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"Some Of My Best Friends..." |
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ROOTDOWN COMMENT >>
Wick Wick Wicked turntablism and abstract beats from Canada's finest - distinguished by THE most out-there samplings this side of lable-mate Mr. Scruff - Hawaiian guitar, Dixieland jazz, old school ska - you name it - the Kid works it - great listening...
EDITORIAL REVIEW >>
As his alter-ego, "Kid Koala," might suggest, Eric San applies a joyous childlike vision to his music on Some of My Best Friends Are DJs. Following turns with Money Mark, Deltron 3030, and Lovage, Canada's cheekiest mixologist defied weighty expectations with his beguiling debut album, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Three years later, and Kid Koala has retained his youthful verve. Packaged with a 52-page, self-penned comic and a travel chess kit, Some of My Best Friends Are DJs offers less in the way of music, with the 35-minute running time meaning the restless sonic snippets wisely end before his humor has a chance to grate. Mixing sleazy whisky-bar vibes with adolescent antics, his second album never allows the listener to settle. Moments of playful mixing magic are at times followed by baffling inanity as "Skanky Panky"--with its wonderfully shattered Ska rhythm and frantic scratches--runs into "Flu Season", ostensibly a series of beat-accompanied coughs, sneezes, and sniffs. Blending blues, jazz, and funk with a myriad of bizarre samples, moments of pure eccentric genius such as "Robochacha" and "More Dance Music" make this a flawed yet fascinating slice of beat-driven bravura. --Christopher Barrett
amazon.com
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'Annie's Parlor' |
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'Basin Street Blues' |
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'Elevator Hopper' |
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'Flu Season' |
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'More Dance Music' |
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'On the Set of Fender Bender' |
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'Robochacha' |
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'Skanky Panky' |
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'Stompin' at le Savoi' |
LISTENER REVIEWS >>
Scientist Of Sound (4.5 stars):
Kid Koala took the critics by storm with his exploration of using the turntable as an instrument like no other on his proper debut "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome". Since then, he's toured with the likes of Ben Harper, the Beastie Boys, Radiohead, and Bullfrog (as well as headlining his own shows). In addition, he's also worked with Dan the Automator and Deltron 3030 (aka Del Tha Funkee Homosapien) and Gorillaz. Not to mention he also released a 300-page comic book. For the most part, Koala dives into the leanings of his debut. In some ways, "Some of My Best Friends Are DJs" is better than his debut. He's found ways to expand his style and experiment in ways that even the converted will be shocked by. The soaring scratch melody of "Basin Street Blues", the exuberance of "Stompin' at le Savoi" and the enthralling "Skanky Panky" are arguably better than anything off of "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome". With that said, there is a bit less rhythm and unity here. A slight complaint would be that the music stops too much, and doesn't flow quite as well. But like his debut, repeat listening overshadows these weak moments with all of it's positive aspects. Overall, if you were a fan of the first record, this should definitely please you.
Do You Get Your Money's Worth?:
Ah, what a tangled web we weave as the amazingly talented Kid Koala lets loose a beautifully frustrating concept Jazz-turntablist album. Clocking in at just 35 minutes, including the four bonus tracks, the question is, was it worth the wait? Yes and no. The amount of precision skill involved in his first album, 2000's Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, is built upon to a point of superhuman proportions. Each play has its own reward as the many rich textures and impenetrably deep production cascade between your headphones. Jazz to the core, he plays each sound as if it's its own instrument recalling legendary old tunes while creating new ones. Even with the bonus tracks the album, as a whole, is a tight listen ... but 35 minutes? That's not even long enough for a good shag, at least not where I came from, and isn't that in some way the point of those funky beats? And, despite his fantastic display of scratch perversion, most songs lack that extra punch DJ Shadow possesses and the fun and adventure that made Carpel Tunnel so good. Most of the album can slide by unnoticed for the hyperactive child in each of us and for an album this length that is unacceptable.
So while Kid firmly cements his position as one of the greatest humans to ever destroy vinyl with this disk, he has also proved that he can get a chimp like me to pay him £20 an hour for him to do it. It's pretty hard to say if you get you money's worth.
the turntable as an instrument:
Eric San is one creative guy. He makes music, writes comic books and can even make a chess board. He doesn't necessarily do these things seperately either. Some of my best friends are djs comes with the lot. The comic makes for a good read and the chess board ... well I just can't bring myself to cut up the cd packaging. These are side issues really though, what I'm interested in is the music.
I'm not that familiar with 'carpel tunnel syndrome', a previous album, but i would say this album is a little more cohesive. There's a sense of beginning and end and a little more structure. 'Basin street blues' kicks of the album and it's a piece of genius. It's got a slow looping drum with a trumpet (sic) sample strectched out over the top. The beat rolls in about 1 minute into the tune. It's brilliant, especially the bit about epileptic chram. The jazz theme rolls on through to 'elevator hopper' and 'annies parlour'.
I've never met him but i'd say Kid Koala must be a pretty fun guy. Some of my best friends is full of jokes, crazy statements and animal noises. It's also a pretty laid back affair, there are no guest MC's and no huge banging club hits. Is subtle turntabelism, not some over the top scratching for scrathing's sake hip hop. This is a very enjoyable album.
OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIKE "Some Of My Best Friends..." ALSO LIKE >>
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"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome"
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"Endtroducing"
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