Friday 5 Questions with ska music legend Dave Hillyard

photo credit: Jo Rhyins

Editor’s Note: Dave Hillyard is currently working on crowdfunding his new album! Click HERE to figure out how you can help!

I’ve been listening to The Slackers since 1998. I think it’s safe to say, that if I ever had to claim a favorite band, that would be who I would pick. Listening to their music on a weekly basis even to this day clears my head and transports me to a different place. To put it bluntly, their craftsmanship as musicians is hard to match. Their live show is amazing as well. Since ’98, I’ve only missed one or two of their Southeastern Michigan shows.

The Slackers exemplify everything that is right with ska music today. That’s why when I got the opportunity to feature the legendary “Disco” Dave Hillyard on my blog, I jumped at the chance. Aside from his work with The Slackers, Dave has also been a member of Hepcat, The Stubborn All-Stars, and started his own bands, David Hillyard & the Rocksteady 7 and The Bluegreens.

Besides his regular gig as saxophonist, songwriter, and occasional singer for The Slackers, Dave is also currently using crowdsourcing to fund his new album California, featuring members of The Slackers, Hepcat, and The Aggrolites (among others…). He only has about 2 weeks left to secure the funding, so I wanted to help spread the word as much as I could because there has never been anything I’ve listened to where Dave was involved that I didn’t absolutely love. By featuring him on the blog this week, I wanted to make sure everyone knew that by supporting his efforts, they would be receiving a full-length album by one of the best minds in ska music today. It also goes without saying that he’s an amazing saxophone player too.

Enough yammering on my part, you want to get to the good stuff. Below, find my Friday 5 Questions With… feature with Dave Hillyard, Saxophone player extraordinaire! I also made a Spotify playlist of some of Dave’s music so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Tell me a little bit about your California project, specifically how such a grand undertaking came to fruition and how we can be a part of it?

Well, the California album started as a confluence of events. As of this June, I will have lived in NYC longer than I have lived in California. That got me thinking and I gathered together a bunch of tunes I’ve written over the years. Some of the songs are old, some of them new but they are all centered around stuff that happened to me or stuff I saw back West.

California

I was able to get a cross section of musicians that I’ve worked with over the years involved in this. I got rhythms and vocals done on the West Coast and then added horns, keys, percussion, strings, and other things on the East.

I was going for a combination of sounds that different bands I’ve played in over the years had. I wanted to put out a bunch of vocal tunes as opposed to the instrumental albums I’ve made with Rocksteady 7. With the Slackers, I usually only get 2-3 songs per album, so with this one I wanted to see what I could do with an album’s worth of songs.

All this was produced by Brian Dixon who really helped with meshing together the different streams of sound.

Right now, I’m trying to get it released. I’m doing a fundraiser on Big Tunes – https://bigtun.es/projects/index/5

In this day and age, when record companies and distributors are disappearing, it’s become really important to reach out to your supporters directly. Without their support, it’s hard get albums released.

Is it safe to say that California is the most personal project you’ve worked on to date? What is your favorite thing about it?

Yeah, it’s the most personal thing I’ve done. I usually write songs that are about something that’s happened to me or something I see happening to people around me. That being said, there are a couple of these California songs that still tear at me when I listen to them.

It’s not that my life is more dramatic than other people’s. I think everyone has family stories and interesting events in their lives. Friends who got themselves in jams. The only difference is I write songs about these things.

The Slackers, Live at The Blind Pig, 4/12/13

I’ve been listening to your music since your days in Hepcat and the Stubborn All-Stars. What is it about music that keeps you inspired to continue on?

Music has been an obsession for many years. I’m not exactly sure what motivates me.

I originally just wanted to play in a Ska band. I wanted to be in a band like The Beat or Madness. Then I got more into the older Ska and reggae and from that I was introduced to Jazz, Blues, and RnB and from there it’s just kept on going onto Brazilian, Afro-Beat, Country….all kinds of stuff.

But at the end of the day, Ska, Rocksteady, and Early Reggae is my first musical language. It’s my foundation. It’s what I come back to again and again.

I’m really loyal to it. Ska music took me out of a boring suburban existence and got me touring the world. It broadened my horizons.

David Hillyard singing, Live at The Blind Pig, 4/12/13

I’m looking for some down and dirty jazz musicians to start listening to that aren’t necessarily household names. Who would you recommend I try out? To get a sense of what I like, Oliver Nelson is one of my favorites.

