This live band had gone pretty well with a debut worthy of the name. The sophomore, which arrived two years later, isn't at the same level: essential and generic funky production, several decent bridges, generic and weak rapping, too many functional hooks that don't support the group's hardcore delivery enough.
There are several ideas in this effort, from the tribal tune ("Freedom or Death"), to the ballad R&B sung on the next choice ("Float On"), between extravagant bridges ("Pen and Piper") and many generic cuts, coming to skinny-n-hard beat rockin' ("It's In My Song"), to reggae-esque ("The Odad"), mediocre and listless, weak track.
There's also an homage to miami bass in a song that, albeit sampling a classic ("The Champ" by the Mohawks), features a simplistic rhythm, mediocre delivery and a hook that I don't want to comment on. There are many ideas, perhaps too many to make a coherent record: this LP ends up being profoundly irregular, easy-going and tentacular, with the listener who finds himself completely bounced from one sound to another.
However, there are a few highlights that have survived the disc's obvious dating: "In Full Gear" — simple cut, funky rhythm, hardcore delivery — and "Talkin' All That Jazz" — splendid smooth jazzy bridge on the uninterpreted hook, skinny and raw, minimal production with a jazzy patina; nice job, calm and minimal drum machine, clean and regular delivery.
Rating: 6/10.
No comments:
Post a Comment