One of the things I miss most about living in Berkeley is going to record stores with my dad…going to Amoeba Music, or Tower Classics back in the day. Having him teach me about Haydn
or Moondog, telling me his stories of having met Sonny Rollins or Miles Davis decades ago.
These stories and introductions to music helped to shape my tastes, which is why I am delighted with Amoeba Music’s video series ‘What’s in my bag?’ In the absence of programs like old MTV (120 minutes more appropriately), people turn to blogs like Pitchfork…but Amoeba is doing something rare and sorely needed by giving these artists video air-time to share the seminal albums that shaped them as well as the newer works they are impressed by.
- Television – Marquee Moon
- Senor Coconut – Fiesta Songs
- Sly and the Family Stone – Higher [box set]
- Gorillaz – self-titled LP
- Jesus and Mary Chain – Power of Negative Thinking
- Desmond Dekker – King of Ska
- Papercuts – Life Among the Savages
- Jeff Beck – Truth
- Lady Gaga – The Remix
- Lana Del Ray – Ultraviolence
- Venetian Snares – My Life is a Bulldozer
- Brion Gysin – The Process
- Spiritualized – Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
- Tim Hecker – Ravedeath
- Liars -WIXIW
- Jean Cocteau – Beauty and the Beast
- Danger Mouse & Danielle Luppi – Rome
- New York Dolls – New York Dolls
- Codeine – Frigid Stars
- Jack White – Blunderbuss
- T Rex – Electric Warrior
- Ultravox! – Ultravox!
- Depeche Mode – Songs of Faith and Devotion
- Kraftwerk – The Man Machine
- Bebop Deluxe – Sunburst Finish
- Nine Inch Nails – Downward Spiral
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