Ok, let’s see. Oliver Nelson wrote some great tunes and was a great arranger. I have an exercise book of his that I used to practice from a bunch.

A long time influence of mine is Illinois Jacquet. He is so great. Played with the Black Velvet Band in the 1940s. That’s some classic stuff. One of his later albums that is amazing is called, The Blues That’s Me.

Another favorite is Jimmy Forrest. Check out his Black Forrest or Sit Down and Relax With.. albums. Great soulful saxophone. He did the original hit version of ‘Night Train.’

Any Last Words?

I just want to thank everyone who has supported me and my music. Without the help of the people around me, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to support Dave’s crowdfunding efforts by clicking here.

Friday 5 Questions with Garrett Hobba, Lead Singer and Guitarist of The Soft Hills

After I heard the opening of “Phoenix” off 2012′s The Bird is Coming Down to Earth, I was hooked on Seattle’s The Soft Hills.  They have a nice blend of fuzzy indie Americana, Neil Young, Radiohead, and atmospheric, ambient, yet psychedelic rock.  That quick description doesn’t even begin to do them justice though.  There’s so much texture to their music, that you’ll pick up something new each time you listen to them.  All in all, they’re an auditory delight.

With their new album, Chromatisms, out today on Tapete Records, I thought it was an appropriate time to feature such a great band. Thankfully, lead singer/songwriter and guitarist Garrett Hobba was up for it.  Below, find his answers to this week’s Friday 5.  The Soft Hills embody the spirit of independent music, so do what you can to support them.

photo credit: Nick Tobin

1)  Your new album comes out today.  What can fans expect from it?
If I had to describe the album in a few words I would say something like: Birdmen time-travelers, a tale of an unhappy girl named Louise, the story of a schizophrenic banned from Paradise, celestial radio, oceanic dream therapy, reflections on death, a letter to the moon, madness, and euphoria.

One factor that influenced many of the songs on this record was the death of my best friend Kevan. We were closer than brothers growing up and he had a deep influence on my songwriting. After he died (he developed Schizophrenia and died from an alcohol-related seizure), I passed through a dark period filled with tears and strange dreams. Looking back, it seems as though a whole part of my past fell away away into the abyss. This album represents for me the end of an era, both artistically and psychologically. Chromatisms is a signing off to an old way or life; it is a farewell to the past and looks forward to an unknown future.

There is a magical, almost fairy-tale, quality to some of the songs, like “Marigolds”, “Horse & Carriage”, and “Un”. These songs were inspired by reflections on early childhood, dreams, and psychedelic visions. Other influences come from writers like Hermann Hesse, DH Lawrence, Dostoyevsky, and C.G. Jung.

2)  With your music blending so many styles, where does your inspiration come from?
In the studio we have fun trying out different kinds of guitars, keyboards, and amps which gives us a large palette of colors to choose from. I think this accounts for why you’re hearing such a variety of sounds.

Perhaps the array of styles on this record comes from the fact that we love so many different kinds of music. Although we share many similar interests, we all have our own leanings. For example my drummer Randall is really into psych-rock bands like Black Moth Super Rainbow and Black Mountain. Our bass player Brett is an outdoors man and is at home with classic artists like Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Matt’s favorites are bands like Radiohead and Sigur Ros. I’m inspired by everything from The Beach Boys to Joy Division to Godspeed You Black Emperor! As a songwriter I would feel confined to be locked into just one particular style of music. There are so many bands like that: you are either a shoegaze band or an Americana band or an indie-pop band. We’re striving to develop our own unique sound, bringing together various influences and throwing them into a melting pot. It’s like an alchemical process, trying to turn silver into gold.

3)  For folks who might not know your music, if they listen to _______ , they’ll like The Soft Hills.
Radiohead/Neil Young/Sigur Ros/The Beatles/Sparklehorse

4)  What’s the life of an independent band in 2013 like?  How has the digitization of the medium changed how you approach music?
Basically if you’re in a band today it means living the life of a trout, swimming up stream, fighting against the worst odds. To survive is a miracle. We’re striving towards a seemingly impossible goal, which is the only kind of goal worth striving for. We’re getting some amazing support from our label now, which has put much fresh wind in our sails. Just knowing that you have a team of people standing behind you makes all the difference. Digitization is a blessing and a curse. Thank God for the re-emergence of vinyl!

