5 for 20: Justin Peroff of Eight and a Half

When you’re an influential musician, people tend to ask you what you’ve been listening to lately. Here at 5 for 20, we’re just as keen to find out what records loom large in our favourite artists’ memory banks. So, we’re asking folks for their top five records of the last 20 years.

This week we hear from Justin Peroff of Eight and a Half, who are playing the Wolfe Island Music Festival this weekend in support of the self-titled debut they released in April. Peroff is also the killer drummer in the currently dormant Broken Social Scene, so he's seen the world and listened to his fair share of music.

"Choosing my top five inﬂuential records of the last 20 years was not an easy task," he admits. "I don't really choose favourites, but when I do, I mean it. The following list is a selection of choice records spanning the last two decades that have left an undeniable impact on my head and my heart. So with out further ado …"

Check Your Head by Beastie Boys (1992)

1992 found me in Grade 10. Bram Stokers Dracula was in movie theatres, "Finally" by Ce Ce Peniston dominated mainstream radio stations, the Internet was unknown to the average person and the Beastie Boys released a record called Check Your Head. At first glance I judged a book by its cover calling it "The Grown Up Beastie Boys Come Back Record." Then I took a listen to it. Dude ... this record changed everything. First came the dark, reverb-heavy production of the single "Pass The Mic." Then came the staccatoed juicy pump of that organ on "So What’cha Want." The Money Mark co-written funk and punk instrumentals were game-changers. They executed the rap-rock genre marriage like no one else. They destroyed hip-hop boundaries and in a way, reinvented the approach to hip-hop production and sampling. Paul's Boutique was outstanding but Check Your Head will forever be in my top 10 of all time. An undeniable classic.

Twice Removed by Sloan (1994)

Being a fan of Sloan's distortion-drenched debut full-length, Smeared, I naturally bought their second (and last) DGC release, Twice Removed. After first listen, that cassette didn't leave my pocket. I brought that thing everywhere I went. I saw Sloan at the Opera House in Toronto when they were touring this record. The Super Friendz opened the show. During the Super Friendz set I stood in the sold-out crowd behind a cigarette-rolling Andrew Scott and Chris Murphy. At the time, I thought that was pretty darn cool. I took a bathroom break in between sets and spotted Jay Ferguson signing autographs. I pulled out my cassette and got myself one too. Jay was a neighbour of mine in 2003. I still own that cassette to this day.

Standards by Tortoise (2001)

This was the Tortoise record that most die-hard fans were disappointed in. This was the record that got me to pay closer attention to the band. The reason being: This record was a creative leap in a very different direction for the Chicago instrumental quintet, who defy categorization. As their producer and one of the band's two drummers, John McEntire dove deep into his vintage synth collection, dusted off his analogue drum machines and toyed around with sampling and manipulating sounds provided by himself and his band mates. The result was a record that appeared to have come from the land of Outer-Space-Jazz-Hop-Housetronic music. Whatever that means. I have since had the pleasure of working with that alien known as John McEntire (the producer of Broken Social Scene's 2010 LP Forgiveness Rock Record) and I can tell you that playing in his playground is entirely unparalleled. Since that several month-long stint at Soma Electronic Studios with BSS, revisiting my favourite track "Eros" off of Standards has never made more sense.

Rather Ripped by Sonic Youth (2006)

It's safe to say that Sonic Youth are "my favourite band of all time." My personal collection includes everything from their very first self-titled EP on Glen Branca's Neutral label, to a VHS collection of short films entitled Rap Damage, to a novelty baseball card. It's likely I have read their biography Confusion is Next more than twice and I can't even tell you how many times I have seen this band perform live. Sonic Nerd. Like most things that we love, letdowns are inevitable. Their NYC Ghost & Flowers record (2000) was very much of an "Are you f--king kidding me?" moment of disappointment. They did, however, follow that up with the universally adored Murray Street (2002). But, it wasn't until their 15th studio record Rather Ripped came along when I believed they were back in absolute stride. From the immediacy of the opening track "Reena" to the Velvet Underground-esque closer "Or", this record had an energy that I hadn't heard from my imaginary friends in years. I was almost in disbelief, so much so that I had to check with my fellow die-hards for affirmation. They agreed. But had I asked them if they foresaw the demise of the marriage of the Godfather and Godmother of indie rock six years later, they most certainly wouldn't have believed me. If only that part of the Sonic Story was imaginary. Sad face.

1999 by Joey Bada$$ (2012)

It's this simple: This 17-year-old NYC-based emcee is single handedly saving hip-hop. The proof is in the record. This mixtape is free to download on the interwebs. Download it immediately. Thank me later. This record will without a doubt top my year-end list. And likely yours, as well.

Catch Eight and a Half at the Wolfe Island Music Festival near Kingston, Ont., this weekend.