PLAYLIST
I Thought It Was You Herbie Hancock
It’s rare to see jazz-fusion musicians playing something that’s a straightforward disco-pop song.
Flowers of Romance Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd. was the first English punk band I ever discovered, because one of my friends said they were more punk than the Sex Pistols. I think that rings true.
Rapp Snitch Knishes (feat. Mr. Fantastik) MF DOOM
I love this song. It’s based around this great guitar loop, and the subject is people who rap about their criminal activities are being foolish.
Hung Up on a Dream The Zombies
This is from Odyssey and Oracle. I started to get a lot more into the craft of songwriting through that.
Black Satin Miles Davis
If there was one thing that was played around my house most, it would’ve been Miles Davis. (This song) was distorted in the way it was recorded and still influences me.
Do You Remember Walter? The Kinks
I just like the story of it. It’s about this kid who was much cooler in high school, but peaked there.
For Love George Duke
This is another record that I discovered from my dad’s tape collection. George Duke really captured my imagination.
She The Misfits
It’s about a woman who’s coming to get everybody with a machine gun. It was one of the first songs where I ever really thought, “Maybe I could write music.”
Inca Roads Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention
One Size Fits All is not a great Frank Zappa album, but this song is a very proggy, bizarre track that has all these different phases. I always found it really fun.
Beatnik
The Clean
The Clean recorded songs in their houses, and then they would get No. 1 hits. Beatnik ... has that DIY spirit.
Psychedelic rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra is back with its fourth album, Sex & Food, out Friday. Native New Zealander and frontman Ruban Nielson shares a playlist of the songs that have influenced him through the years.