Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards (2006)

"We Used to Vacation" by Cold War Kids

The discovery and signing of Zee Avi took a winding road.  She ended up on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records but she was referred to Brushfire through Jack's surfing buddies, the Malloy Brothers.  The Malloys got their big break with the surfing film Thicker Than Water, co-directed with Johnson, then shifted their attention to music videos for the first decade of the millennium.  They worked primarily with rock acts and helped break out a handful of indie hopefuls.  One of those hopefuls was the Cold War Kids for whom the Malloys directed the music video to "Hang Me Up to Dry," a song from their debut album Robbers & Cowards released in 2006 by Downtown Records.

Song by song, Cold War Kids show that they have a knack for the occasional bass hook or guitar riff but then can never turn any of these into a decent song.  The missteps come from a combination of a sound, lacking any complexity, that owes way too much to other better bands; poorly executed "high concepts;" and insufferable lyrics, full of forced anthems, and made grating by Nathan Willett's strained singing voice which veers closer to a baby's wail than to an obnoxious Jack White impression.  The Kids are also attracted to the use of noise as metaphor while lacking the ear for either.  They are a band that have ideas though, but never more than one idea at a time, and if it's a clever idea, it's safe to know you can listen to a better execution of it from someone else.

Here is the discography surrounding Cold War Kids' debut album:

Mulberry Street (2005 EP)

With Our Wallets Full (2005 EP)

Up in Rags (2006 EP)

Up in Rags/With Our Wallets Full (2006 compilation album)

Four Excerpts from Robbers & Cowards (2006 promo disc)

Robbers & Cowards

We Used to Vacation (2006 EP)

Benefit at the District (2006 live EP)

Hang Me Up to Dry (2007 single)

Hospital Beds (2007 single)

OKX: A Tribute to OK Computer (2007 compilation song)

Paste Magazine Sampler 33 (2007 compilation song)

"Hang Me Up to Dry" by Cold War Kids

"Quiet, Please!" by Cold War Kids

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Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales (2001)

"Mudfootball (For Moe Lerner)" by Jack Johnson

Zee Avi signed to Brushfire Records, a label created by Jack Johnson and named for his debut album Brushfire Fairytales, released in 2001 on Everloving Records.

Jack Johnson proves a clever songwriter, building up memorable images and wordplay intertwined into rolling rhythms.  The lyrics are suffused with enough film language repurposed for metaphor to remind the listener he's not too far removed from film school, and he's not removed at all from his home state of Hawaii and his love of surfing.  They anchor the album both musically and philosophically in a new iteration of surf music.

Here is the discography surrounding Jack Johnson's debut album:

Brushfire Bootleg (2000 bootleg)

Bubble Toes (2000 single)

Loose Change (2000 compilation song)

Middle Man (2000 single)

Brushfire Fairytales

Maybe This Christmas (2001 compilation song)

Radio Tracks (2002 promo EP)

Flake (2002 single)

Live (2002 live single)

The September Sessions (2002 soundtrack)

Thicker Than Water (2003 soundtrack)

"Inaudible Melodies" by Jack Johnson

"Flake (live)" by Jack Johnson

"Moonshine" by Jack Johnson

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Zee Avi - Zee Avi (2009)

"The Story" by Zee Avi

Ken Boudakian played session guitar for Cli-N-Tel's Shinin' on the Funk.  Outside of his main band (which is an ineligible stop for chronological reasons,) Boudakian doesn't have much other session work to his credit.  One of the few is for Malaysian singer-songwriter Zee Avi who released her debut album Zee Avi in 2009 on Brushfire Records.

Zee Avi's music is comfortable.  Her songs are anchored by the warmth of her guitar or ukulele that sound like a summer rain on the roof and a voice that captures the emotions and romantic memories that go with it.  Her songs are best when not overdressed with typical indiepop production; her lyrics are simple, straightforward and welcoming.  They lack that extra layer of depth, structure or poetry that could have been nurtured with a little more experience and time.  Though the comparison might be unfair, her songwriting is overshadowed by the veteran pen of Morrissey in her poignant cover of "First of the Gang to Die."  But with an album so much of the time of fresh youtube discoveries, the indie boom, and youth in transition, it was better not to wait.

Here is the discography surrounding Zee Avi's debut album:

This Warm December: A Brushfire Holiday Vol. 1 (2008 compilation song)

Brushfire Records Fall 2009 Sampler (2009 compilation song)

Bitter Heart (2009 single)

No Christmas for Me (2009 single)

Zee Avi (2009 promo disc)

Zee Avi

"No Christmas for Me" by Zee Avi

Zee Avi on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert

"Smile" by Zee Avi

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Cli-N-Tel - Shinin' on the Funk (1996)

"Concrete Roots" by Cli-N-Tel

Cli-N-Tel left the Wreckin' Cru after the first album to pursue his own creative and financial direction.  His journey continued with a few singles in collaboration with The Unknown DJ and then recorded again in the mid-nineties as a classic rap act.  In 1996, he released his solo album Shinin' on the Funk on the Dolphin label in Japan.

