Category: reviews

audio review : Here For It All ( album ) … Mariah Carey

audio review : Here For It All ( album ) ... Mariah Carey

“The DIVA” is back for what it’s worth. The first song, on which she brags about her “Harry Winston diamonds” and “Hermès bathrobe”, implies a lot of money. Her legendary status as a songstress; very few have more successful careers; suggests its well-earned. The aesthetic quality of her music is, of course, another story.

In that regard, Mariah Carey has been middling for decades. Type Dangerous is fun. Confetti And Champagne has a tasteful (Tinashe-like) chorus going for it. The title song; the lyrics of which seem to go from romance to gospel, which is quite odd; sounds good before the coda. Most of the others are unsurprisingly mediocre.

my rating : 3 of 5

2025

Prime Energy Drink : Tropical Punch

Prime Energy Drink : Tropical Punch

Drinking Tropical Punch should be a breezy delight. What dampers the experience in the case of this and most Energy Drinks is the carbonation. It’s not too strong in the sense of causing pain, but the heavy fizz is a major distraction. The caffeine count is 200 milligrams.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Darkness And Other Colors ( album ) … Chino XL ( posthumous )

audio review : Darkness And Other Colors ( album ) ... Chino XL ( posthumous )

Posthumous releases are generally a bad idea, but this album was apparently almost finished when Chino XL died. He killed himself, which makes one wonder if his Darkness is meant as a sort of suicide note. There are certainly enough references to suggest so.

XL, like Canibus during his 2000 peak, is best when he’s rapping because he’s one of “the greatest lyricists of all time”. Things only falter during the breaks. On Lumps Of Silver, for example, he makes the mistake of singing in the same melody as the guitar riff.

Or was that bit added after his death? That’s always a question with these posthumous releases, but there are some savers nevertheless. They include Words In The Color, which conjures Biggie’s Suicidal Thoughts, Sermon In Crimson and Blue Obsidian.

my rating : 3 of 5

2024

Monster Energy : Ultra Fantasy Ruby Red

Monster Energy : Ultra Fantasy Ruby Red

This “may be the best tasting Ultra yet!” according to the can, but that’s not much of a promotion. Carbonated Energy drinks are inherently flawed and this Monster is no exception. It does have a relatively pleasant “citrus taste”; it’s based on the Ruby Red grapefruit; but the bubbly sting, however mild, takes you out of the Fantasy.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Better Broken ( album ) … Sarah McLachlan

audio review : Better Broken ( album ) ... Sarah McLachlan

Is Sarah McLachlan Better Broken? Perhaps. This is her best (non-Christmas) album since Surfacing. That’s not saying much; her last two are pretty bad; but it’s a mildly pleasant surprise. What’s shocking is her breakup with longtime producer Pierre Marchand, though his absence isn’t immediately apparent. Highlights include Reminds Me, featuring Katie Gavin, Wilderness and Gravity.

my rating : 3 of 5

2025

G Fuel Energy Drink : Dream Demon

G Fuel Energy Drink : Dream Demon

What A Nightmare On Elm Street has to do with beverages may be initially confusing, but consuming an Energy Drink to stay awake does make for a clever connection. Too bad the name seems to negate that fact by putting the emphasis on the Dream Demon Freddy Krueger himself. Don’t Sleep would’ve been better. The indistinct flavor is described as “tart fruit punch”.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Man Up ( album ) … Ice Cube

audio review : Man Up ( album ) ... Ice Cube

This is apparently a sequel to Man Down; the album Ice Cube put out less than a year ago. It’s about on par, but these beats; easily the best parts of the set; bang even more consistently, at least before it takes a clumsy turn near the end. Highlights this time around include Guess What, Ratchet Ass Mouth and a grumpy old Scarface on Act My Age.

my rating : 3 of 5

2025

Pen And Gear Kids’ Scissors

Pen And Gear Kids' Scissors

The fact that these are sold as Kids’ Scissors makes the neon colors; they’re available in purple, pink, green and blue; more forgivable than they otherwise would’ve been. I’d prefer plain black handles, but they get the job done when it comes to cutting everything from paper to grown-up beard hair.

my rating : 3 of 5

Great Value Cheesecake Sampler : Strawberry And New York Style

Great Value Cheesecake Sampler : Strawberry And New York Style

You’ll be doing yourself a major disservice following the “serving instructions” of this Cheesecake Sampler, which says to thaw it in the fridge for at least 24 hours. It’s good that way but tastes a lot better store-frozen; perhaps one of the best-tasting desserts I’ve ever consumed, in fact. It’s a damn shame it isn’t marketed (supposed) to be eaten that way.

my rating : 4 of 5

Callaway Blue Spring Water

Callaway Blue Spring Water

“Each bottle of Callaway Blue spring water contains refreshingly pure water straight from the Georgia mountains,” the promo reads. Distilled is the best, but this is a nice natural; “minimally processed”; alternative. For rock water, it tastes better than you might expect, especially when you drink it cold.

my rating : 4 of 5

3D Energy Drink : Watermelon Grape

3D Energy Drink : Watermelon Grape

Watermelon and Grape are generally two of the best natural/artificial fruit flavors, so this combination is a welcomed addition to the growing list of 3D Energy Drinks. The underlining taste is about as good as you’d expect. It’s the carbonation, not so much the sting but the fizziness, that dampers the experience.

my rating : 3 of 5