This Limited Edition (October) cereal is basically plain Cap’n Crunch with “ghosts”. The fact that they “turn milk green” might be fun for kids, but it’s otherwise nothing more than a quirky party trick. The flavor is akin to Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries, though the regular version tastes better than both.
my rating : 4 of 5
The best part of this Chicken Pot Pie is the “flaky crust”, which Banquet promotes as being “made from scratch”. Microwave or conventional oven, you’ll never get it to look as good as the picture on the box, which omits the top slit and cooking container, but it makes; rather two or three make; for a hearty homestyle meal.
my rating : 4 of 5
This Kraft Original is, as far as my childhood is concerned, the quintessential Mac And Cheese. The cooking instructions say to add margarine or butter; an optional tip that makes it even tastier than it already is; but you can ignore the milk bit as it’s better less creamy. Eat with bacon or sausage for the full effect.
my rating : 4 of 5
This Chocolate version is an alternative to Little Debbie’s plain Christmas Tree Cakes Ice Cream. I prefer the latter, but they both serve as tasty treats. The Chocolate here tastes like fudge or hot cocoa, which makes for an especially yummy experience when you melt it down to a goo.
my rating : 4 of 5
The bridge is tranquil and drumless, but, with a title like Gravity and all its spatial implications, I’d imagine the whole song would sound like that. Perhaps it’s a good thing it doesn’t. The Machinedrum (and-bass) breakdown at 2:13 is the best part. This is also one of Tinashe’s better songs, albeit one that continues her fixation with the cliché concept of romance, in the way of vocal melody.
my rating : 4 of 5
2023
At just under two minutes long, this may be more of an album (mixtape) interlude than an actual song. Either way it serves as one of Erykah Badu’s best. I’ll Call U Back, the busy party prepper says to someone on the phone over a lush soundscape produced by Zach Witness. If there’s a flaw, it’s that the beeps go on a bit too long at the end.
my rating : 4 of 5
2015
New Amerykah Part Three was supposed to come out in 2012, but Erykah Badu has apparently abandoned that series, which would be okay if this were her next album. Instead we waited nearly six years for a mixtape. The title comes from Tyrone and the concept is based on, meaning literally every track has to do with, phones. Why phones? That’s a good question. Why a whole mixtape about a song she made nearly two decades ago is a better one.
Telephone is one of her best songs and a portion of it is Screw Mixed here, but it just makes you want to listen to the original; the same with her version of New Edition’s Telephone Man and Drake’s Hotline Bling. That’s not to say Badu’s renditions don’t improve on them; I like her soulful quirky style; it’s just disappointing to hear so many covers. The rest of the tape sounds like demo bits from what could be another good album. I’ll Call U Back is especially groovy.
my rating : 4 of 5
2015
Drake’s third Scary Hours is, with its six songs, more of a traditional EP than the previous two. What’s odd is how its release is, at least initially, attached to a special Edition of his newest album; For All The Dogs; as opposed to standing on its own. The music itself makes more sense.
The rapper comes out throwing bombs on Red Button, which marks the tone for a set of new songs; these aren’t Dogs leftovers; that, for the most part, avoid the genre’s biggest flaw. There are hooks, and they’re expectingly weak, but they’re sparse enough not to ruin the project.
my rating : 4 of 5
2023
![Black Rifle Espresso 300 [ Triple Shot ] : Caramel Vanilla](https://marcellee.com/posts/123472.jpg)
If you sip a can of this Espresso, which packs 300 milligrams of caffeine, expecting hints of Caramel and Vanilla, you’ll be in for a disappointment. You can’t detect either flavor. The Triple Shot moniker more accurately represents its three main ingredients; the only ones you can taste; Colombian coffee, milk and sugar. Still it’s a mildly pleasant experience.
my rating : 4 of 5
This, the second Killer Wants To Go To College of two from Paul Simon’s Capeman; he did a similar thing on the Hearts And Bones album; should’ve been titled Killer Wants To Go On TV as there are no direct school references here. It’s the better version though. Simon’s vocal melodies; he’s playing the role of Salvador Agron; sound stellar over the 1950s honky-tonk groove.
my rating : 4 of 5
1997
The best part of this song; a “love” song dedicated to a heartbroken girl’s unofficial boyfriend; is 9th Wonder’s soulful 1970s-style beat, which loops a sample from Melba Moore’s I Don’t Know No One Else To Turn To.
The worst part is the bridge, which Michelle Williams basically ruins with her annoying vocal inflections. There should also be some kind of talking (monologue/dialogue) before the first verse. It’s a good song otherwise.
my rating : 4 of 5
2004
These are like a cross between Peanut Butter (Cap’n) Crunch and Cheetos Puffs; the flavor of the former and the texture of the latter. The Bamba mascot suggests a snack for one-toothed infants, but it’s good for “the whole family” in terms of both taste and health. The ingredients list is surprisingly simple with no sugars or sweeteners.
my rating : 4 of 5