NMC: THE BEST ALBUM EVER (read page 5)

[BigKaboom2]

There's a quote that nobody knows the exact origin of, and it's something like "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." I've always felt that way; it seems impossible to convey anything meaningful about a piece of music to someone who hasn't heard it before.

[Jackal]

Then why the fuck are you complaining about not "getting" what they are saying with their reviews?

[Cartar]

First off, sorry for not doing the last album, I listened to the first 3 songs, don't know why, but didn't get any longer after that. Anyway here's my Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor review.

Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor

Intro - Start of the song quite weird, but when Lupe came in it got better.

Real - I didn't like the rhythm of the song, but still enjoyed it.

Just Might Be OK - Again the instrumental part isn't strong, but the lyrics make it up.

Kick, Push - One of my favourite track on the album, loving the violin at the start, for this song I actually really like the instrumental part. Its one of the few songs that I've heard before, actually has been on my playlist for some time now.

I Gotcha - Another decent song, but nothing special.

The Instrumental - Reminds me a little of Little Weapon from The Cool album, so far the next best song after Kick, Push.

He Say, She Say - Another good song(Yeah, I get repetitive), often I don't like the guest appearances on Lupe's tracks, but this time I think Gemini and Sarah Green weren't bad.

Sunshine - Continues the flow of the album.

Daydreamin, The Cool, The Emperor's Sountrack - I'm not going to say anything about these tracks, because I don't want to get repetitive again(I would've said good songs again).

Hurt Me Soul - Great lyrics, one of the best on the album.

Pressure - Instrumentally by far the best track, thus one of the best tracks. The piano at the start is a nice touch.

American Terrorist - One of the songs that I've heard before, not a very typical to this album, but still I love it.

Kick, Push II - Finally slows down the album, agreed with Lamrock that it could've been the last track on the album. Compared to Kick, Push I, much weaker.

Outro - I don't know, nothing special.

Favourite songs: Kick, Push; Pressure, Hurt Me Soul, American Terrorist, He Say She Say
Least Favourite songs: Outro, Real, Just Might Be OK

Now as I look back on the album, the start of it wasn't very strong, but it got better later. It is rather weak instrumentally with some exceptions, lyrically it's hip-hop at it's best I dare to say.

I first listened to Lupe little less than 2 years ago. Has been avid listener ever since and he has become my favourite hip-hop artist. He has some other great tracks, that aren't very famous, like Little Weapon(from The Cool) and Conflict Diamons(from some mixtape, don't remember which), both of them have amazing lyrics. I have been interested buying both of his album for some time now, but so far hasn't bought them.

Overall rating: 8/10

[benji]

Barely getting in before the deadline...

First off, sorry for not doing the last album, I listened to the first 3 songs, don't know why, but didn't get any longer after that.

That's how I feel about this one. I don't hate rap, I have a number of rap albums I haven't deleted. But in the end, rap needs to really focus on the music to justify the guy talking over top of it. Also, I'm going to use rap generically in this, so don't bitch with me about "hip hop" vs. "rap" and that other crap.

For the first half, I was fine with this. I like the music in the second half of Intro. I really liked the first "real" track. (See what I did thar.) After that it began a gradual downward spiral into generic rap that I can't remember anything about. I did like the instruments and such that were used for the first half at least, but the songs were still massively repetitive and boring vocally. The fact that "The Instrumental" was in fact NOT instrumental was a highlight, especially after I saw it took five people to write. And I'm sad to admit Mike Shinoda can't help but hook me and this one has his fingerprints all over it. (Fort Minor is one of my few "approved" rap thingies.) But fuck did Jay-Z mail in his track more than his minor ownership of the Nets. (Which of course we all ignore if LeBron signs with them. Recognizing his brilliance.) And Kick Push, both of them, can die in a fire.