5)  If you could only recommend one book to a friend, what would it be and why?
Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse because it’s a powerful book full of magic and a sense of wonder. It deals with the creative process and has a lot to say to the artist about following his/her true path. I’ve given this book to a few of my good friends and it has also become one of their favorites.

Remembering Joe Strummer, Ten Years Later

It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since Joe Strummer died.  I’ve always appreciated his music – The Clash and the Mescaleros.  When listening to him sing, you could just tell he was sincere.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t old enough to appreciate The Clash when they were still a band and I never got a chance to see The Mescaleros tour.  So today, on the ten year anniversary of his death, put on some Clash  (or The Mescaleros) and just remember how talented he really was.  Unfortunately, because of my age, I don’t have a profound “if it wasn’t for The Clash, I wouldn’t listen to punk” story, but I will always appreciate his music – music that is just as poignant and relevant today as it was when he wrote it.

Hell, maybe you could even consider making a donation to Strummerville today.

Top 10 Albums of 2012 According to Dane Jackson, Freelance Entertainment Blogger

Music has always been an important part of my life, and while I don’t buy or listen to as many albums as I used to back in the days, I’ve still listened to enough to make the following Top 10 list.  You’ll see a few familiar faces on my list that also appeared on many of the national year end lists.  There are a few albums we all agree on, but also some that we completely differ on.  That’s okay…it’s that difference of opinion that makes the world go round, right?

Before I get started with my list, I must say there are a couple things I needed to touch on first.

1)  There were no hip-hop or rap albums that particularly moved me enough to add them to the list this year.  Nas was close and P.O.S. made my first draft, but overall the hip-hop community had a pretty mediocre year when it comes to my taste.  This is a shame, because I really like that style of music too.

2)  I don’t get the appeal with Frank Ocean.  His album was just plain boring to me.

3)  I don’t like music because it’s trendy or buzz-worthy.  These albums are ones that I couldn’t take off repeat this year.

Now that we have all that settled, here are my Top 10 Albums of 2012




10.  Chris Richards & The Subtractions – Get Yer La La’s Out

As it just so happens, Chris was featured in last’s week’s Friday Five Questions… feature.  I’ve listened to his music for years, and have come to expect certain things from a Subtractions album.  Sure, the album met my expectations, but it also surprised me (in a good way).  This album doesn’t have the same “power pop” sheen as previous efforts, and the sense of growth shown is amazing.



9.  Ben Folds Five – The Sound of The Life of The Mind

It’s been a long time since Ben Folds Five put out an album together.  In that time, I’ve grown to like Folds as a solo artist and on his collaboration with author Nick Hornby.  Even though I like what Ben has been up to since the last Ben Folds Five album, it’s good to have them back.



8.  Green Day – ¡UNO!

Green Day didn’t have to do much to put out an album better than 21st Century Breakdown, but I was pleasantly surprised with their first of three albums this year.  The quality got progressively worse with each release, but there’s just something about ¡UNO! that captures the band’s past magic.  It’s not epic like American Idiot, but it’s just as fun as any of the albums pre-Idiot.  Musically, it fits in nicely with Foxboro Hot Tubs and the Nimrod and Warning era.



7. Reel Big Fish – Candy Coated Fury

Sure they’ve only released greatest hits, cover albums, and live albums lately, but Candy Coated Fury is the first album filled with original material Reel Big Fish has released since 2007.  For the most part, this albums sounds like vintage Reel Big Fish.  The band’s trademark snark and viciousness is hidden behind the poppy ska punk exterior.  They aren’t covering new ground by any means, but it’s a fun listen regardless.



6. P!nk – The Truth About Love

It’s a shame P!nk got her big break with “Get the Party Started” because I think it incorrectly grouped her in with artists like Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, and Britney Spears.  Thankfully, she was able to shed that distinction pretty quickly though, because I think she’s one of the most important female vocalists of this generation.  The Truth About Love is just another example of her pure fearlessness when it comes to making music.  She’s still as aggressive as ever on this album, but there are more tender moments than on previous albums.



