Category: reviews

audio review : Platinum OG ( album ) … Spice 1

audio review : Platinum OG ( album ) ... Spice 1

He may have been “blowing” Since 85, but Spice 1 reached his sales peak in 93. 187 He Wrote was his second of three albums in a row to go (RIAA) Gold, so yes he is a Platinum artist. Him being one of the most popular Gangsta rappers of the 1990s is why he’s now considered an OG.

What should be reassuring to longtime fans is that, from the sound of it, this album could’ve easily come out that decade. Everything from the Pac-ready beats to the guest features, including a gang of fellow OGs like Too Short and MC Eiht, suggest a sense of Thuggish nostaglia.

Nothing here nears the level of the best from that era though. That’s most obvious when the album interpolates from said era. Dr Dre, Eazy E, even singer D’Angelo gets jacked to no avail. The freshest song is the one with the oldest verse; Playas Do featuring the late Pimp C.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

audio review : Word Up ( song ) … Cameo

It wouldn’t take a whole lot of changes to make this song a classic. The singing, from Larry Blackmon’s whiny lead to the sporadic ad-libs, sounds splendid. It’s when it stops, which happens mostly in the second half, that the overall quality starts to go down.

I would’ve condensed the song by removing the spelling bit, which is silly, along with the drum sections at the beginning and end. It’s also a little disconcerting how Blackmon repeats the hook after the first verse but not the second. It should be the other way around.

Not that Word Up isn’t the jam as it is because it is. “Pretty ladies”, ugly ones too, will find it hard to stay still to it, especially when the synths and horns soar in over the beat. This is serious funk. “No romance”, no bullshit; just a groovy anthem to throw down to.

my rating : 4 of 5

1986

video review : Missing 411 : The Hunted

video review : Missing 411 : The Hunted

This Missing 411 sequel, about missing persons cases involving hunters, is even more interesting than the original, which focused on children. The hunters being much older and more experienced is supposed to be the point, but I still don’t subscribe to the notion that these cases as a whole are particularly “unusual”.

David Paulides suggests the link is paranormal; he goes as far as to suggest Bigfoot or the aliens from Predator; but that’s a long shot he never provides enough evidence to justify. Still they’re intriguing mysteries even if the question simply comes down to whether or not the people involved are telling the truth.

my rating : 4 of 5

2019

video review : Missing 411 : The UFO Connection

audio review : Jesus Is Born ( album ) … Sunday Service

audio review : Jesus Is Born ( album ) ... Sunday Service

Perhaps this should’ve come before Kanye West’s last album. All miracles aside, Jesus had to be Born before becoming King. I guess this is the prequel, although the title cleverly coinciding with a Christmas release date shouts gimmick.

The music is the kind of choir-led gospel you’ll hear in most urban churches; the ones with mostly black people in them; marvelous harmonies that rarely stumble upon matching melodies, even though they’re singing cover songs.

The best include Sunshine, Lord Works; well, the first third of it; Souls Anchored and Paradise. Those latter two are based on secular songs about sex and drugs. Sounds like somebody in the Sunday congregation needs another chat with Jesus.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

Double Stuf Oreo cookies

Double Stuf Oreo cookies

I don’t know why Stuf has one “f”, but these are marketed as an enhanced version of the original Oreo cookies in that they’re made with Double the creme.

I guess that makes them better; the white stuff is the best part; unless you put them in ice cream, the flavor/texture of which may clash with the extra creme.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Touch And Go ( song ) … Tinashe ( featuring 6lack )

6lack comes in too early. I would’ve put his verse after the second chorus, which means Tinashe would have to sing another verse before that second bridge. That’s assuming I could get her to do anything.

“I’m too emotional,” she acknowledges sadly. Her and her beau are at what sounds like the brink of a break-up. Her vocals are strong though; the hook is enhanced by melodic hums; and the beat is Killah.

my rating : 4 of 5

2019

audio review : Songs For You ( album ) ... Tinashe

video review : Of Mice And Men

video review : Of Mice And Men

George is more of a friend than me. I would’ve abandoned Lennie a long time ago. Not only is he annoying, though his kidlike personality does come with an underlining of pitiful innocence, it seems he always manages to get in trouble.

The story begins with the two workmen running from “a bunch of guys with dogs” and guns after Lennie inadvertently assaults a girl in a red dress. What he did is told but not shown, unlike what he does later to the wife of a rancher’s son.

That scene is a major plot twist and one of its two most poignant moments. The other comes at the end. The movie goes on about two minutes too long from there; the final flashback is excessive; but it’s an interesting tale nonetheless.

my rating : 3 of 5

1992

video review : Teen Wolf

video review : Teen Wolf

Werewolves must not be too rare in Beacon Town. When an average high schooler named Scott transforms into one for the first time, seeing himself in the bathroom mirror covered in hair, he seems to know what’s going on. When his peers find out, they aren’t as surprised as you’d expect.

The movie is best during the first half. Once Scott’s secret is out and everybody’s used to seeing him parade around as the Wolf, which vastly improves his basketball skills and makes him the most popular teen in town; at one point, he finally scores with a girl crush; things start to get a little silly.

my rating : 3 of 5

1985

video review : Poltergeist

video review : Poltergeist

It’s a spooky concept; a suburban family realizes their house is haunted by evil beings; but the movie is too silly to make it work. Much of the blame goes to Zelda Rubinstein; a small actress who plays a medium.

“Go into the light!” “No, don’t go into the light!” “Okay, I change my mind; go back into the light!” … voices yell over a whirlwind of ghostly confusion; all in a joint effort to get the baby daughter out of the TV.

my rating : 2 of 5

1982

audio review : Remember When ( song ) … Tinashe

As cliché as the concept is, there’s always room for another good “love” song. This one has Tinashe falling recklessly for a guy she confessed her feelings to at a park a while back.

“I hope you know I meant every word I said,” she says over an acoustic guitar you might not initially realize is just a loop. Her voice is warm and sweet. Her melodies touch the heart.

my rating : 4 of 5

2019

audio review : Songs For You ( album ) ... Tinashe

video review : Frankie Edgar versus Chan Sung Jung at UFC Fight Night

video review : Frankie Edgar versus Chan Sung Jung at UFC Fight Night

I figured Chan Sung Jung would win this, but damn. I thought Frankie Edgar would last longer. To his credit, he did take this fight on short notice. Still Jung almost knocks him out under a minute in. Edgar is tough though, just not tough enough to survive the onslaught of The Korean Zombie in Korea.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

audio review : The Vault ( album ) … Too Short

audio review : The Vault ( album ) ... Too Short

The title and cover picture suggest unreleased demos from the past, but most of these songs sound relatively new. That’s partly because Too Short’s an old dog who’s never really been interested in learning new tricks unless those tricks are putting money in his pockets.

It’s pimping from the start; a topic I hope he never stops rapping about, no matter how frowned upon it may be to the sensitive squares of 2019. When he’s not pimping, he’s fucking a “bitch” or getting his dick sucked… or rapping about the history of racism in America.

Information should’ve been left in storage though, along with Whatcha Got; two obvious demos with low-volume vocals. Bancroft, the only song with no hook; the hooks are the worst parts of the album; sounds good. Most of the rest are decent enough for Vault grabs.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019