Day 682: A Tribe Called Quest – People’s Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm

I love long convoluted album titles. The 60's had some pretty epic ones but A Tribe Called Quest really brought back the novel-sized titles with this one. If I wanted to read, I wouldn't be listenin' to music now would I?

This is the first album of ATCQ. It was critically liked but it didn't do so great in the mainstream appeal department. They were lauded for their sense of humor and social aware lyrics. Now I'm not the most observant when it comes to lyrics but there was definitely a Star Wars shout out, and you can't complain when Obi Wan Kenobi shows up in your hip hop.

I did enjoy this album quite a bit. It has the smooth hip hop vocal sound but layers a lot of funk beats on top. This makes for much more interesting songs than the simple rhythmic beats in some of the other rap songs. It's not the song construction of modern-day rap/hip hop (rap then a hook, chorus, then more rap, repeat...) but it makes the music a bit more textured. It's still a smidge bit repetitive but it's at least fun while it does it.

Overall, this album was a lot of fun. "Can I Kick It?" has a great hook. "Ham N' Eggs" was just funny...I mean, they speak about the dangers of high cholesterol and use the word "tummy". I'd like to see 50 Cent try to say "tummy". These guys are funny and talented...good times. 4 stars.

Next
Sonic Youth – Goo

Day 681: Sinéad O’Connor – I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got

Sinead O'Connor. Oh, Sinead. It's never a dull moment with that woman.

My first foray into Ms. O'Connor was when my brother was really obsessed with Saturday Night Live. It was the Sinead O'Connor moment that was always one of those mystical scandals that was never aired again. So intense...

This album was quite lovely. Sinead O'Connor has one of those soft & mystical voices, like Enya, that makes every song sound haunting. I mean she sings "Silent Night" and I'm pretty sure that song has been used over someone getting tortured of kitten punching. It's just spooky the way she sings.

This is the beginning of that epic 90's explosion in gentle pop. It's the music that they pump through the speakers at the dentist's office. It's beautiful but it's got a punch to it. Sinead O'Connor's voice could calm anyone down...even mid-root canal.

Overall, this album was quite nice. I liked the more poppy "Emperor's New Clothes" and the more folksy "Three Babies" among others. She's got a soulful voice mixed with folksiness that makes for a cool sound that you didn't realize you wanted. 5 stars.

Next
A Tribe Called Quest – People’s Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm

Day 680: Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet

 
Oh boy. Yeah, so you think that writing almost 700 of these reviews would mean that I would be getting increasingly more able to write them. But, it is so much harder. I have officially run out of was to say that I liked an album. Not loved, not hated, but just enjoyed.

Most of these albums are good but they don't affect me in any way. This is another one. This was a perfectly good hip hop album that used samples in an interesting way. But, I'm sorry, but I don't know how to explain how much I am apathetic towards it. It's not Public Enemy's fault...they tried their hardest.

I'll do my best. So, I did like some songs off the album: "Pollywanacracker" and "Who Stole the Soul" both use a more aggressive hip hop sound which is a great new touch in this brief history of hip hop/rap that I've been sauntering through. It's nice to hear a less sing-songy rapper and a few electric guitars in the mix.

Overall, this album still reminded me of the other 30 hip hop albums I've been listening to lately. It was a perfectly good album, I just wasn't that enamored with it. 4 stars.

Next
Sinéad O’Connor – I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got

Day 679: LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out

First of all, any song that it is song by a baby penguin is automatically amazing... (go to :13)


So, after seeing that fluff ball of cuteness, I was ready to listen to this album. I mean, what else would the star of NCIS: Los Angeles have for me?

So this was LL Cool J's 4th album, released after his disappointing 1989 album, "Walking with a Panther". (by the way, he was only 22 when this came out...4th album at 22. Man, I feel like a lazy bum).

This was a really good album. I like hip hop and this album is one of the first that feels like it transitioning into the more contemporary kind of hip hop. It's not as repetitive and beat heavy. Sure, quite a few of the songs ("Milky Cereal" for example) are just people talking over the same beat. But, songs like "Mama Said Knock You Out" uses quite a few different beats and it more interesting to listen to.

Overall, this album was a lot of fun. It has tons of energy, there is more of a variety of beats and samples used and LL Cool J has an awesome style. He's cheeky and silly with some of the lyrics but he will probably also beat you up if you called him silly. Probably? No, definitely. 5 stars.

Next
Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet

Day 678: Jane’s Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual

This album is the 3rd album released by the L.A. rock band, Jane's Addiction. When it was released Rolling Stone gave it 2 stars...when they re-reviewed in 2004 they gave it 4 stars. Interesting Rolling Stone...very interesting.

I thought it was an interesting but not ultimately enjoyable rock album. It's unofficially broken up into two parts. The first part is filled with regular old hard rock songs. These are quite good. The guitar work is impressive and Perry Ferrell's vocals are filled with energy and enthusiasm. I quite enjoyed songs like "Stop" and "No One's Leaving" which are just good rock songs...no bones about it.

The second part was a little confusing. Perry Ferrell's friend, Xiola Blue, died of an overdose in the late 80's and this part is dedicated to her. It's filled with a vague psychedelic sound and "progressive rock". There's even some Eastern influence in some of the songs.

Overall, It's not even that I didn't like the second part, it just didn't fit. This album feels like a series of songs stuck together that don't relate to one another. Individually, all these songs are quite good, they just felt like a playlist of rock songs set on Random. 4 stars.

Next
LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out

Day 677: Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted

 

So I missed the Ice Cube express back in the 90's. Most of my experience with Mr. Cube is through adorable kids films. Who'd have thought he was a great rapper who didn't have to tell kids if they are there yet.

I thought this album was real good. The rap is still in that simpler more gentle stage even at this point. It's not the old school "My name is Steve & I'm here to say, I love to rap in a major way" style but it's still slower and more deliberate. The melody is mostly just a solid drum/base beat with Ice Cube rapping over it the whole time. He speaks articulately so every work is intelligible unlike a lot of ridiculously fast rap songs nowadays.

What was fun about this album was that they used fake news segments to introduce each song. I couldn't figure out the connection between the segment and the song but it was still a cool idea. There was also some female rapping which is always good to hear ("It's A Man's World").

Overall, this album was good Cube-y fun. He's got a simple rap style, slow and easy to understand. There is interesting uses of sampling and the songs are clever. 4 stars.

Next:
Jane’s Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual

Day 676: Neil Young – Ragged Glory

8th Neil Young album.

This is my freaking 8th Neil Young album.

That means .7% of all the best albums of all time according to this book were done by Neil Young.

Considering the fact that I am not a fan of Mr. Young, never have never will be, this has been a slow musical torture of sorts.

This album was fine. All Neil Young is fine. The man though, he just irks me. I think it's his voice. It's got a whiny frustrating quality about it. Every song sounds so similar and I'm sure if I liked the way he sounded, I'd be all over it. But to me he sounds like when your uncle tries to sing at Thanksgiving. He tries so hard and he really puts all his soul into it but it just sounds like a squealing sea lion with guitars in the background.

Overall, this album was alright. There was a lot more guitar/drums than Neil singing which made for a more enjoyable experience. "Farmer John" is a decent rock song and "White Line" is a good country-rock trip song. But, good riddance Neil Young. 3 stars.

Next
Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted