   Recommended Listening   Killer Mike R.A.P. Music  https://open.spotify.com/album/5EAhUoAz1G3WTvIfGZvmrh?si=RD0nFRysTPOts3kACx_anQ   Meow the Jewels  https://open.spotify.com/album/0YHFRaVnIWPj0gJWvlAoxE?si=1jo__2zzRiWIPl8xwZ1BkQ   Dj Shadow The Mountain Will Fall  https://open.spotify.com/album/2OW3iDsmS98lTqgta5Zv0O?si=b_fbYwHpSymMUlfkSaNrDQ   Rap Caviar  https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX0XUsuxWHRQd?si=RIHQ5FV7TuuWTiGIeXzxlg     huntsmanhill.com #huntsmanhill Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1298220429/playlist/4gy1wWwypkoFS2lUztvZ44?si=waSq07DBQlq3x9G1_nK0pg

For our fourth “list” episode we discuss what albums we would take to sustain us if we were stranded on a desert island.  Across twenty albums we get into disco, metal, ska, big band, alternative, R&B/soul, reggae and of course punk rock.  This variety is consistent with the multiple movie genres that these soundtracks score.  From comedy to drama, concert film to musical we cover a lot of ground this week.     Further Recommended Listening   Issac Hayes Shaft https://open.spotify.com/album/5HAXYSqdNjjbvoFrXwtrBw?si=htbqrqURRy6OCyjX0pu3ug   See Jorge Life Aquatic Studio Sessions  https://open.spotify.com/album/2tAFOhqz3DxxVI2s5YNsrD?si=0G1D-2vQRByPoTvE_DHb1A   Sesame Street Fever https://open.spotify.com/album/1KlA22XzbOGRJmZy3w5mGp?si=dYsNxfVTT8GiBzehNO2o_Q   The Bangles Greatest Hits https://open.spotify.com/album/0ZlP1vdxHVY3ubsPgFudOV?si=NI1ub3IhR4azW9qCq3jjbw   The Rocky Horror Picture Show:  Audience Participation  https://open.spotify.com/album/1G9ZkJW7KmFxWJ4NxzEPxB?si=bycZt9WjR_afdddjx3PcVQ   huntsmanhill.com #huntsmanhill Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1298220429/playlist/4gy1wWwypkoFS2lUztvZ44?si=waSq07DBQlq3x9G1_nK0pg

Upon the release of their debut album Unfun in 1990 Jawbreaker was almost instantly beloved.  They were embraced by the DIY punk rock community so fanatically that hardcore devotes of the band became known as “The Cult of Blake” a nod to their love of singer/guitarist Blake Schwarzenbach’s confessional, first person lyrics.  When they released ’95’s Dear You on a major label the rough edges had been smoothed and the production radio-friendly, the backlash was fierce.  Long time fans burned their records and famously sat on the floor with their backs to the band during the tour for the album.  They broke up shortly after and never released another album.  On episode 56 we go back and discuss both records, pitting them against each other to determine if Unfun is really as good or Dear You as bad as they were originally considered some 20+ years ago.   Recommended Listening   Etc.  https://open.spotify.com/album/1mi0IPI3wcQL9ixMxKWxz9?si=bTUq-C6DTqGvs2ZwIRMuxw   Jets To Brazil Orange Rhyming Dictionary https://open.spotify.com/album/5zaVtrjodNQru22Rj4FIcD?si=_4XOndHqRXmDYBXdWZ239w   Samiam Soar  https://open.spotify.com/album/6d01sfewFiP2e9wpmA7Dbp?si=7KnX2gWCTFuLF4rcO-fRgg   Compilation: Jawbreaker Tribute:  Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault https://www.discogs.com/Various-Bad-Scene-Everyones-Fault-Jawbreaker-Tribute/release/4078319   Movie Jawbreaker: Don’t Breakdown  https://www.dontbreakdown.com

It’s safe to say that any guitar driven band formed after 1978 really only wanted to be Van Halen.  Eddie was aped by every guitarist from the Sunset Strip to New York City, David Lee Roth redefined the template for what a frontman-sex god-rockstar looked, sounded and acted like and the rhythm section of Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen was as rock solid as any in the genre.  They were virtuoso musicians who partied as hard as anyone, had a killer sense of humor and knew how to apply an exclamation point!!!  YEEEEAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!     Recommended Listening   The DLR Collection  https://open.spotify.com/album/2c965LEDRNrXXCeBOAAwns?si=2l_wniIuRuyQIHOARUG-Dg   Videos All official Van Halen music videos http://www.vhnd.com/2015/03/04/van-halen-stream-classic-music-videos/   Movie William Kurelek’s The Maze http://www.themazemovie.com   -----   Great Current Releases Superchunk What A Time To Be Alive https://open.spotify.com/album/5VHuyZga0JSRlJrVusWfR7?si=WQER8qcPQLe6g4Dx52w_gA   Corrosion of Conformity No Cross No Crown https://open.spotify.com/album/4TfF9wBmisj1ff1Tokr1bq?si=t0038603SjuOh71gjd6Mlw     huntsmanhill.com #huntsmanhill Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1298220429/playlist/4gy1wWwypkoFS2lUztvZ44?si=waSq07DBQlq3x9G1_nK0pg

