Shuggie Otis
Inspiration Information
»
Shuggie Otis
Inspiration Information
Luaka Bop, 2001
RiYL: Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone |
"A West Coast superstar, a genious (sic), a musical wizard of the highest order."
"The most innovative art I've ever had the joy to bear witness to."
"Like a new style of music that could've developed but never did."
These sort of quotes are plastered all over the "retro" orange and mauve sleeve of the Luaka Bop version of Inspiration Information. But while Otis is certainly an artist of considerable import, the extensive hype almost works in the wrong way, building up expectations that may or may not be quenched by actually listening to Otis' great album.
Still, don't get me wrong. Inspiration Information is indeed a wonderful record, full of sonic splendour. Otis covers funk, soul, carribean rhythms, Hendrix-esque virtuoso guitar playing, sparse bedroom drum-machine ballads and more on the impressive record (although truth be told, only two-thirds of this re-release is actually the original Inspiration Information album, four tracks being culled from its predecessor, Freedom Flight). Probably the most incredible aspect is that Otis recorded nearly the entire album himself, so it is basically the vision of one 21-year-old man.
Songs like "Sweet Thang" and "Inspiration Information" recall the delectable soul of Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye. But then you get something like the drum-machine and keyboard-fueled "Aht Uh Mi Hed," more like Prince at his most reclusive and introspective. The modal "XL-30" even resembles Tortoise in its partly synthetic, partly organic polyrhythms and funky, meandering keyboard groove.
Included from Freedom Flight are the classic single "Strawberry Letter 23," later a hit in a cover version by the Brothers Johnson, and the stunning 13-minute adventure of the title song, which takes the listener on an airborne journey akin to the underwater trip of Hendrix's "1983."
Whether or not it lives up to the hype is in the ear of the beholder, I suppose. But Inspiration Information is at the very least a gratifying listen today. It's not the most genius thing ever, or completely removed from comparison, but you could do a lot worse with your $15, believe me.
TROY CARPENTER | Troy Carpenter founded NATN from a Chicago apartment during the ambitious winter of 1998 with co-conspirators Ben French and Jonathan Cohen. After a five-year stint in New York, he and wife Lourdes have recently relocated to Indianapolis, where he spends days listening to music and nights in the kitchen at Elements restaurant. Musical heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Super Furry Animals. What else makes life worth living: Sushi, Phucty, runs in the park, and the Atlanta Braves.