5.  Hot Water Music – Exister

I’m starting to detect a pattern with a lot of this year’s picks.  Whether it’s a return to form like with Green Day and Reel Big Fish, or a return from a long hiatus like Ben Folds Five and Hot Water Music, my Top 10 list seems to be filled with lots of nostalgia this year.  On Exister, Hot Water Music offer up a more polished sound than I’m used to from them, but I like it just as much as their older albums on Epitaph.  There’s just enough driving punk and post-hardcore sentiments throughout Exister to immediately add it to my favorite albums of this year.  A must for Hot Water Music fans.



4.  Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten

Brian Fallon and gang come up with another masterpiece.  There’s just something about his songwriting and singing that is completely intoxicating.  With a nice blend of punk rock and Americana, Gaslight Anthem is one of my favorite bands from the past five years.  If they keep pumping out quality music like this, I’m guessing they’ll continue to be held in such high regard by me.



3.  Jimmy Cliff – Rebirth

Mark my words, Tim Armstrong and Rebirth will do for Jimmy Cliff what Rick Rubin and the American series did for Johnny Cash.  Tim Armstrong probably wouldn’t have been my first choice to produce Jimmy Cliff’s new album, but it works.  His love for the genre really shines through on Rebirth.  Cliff has had a very long career, but I have no problem saying this is his best album since The Harder They Come.  Who knew that one of the founders of Operation Ivy and Rancid would be responsible for the best reggae album I’ve heard in years.  In fact, Armstrong is so respectful of Cliff and his talents, if I didn’t know this album came out this year, I would have probably mistaken it for something that came out in the ’70s.



2.  fun. – Some Nights

Some Nights is the one album that came out of nowhere for me this year.  “We Are Young” was getting played so much that it kind of got stuck in my head.  iTunes had the entire album cheap, so I took a chance.  As you can see by where fun. landed on my Top 10, that gamble paid off.  Sure, the singles are catchy and fun, but the real power of Some Nights is the rest of the album.  It’s as epic as any Queen album and yet has a slight hip-hop influence.  It’s a fun album to listen to where every track is a sing-a-long.



1.  Imagine Dragons – Night Visions

Imagine Dragons put out an EP and an album this year, but since the EP was essentially a sneak peek of what was to come, I’ll focus on the full-length.  How did I choose Imagine Dragons over other heavy-hitters on my Top 10 like Gaslight Anthem and fun.?  It’s simple, of all the music I listened to most this year, I listened to imagine Dragons the most.  “Radioactive” became my go-to song (and easily my favorite song of the year) and the rest of the album is just as amazing.  While it’s not a cohesive album in terms of style, Imagine Dragons show off they belong to play the arena circuit sometime soon.  Their music may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I love them.  Night Visions is feel good music in every sense of the word.

And there you have it, there’s my Top 10 List for the Best Albums of 2012.

If I could’ve chosen 11 albums, the following would have made it. As it stands though, it only gets an honorable mention.



Honorable Mention.  Classics of Love – S/T

This is a very quick listen, so if you’ve got the time, I recommend it.  Classics of Love finds Operation Ivy’s lead singer Jesse Michaels returning to more of a hardcore punk sound.  I love his ska songs with Common Rider, but I was beginning to miss that political fury and more aggressive singing.  If you want to see that side of Jesse again, look no further.  He doesn’t miss a step.

Friday 5 Questions with Chris Richards, lead singer of Chris Richards and the Subtractions

To say that the Borders Corporate Office was filled with a plethora of talented and creative people would be an understatement.  Within its walls were artists, writers, poets, musicians, actors…the list goes on.  I didn’t really know Chris Richards was in a band until he left the company though.  One of my colleagues had an album called The Sad Sounds of the Summer on his desk and I was intrigued.  I went back to my desk, listened to it, and gushed about it when I returned it.  It wasn’t until then that I put two and two together.  After that, I needed to hear more, so I went on a quest to find Mystery Spot.  When I finally got my hands on it, I was just as satisfied.  Both of those albums were filled with the most infectious power pop I’d heard in a long time.  Listening to it just made me happy.  In fact, in terms of local Michigan artists, I hadn’t heard a band that affected me this much since the days of Frank Allison & the Odd Sox.

Chris Richards and the Subtractions put out a new album this year entitled Get Yer La La’s Out and it’s filled with tunes that should be considered as the gold standard of power pop music.  If you haven’t heard of Chris Richards and the Subtractions yet, you’re in for a treat.

