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Underground > Radio & Music >

Dan the Automator

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02:27 / 15.11.04

The release of the new Handsome Boy Modeling School CD seems as good an excuse as any for a discussion of the Automator. I'm a huge fan of his work, nearly all the albums he's been involved with have been great, and I love the way that he works in so many different genres, yet there's a unifying sound within his work. It's not that he's repeating himself, it's more like auteur theory, where each work is part of a whole, touching on similar themes and concepts.

The new Handsome Boy album, White People, is really top notch. It's a bit more eclectic than So...How's You Girl? but it may actually be more consistent. Nearly every track has something worthwhile on it, and after only two listens, I've already got bits stuck in my head. The highlight's for me are Class System, with Julee Cruise and Pharell, Breakdown, and I've Been Thinkin' with Cat Power. The album even manages to make Linkin Park sound good.

Though, I'd have to say that my favorite of all Automator's albums is Lovage. Mike Patton is great singing metal, but I think he's even better in the lounge type stuff he sings there, and Jennifer Charles is as always great. I just love the atmosphere of that album. Even the skits are great, I'm still confused by that one about the socks.

XXII:X:II = XXX

06:02 / 16.11.04

Deltron 3030 is one of my favorite albums EVER. It's just so fucking clever. Dan cuts in clips from old Del joints, and then there's the bookending clips, crisp and clean at the beginning, archival and skippy at the end, as though after the apocalypse:

It is the year 3030, and here at the Interdimensional Bank of Time, we find ourselves reflecting: finding out that we came back. We were always coming back.

And Prince Paul's rap battle commercial skits are hysterical: "It's machine versus man! Man versus woman! Woman versus child! Woman versus yer mutha."

/+,

ONLY NICE THINGS

10:51 / 16.11.04

So, if you were to recommend a Dan the Automator primer, where would you start? I like what I've heard, but haven't got any of the albums...

Haus of Mystery

13:16 / 16.11.04

The Deltron 3030 album has really nice, amost orchestral, production, and really ups the ante of sample based production. It's marred though by Del tha Funky Homosapien (Such a shit name)'s overly repetitious rap style. Also too many coke-buddy cameos (Albarn..nnngh) that often mar his work.

Regrettable Juvenilia

15:34 / 16.11.04

I had become thoroughly sick of Dan The Automator, but the fact that the new Handsome Boy album is called White People (presumably as in "isn't it funny how much my beats appeal to...") is genius. Does it really feature RZA?

Keith, like a scientist

16:06 / 16.11.04

what i like about automator is that nearly all of his works are available as instrumental only versions, too (white people [complete with 2 extra tracks], octagon, deltron).

haha.

anyway, I agree that Deltron 3030 is an amazing album. I totally didn't appreciate it at first, but it's truly an astounding sci-fi rap concept album.

So...how's your girl? is one of my ALL TIME favorite albums. J-Live & Poison on one song??? That brand nubian song is so smooth.

I'm a little lukewarm on the new HBMS album...isn't quite striking me as much as the first one.

LOVE Gorillaz, though. Too bad Danny Automato isn't doing the next one, though. (that honor is going to Danger Mouse).

Have you heard his mix CD? "Wanna Buy a Monkey?" great collection of tunes.

Dang...still haven't got that Lovage album...always forget about it.

22:34 / 16.11.04

Does it really feature RZA?

Yup, he does a track with The Mars Volta, which is pretty tight. And, he might appear on one of the skits. It's either him, or someone spoofing him.

As for the quality of White People. I feel like it's a less cohesive album than the first one, which seemed to make some sense as it flowed. While People seems more like Dan the Automator going back over all his old albums and sort of throwing back to a style with each track. "I've Been Thinkin'" and "Class System" have similar vocals as Lovage, "The World's Gone Mad" is very Gorillaz, there's an archetypal Mike Patton track, and then of course a few rap tracks as well. I'm not actually that big a rap fan, so I'm really liking the album. Even the ballad type songs are great.

