The rap-metal thing has never really worked for me; and I am bold enough to point out that it’s never really worked for anybody.
First off, you should understand that I do cherish genuine hip hop. I revere the entire b-boy culture, and my endless appetite for thrift store jazz, soul, and funk LPs is fueled by that beat-maker’s excitement of finding jaw-droppingly fresh drum breaks to sample from gritty, rare vinyl records.
On the other hand, “Rap-metal” – and, similarly, “Rap-rock” – have historically been rife with mis-steps such as Limbomaniacs, Stuck Mojo, or Limp Bizkit. Also, don’t forget the lamentable ‘Judgement Day’ movie soundtrack (Dinosaur Jr w/Del Tha Funky Homosapien? Sonic Youth w/ Cypress Hill!?) which tops the heap. I own all of that stuff, so I feel I have the right to revile them. I admit that I never really got into The Roots, but I did respect the work of bargain bin residents Alphabet Soup.
The only act that seemed to convincingly meld the two genres was Rage Against The Machine. However, despite all the political posturing and pious pontificating and standing nude onstage with duct-taped mouths — their Socialist leanings always seemed a little silly, considering the massive herds of Lollapalooza-going, meat-headed mosh bullies they seemed to attract.
Which I guess kinda brings us around to Sweet Lizard Illtet. They were a dollar bin CD from the very start – and they’ve been a haunting presence in my collection ever since; yet I don’t think I’ve ever made it through the whole disc even once.
Their work is actually very ambitious: plenty of sonic layers involving samples combined with live instruments and multiple vocals. Even the booklet, with its stark graphic novel style and scrawled liner notes, shrouds this band in a pronounced blend of enigma and pretense.
There’s a ton of these for sale on eBay at any given time, and Amazon has plenty for a penny + shipping.
Of course, I probably know only a thimble-full of this band’s significance: I’ve found some cool updates on the Anti Folk website, some live YouTube footage, and a surprising archive of press coverage (such as this New York Times review).
One track stands out on the album, it’s a brief “interlude” type song at the middle of the CD. To my ears, it’s been worth sharing and recommending from the start: an almost lo-fi, druggy, surreal piece of unconventional sloth buried in their bombastic and funky clatter.
Check this mp3 out:
{ 2 comments }
it occurs to me now that I really do enjoy Urban Dance Squad (who deliver skilled, skate-punk friendly, Amsterdam hip-hop/samples/turntablism with plenty of rockin’ out)…and I feel compelled to mention Warlock Pinchers as well…although the Pinchers had a lo-fi aggro brilliance that put them essentially in their own category (esp. w/ the Paula Abdul cover on ‘Circusized Peanuts’).
But that’s it: no Stuck Mojo or Biohazard in my library, at least for now.
BRAINSTORM! UDS!
Shame on you for letting that fine squad slip completely out of your memory! The very TITLE of one of their discs — Mental Floss for the Globe — is cool enough to make any smart person give it a listen.
I don’t think they really fit the categories mentioned here, but Fishbone certainly deserves to be one of your dropdown Category selections. Out of curiosity, which musical genre would you put them in? I myself have always been horrible at such classifications — much like my inability to identify nearly every fabric used in the manufacture of clothing.
Finally, do you recall when you were living in Rock City in that house with Eminem (or possibly shortly before that), you wrote me that this particular dude you were living with (not Marshall), who was an EXPERT on rap, declared Sweet Lizard Illtet to be utter garbage. This was quite possibly the most puzzling thing you have ever written to me. It seemed as if you had long been trying to convince me the band sucked, though I’m almost certain you never actually disparaged them in any communication with me!
I’ve heard the whole disc start to finish a handful of times. It’s been years since i listened to it at all (which sadly is true of the vast majority of my cd collection), but one thing i must say for the band is that they sound very little like anything else i’ve ever heard; and they do this without being sucky. :)
Two final notes, paraphrased quotes actually. These are courtesy of the only other person i know who has as strong of a love and as diverse of a collection of music as you and i (do).
1. At least 70% of any musical genre is crap.
(the only possible exceptions i could find are classic jazz & prog-metal, but either one leaves a lot to subjective judgment)
&
2. Once you can clearly identify more than 3 (positive) influences on a band, they have escaped the realm of “derivative” and merit a serious listening. F’rinstance, take Galactic Cowboys or King’s X: Beatles, Kansas, Rush, …?
Then again, this may all be a bunch of crap because in this ultra-liberal, post-modernistic society, there is no single truth, rather countless individual perspectives, each of which is equally true and valid…and of course, there’s no accounting for taste.
Comments on this entry are closed.