“WHAT IS HE DOING” what do you think man

Commentators when a goalie plays out from the back and it goes wrong

Lil’ Kim - Hard Core

#MWE

Biggie protégé makes clear her intentions to depose her mentor and conquer New York. The beats are clean and the rhymes are downright filthy. Features include a VERY young Jay-Z and maybe too much of fellow M.A.F.I.oso Lil’ Cease, who gets a whole three verse song to himself on “Crush On You”.

Lil’ Kim - Hard Core

#MWE

Biggie protégé makes clear her intentions to depose her mentor and conquer New York. The beats are clean and the rhymes are downright filthy. Features include a VERY young Jay-Z and maybe too much of fellow M.A.F.I.oso Lil’ Cease, who gets a whole three verse song to himself on “Crush On You”.

Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left

#MWE

Unfortunately I wasn’t really into this, or much other Nick Drake I’ve ever heard, a beautiful haunting song like “River Man” aside. Nothing else stuck out to me, just a bunch of cute guitar songs. Some of the chamber arrangements were tasteful - some of them overdone. “Man In A Shed” is cool.

Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty

#MWE

More of the inventive beatswitches and dense references that I know from Paul’s Boutique. This time, I’m surprised to hear this record peppered with some actual songs. Not just hybrid style rap songs like “Sabotage”, I mean they’re actually singing. Even more surprised that the songs are good!

A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service

#MWE

In 2016 I felt unqualified to enjoy this highly acclaimed farewell album. Decided not to listen until I’d listened to their other albums. In 2026 I can say - I should have just started here. Consistent, interesting production, great bars, and cameos from hiphop legends and rising stars alike.

Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty

#MWE

More of the inventive beatswitches and dense references that I know from Paul’s Boutique. This time, I’m surprised to hear this record peppered with some actual songs. Not just hybrid style rap songs like “Sabotage”, I mean they’re actually singing. Even more surprised that the songs are good!

A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service

#MWE

In 2016 I felt unqualified to enjoy this highly acclaimed farewell album. Decided not to listen until I’d listened to their other albums. In 2026 I can say - I should have just started here. Consistent, interesting production, great bars, and cameos from hiphop legends and rising stars alike.

Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left

#MWE

Unfortunately I wasn’t really into this, or much other Nick Drake I’ve ever heard, a beautiful haunting song like “River Man” aside. Nothing else stuck out to me, just a bunch of cute guitar songs. Some of the chamber arrangements were tasteful - some of them overdone. “Man In A Shed” is cool.

De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate

#MWE

The guys start embracing more live instrumentation, particularly from legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker, who gets a 5 minute solo to himself. Other highlights for me: the Stevie-sampling “Breakadawn” and the Japanese guest verses from Scha Dara Parr and Takagi Kan on “Long Island Wildin’”.

De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate

#MWE

The guys start embracing more live instrumentation, particularly from legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker, who gets a 5 minute solo to himself. Other highlights for me: the Stevie-sampling “Breakadawn” and the Japanese guest verses from Scha Dara Parr and Takagi Kan on “Long Island Wildin’”.

Leonard Cohen - Songs of Love and Hate

#MWE

These songs seem more personal than the 80s songs I’m more familiar with, but I can’t help but pick up on political lines too (file under: Hate). Great chamber arrangements decorate and fill out the otherwise stark verse-chorus form - the lyrics are worth one’s time anyway but it doesn’t hurt.

Leonard Cohen - Songs of Love and Hate

#MWE

These songs seem more personal than the 80s songs I’m more familiar with, but I can’t help but pick up on political lines too (file under: Hate). Great chamber arrangements decorate and fill out the otherwise stark verse-chorus form - the lyrics are worth one’s time anyway but it doesn’t hurt.

Solange - When I Get Home

#MWE

I wish somebody in 2019 had grabbed me, sat me down and said "YOU WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM. LISTEN TO IT." Or maybe they did. A consistent collection of spacey, inventive music that honestly still sounds ahead of THIS time. Everything sounds immaculate. Especially smitten with "Jerrod” and “Binz”.

