I never understand why record companies shelve album. I cannot cost that much to press CD’s and transport them to stores (certainly nowhere near the $18 retail price) and now it costs basically nothing to upload to iTunes and the like. But we have to wait eight years to (legally) hear the lost Q-Tip album, Kamaal the Abstract because his A&R man said, “I don’t hear a single.” So into the great wide open of the ether the album went until Q-Tip finally regained control of the rights to finally put out.
So now it gets its proper release so the obvious question is: Is it worth the wait? Well, yes and no. Had the album been released in 2002, it would have been a revolution with Tip bridging the gap between rap and jazz more than A Tribe Called Quest ever did thanks to the live jazz band backing him up while Q-Tip goes back and forth between rapping and singing. Now after Andre 3000, Kanye West and upstart Kid Cudi have all mixed the singing and rapping to mixed results it almost sound like another album if it weren’t for the jazz aspect to it whereas other backing music of choice ranges from emo (West) to electro (Cudi) to everything in-between (3000).
And as adventurous Tip was to branch out with a live jazz backing band, the actual jazz being played really isn’t that adventurous itself and is more of a Jazz for Beginners starter kit for those not familiar with the genre or consider Norah Jones part of the moment. And that is not on Q-Tip who has no problem stepping back from the mike on multiple songs to let the musicians jam a little. But it is decent as a starter kit for jazz version who find jumping straight into Miles Davis or John Coltrane too daunting.
This is the 50th Lyrics Quiz ever and to mark the occasion I thought I would tie the anniversary with my year long homage to the greatest of this decade. Here are the twenty-five greatest One Hit Wonders of the decade (according to me, many apologies to any of the artists to manage to get another hit in the next three and a half months). Once the decade actually ends, I will have a more comprehensive and longer list. But until then, as usual, place your guesses in the comment (or e-mail me), both artist and song title (make sure to get your guess to songs released in this decade), and if you are correct I will un-bold the lyric. Please keep in mind the lyrics quiz is for entertainment purposes only so please only use your own meandering mind to guess them. Now onto the quiz
1. I could tell she liked me by the way she started, and by the way she said, “You missed a spot over there.” (Stacy's Mom - Fountains of Wayne; guessed by blondedancer3457)
2. Get back you flea infested mongrel. (Who Let the Dogs Out - The Baha Men; guessed by Fran)
3. Not just urban, she likes the pop ‘cause she was living la vida loca. (Thong Song - Sisqo; guessed by Doug)
4. You sing a sad song just to turn it around. (Bad Day - Daniel Powter; guessed by Rose)
5. Whatever tickles your fancy, girl, it’s me and you like Sid and Nancy. (Butterfly - Crazy Town; guessed by Doug)
6. Annie are you okay, are you okay, are you okay Annie? (Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm; guessed by Jo)
7. Save me from this prison, Lord help me get away. ‘Cause only you can save me now. (Heaven - Los Lonely Boys; guessed by Jo)
8. I don’t believe in Hitler, that’s what I said. So all of you skins give me more (expletive deleted). (Because I Got High - Afroman; guessed by Rob) 9. Stop making me feel bad. I’m the best thing you ever had. The only thing I’m guilty of is giving you too much love.
10. You. You’re still the whisper on my lips. Feel it in my finger tips. Pulling at my skin.11. I got so much left to say. If every simple song I wrote to you would take your breath away, I’d write it all. (Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's; guessed by Rose) 12. But since I came here, felt the joy and the fear finding myself making every possible mistake.13. You thought you could keep this (expletive deleted) from me. You burn (expletive deleted), I heard the story. You played me, you even gave him (expletive deleted). ((Expletive Deleted) It (I Don't Want You Back) - Eamon; guessed by Doug)
14. I’m only a man in a silly red sheet. (Superman (It's not Easy) - Five for Fighting; guessed by Jo) 15. Every night, every day. Just to be there in your arms. Won’t you stay? Won’t you lay? Stay forever and ever and ever and ever.16. In ‘77 and ‘69 revolution was in the air. I was born too late to a world that doesn’t care. (I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair) - Sandi Thom; guessed by Rob)
17. Oh I’m nervous. I don’t know what to do, light a cigarette? I only smoke when I’m with you. (I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked - Ida Maria; guessed by blondedancer3457)
18. I see the doorways to a thousand churches. And resolution of all my fruitless searches. (In Your Eyes (Live) - Jeffery Gaines; guessed by Anonymous) 19. I will find a way back to my hand. I’m the only one who can help me find my feet again.