I'm Rick Jones, bitch

22:50 / 16.11.04

MEGATON B-BOY, MOTHERFUCKERS (So... How's Your Girl?). Alec (in your fucking) Empire vs Prince Paul and Automator in a battle to the def while El-P refer'em for it.

And "Postive Contact" from Deltron 3030. That album tails off towards the end, but it's still worth the purchase for genius like "Positive Contact" ("Landed on Planet Mercury, gave it atmosphere/Set up my headquarters, I'll never get captured here"), "Mastermind" and "Battlesong".

Shit, I still need to check Dr Octagon. Having said that: Haus, if you have 12 quid or so get "So... How's your Girl" by Hansome Boy Modeling School... you won't be sorry for long.

Confidential to Flyboy: your jibes about Dan's whitey appeal might hold water... IF YOU WEREN'T SO WHITE YOU SCARE GHOSTS. Jesus christ, what is this? White people listen to music like this, black people listen to music like this?

I'm Rick Jones, bitch

22:52 / 16.11.04

RZA does a track with The Mars Volta? Fucking hell, that sounds AMAZING...

Regrettable Juvenilia

07:29 / 17.11.04

your jibes about Dan's whitey appeal

Jibes? What jibes? If you don't want to acknowledge the high probability that the title of the new Handsome Boy album is a reference to the fact that their audience has always been different from, say, 50 Cent's, then that's fine. I credit them with a little more humour and insight than you do, but we can agree to disagree...

I felt really conflicted about the prospect of this album, because looking at the full list of contributors, it looks like Dan The Automator has managed to get not only some of my favourite (Cat Power) and least favourite (Jamie Cullum???) people on an album, but in the case of RZA and the Mars Volta, on the same track... Then I discovered you can hear the whole thing at the Handsome Boy website. The Cat Power track, 'I've Been Thinkin'' is absolutely beautiful, and really makes me wish Chan Marshall would do more stuff like this.

The RZA/Mars Volta track is pretty decent, which is a relief. The Chino Moreno/El-P track show show badly that could have gone wrong - I could barely listen to it without wincing.

Most of the hip hop stuff I find pretty boring, since Automator is essentially stuck in the same groove he was in around the time of the first album. Hey, it's clearly the sound he wants to make (slightly jazzy mid-tempo beats, De La Soul, etc), there's clearly enough people who like it, and I'm not of the opinion that artists have to "move on" or keep up with the times or anything, it just probably not for me anymore...

XXII:X:II = XXX

07:53 / 17.11.04

LOVE Gorillaz, though. Too bad Danny Automato isn't doing the next one, though. (that honor is going to Danger Mouse).

That seems a short-sighted choice in my opinion. What exactly has DangerMouse done of note other than The Grey Album, which is not exactly the tightest of productions? Seems like a shameless promotional gimmick that's likely to backfire on them.

On the topic of HBMS, Del, et al's greater appeal to a white demographic (or, at very least, a non-baseline hiphop audience), well, so what? I don't think there's anything to be ashamed of in that. Quite frankly, I think most mainstream rap that does appeal to its original ethnic demographic is pretty shite. If they were a little more open to works outside of the "guns, money, bling and bitches... oh, and sometimes Jesus" school of lyricism the impact on the self-esteem of the community might be immeasurable. But don't take my word for it; I'm just a clueless white boy.

(Off the topic, a West Indian friend likes to say to me, "You ain't white... I don't know what you is, but you ain't white.")

/+,

Haus of Mystery

09:52 / 17.11.04

say, 50 Cent's

who surely has a huge white audience. That said, I think you're right about the album title. S'also probably a rebuttal to the *ahem* haters.

Re: Dangermouse producing next Gorillaz album. Why not? His production has shown to be varied and interesting (DM & Gemini album, Prince Po's album) and he might bring a few new ideas to the party. Personally, I have low expectations because of Albarn, and the general low quality of the last album.

Still love Hoolit though.

