DJ Shadow - The Less You Know, The Better (Verve, 2011)

DJ Shadow

The Less You Know, The Better

Verve

2011

Rating: 7 mashing days out of 10

DJ Shadow has been a big part of my musical life for a over a decade and a half, and while he might not hold sway over my tastes like he once did, I'm still always excited to check out his newest offerings.  But I've put off writing my shitty little review on "The Less You Know, The Better" because I'm not entirely sure what to say about it.  At this point Shadow has basically created his own style of music - impeccably crafted, beat-driven indie rock that sounds like everything and nothing else all at the same time.  It's not as "hip hop" as his previous long player "The Outsider," but probably better compared to his first two albums.  At more than 75 minutes long it could have been tightened up a bit, but there are plenty enough good songs to please this Shadow fan.  Look, he's not going to recreate "Endtroducing" - albums like that only happen once in a generation.  But there is much joy to be had here if you can let that go.  

DJ Shadow - Scale It Back EP (Verve, 2011)

DJ Shadow

Scale It Back EP

Verve

2011

Rating: 5 thumb drives out of 10

Unless you fancy yourself some sort of DJ, there is no point in buying this DJ Shadow EP.  There are three songs from his most recent album "The Less You Know, The Better".  The first two tracks "Scale It Back" and "Stay The Course" are paired with the acapella and instrumental versions of each track.  And then the final song "Run For Your Life" is an "Extended Tour Version", but it's basically the same as the album version.  So just buy the album. 

DJ Shadow - I'm Excited EP (Island, 2011)

DJ Shadow

I'm Excited EP

Island

2011

Rating: 6.5 star slingers out of 10

Another EP "previewing" the new DJ Shadow record (which I've still not gotten around to listening to).  Two album tracks, two exclusive tracks. According to Shadow's website this one isn't even available anymore due to sample clearance issues, but if you want a copy of it I'm pretty sure you can figure out how to make that happen.

So anyway, as to the actual music - opening track "I'm Excited" features (obviously British) rapper Afrikan Boy and it sounds like it would have fit on his last full-length "The Outsider".  The second track is soundscape non-entity in my book.  The final two tracks are apparently on the new full-length - "Come On Riding (Through the Cosmos)" is a Shadow-style mellow rocker, and was instantly likeable.  Closer "Let's Get It (Bass, Bass, Bass)" sounds like it should have been a b-side on the "Number Song" single - it's very much that style of construction.  Not amazing, but OK.  

EP is worth seeking out, even if you have to do a little digging.

DJ Shadow - I Gotta Rokk (Island, 2011)

DJ Shadow
I Gotta Rokk
Island
2011

Rating: 7 friendly ghosts out of 10

FUCK YES NEW DJ SHADOW MUSIC. And more to the point, new DJ Shadow music that sounds like "old" DJ Shadow music aka it don't sound like "The Outsider". Not that I hated that record, it was decent, but not the sort of music by Shadow that gets me excited. But this EP is, oh boy is it ever.

So he has a new record coming out in September, and the first three songs are all going to be on that record - call this a preview if you will, something to tide the die-hard fans over for a few months. In addition, there is a remix of each of these songs, giving you six songs total (I'm a math major, so please trust my addition), and over 35 minutes of new Shadow. He ain't getting hyphy here, there are no guest hip-hop vocals, this is straight diggin'-in-the-crates electro-rock, and it delights me so.

DJ Shadow - The Outsider (Island, 2006)

DJ Shadow
The Outsider
Island
2006

Rating: 6.5 wandering nomads out of 10

I’m sure there are many of you out there who eagerly anticipate every nugget of goodness that Josh Davis aka DJ Shadow puts forth to the world. God knows that describes me – I’ve spent more time and money than I care to admit trying to track down all of his albums, singles, limited edition bootlegs, recorded DJ sets, you name it. I’m known in my circle of friends for having serious attention deficit disorder when it comes to music, so the fact that I’ve felt strongly for Shadow for 10+ years says a lot in my book. Obviously, with such lofty praise comes high expectations, and no mortal man can fulfill these desires day in and day out. In other words, to get to the root of the issue, the new Shadow album is disappointing. And yet at the same time, it’s a pretty good record too.

First and foremost, this is not your typical Shadow collage of dark, obscure samples laced together flawlessly…this album feels more like a hip-hop mix tape. There are a few rock-oriented numbers and a couple of almost-typical Shadow tracks, but the overall feel is that of a current Bay Area mix tape; in other words, Shadow has done gone “hyphy”. I personally like pretty much everything on this album, but at no point do you really feel like you are listening to another DJ Shadow masterpiece, but rather the local college radio station. There is no flow between songs at all, which is probably the worst part of it – even this smorgasbord of tracks would be better suited to a different placement of song locations.

But on to the songs themselves – Shadow has assembled a fantastic cast of musicians to help him out on this album. The three best tracks in my opinion are assisted by David Banner on “Seein’ Thangs”, a tag-team of Q-Tip and long-time Shadow cohort Lateef on “Enuff”, and Phonte Coleman of Little Brother on “Backstage Girl”. The hyphy gets brung by Bay Area locals Turf Talk, The Federation, Keak da Sneak, and the legendary E-40. Add in the guitarist dudes from Kasabian, a couple of tracks with vocals by Chris James of Stateless, and a few other odds-n-ends and that is the record.

Make no mistake, there's going to be a lot of backlash over this release from long-time fans. Some will like it, others won’t, and I’m guessing all of them will be a little bummed (like me) that the album isn’t what they expected. All told, I still expect to listen ot this a lot, as the music is good – but when I’m really itching to hear some DJ Shadow, I doubt this release will ever be the first to pop into my mind.

DJ Shadow - Funky Skunk (Public Works, 2006)

DJ Shadow
Funky Skunk
Public Works
2006

Rating: 7.5 malodorous rodents out of 10

In between his “official” studio releases, DJ Shadow often puts out limited-edition mixes to help quench the thirst of us rabid fans. This material differs from his more original compositions and rely much more heavily on their source material, but still maintain that unique quality that tells even the most casual fan that Shadow has had his hand in it’s creation. At their basest form they are glorified mix tapes, but his ability to mesh disparate sounds together into a cohesive and highly listenable package is second to none as far as I’m concerned.

If you’ve followed along with his releases at all, you know how great the “Brainfreeze”, “Product Placement” and “Diminishing Returns” discs are; but this most recent album, “Funky Skunk”, may be the best of all. Limited to 450 copies and produced in conjunction with Shepard Fairey and Obey, this disc mostly focuses on hip-hop. Both old and new are well represented - you’ll hear Three Six Mafia, Too $hort, Birdman, David Banner, and god knows what else, all mixed in amongst snippets of obscure funk, psych rock, booty bass…shit, he even uses part of a Terry Gross interview from NPR. In a word, it’s brilliant. It may not be the easiest album to come across, but spending a little extra time searching it out will prove well worth your time.