A problem I have with rap is that it's still completely reliant on the choruses and samples to sell it to me. "Daydreamin"? Don't give a shit about whatever he's rambling about. Drop the sample and chorus over it, and it's for whatever reason working then.

At the end of the day, I didn't hate this, but it's oppressively long (like Be Here Now, but I can't tell the tracks apart), and Outro just compounds that. The music in each song was actually kinda taken from the same basic concept. And it was so unremarkable I had to listen twice to even remember the album. (I listened once when Doobie first offered, and just went through it again.)

But I can see why this is well regarded in rap circles. It's one of the few times rap has ever come close to actual music.

2/5 - Average.

The "actual music" thing is a joke. I don't hate rap, but when "I'm On A Boat" is better than 99% of your genre something's wrong. Not that anyone else in this thread is reading other people's reviews. Since I mentioned it, if any of the rap fans have stuff similar to Fort Minor/Gym Class Heroes, PM names or something. I don't mind rap when it pretends to be something else.

[J@3]

U.S. Only
We are sorry. Rhapsody is currently only available in the United States.

I'll have to find an alternative.

Edit:

I've been avoiding reviewing this one just because I'm not a rap fan these days and Lupe Fiasco is not someone who particularly interests me in the slightest. I'm willing to be converted though, so I'll do a "live" review of this so I'm typing as I'm listening.

The Intro is about 2 minutes too long. Some random girl rapping, then a weird language I don't understand followed by a dedication to his grandmother. I like the beat at least after the 1:30 mark. Too much talking though which is your typical hip hop procedure I guess. I'm only typing so much because as of the 2 minute mark he is still talking and hasn't actually rapped at all. I think he just gave a shout-out, lets skip this.

Real, real, real, real... feel, feel, feel, feel, feel...

He just said "FOODEHLICKA". The obligatory talking for 30 seconds before the song starts. I like his voice at least, it's quite relaxed and easy to understand. Just Might Be Ok sounds pretty generic though, and the chorus isn't much good. Maybe he needs the beats to stand out more or something, there's just nothing about them that makes me want to play the song more than once. No originality. Again, in Kick, Push he just talks for ages and starts rapping in the exact same way he did the last three songs. This is becoming a pattern.

I Gotcha has a more interesting beat but it's quickly drowned out by the vocals. The Instrumental is awesome, the chorus especially is really cool... I get the feeling this is what he was trying to do with most of the album but failed. I.e his usual rapping (although this sounds a bit more aggressive) with a fairly nondescript beat, then a chorus that sticks in your head. Only the others don't, this does. He Say, She Say, Sunshine sucks... Daydreamin' is ok, I like whatever song it is they sampled.

Unfortunately every other song aside from maybe American Terrorist sounds almost identical. That's what pushed me away from rap in the first place, despite the fact that they have so much room to move and be creative they often seem to just stick with what works and make albums full of generic beats and an average 'flow" or whatever kids call it. The review is short and pretty shit, that's because there's about 900 songs on this album and I didn't enjoy any of them aside from The Instrumental which is a really good song. Using my new rating system, which isn't really so new anymore.

54%

[J@3]

So far only Ben, ratrac, PhatGeezer, Lamrock and myself have reviewed this... I'll be reviewing the whole process after my turn (since I'm the last of the original members) and probably making some changes to the way this is run, to make things easier for everyone and keep it moving faster.

[Patr1ck]

It's refreshing to see a rapper that isn't constantly bragging or talking tough, but actually being artistic with both style and meaning. Fortunately, good production is matched by great lyrics which has resulted in a critically-acclaimed album. Unfortunately, I got really bored listening to it. Lupe doesn't have much that jumps out at me. This is actually a good thing because there is nothing that is utter crap either.