After nearly 10 years away from professional recording, Cli-N-Tel proves that he has kept up with the West Coast rap scene and that his lyricism has evolved accordingly.  The album is underpinned by excellent beats that sonically chronicle the evolution of hip hop since Cli-N-Tel's World Class days. His raps tell the genre's story, exposes its accrued pomp and reminds listeners of its true source as an art form.  In its unique way, Shinin' is a concept album and Cli-N-Tel confidently embraces his role as classic rapper and hip hop historian.

Here is Cli-N-Tel's discography:

The Big Beat (1985 single with The Organization)

2030 (1986 single)

Ling-O-Istic (1988 single)

It Ain't Mine (1988 single)

Mo' Juice (Juicy, Juicy) (1994 single)

Concrete Roots (1994 single)

Shinin' on the Funk

2030 (2017 remixes)

"2030" by Cli-N-Tel

"Mo' Juice" by Cli-N-Tel

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World Class Wreckin' Cru - World Class (1985)

"Juice" by World Class Wreckin' Cru

Did you spot Dr. Dre in the "Same Song" video?  Both Eazy-E and he are impossible to miss as neither seem to want to be there.  Dr. Dre's first recordings were with the World Class Wreckin' Cru.  The Wreckin' Cru released their debut album World Class in 1985 on Kru-Cut Records, a label created by group leader Lonzo (or Alonzo Williams) to release the Cru's output.  The album is often redundant ("Planet"), occasionally forward looking ("Gang Bang You're Dead") and entirely percussive.

Here is the discography surrounding World Class Wreckin' Cru's debut album:

Slice (1984 single as The Wreckin Cru)

Surgery (1984 single as The Wreckin Cru)

Juice (1985 single)

World Class

Bust It Up (1985 single)

Juice (1985 EP)

"Surgery" by World Class Wreckin' Cru

"Gang Bang You're Dead" by World Class Wreckin' Cru

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Digital Underground - This Is an E.P. Release (1991)

"Nuttin' Nis Funky" by Digital Underground

As one of the Oakland's premier rappers, Shock G made a couple of guest appearances on Luniz material: on the Oakland-loaded remix of "I Got 5 On It" and as Shock Jesus on "5150".  We return, then, to Digital Underground for their Gold-certified This Is an E.P. Release released in 1991 by Tommy Boy Entertainment.  The EP capitalized on the group's appearance in the film Nothing But Trouble from the same year.  The film featured two songs from the EP, "Same Song" and "Tie the Knot".

The album might seem like a cash grab but its quality as filler only gives Shock G more room to shine.  Shock's multiple-personality based humor and his keyboards become the reason to keep playing this record, and the remixes (of Sex Packet singles) reinforce Digital Underground as an act untethered by genre.  Oh, and 2Pac has a verse on "Same Song".

Note: This is the Tour's first stop at an EP release rather than an album or compilation album.  These kinds of stops I reserve for notable EPs.

Here is the discography surrounding Digital Undergrounds second release:

Same Song (1991 single)

This Is an E.P. Release

Nuttin' Nis Funky (1991 single)

"Same Song" by Digital Underground

"Tie the Knot" by Digital Underground

"Arguin' on the Funk" by Digital Underground

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Luniz - Operation Stackola (1995)

"Pimps, Playas & Hustlas" by Luniz

"Chris spreading faulty rumors around the town like Club Nouveau/Really though?"

Luniz used a degraded sample of Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad" to lay the framework for their song "I Got 5 On It".  (On the all-star remix, E-40 is hip to the sample and runs the line to start his flow.)  The song also featured Michael Marshall of Timex Social Club singing the chorus.  Luniz released their debut album Operation Stackola in 1995 on Noo Trybe Records (a sublabel of Virgin Records.)  

Here is the discography surrounding Luniz's debut album:

(Formally Known as The LuniTunes) (1994 EP)

I Got 5 On It (1995 single)

Operation Stackola

Playa Hata (1995 single)

Operation Stackola (6 Tracks EP) (1995 promo EP)

Operation Stackola (Hot Club Wax)

X.O. (1996 single)

Out to Be the Boss (1996 compilation track with Seagram)

Bootlegs & B-Sides (1997 compilation album)

"I Got 5 On It" by Luniz

"I Got 5 On It (Clean Bay Ballas Vocal Remix)" by Luniz

"5150" by Luniz

Pass the Headphones!!