Maestro Fresh-Wes: Let Your Backbone Slide (1989)

Rap scholar, soul like a Dominican
But like I said before, I'm not American
It's who you are, not the way you went
We all originate from the same descent

This 12" contains five versions of Let Your Backbone Slide. They are The Power Mix (which is the album mix), Bonus Beat, Acapella Version, Club Mix, and Instrumental. We all know that drum track, borrowed from James Brown. He sampled the Mohawks as well, though I admit that I had to look that one up. I have the US pressing, though I cannot remember where I got it.

Maestro Fresh-Wes: Symphony in Effect (1989)

Wesley Williams, better known as Maestro Fresh-Wes, is a true Canadian icon. Wikipedia mentions that Exclaim! - a popular Canadian music newspaper - labeled him the "Godfather of Canadian hip hop." That sounds right. He later moved to New York City, which is where I would go if money and commitments were not an issue.

This record was notable because it is one of the best-selling Canadian hip hop albums of all time. And, the first single - Let Your Backbone Slide - appeared on Billboard's hot rap singles chart, which was a first for a Canadian. It also won a Juno for best rap recording, the first time that category was used.

I'm not a fan of the tune Private Symphony, however. I think he tried to channel LL Cool J and missed. The first two singles were very good, on the other hand.

Madness: Mad Not Mad (1985)

This is what it looks like when good bands go bad. There area a couple of OK tracks, but I am underwhelmed. What happened?

Madness: Madness (1983)

Our House was overplayed so much, I cannot even listen to it, even after all of these years. This compilation puts that song on side 1, track 1. Ugh. Beyond that, the collection is plain weird, as it features the earlier (better) stuff, mixed in with the later more boring stuff.

Madness: Absolutely (1980)

Absolutely, the second record from Madness is very much like the first. Some people view that as a bad thing. I think it's OK. Why not? Yes, the first record is better, but so what? In any case, it seemed to me that they were migrating away from ska, even on the second record. The regressive left would now probably view that as a good thing. After all, a bunch of white English dudes playing ska is cultural appropriation, right?

Madness: One Step Beyond (1979)

I would never describe myself as a huge fan of ska music, but I like some of it very much, and I have a few ska records in my collection. As you may know, ska originated in Jamaica in the 1950s, and was reborn as part of a neo-ska revival in the late 1970s. Most people probably who were enamoured with the new ska were probably completely unaware that it was a revival. You can include me in that batch of people.

Madness was part of that scene. The new ska had a faster, harder edge. People will often refer to this era as the 2 Tone ska revival, after the 2 Tone record company founded by Jerry Dammers of The Specials. That's all I'll say about that.

The first ska song I ever remember hearing was the single One Step Beyond--a cover tune from the golden days of ska--on the radio. My sister bought a copy of this record, and I recall that my dad liked it too. It's a fun record, to be sure. Like many of the seminal records of the new-ska era, it has been repressed. I have a copy of the original Canadian pressing.

Lust For Youth: International (2014)

This was a blind buy. Well, in truth, I had my phone with me, so I looked up some information about the group. I fell confident enough to throw down my $10 and walk away with this one, still sealed. The LPs digital download included an bonus EP. A limited edition was released on white vinyl. I have the black vinyl edition.

Lust for Youth is an electronic, experimental Danish trio. They are described as indie, pop, electronic, new wave, and synth, etc. Who knows? I hear hints of the Cure or maybe The Pet Shop Boys and possible New Order at times.

Lullabye Arkestra: Ampgrave (2006)

For some reason, I acquired this album on CD and LP.Anyway, it's more evidence that Constellation is one of the best records labels. Just listen:

The Lucy Show: Mania (1986)

I know almost nothing about this band. They were a British pop/rock/new wave outfit who wrote some good tunes. I think it's fair to say that they were underrated and show have been more popular.

Lene Lovich: Stateless (1978)

This record really help to usher in new wave, a form of music that really appealed to me. Oddly, when I hear this record, I am reminded of Christmas. Maybe I got it around Christmas. It just makes me think of that tine of year. It's odd. So, about this record, Allmusic says:

One of Stiff Records' most stable staples, the truly alternative Lene Lovich laid much of the groundwork for an entire generation of singers left to pick up the pieces in the wasteland of the post-punk era. Her stunning debut, 1979's Stateless, was so unique, so vibrant, and her vocal stylings so unusual that the LP not only put her right at the front of the pack of nascent new wavers, it also sounded a commercial death knell of sorts, relegating her to the realms of novelty acts -- at least as far as the mainstream was concerned. ... While Stateless is certainly very much of its era, and well-placed in its time, inspired and adventurous songwriting coupled with a truly pioneering intent ensure that this LP will always remain the lit roadside marker that whispered "this way" to the hundreds of bands who followed. [source]

I think that is very well said. This is an easy record to find: I see it everywhere.