Since Measure 91 was approved and you can’t legally light up until July, it may seem too early to recommend good albums by which to get high. But as Oregon’s new marijuana laws still forbid toking in public places, stoner behavior in Eugene isn’t likely to change too much once the legislation goes into action.
You can celebrate Oregon’s victory now with these albums and your favorite still-illegal substances — or wait to listen until you can walk down the street with a sack without worry. These four albums cover most of the bases a good stoner album should, but I’ve recommended a few others, should they not suit your taste.
Madvillain – Madvillainy
Hip-hop is the most weed-friendly popular music genre, and as such, there’s no shortage of great stoner rap albums. Madvillainy is my pick because of its broad crossover appeal, which owes not to pop compromise but to the sheer strength of the rapping and production. It also contains “America’s Most Blunted,” the most eloquent song ever written about shoplifting cigar wrappers.
Recommended scenario: social smoking, joint rolling
Recommended strain pairing: Northern Lights
Others: Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg, Pilot Talk by Curren$y, The Unseen by Quasimoto
Gonjasufi – A Sufi And A Killer
The debut from the in-house vocalist for L.A. electronic label Brainfeeder is made explicitly with weed in mind — just look at the guy’s name. Beginning with warped but catchy pop songs, the sprawling Sufi quickly devolves into more experimental but no less interesting and listenable territory. As a front-to-back listen, no album I’ve heard better fits the natural progression of a weed high.
Recommended scenario: Anywhere where good speakers can be found
Recommended strain pairing: Lavender Goo
Others: Cosmogramma by Flying Lotus, The Golden Age Of Apocalypse by Thundercat, Cerulean by Baths
Pink Floyd – Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Many of us have heard Floyd’s 1970s work to death, but even major fans often sleep on the band’s early work with Syd Barrett. 1967’s Piper is the most batshit-weird album of the band’s career, succeeding through replacing the elaborate studio effects favored by The Beatles with simple but effective tricks like odd percussion and impressionistic, animalistic backing vocals.
Recommended scenario: headphones, smoking alone
Recommended strain pairing: Sour Diesel
Others: Sung Tongs by Animal Collective, The Smile Sessions by The Beach Boys, every other Pink Floyd album
Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
Tame Impala mastermind Kevin Parker wears his social anxiety on his sleeves. A lot of stoners clam up when they’re high, and Parker’s music connects the maelstrom of thoughts inside his head with his outward shyness. But Innerspeaker isn’t depressing; rather, its phased-out, classic rock-indebted tunes are often more conducive to a good high than acting social.
Recommended scenario: The artist would prefer you listen alone, though fine for small groups and intimate settings
Recommended strain pairing: Blueberry Kush
Others: Revolver by the Beatles, Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
Follow Daniel Bromfield on Twitter @bromf3