Grateful Dead – 9/20/82 (New York); 9/3/77 (Englishtown NJ): The 1982 concert has some absolutely wonderful moments, including one of my favorite versions of “Row Jimmy” and an early performance of “Throwing Stones.” Overall, though, it just lacks the magic of the show in NJ five years earlier.
Beyonce – Renaissance: I love that Beyonce paid homage to classic house and disco, and she acknowledged some of the greatest artists in the scene, either through guest spots or references. For me, though, the fact that her primary partners were guys like Mike Dean and Tricky Stewart makes the album miss the mark in a big way. However, I’ll immediately contradict myself. Renaissance is a reminder that house and hip hop are branches that grow from common roots, and guys like me who treat them as totally separate entities are missing out on something beautiful.
Dave Seaman – Global Underground 12 Buenos Aires: I used to catch Dave Seaman in New York whenever I could, and this set takes me back to how cathartic his live performances were. Objectively I know this is completely dated, but it still feels so fresh and exciting to me.