Solange - When I Get Home

#MWE

I wish somebody in 2019 had grabbed me, sat me down and said "YOU WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM. LISTEN TO IT." Or maybe they did. A consistent collection of spacey, inventive music that honestly still sounds ahead of THIS time. Everything sounds immaculate. Especially smitten with "Jerrod” and “Binz”.

Animal Collective - Tangerine Reef

#MWE

As a visual album, some of this music makes more sense with the incredible images. Visuals aside, I was moved by this swaying, shimmering (not quite) ambient record. The loose lilt of “Airpipe” is a highlight, as is the beautiful “Jake and Me”. Reminded of their older style in “Hip Sponge”.

Sade - Love Deluxe

#MWE

Listened mostly for the sublime “Kiss of Love” - the rest of the album brings more blissful sophisti-pop, and a few extended cuts that bear the bassy trip-hop style of the previous year’s Massive Attack album. Like the best Blue Nile records, these songs are happy to take the time they need.

Sade - Love Deluxe

#MWE

Listened mostly for the sublime “Kiss of Love” - the rest of the album brings more blissful sophisti-pop, and a few extended cuts that bear the bassy trip-hop style of the previous year’s Massive Attack album. Like the best Blue Nile records, these songs are happy to take the time they need.

Morphine - Good

#MWE

Dark saxophones doubling riffs with a slide bass over a relentless shuffle… this reminds me a LOT of today’s post-punk sound, and a little of the NYC 80s sound. Don’t know if I’m hearing much jazz influence aside the instrumentation. The music is simple but well-orchestrated.

Morphine - Good

#MWE

Dark saxophones doubling riffs with a slide bass over a relentless shuffle… this reminds me a LOT of today’s post-punk sound, and a little of the NYC 80s sound. Don’t know if I’m hearing much jazz influence aside the instrumentation. The music is simple but well-orchestrated.

Jay-Z - The Black Album

#MWE

A real who’s who and what’s what of the 00s. I know I’ve been listening to P/G-Funk all week but I’m genuinely hearing more funk influence here than The Blueprint. Think “Justify My Thug”, or even “99 Problems”.
Do references to Bill Haley and the film “Face/Off” qualify this as nerd rap?

Jay-Z - The Black Album

#MWE

A real who’s who and what’s what of the 00s. I know I’ve been listening to P/G-Funk all week but I’m genuinely hearing more funk influence here than The Blueprint. Think “Justify My Thug”, or even “99 Problems”.
Do references to Bill Haley and the film “Face/Off” qualify this as nerd rap?

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love

#MWE

Great album intro. The guitars sound SICK, a bit like saying the Mona Lisa is ENIGMATIC. Can’t tell whether I’ve heard some of these before or if they’re just so legendary that they register as classic immediately (I’m thinking Spanish Castle). They really liked their glockenspiels, huh

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love

#MWE

Great album intro. The guitars sound SICK, a bit like saying the Mona Lisa is ENIGMATIC. Can’t tell whether I’ve heard some of these before or if they’re just so legendary that they register as classic immediately (I’m thinking Spanish Castle). They really liked their glockenspiels, huh

#MWE

#MWE

Popol Vuh - Hosianna Mantra

Calling it: this is the first post-rock record. Never mind that it’s their third album and it came out in 1971. This ensemble resemble more of a chamber orchestra than a supposed “band”. I’m reminded of Talk Talk about as equally as I am of Takemitsu - i.e. compositional and atmospheric genius.

2Pac - All Eyez On Me

I got completely lost in this thing. Overwhelmed at the scale and consistency of the production and rapping. It also *sounds* IMMACULATE. This is a major blind spot filled for me.

Skandalouz is GORGEOUS. The beat from No More Pain sounds like it’s from the future. I feel like I have the funk in me.