Yeah, ever since Thes wrote the post about how Double K would love to read and talk about music biographies that's what I've been reading. So would love to hear some suggestions. And man, how great would a Thes One autobiography be!?!

I just started a book about the history of punk rock in the Bay Area called Gimme Something Better, and next up is the Beastie Boys Book. There's a new J Dilla book coming out that I've ordered too. Oh and I also recently read an awesome book called In Defense of Ska by Aaron Carnes. (Ska is my first love).

But after reading Thes' post, I wondered if he or KK ever read (or would be interested in) the book by NOFX: Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories. I'm a huge NOFX fan and I loved it. But even though they're in completely different genres I see a lot of similarities between NOFX and PUTS. For one, I'd say they are the 2 best and most successful groups that were able to stay 100% independent. And two, they're both from LA and lot of the NOFX book is about the LA underground music scene. So even though it's about different genres, and NOFX is a little older, I bet there's a lot for the 2 groups to relate to. (Plus, to me hip-hop, punk, and ska/reggae are all just rebel music anyway so they're not really as different as they might seem).

The reason I didn't post a review on here earlier (i.e. when the album came out) was because I honestly didn't like it very much and didn't want to be negative about it. But with time passing and listening to it more, and especially now given Double K's death, thinking about how difficult this album must have been for both of them to make is beyond comprehension. At the time, their retirement was presented as them settling down and not wanting to got through the rigors of an older touring band (Thes putting it more on himself). But, and I'm speculating here, it seems like it was actually more because of Double K's declining health. I remember seeing them in Berkeley in 2018(?) for their 2nd to last show ever in the Bay Area and Double K looked super thin. I had assumed that was a good thing, maybe not.

Anyway, I was originally not a big fan of Sincerely. While I thought it had a few great songs (Effects of Climate Change, We Get Around, Family Ties), overall I wasn't impressed. I wanted more for a final album. (And then Thes put out the Sincerely EP and I liked those 4 songs better than a lot of the songs on the actual album). But after listening to it more, and with the passing of KK, I have a new perspective.

What helped was reading the incredible book Go Ahead In The Rain: Notes To A Tribe Called Quest by Hanif Abdurraqib. I'd highly recommend that to everyone here. In the book, he talks about Phife's solo album Ventilation (one I always liked) and how it was viewed as a failure at the time it came out. I didn't start liking Tribe until well after they initially broke up so I didn't get to see any of this in real time. But apparently a lot of people didn't like it, and maybe for some of the same reasons I didn't initially like Sincerely, The P. Abdurraqib went on to compare the public's reactions to Phife as if he were Bill Buckner letting the ball roll through his legs to lose the World Series (though, of course, that by itself was not why the Red Sox lost). But that in reality, the Ventilation LP was more like Willis Reed coming into the 1970 NBA Finals for the Knicks while on his last leg, barely able to walk, and hounding Wilt Chamberlin defensively on the way to a Knicks victory. I think that's a much better analogy for Sincerely, The P as well. Putting everything they had into a last album, an album made more for the fans than anything else, an album full of sincere heartfelt emotions, and a fitting end to a championship run. It's still not my favorite album of theirs, but I appreciate them so much for making it. Their history wouldn't be complete without it.

Please join us tomorrow, Sunday March 20th at 4:20pm
Pacific Standard Time on Twitch
https://www.twitch.tv/peopleunderthestairs/

Thes One will be live in the mix with a very special, all vinyl tribute to his fallen brother Double K

This one's for Double.

YoYoPo said:
Donate link:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D856KJKHLSB54

Thanks Tim, sent my donation.

Forever The P

Details for drink-a-long memorial session on March 21st at https://www.puts.band/humanity

Join us March 21st

4:20 PM PST as we celebrate the life and legend of Michael “Double K” Turner with a live celebration on Twitch
Live

Join Thes One and friends live on Sunday, March 21st at 4:20pm to celebrate the life and legend of our brother Michael “Double K” Turner. Click the link below to visit our Twitch page where it will occur and make sure to set up notifications!

https://www.twitch.tv/peopleunderthestairs