Review
Buhloone Mindstate - De La Soul
De La Soul's Buhloone Mindstate reviewed: an album that might blow up but won't go pop, and proof that self-aware, nonserious music is my absolute jam.
This album illustrates one major trend I’m noticing in my music taste - anything nonserious, joking, or the least bit self-aware is my absolute jam. De La Soul’s entire premise to this album is that it, like a balloon, “might blow up, but it won’t go pop.” The group was worried about alienating their fanbase by becoming too mainstream, too pop, and this was their response. They make fun of themselves, examine their own sound, and poke at the record labels who would presumably steer them in a more poppy direction to sell more albums. It’s a lot of fun.
I think the root of humor is awareness, and by extension to make fun of oneself requires a high level of self-awareness. There are few things worse to me than music that’s painfully not self-aware (Katy Perry, anybody?), but the artists who know who they are, where they fit in, and most importantly don’t take themselves too seriously are the absolute best.
I try not to take myself too seriously, and albums like this are great reminders to keep pursuing that mindset. I’ll come back to this one for the jazz-infused beats, and I’ll stay for the reminder that music - both creating and consuming it - is supposed to be fun.
Jams
“3 Days Later”
“In The Woods”
From the roundup Jamwise #43 - Best Albums of 1993, pt. 2.