Opinions of this record might have been mixed upon it’s release in 1989 but today it’s universally praised as the Beastie’s masterpiece and a classic of (any) the genre.  Is there anyone in 2018 that doesn’t love Paul’s Boutique in 2018?  We discuss.   Recommended Listening   Every song sampled on Paul’s Boutique  http://gothamist.com/2015/07/24/pauls_boutique_stream.php   Beastie Boys The Mix-Up  https://open.spotify.com/album/7ndbBA9C4LO0GqATIpg1iV?si=Atiefdv-RyCcN54CF6DQfw   Dust Brothers Fight Club OST https://open.spotify.com/album/7BNrUfFSDHEbj1hi12yjdj?si=MX4JcnPFQ-CAw-cYpSWTaw   Scapegoat Wax Okeeblow  https://open.spotify.com/album/4WfZGKKODIkpPY7Ykb0SkI?si=orCFMYLlQy-6ePGZSzUILA   Video Beastie Boys Music Videos  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A8C5629B4CDE805   Oscilloscope  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscilloscope_(company) - Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot (directed by Adam Yach)  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1204298/?ref_=nv_sr_2 - Exit Through the Gift Shop  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587707/?ref_=nv_sr_1 - 12 O’Clock Boys  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2420006/?ref_=nv_sr_6   Book Ricky Powell Oh Snap!: The Rap Photography of Ricky Powell https://www.amazon.com/Oh-Snap-Photography-Ricky-Powell/dp/0312181493/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1519170535&sr=8-6&keywords=ricky+powell   huntsmanhill.com #huntsmanhill Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1298220429/playlist/4gy1wWwypkoFS2lUztvZ44?si=waSq07DBQlq3x9G1_nK0pg  

Yes, the Stooges and the Dolls and the Ramones laid the groundwork and yes, The Damned, Clash and Jam all released their debut albums first but the Sex Pistols are still punk rock ground zero and Never Mind the Bollocks…Here’s the Sex Pistols is the blueprint for what would commonly define the genre.  It took us 52 episodes to finally talk about it but there’s no record more important to us.  We attempt to breakdown why.     Recommended Listening   Submission / Anarchy in The UK 12” Single https://www.discogs.com/The-Sex-Pistols-Submission/release/3795012    Flogging A Dead Horse  https://www.discogs.com/Sex-Pistols-Flogging-A-Dead-Horse/master/30495   PiL Happy?  https://open.spotify.com/album/3caOzIcGmYfZyuXxzG8C8g?si=EOImwpOUR4qD71mzEPtg0A   huntsmanhill.com #huntsmanhill Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1298220429/playlist/4gy1wWwypkoFS2lUztvZ44?si=waSq07DBQlq3x9G1_nK0pg

There is no reason a “Ska-Punk” record should sound fresh and vibrant in 2018 but almost 30 years after it’s release Operation Ivy’s debut LP still jumps from your speakers with an urgency that hasn’t aged a day.  They wouldn’t release any new music after Energy but these 19 tracks left a legacy that most bands would kill for.  We dive deep.   Recommended Listening   Crimpsrhine Duct Tape Soup  https://open.spotify.com/album/2SjehUTRS9H2PvmPh3AWWr?si=GV1uOpCKSgyJfrP9GTyq-A   Ecnochrist  https://www.discogs.com/artist/325025-Econochrist   Comp:  They Don’t Get Paid, They Don’t Get Laid, But Boy Do They Work Hard! (features Downfall track Long Way To Go)  https://www.discogs.com/Various-They-Dont-Get-Paid-They-Dont-Get-Laid-But-Boy-Do-They-Work-Hard/release/2845058   Dance Hall Crashers The Old Record  https://open.spotify.com/album/4lCTEdF7ch94tpYuatGcKx?si=r_BnqTAdTFGsesPDoEovmw   Rancid Roots Radicals single  https://www.discogs.com/Rancid-Roots-Radicals/release/1746200   Book How To Run/Ruin A Record Label  https://www.amazon.com/How-Ru-Record-Label-Lookout-ebook/dp/B017Y6BZK6   huntsmanhill.com #huntsmanhill Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1298220429/playlist/4gy1wWwypkoFS2lUztvZ44?si=waSq07DBQlq3x9G1_nK0pg