Category: reviews

audio review : PRhyme ( album ) … PRhyme

audio review : PRhyme ( album ) ... PRhyme

The music is provided by DJ Premier. That’s a beat check. Royce Da 5-9 also gets a verse check for his raps, though it must be said that his overdramatic vocal inflections and juvenile bravado do have the tendency to irritate. He was better when he used to just rap; his prime actually ended several years ago, shortly after his 1999 Bad Meets Evil debut; but, however diminished, his skills are decidedly better than average.

The one big flaw here, aside from the “PRhyme” concept itself, is the hooks. That’s a song-dooming weakness for most MCs and Royce; this is and should be marketed as a solo album; is no exception. Even Premier’s scratch samples come across as a stale, sometimes corny, novelty. This is vintage hip-hop for whatever that’s worth, Premier virtually guarantees it, but that’s never enough when it comes to making good songs.

my rating : 3 of 5

2014

audio review : A Better Tomorrow ( album ) … Wu-Tang Clan

audio review : A Better Tomorrow ( album ) ... Wu-Tang Clan

The main problem I have with this album is the title. Wu-Tang Clan (members) made a song called A Better Tomorrow in 1997. Making a new one that seems to have nothing to do with the original and titling a new album after it, or vice versa, is conceptually outlandish. Surely they could’ve thought of a different name for this project. I guess Rza is the one to blame. He’s not only the leader but also my favorite member. As an MC, he’s generally underrated in comparison to the more critically acclaimed ones like Method Man, Ghostface and Raekwon. Not that he has many chances to rap. Wu-Tang Clan is a group of nine; Cappadonna seems to have unofficially taken the place of Ol Dirty Bastard; and Rza’s busy making beats.

That mix of raw eclectic hip-hop is more elaborate but usually less fulfilling than his earlier simpler stuff. It does, however, represent the best parts of an album with raps that are rarely better than decent and hooks you don’t want to hear more than once. Crushed Egos, Hold The Heater, Ruckus In B Minor; all fall victim to banal breaks. Miracle, the chorus of which sounds laughably out of place on a Wu album, needs a Disney disclaimer. Felt, a disaster in wordplay à la KRS-One’s Hold, is stupid. Forget the lack of chemistry between rappers; the monologues consist of old Dirty Bastard clips; the album is basically another 8 Diagrams. That means I’ll play the one or two songs I like and just hope they do better next time.

my rating : 3 of 5

2014

audio review : Shady XV

audio review : Shady XV

If there were any doubt, you need not go further than the first song on this set to establish the fact that Eminem can still rap his ass off. He’s rarely as great as he once was; his last classic verse was probably from 2011’s BET Cypher; but this title track, which consists of one long verse over a sparse rock beat, trumps all of his pop peers. That includes his own artists, which Shady XV; a very needless 15-year Shady Records celebration; is designed to showcase.

The concept is reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s History; one half new songs, one half old songs; though that comes via an awkward 12/15 split. I also question the oddly-sequenced tracklist, which, as far as the old songs go, ignores whole albums; namely every Eminem solo; in favor of double dips. The new songs also miss the mark musically. Eminem peaks early with that first song. The rest represents his label for all the mediocrity its released over the years.

The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, Devil’s Night, Relapse; all good albums. Most of the rest are just okay. So while Eminem remains my favorite rapper, it has little to do with albums or songs. My Band and Purple Pills are funny, but the new “D-12” song, which doesn’t even feature Em, is a joke. There are solid beats here, but no noteworthy hooks. Skylar Grey and Kobe are seemingly talentless. He should stop featuring them on his songs.

Not that Sia does any better. Shady foolishly bashes his own We Made You single, from his aforementioned Relapse album, but that song, at least the beat and chorus, trumps everything (new) here. I’ll say for the third time that the Shady XV theme track is a lyrical triumph, but the self-proclaimed Rap God is generally rapping too fast these days. His new verbose style, which crams so many words in a verse that it often makes him sound off-beat, is annoying.

my rating : 3 of 5

2014

video review : Little Shop Of Horrors

video review : Little Shop Of Horrors

The plant, a flytrap personified, is the star of this show, but it’s the music that makes it worthwhile. Little Shop Of Horrors is based on a stage play, but it works best as a seamless collection of songs. When they’re not being performed, there’s nothing to distract from the annoying characterization. When they are, it’s a delightful experience.

From the opening theme, sang by a trio of up-dressed street urchins; the only characters allowed to eavesdrop in front of the cinematic fourth wall; to the epic closer, the tunes branch the plot in a charming sing-along kind of way. My personal favorite is Suppertime; Audrey Two’s feeding theme; a two-part act led by a psychedelic funk groove.

my rating : 4 of 5

1986

audio review : Detroit Versus Everybody ( song ) … Royce Da 5-9 + Big Sean + Danny Brown + Eminem ( featuring Dej Loaf + Trick Trick )

The hook is structurally okay. What’s annoying is Dej Loaf’s kid voice and the way she mispronounces “Versus”. I hear other rappers say it this way, including Danny Brown, but that makes it no less annoying. It’s actually a bit of a shame because a winning chorus is all that’s holding this Motor City anthem; all six vocalists are from Detroit; from being a notable (GOOD-Fridays-like) collaboration.

