Madlib Shades Of Blue Zip
Shades Of Blue is a project that turns over the legacy of the esteemed Blue Note jazz label to one of hip-hop's most unique artists, Madlib.He is considered to be one of hip-hop's most inventive visionaries and connects it's productions through smart lyrics and poetics. Solo Shades Of Blue (2003) WLIB AM King Of The Wigflip (2008) Rock Konducta Part I (2014) Rock Konducta Part II (2014) DE.
| Shades of Blue | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remix album by | ||||
| Released | June 24, 2003 | |||
| Studio | The Bomb Shelter, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |||
| Genre | [1] | |||
| Length | 56:51 | |||
| Label | Blue Note Records | |||
| Producer | Madlib | |||
| Madlib chronology | ||||
| ||||
Shades of Blue is a remix album by American hip hop musician Madlib over the archives of Blue Note Records.[2] It was officially released by Blue Note Records on June 24, 2003.
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [3] |
| The A.V. Club | favorable[4] |
| Exclaim! | favorable[5] |
| Pitchfork | 8.6/10[6] |
| Stylus Magazine | C+[7] |
Sam Samuelson of AllMusic said: 'Intent listening doesn't really give much up, but for smooth subconscious grooves, it's perfect.'[3]
In 2014, Paste placed it at number 11 on the '12 Classic Hip-Hop Albums That Deserve More Attention' list.[8]
Track listing[edit]
Madlib Shades Of Blue Zip
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | 'Introduction' | 0:32 |
| 2. | 'Slim's Return' (featuring Ahmad Miller and DJ Lord Such) | 3:56 |
| 3. | 'Distant Land' | 3:58 |
| 4. | 'Mystic Bounce' | 3:56 |
| 5. | 'Stormy' (featuring Morgan Adams Quartet Plus Two) | 3:41 |
| 6. | 'Blue Note Interlude' | 0:42 |
| 7. | 'Please Set Me at Ease' (featuring M.E.D.) | 5:02 |
| 8. | 'Funky Blue Note' (featuring Morgan Adams Quartet Plus Two) | 3:07 |
| 9. | 'Alfred Lion Interlude' | 0:45 |
| 10. | 'Stepping into Tomorrow' | 7:36 |
| 11. | 'Andrew Hill Break' | 1:06 |
| 12. | 'Montara' (featuring DJ Lord Such) | 5:51 |
| 13. | 'Song for My Father' (featuring Sound Directions) | 5:46 |
| 14. | 'Footprints' (featuring Yesterdays New Quintet) | 4:58 |
| 15. | 'Peace/Dolphin Dance' (featuring Joe McDuphrey Experience) | 5:38 |
| 16. | 'Outro' | 0:17 |
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[9] | 13 |
| US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums (Billboard)[10] | 8 |
References[edit]
- ^Tiny Mix Tapes
- ^Untinted: Sources for Madlib's Shades of Blue|AllMusic
- ^ abSamuelson, Sam. 'Shades of Blue - Madlib'. AllMusic. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ^Rabin, Nathan (July 8, 2003). 'Madlib: Shades Of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue Note'. The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ^Cowie, Del F. (January 1, 2006). 'Madlib: Shades of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue Note'. Exclaim!. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ^Hreha, Scott (August 12, 2003). 'Madlib: Shades of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue Note'. Pitchfork. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ^Mathers, Ian (October 1, 2003). 'Madlib - Shades of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue Note'. Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ^Spinelli, Adrian (November 6, 2014). '12 Classic Hip-Hop Albums That Deserve More Attention'. Paste. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ^'Madlib Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)'. Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^'Madlib Chart History (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums)'. Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
External links[edit]
- Shades of Blue at Discogs (list of releases)
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shades_of_Blue_(Madlib_album)&oldid=979853649'
Otis Jackson Jr.'s moniker is actually a wordplay on the Latin phrase: 'ad libitum' (or 'ad lib' for short) meaning 'at one's pleasure'. In a musical context, it usually is an invitation for a performer to improvise a certain passage, play it at his own discretion. And it seems that Madlib does just that - he digs up samples, fiddles with them and pairs them up with neat breakbeats thereby 'improvising' a new sound.
Madlib Shades Of Blue Zip
The 'Shades of Blue' album is even more so interesting, because the samples used throughout the entire production come from the legendary Blue Note labels' archives. Madlib surely had a lot to choose from. Actually, saying that he merely samples old recordings would be a gross understatement. Rather than that, he uses the various bits and bobs he finds as instruments and, much like the head of an orchestra, creates a musical collage with a fresh and unique sound. No wonder then, that one of Madlib's alter egos is called 'The Beat Konducta'.
The results of his invasion of the Blue Note catalog are quite impressive. Madlib remixes many classics, such as: Gene Harris' 'The Book of Slim', Donald Byrd's 'Distand Land' and 'Stepping into Tomorrow', Wayne Shorter's 'Footprints' or Bobby Hutcherson's 'Montara', giving them a new appeal. There's also a bunch of skits and interludes thrown in for good measure, which tell the story of the Blue Note label and give us an insight into Madlib's answering machine (!).
Much like the title of the album suggests, the various tracks spread across the whole emotional spectrum. You can find tunes with a real hip-hop edge ('Please Set Me At Ease' with guest MC Medaphoar); some break-heavy jams ('Stormy' or 'Funky Blue Note'); slower, moody grooves ('Andrew Hill Break'); and tracks which might as well have had a 'nu-jazz' label stuck on them ('Song For My Father' or 'Peace / Dolphin Dance'). What all these tracks have in common, however, is the delicious, ear-pleasing production quality served by Madlib. Even the most raw and simple songs are filled with carefully picked sounds - there's an almost silent horn over here, a distant cowbell on the off-beat there, some barely noticeable vocals harmonising with the strings, a swinging piano in the background, etc. That's what really makes this album sound so good and I also believe that part of the fun with it is exploring these hidden gems.
'Shades of Blue' is also special for one more reason. Madlib is so far the only hip-hop producer ever to release an album on the legendary Blue Note label, which has in its roster such prominent artists as: Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins or Cannonball Adderley. Do you think he can match his label mates? Well, just see for yourself!