IMANI COPPOLA

IMANI COPPOLA
CHUPACABRA (1997)
320 KBPS

The first two songs on this New York college sophomore's debut album are the best, layering happy funk on the sampled foundations of the Doors' "Soul Kitchen" and Donovan's "Sunshine Superman." Coppola, a chanter, rapper, and singer from Long Island, New York, affixes a cow picture to her album sleeve, poses in kinky hair like Coolio, names the album for a Spanish phrase meaning "goat sucker," and creates catchy melodies to complement all this playfulness. "I'm a Tree" is a summer single worthy of the Jackson 5's "ABC" or Hanson's "MMMBop," and Coppola's DJ complexity occasionally aspires to the level of Beck or M.C. 900 Ft. Jesus.

1. I'm a Tree
2. Legend of a Cowgirl
3. Naked City (Love to See It Shine)
4. It S All About Me, Me, and Me
5. Piece
6. Karma and the Blizzard
7. One of These Days
8. Pigeon Penelope
9. Soon (I Like It)
10. Forget Myself
11. Da Da