That’s despite the fact that Eminem, the obvious MVP, disappoints with a stiff and frenzied vocal delivery. If it’s him “verse” everybody in a race, he wins. If, however, we’re referring to quality, well, at least he outshines Danny Brown. The best part of the song is the beat, produced by Statik Selektah, especially when it strips down to a solemn piano groove during the aforementioned (Eminem) verse.

my rating : 3 of 5

2014

audio review : Shady XV

Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro socks

Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro socks

These socks, made for outdoor hiking, are all good until you’re left with two big holes where the heels used to be. I walk a lot and my feet are especially hard on socks, but this relatively expensive pair doesn’t last any longer than the cheap cotton ones you buy in bulk at your local discount store.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : The Midnight Life ( album ) … DJ Quik

audio review : The Midnight Life ( album ) ... DJ Quik

“DJ Quik is in the motherfucking house,” the club or the streets, with an alcoholic drink, trying to put his dick in some sweet black pussy. The title is too specific. This album represents his life of leisure, as fictionalized as it may be, regardless of the time of day.

It’s a fun set thanks to Quik not having lost a step in regard to providing lighthearted lyrics; the most amusing are from Suga Free on Broken Down; over fresh beats. It begins with a banjo; that’s what he says the hip-hop game needs; and ends with jazz instruments.

my rating : 3 of 5

2014

Breyers Ice Cream : Natural Vanilla

Breyers Ice Cream : Natural Vanilla

It’s Natural because it’s made from natural ingredients. Milk, cream and sugar are the only ones listed aside from tara gum, which comes from a plant and is presumably used to soften the texture.

What this ice cream lacks in taste; it’s good but not as tasty, certainly not as sweet, as other artificially flavored vanilla brands; it makes up for in being a more natural, thus healthier, alternative.

my rating : 4 of 5

audio review : Songs Of Innocence ( album ) … U2

audio review : Songs Of Innocence ( album ) ... U2

These are only songs of innocence in the sense that they’re safe in regard to album marketing. There’s nothing risqué or provocative here. A glance at the titles suggest the concepts go a bit deeper than your average pop-rock set; the opener is an ode to Joey Ramone; but any one could play in the background of, say, a random product or service ad without raising a public eyebrow. Even the music (production/recording) itself is polished with a lush sheen.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with innocent music, of course. The problem Bono and his band face is that the songs, while certainly not bad, are also boring. At least most are. Not because they’re safe, but because they’re melodically restrained. Iris stands out, but none of the hooks are particularly memorable, let alone catchy. REM’s swan songs had a few gems hidden among all the mediocrity. This U2 album, which, if it isn’t, should be one of their final, has none.

my rating : 3 of 5

2014

audio review : Art Official Age ( album ) … Prince

audio review : Art Official Age ( album ) ... Prince

“You keep breaking me down,” a falsetto says before continuing with a short series of mostly incoherent shrieks. It’s a classic Prince moment reminiscent of his livelier Purple Rain days. It’s also the only one this Art project has to offer. There’s some nice Kokane-like harmonies happening on Way Back Home and the main melody of the music is a charm, but nothing else even comes close to the twenty-something-second peak of The Breakdown, the full song of which is technically flawed with what sounds like clipping.

Sticky Like Glue from 2010 was (is) one of my favorite Prince songs. There’s no such thing on this 2014 follow-up, which features Lianne La Havas; a girl who, apparently by mere chance, looks like she could be Prince’s daughter; almost to the point of wearing out her welcome. Prince still has a knack for contemporary funk, yes, but it seems most of his good songs are far behind him. Official age? 56 years. Perhaps it’s time to call it quits before he tarnishes his legacy, or at least his discography, more than it already is.

my rating : 3 of 5

2014

video review : Star Wars [ A New Hope ]

video review : Star Wars [ A New Hope ]

The opening text, which sets the story “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”, suggests you’re about to watch something silly. What it doesn’t suggest is how entertaining that silliness will be. Star Wars isn’t great, despite the epic intentions of director George Lucas, but it’s a joyride.

The best parts begin during the second half when a ship boarded by the main protagonists; basically the good guys, led by a Jedi named Obi-Wan Kenobi; is pulled onto the enemy’s Death Star space station. They escape but return later with plans to destroy it; an ending that’s a ride in itself.

my rating : 4 of 5

1977

audio review : Cosmic Thing ( album ) … The B-52s

audio review : Cosmic Thing ( album ) ... The B-52s

This is only wacky space music during the first song. The rest, with the exception of Fred Schneider’s alien sprechgesang vocals, are quite Earthly. There’s talk of hot summers, bushfires, fast cars, even a Love Shack; all in the name of new wave rock music.

The best song is Topaz, a breezy delight, but the others are fun too. It’s Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson; specifically their melodic, sometimes harmonious, singing; that are the life of the party. Fred and his silly antics serve as more of an odd-man egg-on.

my rating : 4 of 5

1989