DJ Shadow

Endtroducing.....

1996

Many aspects of "Endtroducing....." interest me. The drum samples are generally used very creatively and reflect a mature taste in percussion. In most cases actual drum kit sounds are used, often jazz influenced with splashy cymbals and, occasionally, clever time-signature changes, wether due to the actual sample itself or an alteration DJ Shadow has made.

There are certainly transcendent moments as well. "Changeling / Transmission 1" is a highlight for me, mixing atmospheric synths with a great backbeat. Like many of the songs on the album it vacillates between hip-hop swagger, R&B cool and a certain unpredictable psychedelia often attributed to well-executed house music. "Stem / Long Stem / Transmission 2" is another that showcases a huge array of influences. The percussion is clearly a sample of a metal and/or punk song and yet that ferocity appears completely normal behind a mellow, clinking xylophone melody. There is no question that the combination of influences is certainly impressive and all coalesce well. Additionally, most of these songs sound great and are memorable but the question still nagging me after multiple listens is:

Is this art?

I'm into hip hop and respect a producer or DJ who has taste with samples, let it be known. However, I feel there is an important difference between a creative producer layering/altering/looping existing music before laying original lyrics over it and what DJ Shadow has done on "Endtroducing.....". Some part of me feels that just merging obscure samples together is not worthy of respect, even when used tastefully as it is here. Is it any different than a cool collage you made in art class in the 2nd grade?

It should be mentioned also that I don't recognize 99% of the samples. I feel a know a decent cross-section of music so this surprises me but it must mean DJ Shadow has dipped into a big pool. It is a remarkable feat to meld so many samples and genres but, again, is this an artistic masterpiece as many seem to view it? After several listens I still don't know.

Best tracks: "Changeling / Transmission 1", "Stem / Long Stem / Transmission 2", "Organ Donor"