This monotone style of rapping is getting old. Where is the emotion? Sell your words, they are strong. He's got good lyrics, and improving the delivery can only add appeal. I love the metaphors he uses on "Kick, Push", and "The Instrumental." He isn't lacking any lyrical skill. He can't keep up with the pace of the music on alot of songs, or they just don't fit his style. You can hear this on "Hurt Me Soul" as he has to take a big breath after many of the lyrics. That could just be poor recording, though. He should have just pulled a Chocolate Rain and moved away from the microphone. He does fine on "Kick, Push", "I Gotcha", and "The Instrumental," so I don't understand it. He just seems to drag on some of them.

Looking at the tracklist, he put two of the same songs on one album, and has a 12 minute outro. First thing that tells me is that he didn't have enough material to fill an entire CD. That is perfectly fine, because filling it usually results in alot of filler songs. I loved the Intro and Outro beat, but it became a big fat waste with no song to it. Orchestral string samples seem to be overused on the album, as they are just about everywhere. A couple of the more unique and better sounding songs are the ones that don't have them; I Gotcha, The Instrumental, The Cool, and American Terrorist.

It took me a week to review the entire album because I got so bored each time I listened to it, and I had to refresh my memory a few times. I know I was hypocritical on this review, because there is a lot I like, and a lot I hate.

[benji]

Orchestral string samples seem to be overused on the album, as they are just about everywhere.

This.

[JaoSming]

After skipping the intro the album really surprised me with Real. I was not expecting much from this but the "broken" vocal style was put to good use and has a great drum track to the song as well. Which was the case for most of these songs, the drums were a highlight for me of this album, and although half the songs didn't implement them well, I was really digging the orchestra samples. I Love guitar, piano, or orchestra instruments in rap/hiphop. It is a huge preference of mine but this album finally gave me songs that I didn't like with them. It was overused and just seemed like they were doing it as more of a hit or miss kind of deal. Some of the songs will sound awesome while others just sound clumsy like I Gotcha.

Kick Push was a highlight for me in the Live 07 soundtrack, however, the "second" version of the song sucked. I mean, the What I Got reprise from Sublime worked awesome so I dont have anything against same lyrics different song, um, songs, but this one just made me go yuck and turn it off. Not a good way to end the album.

I was very pleasantly surprised by The Instrumental and He Say She Say. The Instrumental is actually a song I am probably going to buy after I finish typing this, that is how much I enjoyed it even if it lies to me and has lyrics. The Upbeat faster rapping and the epic beat just made it for me. And for some reason I was reminded of Eminem's Rock Bottom which is a favorite song for me. He Say She Say was a great mellow track with great lyrics, which surprised me. The first thing I look for in music is vocals mixing in with the instruments. I am horrible with remembering lyrics outside of a chorus, because honestly, I dont listen to lyrics in music. This is one of those rare songs where I listened to the lyrics and got a "full experience" from the song.

Day Dreamin, sounded familiar. I dont know from what since we dont have a rap radio station here, but I guess it was one of his singles from this album. Not a bad song, just nothing that blew me away.

Now everything else on this song just didn't rub me the right way. Either it was vocals that weren't following the same beat as the instruments or just a clumsy mess of samples, drum tracks and random vocals. This was a hit or miss album for me, with 4 or 5 songs that I really enjoy, and 10 others that just did nothing for me.

3 kicks, pushes, and bails out of 5.

Loved: Real, Kick Push, The Instrumental, He Say She Say.
Kinda Liked: Day Dreamin
Didn't like everything else.

[benji]

Day Dreamin, sounded familiar. I dont know from what since we dont have a rap radio station here, but I guess it was one of his singles from this album.

phpBB [video]

or perhaps:

phpBB [video]

[TheOriginalCandyMan]

Hey can I join in?

[Patr1ck]

Hey can I join in?

What's the secret knock?

[J@3]

We might be here for a while. You're in, just stay active etc etc.

Anyway lets end that round, after my turn there'll be a bit of an upheaval so keep an eye out for that and we won't bother with strikes etc for the last one.

