DJ Shadow is magic - especially on vinyl
Music Review
Sergio Patterson
Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: Entertainment
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DJ Shadow grew up in Davis and was a DJ at the local radio station.
DJ Shadow is known in the music world as the inventor of Trip-Hop. His unique way of combining funk, rock and hip hop is what distinguishes him from any other musician.
At a record store in San Mateo is where I first enocuntered work from DJ Shadow. The owner of the record store told me that after hearing one track of DJ Shadow I would be instantly hooked. So I took his word and picked up the vinyl record entilted "Entroducing."
And I had to get a vinyl copy, I don't know what it is but listening to music on a record just gives you a different feel. It's like you go back in time and everything ceases.
So I went to my room took the record out ever so gently and played it on my mother's ancient record player.
The rest is history. The first song blends an emotional piano sample a faint echoing voice along with an intense drum beat.
The song is 10 minutes long, so for 10 minutes I felt like Jimi Hendrix in the late '60s - in a trance.
When music can put you in a trance, then what you are listening to is a masterpiece. DJ Shadow hit me with a masterpiece on the first track. It just wasn't right. He could've waited until the third or fourth, but he brought the house down with track No. 1.
This musical power is something that only a very few have and DJ Shadow convined me he had this power after the first track.
I thought this might be another One Hit Wonder but as track one ended the song entitled "Organ Donar" began. Madness. I tell you this song is complete madness.
Because this album is strictly beats the listener must listen for all the distinct melodies and transitions. From the time this track began to the time ended my brain was turn upside down. I've never heard such creativity in music since maybe Mozart.
DJ Shadow uses samples from Grandmaster Flash, Metallica and a Tribe Called Quest. If you put those three groups in a blender your drink would be DJ Shadow.
If you're narrow-minded and uneducated when it comes to music, then DJ Shadow isn't for you. If you love creativity and abstract sound then DJ Shadow is definitely an artist you need to find.
For anyone looking to purchase any of DJ Shadow's work, I recommend that you get it on vinyl. I have a saying about CDs; if your CD was human, it would breathe but it wouldn't have a pulse.
With vinyl, your music comes alive.
Score: 5 Argos