Though the caramel flavor is overwhelmed by the inclusion of fudge swirls, the Ice Cream itself is pretty good. The “choco coated crisps” are what hamper the experience. It would taste a lot better without them, but then it wouldn’t be Star Crunch.
my rating : 3 of 5
I don’t know what’s so Superb about these Cookies. They’re “soft-baked”, which I generally prefer over crunchy, but the “deliciousness” bit on the box rings false. Like most of the Chocolate Chip variety, they’d actually taste better plain. The Free To Eat bit has to do with the fact that they’re “gluten-free” for whatever that’s worth.
my rating : 3 of 5
![audio review : a DM Records compilation : Deep House LA [ Volume 3 ]](https://marcellee.com/posts/120781.jpg)
This third Volume of Deep House LA gets things back on track. Let’s pretend the second one never happened as we groove to the oddly titled Why Didn’t You; easily one of the best songs in the series.
That the album falters from there is less of a concern than the missing six songs, but hey, at least we’re back to artists you never heard outside the Deep House club and vocals limited to short sample snippets.
my rating : 3 of 5
1997
![audio review : a DM Records compilation : Deep House LA [ Volume 1 ]](https://marcellee.com/posts/120757.jpg)
This is a “continuous mix of 20 hot dance tracks”. That means the music, by names you probably never heard of, blends together as if you’re at a trendy nightclub in Los Angeles. The genre is Deep House and the Grooves suit the occasion, though the DJ doesn’t play the best songs; I’ll Take You Deeper, Animal Magnetism and Sunset On Rio; till the end.
my rating : 3 of 5
1996
audio review : Deep House LA [ Volume 2 ]
audio review : Deep House LA [ Volume 3 ]
Bass 305 were, at one point in time, releasing a new album every year. Now fans have to wait a decade. Their newest have come literally once every ten years. This Bass Resurrection; another album title that has to do with coming back; is even more of a tease as it’s initially promoted as a limited edition of 305 CDs; actual Compact Discs; a throwback to their 1990s heyday. Fans who miss out have to wait even longer to hear it.
Is it worth the wait? Well, it’s the best Bass 305 album since their 1995 Departure, which doesn’t mean much considering every album since has been way below par. This set pays homage to Digital Bass and Bass The Future, but Virtual Bass is their real magnum opus. An album comparable to that would be a return to form. This is merely a return to decency, which, after all these years, is still a pleasant surprise.
What’s even more surprising are collabs with not only past labelmates Techno Bass Crew and Underground Bass Masters but rivals Techmaster PEB and Bass Mekanik; the latter of which includes the album’s best music. Good Versus Evil is a frustrating listen though as the angelic piano chorus; this beautiful bit should’ve been looped to no end; is abandoned halfway in. A similar thing happens on Outer World.
What’s up with all the rehashing? I don’t like the idea of remakes in general. Remaking your own songs when there’s nothing wrong with the originals, not to mention the fact that you’ve already remade them before in the past, is just absurd. Even worse are the Quad City songs; the Bassheads anthem is so damn annoying; and the Comeback Mash-Up at the end. These tracks make no sense on a new Bass 305 album.
Dreamer, on the other hand, is a conceptual improvement over its Cryptobass demo version. Bass Love Ballad should’ve also been given a proper title, but it too sounds nice. Add One Small Step; these Florida boys have always been enamored with the purported Apollo moon missions; to the list of standouts and you start to realize the best moments of this Resurrection revolve not around Bass but pianos.
my rating : 3 of 5
2021
This Fruit Punch, which contains no actual fruit juice, is the highlight of the Rockstar Punched collection, but it would’ve made more sense to save the (Punched) name for this drink alone. The double jab is a bit redundant. It tastes like Hawaiian Punch or Tropical Punch Kool-Aid with carbonation.
my rating : 3 of 5
Ferocious Beauty is a stretch, but this album sounds pleasant enough on the whole. That has less to do with the vocal melodies of Margo Timmins than her band. Their music; mostly modern folk; is soft and soothing to the point where one wonders if the project would’ve been stronger as an instrumental. The best song is Circe And Penelope, based on the characters from Homer’s Odyssey.
my rating : 3 of 5
2023
Don’t Waste Your Time listening to this album if you’re looking for something new and original. Almost every song is a partial cover of a song from the 1970s or 1980s. That’s also what makes it sound better than it should, especially during the chorus breaks where most rap music falters. The best track is Thigh Ride, based on the Tawatha single.
my rating : 3 of 5
1991
I’m starting to think a lot of these Bangs are the same drink with different labels. This one is supposed to come with a Citrus Twist, but, despite the inclusion of citric acid as a main ingredient, I can’t detect the taste of oranges, lemons or any such fruit. It’s just sweet; thanks not to sugar but sucralose; and otherwise basically flavorless.
my rating : 3 of 5
You’d think this Yogurt would taste disgusting. It’s basically just solidified Milk, albeit Whole (real) Grade A milk, with bacteria (cultures) in it. Even with no sugar or any other ingredient to sweeten it; just living beings with friendly names like S Thermophilus; it’s actually okay. Imagine the kind with the Fruit On The Bottom before you get to the bottom.
my rating : 3 of 5
The only thing I really dislike about this crate, puzzlingly described as being intended “for indoor decorative use only” when it can also be used for storage and such, is the Chalkboard bit, which puts what would be a big rectangular hole on one end. It looks okay from the outside because it’s black; I wish the whole crate were; but the inside is beige, bulgy and tacky. It’s a cute crate otherwise.
my rating : 3 of 5
The All Natural bit has to do with the fact that, unlike most Peanut Butter, this has no extra oil added to it. It’s just peanut butter, made from “dry roasted peanuts”, and salt; no sugar; which leaves a lot to be desired in the way of taste.
You’ll have to eat it with something sweet, like in a sandwich with jelly or jam, to enjoy the flavor. Of course that would negate one of its main benefits; that, while sugars ultimately have the opposite effect, it serves as a healthy source of energy.
my rating : 3 of 5