Fishbone
Hype isn’t always a good thing. It’s not a new idea, but it struck me as I watched one of the most hyped groups of the early 90s perform exactly the way they sound on their latest album: hesitant and confused. The irony was that I had just spent 15 minutes lamenting the lack of media rhapsodizing and eager radio play for a band that I feel deserves it.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
Well, some things happened after the media hype and Grammy. Some hip-hoppers questioned Digable Planets’ win over Dr. Dre’s The Chronic. The Digables’ album didn’t sell as well as The Chronic, nor did many fans, not even the Digables’ lead, Butterfly, consider Reachin’ a better album. And the “jazz-hop” moniker irritated some who considered it a ploy to dissociate Digable Planets from their hip hop roots.
Blowout Comb sounds so laid-back that Digable Planets could be sleepwalking through it. There are many fewer jazz samples but more self-absorption. The trio seem as if they are self-consciously trying to come on “hard.” They give nods to the Five Percent Nation–a Nation of Islam offshoot–and they’ve got a guest appearance by the seriously “down” rapper Jeru the Damaja. Ladybug even slips in a “fuck that” on the first song.
The crowd was mostly unfamiliar with these songs (an indication of just how well the record’s doing), so no one chanted or sang along. The energy that marked the band’s first tour was missing, replaced by a pensive, self-absorbed mood.
Fishbone also drew a multiracial sold-out crowd, but did it without the benefit of record label publicity, reviews, or a new album.