ONLY NICE THINGS

10:04 / 17.11.04

Quite frankly, I think most mainstream rap that does appeal to its original ethnic demographic is pretty shite. If they were a little more open to works outside of the "guns, money, bling and bitches... oh, and sometimes Jesus" school of lyricism the impact on the self-esteem of the community might be immeasurable. But don't take my word for it; I'm just a clueless white boy.

Quoted without comment.

So, I should start with Deltron 3030, you guys? Or "So...How's Your Girl"? Or just get the new HBMS album? Ooh! Which I will go and check out on the site as soon as the Best Show finishes...

Regrettable Juvenilia

10:38 / 17.11.04

Do I need to repeat that I never said that the nature of Automator's fanbase was anything to be ashamed about? Or should I just take it as read that everybody is wisely ignoring anything Vladimir has to say about race at this point?

Haus of Mystery

11:04 / 17.11.04

Haus, if you want a more varied hotch-potch record, get the first HBMS. Looking for a (relatively) straight hip hop album - Deltron.

If they were a little more open to works outside of the "guns, money, bling and bitches... oh, and sometimes Jesus" school of lyricism the impact on the self-esteem of the community might be immeasurable.

Tired, lazy, stereotypical bullshit. I take it you don't actually listen to much hip hop?

Keith, like a scientist

13:04 / 17.11.04

"That seems a short-sighted choice in my opinion. What exactly has DangerMouse done of note other than The Grey Album, which is not exactly the tightest of productions? Seems like a shameless promotional gimmick that's likely to backfire on them."

uh...er..."Ghetto Pop Life", perhaps? The full-length Dangermouse and Jemini album on Lex Records? it's pretty damn tight, I'd have to say, and a hell of a lot better as a cohesive album than the new HBMS album, that's for sure.

Btw, he's also doing an album with MF Doom.

Sorry, that's off-topic, but I like DM, so had to defend him for a second.

As far as Automator recommendations go, I would probably point to "So...how's your girl?" it's the best of the lot, and gives you an idea of his range as a producer (gotta keep in mind that it's in collaboration with Prince Paul, though). For one solid hip-hop album, though, I'd pick Deltron over Doc Oct, though.

Haus of Mystery

13:10 / 17.11.04

Prince Paul is also, to my mind, the better producer (despite recent lacklustre solo outings)

Dr Octagon is a actually my fave Automater production job, even if it sounds a bit dated, but that's prolly to do with Kool Keith.

13:11 / 17.11.04

Jamie Cullum???

Those two words are the only review I need to read.

Seems like a shameless promotional gimmick that's likely to backfire on them.

You mean more so than the Gorrilaz concept itself? Blimey.

Quite frankly, I think most mainstream rap that does appeal to its original ethnic demographic is pretty shite....Off the topic, a West Indian friend likes to say to me, "You ain't white... I don't know what you is, but you ain't white."

If you're deliberately trying to bait flyboy, I'd suggest throwing in a few casually misogynistic jibes as well, maybe try calling him a politically correct fag at some point in the conversation for good measure. In for a penny, in for a pound...

Haus of Mystery

13:19 / 17.11.04

Just to clear up (as if anyone cares) that I meant Dr Octagon sounded dated, and the reason I like it still is more because of KK. Don't want the man chasing me down, he's a flippin' nutjob.

Keith, like a scientist

16:13 / 17.11.04

macguyver...i agree about Prince Paul. one of my favorite hip-hop productions ever is Gravediggaz, 6 Feet Deep. Wicked production on that...Automator, while slick and proficient, has never quite got up to that level of energy.

what's with Prince Paul, though? Why are his solo outings so lame? every time I try to listen to one of the solo albums, i'm really disappointed, but all his production for other people and collabs are fantastic.

17:19 / 17.11.04

Dr Octagon is a actually my fave Automater production job, even if it sounds a bit dated, but that's prolly to do with Kool Keith.

Easily the best album he's put his name to. Don't forget Q-Bert's contribution...

17:20 / 17.11.04

Flyboy: I assume you mean either the El-P and Cage tune, or the El-P and Alec Empire tune? Can't seem to find one between Chino and the guv'nor...

