Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

For those of you who haven't heard of director Jim Jarmusch, Ghost Dog is the story of a reclusive hit man (Ghost Dog, played by Forest Whitaker) who lives on a rooftop, raises pigeons, and can only be contacted for "jobs" via said pigeons. He lives by the ancient samurai code outlined in the book Hagakure, which he carries with him. This one really hits the indie-flick sweet spot of mixing humor with sadness, and Whitaker's performance is quietly outstanding. I'm avoiding too much detail here because the strangeness is best experienced first-hand. Ghost Dog is currently streaming on Netflix, so don't read any more reviews, suspend your disbelief, and dig this cult classic.(NOTE: Dead Man, a Jarmusch flick at the top of my own need-to-see list is currently streaming, too)

The Brand New Heavies

Before the vintage analog movement of the 2000's, there was "Acid Jazz" in the 1990's which got me hooked on funk. So yeah, it's another term for "funk." The Brand New Heavies are a great example of this sound, which is more pop and disco oriented as opposed to a 60's/motown leaning. The Heavies are a primarily instrumental outfit from the UK, but their better-known works feature N'Dea Davenport on vocals, including 1994's "Brother, Sister", and the 2006 reunion album "Get Used To It". You'll get it all here: a tight rhythm section, slick arrangements, and powerful vocals. This should be a great way to wrap up my month of retro-funk reviews.

Samurai Jack

Ever wish you could watch Kill Bill with your 6-year-old son without traumatizing him? Samurai Jack is the answer, and the first season is streaming on Netflix right now. Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Laboratory) is responsible for this masterpiece which lasted from 2001-2004. The style is simple and shape-based similar to old school Hanna Barbera cartoons, but reaches much higher levels of artistry and captures 70's-style samurai movie action unbelievably well. Jack is a mighty samurai who is thrust into a dystopian future by his evil nemesis, Aku. The main plot is that he's trying to get "back in time" but most episodes focus on how Jack helps others along his journey. The futuristic setting also allows for "robot" enemies which means huge battle scenes with no blood.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Here's where every vintage retro soul/funk outfit got their sound: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. Various members of the Dap-Kings were featured on Amy Winehouse's hit tunes (yes, THAT Amy Winehouse). Sharon Jones is still alive, still touring, still killin'. "Dap-Dippin'" is a great album to start with as it has a really strong James Brown style opening and a great cover of "What Have You Done for Me Lately?" I never noticed how great the lyrics to that song are, and Jones OWNS it here

The New Mastersounds

Hailing from Leeds, England, are an amazingly tight retro-funk quartet. These guys sound remarkably like the Meters, and that's not a backhanded compliment. The timbre and the grooves are impeccable at best and groovy fun at their worst. Start with 102% and work your way out from there.

Watchmen

I'm on a comics/graphic novel kick thanks to the "Comixology" app. I was never a huge comic book geek, so I don't have much of background or street cred here. Watchmen by Alan Moore doesn't require much comic book knowledge from the reader: it's simply great art. Watchmen is the story of a group of superheroes who loosely get back together together to investigate the murder of a former colleague, "The Comedian." What's unique about this is that it's told as such a way that asks: what would superheroes be like in REAL life? What kind of psychological baggage drives someone to become a vigilante and play dress-up? Amidst the complex intertwining stories is a heavy duty cold-war doomsday plot, too. If you're a comic book fan you've read this already, but if you're not do yourself a favor and give it a try.

Books: Neuromancer

I read this a long time ago and wanted to give it another try. Neuromancer by William Gibson, the man who coined the term "cyberspace," won the sci-fi Triple Crown (Nebula, Philip K. Dick, and Hugo awards) way back in 1984. This one is a tough read due to its immersive nature: you're thrown right into the action in an unfamiliar dystopian future complete with elaborate hacker slang that you need to figure out along the way. It was worth the effort and another read in the near future for me. It's also amazing how far ahead of its time this was, and how much "The Matrix" ripped it off 15 years later including use of the term "the matrix!"

Music: Faith No More (Angel Dust)

Hey, remember the 90's? Faith No More had a big rap/rock hit with Epic off the album "The Real Thing." I was a big fan of that and 1992's Angel Dust which is an awesomely eclectic mix of tracks. Lead singer Mike Patton really shows what he can do on this one (more on him another week). For now, check this out but skip a couple of the edgier tracks which feature a lot of screaming. Instead, enjoy the bizarre lyrics and sweeping, dissonant vocals on tunes like "Midlife Crisis" and "Kindergarten," or the keyboard and synth-heavy arrangements of "Everything's Ruined" and "A Small Victory."

"Sense of security
Holding blunt instrument
I'm a perfectionist
and perfect is a skinned knee."