Category: reviews

audio review : The Lady In Red ( song ) … Chris De Burgh

Chris should’ve left out the part about hardly knowing this woman because he also mentions the things he’s “never seen” about her, which implies he’s known her for a long time. It’s an odd contradiction and the one ugly flaw on a song that is otherwise quite beautiful.

Most appealing is the melody of the vocals, which are partnered by a gorgeous guitar lick, though it’s the waltzy beat that serves as the basis of the concept. “The Lady In Red is dancing with me,” De Burgh announces as they embrace, “cheek to cheek”, in the ballroom.

my rating : 5 of 5

1986

audio review : The Lady In Red ( song ) ... Chris De Burgh

Breyers Frozen Dairy Dessert : Butter Pecan [ No Sugar Added ]

Breyers Frozen Dairy Dessert : Butter Pecan [ No Sugar Added ]

The main ingredient; the Pecans; are actually the worst part of this Breyers Frozen Dairy Dessert. They’re fine if you get a fresh mix, but sometimes they’re stale and bitter. Still it doesn’t take away from the Butter-flavored ice cream itself, which tastes almost too good to have No Sugar Added.

my rating : 4 of 5

video review : Notorious

video review : Notorious

“Biggie, give me one more chance,” to cash in on your death. This movie; based on the life of Chris Wallace, better known as The Notorious BIG; isn’t really about biographical art. Neither does it offer anything new about his life. It’s just a straight summary that goes from his hardships as a Brooklyn street kid to the Biggest name the “eastcoast” rap world has to offer without offering any unique insight or perspective of its own. That means, even if you never read Vibe or watched BET enough to know what’s going to happen, what does is never enough to warrant a Hollywood movie.

Aside from his “so-called beef with you-know-who” and the spectacular murders that follow, BIG’s life of rags-to-riches, worldwide fame and bitches; Naturi Naughton plays the role of Lil Kim; just isn’t that interesting when the words don’t rhyme over beats. The storytellers here; screenwriters Reggie Rock and Cheo Hodari, along with director George Tillman; simply lack the creative know-how to make up for that fact. What that results in is a movie any cinema-driven fan could’ve made with a big-enough budget and approval from $ean “Puffy” Combs as executive producer.

my rating : 3 of 5

2009

video review : Devil

video review : Devil

Being trapped in an elevator, between the upper floors of a skyscraper, is scary enough. Put the main characters together in that situation for most of the plot and you have the potential for a terrific movie; one that is plausible enough to have happened in real life. Making one of them The Devil in disguise and boxing the plot with religious folklore is a sure way to head things down in the wrong direction.

Horror is supposed to derive from the fact that nobody; you nor the wacked-out characters in this story; knows which of the five passengers it is who’s supernaturally causing the sudden death of people both inside and outside of the elevator. The problem is that the deadpan plot, led by a laughably overdramatic classical music score, is never compelling enough to make you give a damn.

my rating : 2 of 5

2010

audio review : Back In Black ( album ) … Cypress Hill

audio review : Back In Black ( album ) ... Cypress Hill

The title seems to be a reference to Black Sunday, but it could also nod at the fact that the music is produced not by DJ Muggs but Black Milk. It’s a head-scratching move; Milk has no previous association with Cypress Hill; but a fitting replacement. If you didn’t know any better, in other words, you’d think that was Muggs on the beats.

On an album packed with marijuana references; Open Ya Mind celebrates its legalization in the group’s home state of California; The Original is a minor highlight. Most of the rest is merely decent. The worst songs are the ones with the worst hooks; namely Come With Me and Bye Bye. They should’ve called back Brevi Wood.

my rating : 3 of 5

2022

audio review : Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater ( album ) … Rza

audio review : Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater ( album ) ... Rza

It’s unclear why one of hip-hop’s most acclaimed beatmakers decided to limit himself to the role of MC for this project, which, with just six songs and an Intro, straddles the line between album and EP. The boom-bap is provided by DJ Scratch, who does an admirable job substantiating his “superproducer” moniker.

Every beat is composed of gritty drums juxtaposed with a layer of melody; Shaolin-style strings, horns and pianos. Rza’s raps help make Kung Fu Theater a fairly enjoyable show. The most crowd-pleasing act is Fate Of The World, though the song probably should’ve been saved for the next Wu-Tang joint.

my rating : 3 of 5

2022

audio review : First Time In A Long Time ( song ) … Kanye West ( featuring Soulja Boy )

The only thing I dislike about this song is the way Kanye West leaves the word Time out of the title phrase every other time he says it. I understand he does it for melodic purposes and it’s a catchy hook in that regard, but it doesn’t make grammatical sense. Perhaps he should’ve said something about the “song” instead of repeating it.

It’s a flagrant flaw but not significant enough to ruin what sounds like a damn good song demo. The music is charming; I can’t tell what the girl or kid is saying on the loop; and the Soulja Boy verse is a welcomed addition. It’s his vocal flow/delivery that makes it work and I like the way it ends, despite him rhyming Long Time with Long Time.

my rating : 4 of 5

2022

audio review : Touch ( song ) … Daft Punk ( featuring Paul Williams )

This song could be, and probably should be, in a Disney movie. “Sweet Touch,” Paul Williams says with Pinocchio-like wonderment, “You’ve almost convinced me I’m real.” It’s the vocals; not just their magical melodies but the poetry of the words themselves; that make this Daft Punk collaboration something special.

It’s a rhapsody of sorts; one that goes back and forth between vocal and instrumental whenever it feels like. The festive horn bit near the middle reminds me of Billy Joel’s “rock and roll” scene From An Italian Restaurant. The song is majestic. My only complaint is that the space prelude goes on a little too long.

my rating : 4 of 5

2013

audio review : Random Access Memories ( album ) ... Daft Punk

video review : Robin Harris on One Night Stand

video review : Robin Harris on One Night Stand

Don’t be disillusioned by the corny prelude. Robin Harris is a funny man. He’s often downright hilarious, especially when he’s making fun of people. “What you laughing at,” he says to a balding man in the audience before directing a stage technician to beam in on him, “Put the light on the brother with the hole in his natural.”

It’s not just the jokes that are funny. It’s also Robin’s vocal inflections, body language and overall delivery. He’s like the uncle who talks (shit) about everybody at the family get-together. It’s all in fun though. He spends a little too much time on the ending bit about Bébé’s kids, but the show is a thoroughly entertaining affair.

my rating : 4 of 5

1990

Snickers : Cinnamon Bun

Snickers : Cinnamon Bun

If you bite into this candy bar expecting it to taste like a Cinnamon Bun, you’re in for a disappointment. There’s a hint of it, but the (“artificial”) flavor is almost undetectable. It basically just tastes like a Snickers bar to me, which has always been a good thing.

my rating : 4 of 5