Godzilla's Picks

Alright, if I were marooned on an island, or lived in a cruel society that limited the amount of CD's that I was allowed to have, or was just kind of cheap, these are the albums that I would want in my possession the most. In other words, these are my favorite albums. And why!

1) First Light- Freddie Hubbard (Jazz) This Grammy Award winning album by former Miles Davis protégé Freddie Hubbard is by far not the most exciting album in the world. In fact, I only particularly care for 2 or 3 tracks on the damn thing. But man, they are some tracks. The first two track on this album- First Light and Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey- play like a symphony with four movements. Beautiful.

First Light is a very fitting title. I very much feels like dawn. The song really build in it's intensity, much like any day does. Within this track there are spectacular moment of building tension through dissonance that spurt forth into incredible measures of harmony that just seem to glide by. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey follows as the final movements of this miniature Jazz Symphony. Amazingly enough great portions of this track were actually written by Paul McCartney and Wings. It seems all wrong, but this is just another case of mediocre pop music converted into fantastic jazz (much like Charlie Hunter's version of Nirvana's "Come As You Are").

After listening to these to tracks I am always filled with immense satisfaction. The sound is so warming, but yet reminds my of a cold urban environment (complete with steam vents).

Personnel include: Freddie Hubbard- Trumpet, Fluegelhorn; George Benson- Guitar; Jack Dejonette- Drums

2) Herbie Hancock- Headhunters (Jazz/Fusion) This album is just too much. It is really one of the funkiest collection of noises ever put together. It's opening track, Chameleon, is a 15 minute funk-a-thon that really just doesn't stop.

Every facet of this album approaches perfection. The beat let loose in Chameleon is enough to make the album worth listening to alone, not to mention the fantastic keyboards (including the Fender Rhodes) by the Man Himself, and even the musical use of a beer bottle.

Headhunters is really a fantastic album standing by itself. But consider what it inspired, and it is even more impressive. This album drew from jazz and funk sources and pushed forward, eventually leading towards some very good hip-hop and acid jazz. Yes, you can hear the obvious influence that this album has had. And that's good, as far as I'm concerned. Until the day that I hear Puff Daddy "sample" Chameleon. Then somebody, maybe everybody, dies.

3) Getz/Gilberto- Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto (Jazz/Bossa Nova) Well, I think everybody should own this album. It is probably the most relaxing collections of music made in the later half of the 20th Century. I'm not foolin', either.

The music on this album is instantly recognizable, most notably "The Girl From Impanima" featuring Astrud Gilberto's beautiful and incredibly sultry voice that is enough to make you melt. Her vocal performances on following tracks is just as good.

Many of these tunes are recognizable. Possibly even if you've never heard them before. That's how good this album is. All of the tunes are timeless. They never seem stale. They are perpetually relaxing as well. This album screams Hawaiian shirt, flip-flops and a drink in a coconut in a way that makes all of this nonsense seem the most exciting thing one could possibly do. Getz/Gilberto is a vacation for you ears, and in turn your mind, no matter what the rest of you is doing.

4)Sacre Blue- Dimitri From Paris (Acid Jazz/Lounge?) This album is fantastic with a French accent. Dimitri really knows what he's doing. This album sounds both essentially 1960's Parisian and 1990's Good and Groovy at the same time.

Dimitri's M.O. on this album is to draw on the lounging qualities of what any American, I'm sure, would call typical Parisian Cafe music and make it sound good and current. Maybe even danceable. Who knows?

Anyhow, this album features some fantastic laid-back grooves like "Un Very Stylish Fille" (recognizable from a Volvo commercial featuring Donald Sutherland talking all sexy about a Volvo) and some really dance-a-tronic magic like "Sacre France'".

If you think you're cool, go get it.

5) Jimmy Smith- Talkin' Verve (Jazz): This album is a cornerstone of what is possibly the best series of compilation/rerelease CD's in the history of music. I would recommend getting your hands on anything that says "Talkin' Verve" on it, especially the initial 2 CD various artists release, Wes Montgomery's, George Benson's, Willie Bobo's, and Cal Trader's. But they are all fantastic.

Anyhow, I fell the Jimmy Smith Talkin' Verve is the best of the lot. I fell the Jimmy Smith is one of the finest organists to ever live, and this CD certainly showcases his brilliant music. The way he plays just makes me want to sit down and smoke a cigarette. He's just too cool. If I could one word to describe Jimmy Smith and his music it would be "cool".

He is the master of the organ, but is not an attention hog. He shares a lot of time with a guitar- often with the legendary Wes Montgomery. He also utilizes large orchestrations that manage not to be intrusive. Most of his backing musicians are the best in the business.

This particular collection of tunes is some of the best work from some of the best Jimmy Smith albums in the Verve catalog. It is not to be missed. Jimmy Smith Talkin' Verve could also possibly take you to new levels of relaxin' enjoyment.

Now, of course, there are so many other fantastic albums out there that these five can't really be representative of anything. It would really take about a total of 20 albums to put together a cohesive collection of top-rate, A-One music. Following is a list of these other 15 albums, without much of an explanation, or any particular order, to any of them- not because of any space limitations, but mostly because I'm really damned lazy.

David Grisman- Hot Dawg

Wes Montgomery- Talkin' Verve

Blue Break Beats vol. 2

Stevie Wonder- Innervisions

United Future Organization- No Sound Too Taboo

Steely Dan- Royal Scam

Talking Heads- Naked

Jamiroquai- any/all of their albums

Allman Brothers- The Fillmore Concerts

Dimitri from Paris- Mixmag Presents Monsieur Dimitri's De-Luxe House Of Funk

Mark Farina- Mushroom Jazz vol 2

Taj Mahal- Sacred Island

Junior Kimbrough- Sad Days, Lonely Nights

Marvin Gaye- Great Songs and Performances...

Charlie Hunter and Pound for Pound- Return of the Candyman

If you dispute the greatness of any of these albums then there are a few things you can do: 1) go to hell, b) email me and start a fight about it, and/or lastly- you start your own damn website and make like you are important yourself.