Chris recently sat down and answered some questions for my Friday 5 Questions with… feature.  Below are his answers.

Chris Richards and the Subtractions on the set of their music video for “It’s Something”

There’s just something extremely fun and genuine about your music.  What goes into making your brand of power pop? 

It’s all about melodies for us. I generally will start with a guitar hook that immediately writes the melody. Once that happens the rest is gravy- bring the song to the boys and we establish a “feel”. We have a lot of up tempo songs but honestly they all begin somewhat in the creepy realm of ballad-ville. We tend to demo most of our songs in my basement studio so by the time we set out to record them officially- they’re pretty well vetted. The key to making a band work is you all have to be on the same page…and I’m in that perfect place now.

How do you see your sound evolving from Mystery Spot and Sad Sounds of the Summer to your new album?

I like that you picked up on that. Mystery Spot was a fun record to make as I had a ton of songs and made a bunch of different bands from people I have recorded with over the years (Hippodrome, The Pantookas and what would eventually become the Subtractions). We had no rules so anything went. Sad Sounds was a very easy album to write and record. The songs came to me rather quickly and you could tell once we started rehearsing them they really worked well for the band. Get Yer La La’s Out was a kind of a tough record for us to finish. I wanted to apply the standard power pop sheen to the songs but for whatever reason that approach really frustrated me. So I eventually just let the record become a harder record with less melody guitars and harmonies that you would find all over the previous two records. The other bit of the evolution we really like happens to be almost every review states that each record is better than the previous and they all really loved Mystery Spot. So we must be doing something right.

For folks who might not be familiar with your band, fill in the blank.  If I like Matthew Sweet, then I’ll like Chris Richards and the Subtractions.

He’s a kindred spirit…the love of the Beatles, Kinks and the Who- as presented in the ’80s ’til present.

If you could tour with any band in the history of music, who would it be and why?

I guess Big Star. Though they never achieved any success so I may have went insane each night knowing that only a few would’ve taken in the tour. Alex was the sweetest guy on the planet and I figure we may have learned something from him in the sense of composition.

Any last words?

Support what you want to support and love what you want to love…just find time for music as it will do your soul good. Trust me.

***

I’d like to leave you all with the video for “It’s Something.”  If you like it, check out chrisrichardsandthesubtractions.com for more details about the band and how to pick up some of their music.

If you want to try it before you buy it, two of their albums are also available to stream on Spotify.

ATTENTION Authors, Publicists, Agents, Literary Types, and Entertainers!

My name is Dane Jackson and I want to help promote your books, music, movies, video games, apps, podcasts, businesses, etc.

I like the idea of the long-standing Friday Five series that appears on blogs across the web, but I think it’s cooler to ask you Five Questions.  That way, my readers know that every Friday, I’ll be featuring a really cool person on my blog talking about something they care about.

Most of my readers know me from my days in the book world as well as my more recent stints writing about music and movies (in October, they know me for my awesome posts about Halloween).

If you’re in the entertainment industry, I can help promote you.

Here are a few examples of past Friday 5 Questions features…

Joseph Williams, author of The Hunt

Jay Bonansinga, co-author of The Walking Dead novels

Michael Spradlin, author of countless children’s books and new horror/steampunk/urban fantasy novel Blood Riders

Alma Katsu, author of The Taker trilogy

Chuck Wendig, author of countless horror and urban fantasy novels, RPGs, writing advise, and penmonkey at terribleminds.com

David Moody, author of the Autumn series and Hater trilogy

If you’re interested in being featured in my Friday Five – “5 Questions With…” series, please leave a note in the comment section below or fill out the form below.

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31 Days of Lessons Learned: SongPop is Addicting

31 Days of Lessons Learned:  Day Ten

SongPop is Addicting

If my wife were writing this blog, she would probably say that I didn’t need another reason to use my iPhone, but she introduced me to a little app called SongPop a week or so ago and I can’t stop playing it.  It’s gotten to the point that I have been deleting games with my friends because they don’t respond quick enough and start playing random users in their place.  I’ve downloaded a couple song lists and am seriously contemplating forking over the $1.99 to go premium.

What is it, you ask?  Well – it’s a mobile and Facebook game that allows you to essentially play “Name That Tune” with your friends.  I love music so much that it’s the perfect game for me.  I’m not as good with the modern categories or Indie Rock – so use those against me if you ever play me.

