PARLIMENT
Totally funked up music. The most funked up music. Totally funking funkadelic music. If evil time travelers prevented Parilment and James Brown from ever making music, rap would not exist today. [Uh, but would that make them evil then?] I bought my first Parliment disc in 1997 and instantly regretted not buying one much earlier in life-- You can't get much cooler than this.
PEARL JAM
We all bought Ten and watched the "Jeremy" video a zillions time, so is it just me or does their music sound exactly the same as it did a decade ago; except about 98% less cool?
PI
"Pi" is possibly a landmark use of techno as a soundtrack because the movie is not sci-fi or hacker related-- The next thing you know, some "black movie" might not use a rap soundtrack! (No, that's asking too much.) While "Pi" does features some of today's top techno artists, it isn't just thrown together to try and hump the electronica cash cow. In fact, the soundtrack has a somewhat tight and neurotic tone to it, which is a perfect compliment for that getting-spaced-cuz-it's-so-damn-late feeling that most all starving artists, graphic designers, and teenagers live for.
THE PIXIES
Undoubtedly one of the most unappreciated bands of the decade for as masterful and influental as they were-- They were the paragon of modern rock in its prime before the genre became "alternative music." I bought Doolittle because of the song "Here Comes Your Man," and was somewhat startled that the rest of the album was totally different and somewhat shocking to me-- but I adapted, and thereafter acquired every Pixies album that we released. Surreal surf guitar scapes, screaming vocals, and bizarre lyrics make this music what it is; but it has to be experienced to be understood and fully appreciated for its absolute uniqueness. (Lead singer Frank Black's solo work @ second link.)
PUFF DADDY
If winning a Grammy doesn't show what a total loser this glamorized karaoke singer is, I don't know what else it would take. If justice is served, Puffy will spend is eternity is Hell writing original showtunes... Arghhhh!!
PURPLE RAIN
Prince's only good album is a lot like masturbation. We started listening to it when we were young. In fact, we listened to it a lot. Even after we discovered other artists and musical styles, we still listened to it; but just didn't tell anybody. Nowadays, we still listen to it, but it's almost embarassing to admit, even though we know all of our friends are doing it too-- Hell, admit it, it's fun, why not?!
PROPELLERHEADS
Like the Crystal Method, these guys were always one of the strongest forces on the remix compliations that I was buying. I picked up the supercool Decksanddrumsandrockandroll in Waikiki for under $10 new, which I've noticed is a trend for up-and-coming artists discs; and seems to only be further evidence that the music industry is massively ripping off the music buying public. This aside, the Props are one of my newest favorites, their album a journey of booming spy-themed techno to laid back acid jazz offerings to purest trip-hop, as is the case with their Jungle Brothers collaboration "You Want It Back." Every day I think a different track off the album is the coolest one, so go ahead and make the buy and chose for yourself.