20. Cry baby, cry baby, cry. Soaking down your… cry baby, cry baby, you can’t understand…
21. I don’t have a lot of money, though we’ll be fine. No I don’t have a penny but I’ll show you are real good time.
22. I know it might be right, I know it might be wrong but if I’m gonna have a drink it mght as well be strong.
23. Maybe I’m the joker, maybe I’m the fool in your eyes. Maybe I’m the weak one, maybe I’m the lion in disguise. (If You're Gonna Leave - Emerson Hart; guessed by Taylor Blue)
24. I am thinking it's a sign that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images and when we kiss they're perfectly aligned. (Such Great Heights - The Postal Service; guessed by AJ)
25. Out on the road today I saw a Black Flag sticker on a Cadillac. (Boys of Summer - The Ataris; guessed by AJ)
Usually at the beginning of each quarter I list what albums are coming out chronologically, instead, this time I am counting down the ten albums I am most looking forward to listen to this fall. Then the rest I sorted by release date. If you are interested in pre-ordering the record from Amazon, click the album name (or the album cover where available). Click the artist name to be taken to their iTunes page to grab their current work. And as always, all dates subject to change.
1. Battle Studies – John Mayer (November 17): When I get around to making the Greatest Albums of the 00’s list, you could make an argument for any of his first three albums to land near the top of the list. Hopefully he goes four for four with Battle Studies.
2. Kamaal the Abstract – Q-Tip (September 15): This should have been on the Most Anticipated Albums of Spring 2002, but the album got shelved by Arista. The record takes the jazz samples of A Tribe Called Quest to the extreme of live instrumentation and even sees Tip sing long before Andre 3000 or Kanye with production from the late J Dilla.
3. Draw the Line – David Gray (September 22): Even though he hasn’t gotten the mainstream following after striking it big with Babylon, Gray has put out consistently good music since. And from the signs of the first single Fugitive, it looks to continue.
4. Everything Comes and Goes – Michelle Branch (November 10): Branch started off her career by making what may end up being the greatest pop album of the decade. Like many other artists this decade, she went country with her duo The Wreckers. Now back with her first solo album in six years, it sounds like she will continue straddling the pop / rock / country fence.
5. Kiss and Tell – Selena Gomez and The Scene (September 29): Just kidding, making sure you are paying attention. But seriously, their first single is disturbingly catchy. Don’t tell Chris Hansen I said that though please.
6. The Seventh Seal – Rakim (September 22): Another rap album that has been taking too long to be released. I have been anxiously waiting for this album ever since Dr. Dre signed him to his Aftermath label back in 2000. He left three years later to sign with Dreamworks that folded shortly after. Hopefully there are no more snags between now and the 22nd.
7. I and Love and You – The Avett Brothers (September 29): I was first introduced to the band when Friday Night Lights used it as the soundtrack to the Landy/Tyra coupling. Now with a Rick Rubin produced, they are posed to be the breakout rock act of the year.
8. Play On – Carrie Underwood (November 3): Unlike #5, this is no joke. Her debut was the guiltiest of guilty pleasures and the follow was exactly what you expect, save the last track Wheel that pushed her boundaries outward. From the sound of the first single Cowboy Cassanova she might be pushing further with the song co-written by Mike Elizondo, one of Dr. Dre’s co-producers.
9. Man on the Moon: The End of Day – Kid Cudi (September 15): Consider me skeptic about a five act rap concept album, the recent three acts from Green Day was heavy-handed. But Make Her Say may go down as the best hip-hop track of year. And bonus points for being from Cleveland.
10. How I Got Over – The Roots (October 20): You would think after agreeing to be Jimmy Fallon’s house band, The Roots would rest on their laurels, but just a year after releasing their last album comes a new one.
Here are some other albums you can expect to drop sometime before Christmas. If I missed anything, let me know in the comments or tell me what fall release you are looking forward to:
![Terror Alert Level: High [ORANGE]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebDZ0qqwOVKMZj7oFSUe8Hm3ax54U9Hp1fThJPgiddTyzcdwx_5SV6E3b7hkKyxbaDiym4COmUXT2YJnsKCUjBHI_a2xZtNoY7qFQRslP5AGO5gLkJwn2ZbO0wIF80ycbKrgPPA/s400/small_high.png)
on my Terror Alert Scale.
- Sisqo; guessed by Doug)
- Daniel Powter; guessed by Rose)
- Crazy Town; guessed by Doug)
- Plain White T's; guessed by Rose)
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