I always respected Stones Throw records for their indie hustle, and the quality music that they produce. But they also put together some of the most innovative videos that I’ve seen in the hip-hop genre. Here are a couple just to give you a sense. Enjoy…
Quasimoto (Madlib) – Come On Feet
Madvillain – All Caps
Artist: Little Beaver
Title: Party Down
Year: 1974
Label: Cat
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 5.0/5.0
Review
This album was created for one reason, to party! The title of the LP does NOT lie, just Party Down. It’s really something that everyone can enjoy and get into, with a seriously laid-back vibe, but manages to kick out nothing less than killer grooves and awesome bass lines. To me, this album embodies what party music should be, positive, respectful, uplifting, and still maintaining that very strict focus on making the instrumentation the very BEST it can be, bottom line. Little Beaver’s mic skills are on point as well, he has the voice to complement his music.
Check out the sound!
Get Into The Party Life
Let The Good Times Roll
Party Down
Money Vibrations
Design
I love this cover! Easily one of the best in the collection. The photography is dead on, check out the setting and how it screams “70′s Basement House Party!”, whoever scouted this location matched the vibe of the album to perfection. Notice the wood paneling with the inset television set, gold records hung, the 70′s light fixtures, the alcohol bottles and ceiling textures. The bar detail is nice, too. Finally, we have Little Beaver, confidently sporting a leather get-up with the Black Panther-esque tam tilted to the side…flashing the pinky ring as he poses with his guitar, CLASSIC! You can’t tell him nothing!
The typography is nice here as well, I’m always a fan of juxtaposing type. Up top there is a softer, nicely set “Party Down”, and beneath, a much bolder stencil style “Little Beaver”. The sharp contrast is key in communicating the hierarchy to viewers. This is a very successful cover piece, two thumbs and pinkies up!
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Additional info on Little Beaver
Rhythm Of Life.
Artist: James Mason
Title: Rhythm Of Life
Year: 1977
Label: Chiaroscuro
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.75/5.0
Review
I was always intrigued by this record, originally because it’s one of the most amazing album covers that I’ve ever seen, but then upon hearing the music…it really sealed the deal. This has to be one of the most official acid jazz/fusion records in the history of the genre. James Mason played with Roy Ayers Ubiquity on the Lifeline LP, which produced one of the hottest disco/boogie tracks of the late 70′s, “Running Away” (which just so happens to appear on Boogiesco). But back to the album at hand, Rhythm Of Life has pretty much everything you could want in a record, breaks, killer grooves, nice vocals, synth experimentation, and most of all, ENERGY. This was James Mason’s only solo LP, he did it once, and he did it right. Again, this is one of those amazing LP’s that didn’t do well (as far as sales) during it’s original release back in ’77, jazz fans weren’t ready for this type of sound, and the mainstream wasn’t quite sure what to think of it just yet. It was essentially just waaaaaay ahead of its time, any of these tracks could be released today, and nobody would have a clue that it’s from ’77. To me, that’s genius, and not just anyone can write, produce, and arrange timeless music. James Mason, a slept on legend with a classic LP.
Check out the sound!
Sweet Power Your Embrace
Free
Good Thing
Design
Another one of the most amazing covers ever! Who can disagree? The typography is very minimal but works very well within the space (for the other design nerds out there, the font looks to be Gill Sans CAPS). The central figure, James Mason, has a glow surrounding him (reminiscent of Bruce Leroy from The Last Dragon, lol), that puts this cover over the top. Without that powerful glow, this instantly becomes an average cover, but with it…it’s above average. Simple design details, they work ALL the time. One of the dopest things about this album cover is that it sounds as good as it looks, diggers know, most of the time that’s not the case…which is why I make it a priority to listen to every album that I think might be good (when I base it on cover design).
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Additional info on James Mason