17:22 / 17.11.04

Oh, no. It's just because Amazon hasn't labelled the track listing properly.

It would have been great had it not been for Chino. Jesus, he's shite. El-P's bounciest rhymes since Juvenile Techniques.

17:25 / 17.11.04

And sorry to go four times in a row, but...

Does everyone agree that RZA and El-P should do an album together? Production and rhyming duties split strictly fifty/fifty, and a collaboration where they actually meet rather than just trade tapes. I'm betting it would blow this out of the water. C'mon, it's only a ferry ride...

I'm going to start a petition.

17:29 / 17.11.04

I'd sign.

I cannot believe the Cullum is on this.

XXII:X:II = XXX

23:37 / 17.11.04

Tired, lazy, stereotypical bullshit. I take it you don't actually listen to much hip hop?

Oh, you mean other than PE, NWA, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Immortal Technique, Nonphixion, Beastie Boys, Nas, Biggie, Bloodhound Gang, Del, Prince Paul, Princess Superstar, Fresh Prince, Outkast, MF Doom, De La Soul, Jean Grae, Wu-Tang, Z-Trip, N*E*R*D, X-Ecutioners, MC Paul Barman, a half dozen nerdcore rappers and scores more that don't spring immediately to mind because I don't have my music collection in front of me? Yes, how very perceptive of you; you've called me out.

/+,

06:41 / 18.11.04

Jesus. Listening to all that hip hop must make you pure hip hop.

Are you hip hop?

at the scarwash

06:57 / 18.11.04

I will second, third, and fourth anyone who says that Dr. Octagon is the Automator's best production job, unless someone brings up the awesomeness that is Bombay the Hard Way. I love Dan Nakamura's sound, but unlike Prince Paul, he is someone whose style is best expressed when it supports a better artist. MC Paul Barman (who I respect, don't get me wrong) would be nothing without Prince Paul's production. See also 3rd Base, Vernon Reid, et al.

ONLY NICE THINGS

07:05 / 18.11.04

The Bloodhound Gang is hip hop.

Yes.

Seth, your rock'n'roll ain't never ever hip-hopped like this.

07:23 / 18.11.04

Quoted without comment.

You keep saying that phrase. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Haus of Mystery

09:36 / 18.11.04

Oh, you mean other than PE, NWA, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Immortal Technique, Nonphixion, Beastie Boys, Nas, Biggie, Bloodhound Gang, Del, Prince Paul, Princess Superstar, Fresh Prince, Outkast, MF Doom, De La Soul, Jean Grae, Wu-Tang, Z-Trip, N*E*R*D, X-Ecutioners, MC Paul Barman, a half dozen nerdcore rappers and scores more that don't spring immediately to mind because I don't have my music collection in front of me? Yes, how very perceptive of you; you've called me out.

Then your ignorance is doubly confusng Vlad.

17:09 / 18.11.04

Is the new Jean Grae good?

I'm sorely tempted by the X-Men/hip-hop crossover.

Do you just not like currently very popular hip-hop Vlad?

17:31 / 18.11.04

The Jean Grae/X-Men connection is non-existent as far as I know. Nevermind. She is fairly underground however, and as such nothing to do with those violent mainstream nig nogs who are killing their communities with drugs and drugs and hateful hateful uncaring violence. That makes her an excellent recording artist.

Kisses to the bollocks, my friend.

Haus of Mystery

21:23 / 18.11.04

Liking that phrase m'man.

22:29 / 18.11.04

Bringing it back on topic, I listened to Lovage again yesterday. Absolutely amazing album, it's not only Automator's best, it's probably in my top ten albums all time. I like Patton and Charles' other projects, but nothing compares to what they do on this album, and the production is just perfect.

I've got a couple of questions on it though. Does anyone know how Automator constructs the beats? Are the strings on that album sampled from other songs, or does he record new stuff? Also, what's the deal with the socks jokes and the Heinz Ketchup thing? Is this an in joke I'm missing, or just talking about random stuff as I'd suspect?

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