11. Of The Heart, Of The Soul And Of The Cross: The Utopian Experience P.M. Dawn
Once upon a time, rap could be spiritual. That's hard to believe considering the big hit off this album was "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss," a little ditty that not only stole the guitar riff from Spandau Ballet's "True", it name-checked Christina Applegate of all people. Still, songs like "Reality Used to be a Friend of Mine" and "To Serenade a Rainbow" made your head bop while "Even After I Die" and "On a Clear Day" made it think. This album even offered a meditation on the soul in the minor hit "Paper Doll." Moreover, the band's name is a reference to an enlightened revelation: even during the darkest times, there is always light to be found. This brotherly duo eventually spun a 180 from rap to concentrate on more melody-based R&B concept albums like Jesus Wept and the unfortunately titled 'Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love Dad', before disappearing completely, and what could be more spiritual than disappearing?
Michael Perone has written for The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, The Island Ear (now titled Long Island Press), and The Long Island Voice, a short-lived spinoff of The Village Voice. He currently works as an Editor in Manhattan. And he still thinks Michael Keaton was the best Batman.
