January 2002

Grandpa Loves Music
Year in Review: 2001

Jamiroquai: A Funk Odyssey

I am a giant two-faced monster about this album. From one face, I speak no good, from the other, I speak little ill.

In one sense, the disappointment of the year for me IS Jamiroquai's "A Funk Odyssey". I looked forward for this CD for a while, but I was not as impressed as I was excited.

The CD is not bad, but it is not memorable. As funky and danceable as it is, I never spent a day with a song or hook stuck in my head.

The more I think about my feelings for the album, the sadder I become. When I listened to any of my Jamiroquai CD's I felt alright - the kind of alright when you want to smile for no good reason.

Maybe I wanted Jamiroquai to be something they no longer are. Well, sue me. That's life in the demand curve for you.

But, in another sense, it is not a bad CD. Unlike any other album on my list, this sounds better on the computer or my home stereo than in my Jeep. But I cannot blame road noise alone for me not liking the album.

I do not recommend your buying this record. But if you have to, I would rather you buy this than anything by any of the following bands: Rush, Creed, Everclear, Brian Setzer, Kenny G or Rush (did I mention them twice?)

Instead, please buy any or all of the following…

Big Boi and Dre Present Outkast

This CD was the super greatest present of the year. Bigfoot hooked me up with this greatest hits compilation for Christmas. She is the best.

Outkast have been around for years, but I did not notice them until I heard songs from their 2000 CD, Stankonia. The songs, "Ms. Jackson" and "So Fresh, So Clean", along with numerous appearances on MTV and BET made me want more.

The CD is jam packed with great hip hop. These guys are something else. Their science is too tight.

Three new songs are featured on the collection. The hits are sandwiched by two original songs with

These guys are doper than dope. I seriously love listening to Outkast. In fact, after Daft Punk , this is my favorite CD released in 2001. Even with the old songs, because there are three new songs, three pretty damn funky good songs, at that.

There is a sincere dedication to not only great beats, but solid hooks in every song.

I must dedicate 2002 to more Outkast listening.

Tenacious D: Tenacious D

What can I say that I have not already said? Let's see…

Failure to own this CD is proof of not only a lack of taste, but also that you are a retard. Yes, you heard me correctly. I said that you are a retard.

Until you buy this CD, you must ride on the small yellow bus. You must also drool.

Of course, there is an advantage to not owning this CD. The advantage being that you will be able to compete in the Special Olympics. Everyone is a winner at the Special Olympics. I will come over to your house later to check out your blue ribbon collection later. I hope you wear your new helmet.

Daft Punk: Discovery

Daft Punk's latest CD was a bright light in my year. No album on this list spent more time in my CD player than Discovery since I purchased it.

Here are some excerpts from my review in May 2001:

"Discovery is a time machine back to 1983 built in 2021. In each song one hears an old sound played with a new sensibility…

Discovery is very modern. The first release, "One More Time" is a terrific dance number. "Verdis Quo" is ambient joy. It is about driving home slowly from a disaster. The trance into which one falls is meant to soothe the ailing beast more than the conquering stud. Without a doubt, these songs have a stronger 2001 quality than many others on the album…

The next song, "Short Circuit," pulls you out of the comfort of the ambient 'dubliminal' world of "Verdis Quo" and plants you in the opening credits of a cop-buddy film starring a very young John Cusack and Bobcat Goldthwaite. In this song, along with "Crescendolls," DP fuse electric sounds of the late nineties with those of the early eighties. These two songs do not have lyrics. But they do not need lyrics for their purposes."

'nuff said. You go buy this album now.

Stereolab: Sound Dust

I love Stereolab. Maybe I mistake sex for love. I am more a slut for Stereolab.

The merry tricksters of "indie-rock" from France and Chicago released yet another carnival of music for my young and sensitive ears.

Each time I listen to a new CD, I cannot remember why I every bought it in the first place. Then, once I 'get it', I wonder why I own any other CD's at all. There is something strange going on over there in France. I am serious. Stereolab, Air and Daft Punk (NO! I will NOT mention MC Solar in this list!) make music like no one in the States. And thank God for that!

I highly recommend this album to everyone in the entire world. 2001 was better for knowing this album. You will be, too.

Gorillaz: Gorillaz

In 2000 years, this album will be worshiped. For in 4002, there will be many cartoon bands from all over the world. Each of them will owe their life to the Gorillaz.

(Do not say a word about the Archies or Josie and the Pussycats. They are not the same. They are cartoons with human voices. That is cheating.)

This is the next logical step for the music industry. While people will grow tired of the boy band format, they will never grow weary of cute, talented cartoon characters. Don't think I speak truth? Prove me wrong.

What I look forward to is when cartoon teen-girl music comes out. For a sexy cartoon girl will be much more exciting than the fake-chested, make-believe-virgins ruling the roost nowadays. Cartoon girl pop will be all woman!

Kings of Convenience: Quiet is the New Loud

This album proves that I am not as smart as I am a lucky.

While tooling around on the Astralwerks web site, I happened upon news about this duo from Norway that sounded like Simon and Garfunkel. I read a couple reviews, and because my wife likes folk music and Norway, I bought it. I did not listen to a single track online before I bought the CD. This was a grope in the dark.

As you recall from my review, I fell in love with this album on the first listen. Also, my wife loved it.

Also released this year was a remix album, Versus, which is in the same vein as Quiet is the New Loud. I think that the Kings release many more terrific albums, but before you buy any of them, please go out and buy this one. You will be very happy.

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Have a great 2002!