If you looked at my record collection, you’d probably think I do some sort of drug. I don’t. But in the spirit of 4/20, I have decided to dispense of my musical knowledge in the debatable topic of “drug music.”
First of all, what constitutes drug music? I don’t do any heavy drugs or smoke (well, often), but I’ll keep weed in mind. This means that pulsating beats, repetitive musical themes, exotic instrumentation and absurdist lyrics constitute classifying factors, regardless of genre. It should also be noted that, by and large, the music is enjoyable even when you’re not high, though it doesn’t hurt to be.
Starting way back with dinosaur rock, there’s some necessary obvious choices: the sludgy proto-metal of Black Sabbath, especially Paranoid; any Led Zeppelin, but especially the Frodo Baggins-rock ‘n roll of Led Zeppelin IV; Love’s psychedelic-folk masterpiece Forever Changes; the Nuggets garage-rock box set; and, of course, every album by the Velvet Underground and Pink Floyd.
The 1970s produced many a drug-influenced artist. In terms of the loopy, trance-inducing music we want to discuss here, German artists like Can and Kraftwerk were massively influential to electronica and art-rock alike, and their music is great to get high to.
There are plenty of lesser-known choices from the ’80s and ’90s that can also do the trick. The “Big Sonic Chill” variety can work navel-gazing wonders, particularly anything by mystical dream-poppers Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine’s ever-acclaimed touchstone, “Loveless.”
The ’80s “Madchester” scene in the United Kingdom produced the excellently trippy self-titled Stone Roses album, and drone-rockers Spacemen 3 made an album called Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To.
In the ’90s, the atmospheric joys of indie-rockers like Yo La Tengo, Spritualized, Stereolab and Tortoise should keep things nice and smooth.
Some genres have inherent drugginess. Most electronica music fits the bill. There’s the jungle madness of Roni Size & Reprazent’s New Forms, the novel ambient breakbeat of DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing, the “intelligent dance music” (either IDM or “stoner music” for short) of Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada, and the moody trip-hop of Massive Attack and Portishead are all recommendations.
When you think of stonery hip-hop, the bud-referencing Dr. Dre, Snoop and Cypress Hill of course come to mind. Much of their work, however, is too pop-oriented — it’ll grab your attention (which is the problem with including most pop music on this list, while we’re at it). Better is the early ’90s psychedelic hip-hop of the Pharcyde, De La Soul and veteran collective the Wu Tang Clan. I’ve also been informed by a reliable source that I am not “in the know” if I don’t mention “I Got 5 on It” by Luniz.
How about reggae? One recommendation: Dub Side of the Moon, a compilation of various dub reggae artists covering Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, obviously one of the all-time great albums to get stoned to.
There’s plenty of new music out there that should tickle the post-millennial stoner in you. Anything by Sigur Ros, Radiohead’s Kid A, The Flaming Lips’ Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs for the Deaf are modern stoner masterpieces. Four Tet keeps the brainy IDM flag flying, and Air and Zero 7 continue to make sexy ambient pop that you can do more than just smoke to. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club cough up the dirty noise-rock of the Jesus and Mary Chain, and the Walkmen sound like a languid Strokes after many, many hits. Blackalicious, Cee-Lo and certain OutKast songs fit the bill for experimentally-damaged art-rap. In addition, “Almost the Same” by Brit-poppers Clearlake, with its heaving guitars and unwavering beat, is the best stoner pop song in recent memory.
You might say to yourself, where’s Sublime? Phish? Afroman? Piss off, that shit sucks. Stoner music doesn’t have to suck; in fact, the qualities that render much of this music “stoner music” are what make it compelling. Even if you don’t subscribe to this 4/20 nonsense, I promise that any of these suggestions would make a fine addition to your stonerless catalogue. So whip up some brownies (check out the recipe on page 14) and get ready to mellow out to some great music.
