Sherman and Ski

27/10/2023

Tomorrow, October 27th 2023, marks a momentous occasion in pop music history. Sort of. 25 years ago on that date, the initial American compilation record of Now! That’s What I Call Music made its way onto retail shelves. Some 87 volumes later (and with a 25th anniversary tracklist reveal tomorrow to boot)… Now! That’s What I Call Country, Christmas, Motown, Dance, fill-in-the-blank Genre releases as well…it’s snapshot of modern American music history. Sherman and Ski simply cannot, nay, WILL NOT, let this phenomenon go unnoticed. Ergo, this episode is dedicated to a track by track review of the original compact disc, the one that started it all. It peaked at #10 on the album Billboard charts, and went platinum (as did the 28 volumes that came afterwards). But to paraphrase Stefan from SNL, this collection really DID have everything…Janet Jackson, Marcy Playground, Fastball, Aqua, Lenny Kravitz, Tonic, Backstreet Boys, Radiohead, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Hanson, All Saints…it was so NOW, then.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_That%27s_What_I_Call_Music!_(original_U.S._album)
As regular listeners know, a chatfest about this type of sonic overload could stretch on for hours and hours. Therefore - Sherman and Ski have timed each other’s commentary on this episode, limiting ourselves to a 90 second review of each track, and then pick our two tracks that we felt represented this unique moment in time (and our favorites). We hope you enjoy this trip down 90’s Nostalgia Lane as much as we did recording it – take a listen to see our hot takes, and who we both picked as our essential tracks from this seminal compilation that has changed music distribution for the last 25 years!!

https://anchor.fm/shermanandski/episodes/Episode-27--Now--Thats-What-I-Call-Music--Volume-1-e2b43fj

Now That's What I Call Music! (simply titled NOW) was released on October 27, 1998. Modeled after the highly successful Now That's What I Call Music! series in the United Kingdom, which compiles a number of songs that are popular around the time of its release, this album is the first edition of the...

26/10/2023

Tomorrow, October 27th 2023, marks a momentous occasion in pop music history. Sort of. 25 years ago on that date, the initial American compilation record of Now! That’s What I Call Music made its way onto retail shelves. Some 87 volumes later (and with a 25th anniversary tracklist reveal tomorrow to boot)… Now! That’s What I Call Country, Christmas, Motown, Dance, fill-in-the-blank Genre releases as well…it’s snapshot of modern American music history. Sherman and Ski simply cannot, nay, WILL NOT, let this phenomenon go unnoticed. Ergo, this episode is dedicated to a track by track review of the original compact disc, the one that started it all. It peaked at #10 on the album Billboard charts, and went platinum (as did the 28 volumes that came afterwards). But to paraphrase Stefan from SNL, this collection really DID have everything…Janet Jackson, Marcy Playground, Fastball, Aqua, Lenny Kravitz, Tonic, Backstreet Boys, Radiohead, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Hanson, All Saints…it was so NOW, then.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_That%27s_What_I_Call_Music!_(original_U.S._album)
As regular listeners know, a chatfest about this type of sonic overload could stretch on for hours and hours. Therefore - Sherman and Ski have timed each other’s commentary on this episode, limiting ourselves to a 90 second review of each track, and then pick our two tracks that we felt represented this unique moment in time (and our favorites). We hope you enjoy this trip down 90’s Nostalgia Lane as much as we did recording it – take a listen to see our hot takes, and who we both picked as our essential tracks from this seminal compilation that has changed music distribution for the last 25 years! https://anchor.fm/shermanandski/episodes/Episode-27--Now--Thats-What-I-Call-Music--Volume-1-e2b43fj

22/01/2023

Just when you think that we wouldn’t dare do it, we invite you to KEEP IT COMIN’ LOVE - Sherman and Ski are vouching for disco (and Latin FUNK) superstars and underrated heroes, KC and THE SUNSHINE BAND. Literally, there are nothing but hits from Miami native Harry Wayne Casey. In fact, a person can drive from Washington DC to Carlisle PA, and you are NOT out of hits, not by a longshot. Sherman and Ski DO get to a couple of extremely deep cuts from the catalog, specifically from their earlier funk records which has some serious bass and horn action.

Ski reminds us that there’s not too much of the string section of traditional disco. However, Sherman informs us that there is plenty of B***y and Boogie references that remain. Sherman can’t get enough of their fourth album, the oddly titled KC & The Sunshine Band Part III, which is jam-packed with earworms and rump-shakers. Ski pulls from the stellar 1974 debut album Do It Good, and boy is Ski ready to party and Sound Your Funky Horn. Sherman is floored that Please Don’t Go was originally penned by KC as he only knows the KWS 90’s club cover, but of course Ski knew it. We both DO agree that the premium KC material leans towards the earliest work, and one should probably avoid the 2000’s album Yummy, with a bizarre Peter Gabriel cover…yeah, let’s stick with the Latin funk and disco stuff. We also reconnect briefly on the Rock & Roll HOF class of 2022, and see how we did…have a listen!

https://anchor.fm/shermanandski/episodes/Talk-You-Into-It---Episode-24---KC--The-Sunshine-Band-e1jmkng

09/01/2023

Happy New Year!! Sherman and Ski are BACK from a small hiatus to bring you some fresh NINETIES era content - we are talking you into another listen of the legendary Luscious Jackson. Founded by Jill Cunniff, Gabby Glaser, Vivian Trimble and joined by ex-Beastie Boys original drummer Kate Schellenbach, this incredible foursome produced some of the most unique sounds of the early to mid 90's. Best known for their 1996 chart hit, the mega-catchy track "Naked Eye", it's hard to overstate how overlooked their catalog has wound up, as they were true alt-rock pioneers with a true blend of hip hop rhythms, speak singing, harmonies, synth flavors...just damn fine work, really.

As usual, Ski discovered this record during his year in Bologna, and reminds us of their later catalogue which is a kids record, while Sherman stumps about the In Search of Manny EP and the debut record Natural Ingredients, and realizes that he may enjoy their…jazz influences? But let’s just say the deep dive we go into is absolutely worth the plunge…as Luscious Jackson’s entire oeuvre has been criminally overlooked. Thanks for jumping back on board with Sherman & Ski, download our newest episode on all your favorite podcast platforms.