December 19, 2007

The Blank Album

A couple of BQTs ago, I asked this…

Q: The new albums from alt-hip-hop singer-songwriter Imani Coppola and Swedish garage rock band the Hives have the exact same title, inspired by the Beatles. What is it?

And your answer is…The Black and White Album (actually, that's only the Hives' title; Imani Coppola uses an ampersand). I noticed because I reviewed the Hives album in Time Out New York in the same issue there was an interview with Coppola, and my trivial mind did it's usual, "A-ha! A meaningless yet mildly interesting coincidence! I must forge this into a question!"

Probably no album titles in the history of music has inspired so many other album titles as the White Album has (note how I don't italicize the title; the album is officially untitled, or called simply The Beatles; "the White Album" is a widely accepted nickname, like Led Zeppelin IV or Axis of Evil). And what an amusing list of album titles, a rainbow of referential snark through the annals of rock & roll. Let's list them, shall we?

The Black Album: This title is now best known from Jay-Z's 2003 album, the last ever album he ever recorded (the first one). Like the Beatles, Jigga worked the monochromatic theme to the hilt—black booklet, black jewel case, the artist himself is black. I'm not sure what the significance is, despite the fact that I'm the accepted global expert on all things hip-hop. But I do know that Jay didn't release the first Black Album, more or less; Prince's aborted 1987 follow-up to Sign O' the Times is also called the Black Album, though it was officially untitled (it came in an unmarked black sleeve, à la Spinal Tap). But even Prince can't lay claim to the first noir Beatles' parody; that honor goes to the Damned, who released The Black Album in 1980, appropriate for a band who straddled the line between punk (at which they were great) and goth (zzzzz…). And I think some people refer to Metallica's 1991 release as "the Black Album," which seems awfully unimaginative to me.

Later, I'll tackle some other colors/hues/design schemes, etc.

- Quizmaster Noah

8 comments:

Unknown said...

شركة تنظيف اثاث بمكة
شركة تخزين اثاث بمكة
شركة مكافحة الحشرات بمكة المكرمة
شركة رش مبيدات بمكة
شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض مكة
شركة تنظيف الاثاث بالرياض
شركة رش الدفان بالرياض


شركة نقل عفش بالرياض
شركة تنظيف مفروشات فى مكة
كشف التسربات بالرياض





شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخرج

Unknown said...

cheap nfl jerseys
oakley sunglasses wholesale
oakley sunglasses
longchamp handbags
ugg uk
coach outlet online
louis vuitton handbags
swarovski crystal
nike free 5
hollister clothing
20170216lck

Unknown said...

ghd flat iron
ralph lauren outlet
instyler max
longchamps
pandora jewelry
nike tn pas cher
moncler jackets
jimmy choo shoes
houston texans jerseys
nike air max 90

Unknown said...

nfl jerseys wholesale
dior sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet
louis vuitton pas cher
louis vuitton
true religion sale
rolex watches
tory burch shoes
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton
chanyuan2017.03.16

John said...

ray bans
nike outlet online
ralph lauren outlet
christian louboutin
coach outlet online
michael kors handbags outlet
michael kors bags
coach outlet store
michael kors bags
coach outlet online
20170322yuanyuan

chenmeinv0 said...

puma shoes
ray ban sunglasses outlet
adidas nmd
toms outlet
ralph lauren outlet
mlb jerseys wholesale
nike air force one
cheap ray ban sunglasses
cheap nhl jerseys
coach outlet
2017.3.31xukaimin

caiyan said...

coach outlet store
wireless beats headphones
ray ban sale
nike flyknit
true religion
ralph lauren sale
yeezy shoes
michael kors outlet online
jordan retro
jimmy choo shoes
0411shizhong

Alex daina said...

Today, getting the money for checks just requires a couple of minutes of self-benefit from intuitive registration booths.
www.usacheckcashingstore.com/corona