My recomendation is Tale Of The Complex Circuit by The Syncope Threshold... you can find it here:

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Syncope+Th ... ex+Circuit

Or at this blog where there's a peculiar looking rapidshare link:

http://punkrockoi.blogspot.com/2009/07/ ... mplex.html

[TheOriginalCandyMan]

We might be here for a while. You're in, just stay active etc etc.

Anyway lets end that round, after my turn there'll be a bit of an upheaval so keep an eye out for that and we won't bother with strikes etc for the last one.

My recomendation is Tale Of The Complex Circuit by The Syncope Threshold... you can find it here:

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Syncope+Th ... ex+Circuit

Or at this blog where there's a peculiar looking rapidshare link:

http://punkrockoi.blogspot.com/2009/07/ ... mplex.html

I can't even find that album on wikipedia LMAO

[Moz]

click the links given... the album's downloadable there

[JaoSming]

Well, Honestly, this is what I was afraid of. This screamo crap that I can't stand has finally been put up for review.

These kind of bands are the only non-folk local bands I know of and really, I just fucking hate this kind of music. I hate the screaming, I hate the random "pretty" singing, and I really hate the improvised thrashing all the instruments get. This is borderline, but I dont even respect this kind of music enough to call it music. I call it random teenagers slamming their instruments and then some concussed tard saying this represents how they feel inside.

Just screw thrash, screw the screaming, F this kind of music

0 GWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE's out of 5


I apologize to those that like this stuff, please, in your reviews, tell me what you like in this and maybe I won't delete this off my hardd rive just yet.

[J@3]

Personally I think it's kinda just the way my music tastes have evolved over the years. The order went something like this (in order of what was introduced/became my preferred music at the time..):

0-5 - Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Meatloaf etc
5-8 - Beastie Boys, Rage Against The Machine, NWA etc (I had teenage cousins who lived nearby, also explains 8-14)
8-14 - Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Sepultura etc
14-17 - Korn, Disturbed, Slipknot, Linkin Park etc
17-20 - AFI, NOFX, Rise Against, HIM, Muse etc
20-21 - Protest The Hero, Alexisonfire, A Static Lullaby, In Flames etc
21-Current - August Burns Red, Wish For Wings, Bury Your Dead, Her Nightmare etc

I never stopped liking any of the bands/music styles over the years either, I think that's probably the key aspect in it all. I.E Linkin Park (though I'm not a fan now) had more "pure' singing in it than Korn, Disturbed etc and in an effort to find bands similar to them I ended up with AFI, HIM and the like who predominately sing, listening to them lead me to bands who sing and scream/growl fairly evenly (PTH, Alexisonfire etc) which lead to bands who predominately scream/growl and so on.

Obviously (in the early years) those weren't the only bands or genres I listened to (there was a short rap phase in there at one stage) but as I got older it all funnelled into predominately heavier music. Lately I've been listening to a fair bit of post hardcore/hardcore mixed with electronica so that might end up being the next direction I head.

Virtually everyone I know (offline) is into this kinda music, and thinking about it their music tastes have kinda "progressed" in a similar way too... I don't think it's the sort of thing you can just wake up one day and enjoy, with most people it seems to be a gradual process.

Anyways...

Best Songs: Sunflower Avenue, The Day I Died, Alone In The Addict
Worst Songs: I Harlequin: Our Unfolding, My Dear Inertia, Prelude

71%

[Lamrock]

I'm afraid I have to agree with JaoSming. I don't like this. Also, it seems your music taste was in its prime when you were 5-8.

Anyway, I admittedly I didn't get through the whole album, and I was immediately turned off by the generic metal album cover. And then the album went exactly as I had expected to. I listened to the first few tracks trying to find something there I liked, but i just couldn't. It all just sounded more or less the same. I'll give it a couple points for musical competence and not being Weezer's "Make Believe", but its not very good. I understand that some people enjoy this kind of music (somehow), so I won't dismiss it as the 0/10 I got out of it.

