103. O.G. Original Gangster - Ice-T

103. O.G. Original Gangster - Ice-T (1991) 92/100.  I had heard this a few times in the early 90's and had remembered liking it so I thought I would purchase it on the assumption that I would like it.  I was right.

Ice-T is one of the artists who put gangsta rap on the map in the early 90s and it was this album that brought it to the mainstream.  Not only a great rap album, but gave the introduction of Body Count which would later become the center of controversy for their follow-up album that featured Cop Killer.

This is a classic hip hop album.  It is brilliantly produced and as great a listen now as it was when released twenty years ago.

New Jack Hustler is a great track.  Bitches 2 is another favorite.  O.G. Original Gangster is a classic.  Midnight has been in my mp3 rotation for over a decade (I am a sucker for all things Black Sabbath). Body Count is a nice change of pace.  The Tower is another favorite.  A classic album.

Note: Rage Against the Machine has been a consistent favorite of mine and while Rage formed the same year as Original Gangster, you can hear a lot of O.G.'s influence on them.  Listened: 5/24/2011
Favorite Tracks: New Jack Hustler, Midnight, Body Count

102. I Should Coco - Supergrass

102. I Should Coco - Supergrass (1995) 90/100. A first time listen for me.  In fact, I had never even heard of Supergrass.  They initially reminded me of The White Stripes (and yes, I know that Supergrass came out first so The White Stripes would sound more like Supergrass instead of the other way around, but I never heard Supergrass and had heard The White Stripes so deal with it).  I will say, musically Supergrass is a better band than The White Stripes, but again that has nothing to do with anything.

I really liked I Should Coco.  I wasn't expecting much when I turned it on so I was pleasently surprised by it.  I don't mind Britpop - it's not a genre I go out of my way for but also one I don't run away from either.

But, I wouldn't put Supergrass as straight Britpop.  When I think Britpop, I think Oasis and this isn't Oasis.  This has some punk roots that Oasis doesn't and reminded me a little of The Kinks (who they had said was a major musical influence).

Alright was a highlight of the album.  Strange Ones and She's So Loose were good tunes as well.  We're Not Supposed To had some fun psychedelic-esque sound effects that made the song fun, kind of reminded me of Pink Floyd's, Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict.  I really liked Sofa (Of My Lethargy) - a great, mellow (in comparison with the rest of the album) and probably the most Britpoppish sounding track - but still great.  

Overall, the whole album is pretty good.  It made my list of, "To Purchase Albums".  Good stuff.  Listened: 5/24/2011
Favorite Tracks: Alright, Strange Ones, She's So Loose  

101. Thriller - Michael Jackson

101. Thriller - Michael Jackson (1982)  87/100.  I am one of the few people on this earth, that was alive in the 80's, that didn't have Thriller.  It really never appealed to me.  I didn't watch Michael do the moonwalk, I didn't care much about the Thriller video, and didn't even pay attention to the fact that he had a pet chimpanzee until much later in life.  So, this was a first time listen for me.

Having listened to it, I am still on the fence on whether this is really my thing.  I can say, unlike most that would put this in, I don't have the nostalgia for it - since I never listened to it in the 80's.  Well, I didn't own it, it has been all over the radio for 30 years.

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' is still a popular (and decent) track on the radio.  Did he just say, "you're a vegetable"?  WTF?!?

Baby Be Mine was an ok track, nothing flashy and also not going to be memorable.  The Girl is Mine is another popular track on the radio and was probably my favorite from the album.  I wonder how the Jackson/McCartney relationship was two years later when Jackson would outbid McCartney for The Beatles publishing rights to their music - I am guessing that ended all hope for McCartney/Jackson live duet.

If you have never heard Thriller, Beat It, or Billie Jean before, welcome to our world.  We have indoor plumbing, air conditioning, and cookies here - enjoy your stay.  It is nice to hear Vincent Price at the end of Thriller as I was a fan of his movies when they would play on Saturday afternoon (before stations decided that the Saturday afternoon time slot would be better suited for things like bowling, golf, and pool - who the hell watches bowling?)  Beat It's strongest part for me, of course, Eddie Van Halen's guitar work.  Billie Jean is Billie Jean.  I still have no real idea what the hell that song is about.

Human Nature is probably my second favorite on the album.  It is a popular track but not nearly as overplayed as the big three from the album.  Just a nice mellow track.

PYT was ok.  I liked the R&B vibe from The Lady in my Life.

Overall, I give the album merit for taking the pop genre to new heights.  It isn't my kind of music but I can still appreciate it.  I do not ever see myself listening to it again, if it were 1982 who knows but in 2011, not going to happen.  Listened: 5/23/2011
Favorite Tracks: Thriller, Human Nature, The Girl is Mine