Personally, I think it’s more fun than Draw Something, which lost its novelty months ago for me.

I could continue to gush on and on about the game, but I won’t because my phone just chimed signalling that it’s my turn on another game.

SongPop – addictive, fun, and brings up memories of songs you may not have thought about for years.  I love it and you will too.

*I am not an employee of SongPop and they did not ask for my endorsement, but now that they have it, they’re more than welcome to give me a free premium account*

Borrowed from another blog…

31 Days of Lessons Learned: I make a good Halloween-inspired music playlist

31 Days of Lessons Learned: Day Two

I make a good Halloween-inspired music playlist

Based on my site traffic, I’m getting a lot of folks checking out all the free pumpkin stencils I posted last year.  I don’t blame them…it is that time of year after all (in fact, I plan on discussing pumpkins and Halloween later this month as it pertains to a lesson I learned).  Seeing all the excitement over last year’s Halloween posts (and because Halloween is awesome), I’ve been starting to get the bug myself.  My daughter and I have already decided what we’re being this year (monkeys); I’m going to start reading a really scary book; and I’m going to start watching some scary movies.  If there’s any month that you should purposely scare yourself during, it’s October.

All this Halloween buzz also got me thinking about music (just about anything gets me thinking about music though, so that’s no surprise).  So, I set out to make a playlist that can get me in the spooky mood.  I think I did a pretty good job of it actually.  Take a listen and tell me what you think.  Be warned, there is a bit of rap on there, and the rap songs are definitely NSFW.  I had over 50 songs on this mix at one time, but I pared it down to the following 33 tracks (And before you get on my case about the lack of “Monster Mash” on this mix, I didn’t forget it.  In fact, I deliberately avoided it at all costs.  It’s a cute song and all, but doesn’t really fit the theme of this mix.

Take a listen and let me know if I really did learn that I make a mean playlist.  Comment below with your thoughts and let me know if I forgot anything!

The Lost Art of the Mix Tape

I saw a picture with a cassette tape and a pencil on Facebook the other day and it made me think about all the amazing mix tapes I made as a teenager.  There was definitely an art to the mix tape:  managing theme throughout, track lengths, making sure a song didn’t cut off mid way when you were getting closer to the end of the side.  And, if you needed to do a little mix tape surgery, then a #2 pencil and scotch tape could be your best friend.

With the digitization of music, the art of the mix tape has been lost.  Sure, you can make “playlists” but that sense of song discovery when someone gives you an unlabelled mix tape is basically gone.

Until my friend show me a website called 8tracks.  It’s about as close as you’re going to get to the joys of mix tapes.  In fact, I’ve even found my love for mix tapes renewed.  I’ve made four so far, I have one almost done, and I have another brewing.  I feel so passionate about music again.

If you want to check out my 8tracks mixes, here’s my user profile link – Dane’s 8tracks mixes

Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall – Working Day and Night

As I may have admitted during my 31 Days of Halloween Hijinks in the Thriller post, I’ve been on a huge Michael Jackson kick ever since I got back from the Michael Jackson Cirque Du Soleil show.  So much so, that I checked out every album in his discography from the local library since then.  While I already knew he was an amazing musician, what I really learned is how awesome Off the Wall is.

Sure, I’ve heard the singles and hits for every single one of his albums, but I’ve never heard the entire album for most of MJ’s earlier career.  In fact, up until this past weekend, I didn’t really even know much about Off the Wall.  Now, after listening to it non-stop, I am able to say it’s my favorite complete album in MJ’s discography.  It’s just perfect from start to finish.

The song that’s currently stuck in my head is “Working Day and Night.”  No lie,  have the CD in the car with that song on repeat.  I can’t get enough of it.  The energy, the horn blasts, the chorus, hell even the “ooh hah” in the beginning of the song all add up to the perfect pop song.

After listening to MJ’s entire discography these past two weeks, I can definitely say his best decade musically was the ’80s (Off the Wall was 1979, but that’s close enough).  Do you agree with me on this?  ’80s MJ is the best, right?  Feel free to sound off in the comment section below.

Also, what other artists should I get addicted to next?  Before MJ, I picked up the entire Beatles discography.  For now, I’m thinking either Pearl Jam or The Rolling Stones.