Rating: 2.3/10

[benji]

I liked parts of it, many of the songs if not all of them had guitars. They did some things with the guitars in some of the songs. The quality varied in their usage of guitars. I didn't care for a lot of the generic metal guitar things, especially since it they repeated it slightly differently in almost every song. I preferred when the drumplay was more punk than metal. There were some other instruments and I liked when they used most of them.

I only liked the one screamer since he was kept more in the background, the other two, especially the growler could beat it.

Was mostly just generic. Didn't do anything out of the norm.

Top Favorites: Last third of Sunflower Avenue; Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace; I, Harlequin: Our Unfolding; My Dear Inertia; after 2:48 in Conchoid of Truth...in Blood. Prelude I suppose.

2/5 - Average

[Moz]

Alright, the winamp info said the genre’s Melodic Hardcore/Metal... so how’s that like? I don’t know let’s check it out...Prelude got me thinking... OK so this’ how it sounds. The dual lead guitars kinda reminded me of Metallica’s Master of Puppets solo. Then came the next track and it’s adrenaline pumper intro. The cookie monster vox doesn’t work for me... the song is too disoriented already and it made it worse. Sunflower Avenue got a better appeal to me. The emo guy part is likeable enough. Exodus (The first of the I, Harlequin) is a 5 minute noise... The next track, The Day I Died.., started like it’s already midway the song. It doesn’t have the conventional soft, slow tempo or instrumental-laden intro, it just came like that sneaky butler on Adam Sandler’s movie Mr. Deeds. Speak Now... got a Greenday, Rage Against The Machine, My Chemical Romance cocktail on the earlier part. The rest is just the generic template the band’s been using for the rest of the album. Scream-O guy, cookie monster, and the dual guitar noodling... you know. Our Unfolding is the “non-possessed” track of the album but still, I think, it’s a little disoriented. I thought the demon is gone already then came My Dear Inertia... we’re back in hell. The latter part is likeable though. What the fuck is on with The Conchoid of...? What’s with the trumpet? Same can be said to the next track, Alone in the Addict, with that of Dear Intertia. The trilogy finisher, Dissolution is a mash-up of all the tracks of the album fittingly ending this weird sounding album. But that's just me...

Very complex music that was... it’s like you’re listening to Dream Theater, Slayer, some emo and Scandinavian satanic metal records simultaneously with this one. Despise the cookie monster vocals. The vocalist’s like having an argument/conversation with his shoulder devil conscience or he got this Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde character on most of the tracks. Not too fond with it, sorry to those who’s fan of the genre. Peaceout.

*
1 of 10

[Lamrock]

So whats the next album, Joe'?

[Cartar]

Synocope Threshold - Tale Of The Complex Circuit

Not exactly my taste of music, but not very far from it. All the screaming got quite annoying, guitar wasn't actually too hard, I rather enjoyed it. The overall opinion here scared me off and I was excepting even more hardcore rock, but I can say that I was pleasantly surprised. Don't know what to say much more, hence I won't.

Overall rating: 6/10

Favourite songs: Sunflower Avenue, I, Harlequin, Alone In The Addict
Least Favourite songs: My Dear Inertia, Definitive Behavior, The Conchoid Of Truth...In Blood

PS. Is it just me or have they used some videogame theme musics? I kinda like it.

[TheOriginalCandyMan]

Eh didnt really like the album

2.5/5


But this is coming out of a hip hop fan, so yea.....

[Lamrock]

Okay, I don't want this to keep going. If Joe' doesn't step up to the plate, then the album is LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver.

[J@3]

Keep it in your pants, we'll get to it in a sec.

I'll be reviewing the whole process after my turn (since I'm the last of the original members) and probably making some changes to the way this is run, to make things easier for everyone and keep it moving faster.

More on this later...

Edit: Also

Joe`
thierryhenry
JaoSming

Are ahead of you.