Tical

4

Day 33 of Album You Must Hear... Today, a lot of the younger generation see Wu-Tang Clan as a brand and mostly recognize the big golden W more than they would the artists or music they created from 1993 on. When I first heard Protect Ya Neck when I was a kid, I was intrigued with the mysterious group of NY MC’s. They were so different from anything else at the time. How many members were there? Are they some kind of Kung-Fu masters? Without the internet, all of us kids would speculate endlessly about the Wu-Tang Clan. Some kids would claim that the clan consisted of thousands of members, some would even try to convince others that they were members of this secret society. With Mortal Kombat, the explicit, bloody martial arts arcade game exploding around the same time as Wu-Tang Clan’s debut, it was perfect timing for the group that took heavy influence from Kung-Fu B movies of the Seventies just as much as they did street life. With the direction of the The Scientist, RZA (Prince Rakeem), Wu-Tang went viral before there was viral. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) would soon be in every hip-hop head’s collection. In an unorthodox deal at the time, the collective were signed to Loud Records, while individually, the members were allowed to pursue solo deals with other labels. While RZA was the first to follow up 36 Chambers with his project group, Gravediggaz, Method Man was the first to release a solo album, Tical, in 1994. While RZA was the producer and quarterback of the Wu, Method Man was the star of the group in the early years. As the youngest of the clan, he even had a self titled song on 36 Chambers that was a huge single. On Tical, Method Man would keep the momentum going with his slick bars and cooler than cool style. On the opening track, Tical, you’re instantly greeted with the familiar production of RZA, with Kung-Fu movie samples, the sounds of Shaolin swords and eerie underground strings. Bring the Pain is a faster paced bravado song where Method Man flexes for any other rapper that wants the ruckus. All I Need is the first song from any of the Wu-Tang Clan collective to approach the topic of love. It’s sentimental nature paid of ten-fold, especially when Mary J. Blige would feature on the remix with the sweet sample of Marvin Gaye’s You’re All I Need To Get By, and won the duo a Grammy Award. (Heads up, this version isn’t on the original LP). Meth Vs. Chef is a great show-and-tell of two great wordsmiths, Method Man and Raekwon. Release Yo Delf, my favorite song from Tical, is upbeat, has triumphant horns blaring that have me feeling like I’m about to go into battle, and has an interpolation of the 1978 song I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Method Man also channels his inner Ol’ Dirty Bastard towards the end of the song. Method Man (Remix) closes out Tical with great fashion, with his ability to harmonize and rap at the same time. In my opinion, there are a couple of filler tracks on Tical that don’t exactly match the quality of others, but it doesn’t keep this from being a definite Must Hear, especially for any Hip-Hop fan of any age. Method Man had a very unique style. In between bars, instead of just taking a breath, he would suck air through his teeth and cheeks in a audible way that was almost like an ad lib. In the music videos, he wears sharp fanged gold fronts, an all white contact in his left eye, wrapped philly blunts tucked into his visor, and his trademark black gloves. As dark as the themes usually were, Method Man was also known to dance a bit while performing. In closing, I recently complimented a young lady on her dope Wu-Tang Clan mask and matching shirt. When I jokingly asked if she could name any of the members, or even a song, she couldn’t. Not even one. So, this one is for all my 80’s and 90’s babies out there! Either way, WU-TANG IS FOREVER! Please share your thoughts, memories and opinions!!

5

Phenom of rap, with that signature Dark east coast sound. I might have a complaint or two, but the beats and flow are tops here, and that brings it all the way up baby.

4

The first Wu-Tang Clan solo album to follow the seismic impact of Enter the Wu-Tang, Method Man's Tical similarly delivers an otherworldly wallop, one that instantly sets the madcap MC apart from his clansmen as the collective's shining star. Not only is Meth madcap, both in terms of mentality and delivery, he's also incredibly witty and wordy. Here he inspires hilarity as well as astonishment, and the way that he fires off his rhymes with such seemingly spontaneous ease compounds this sense of wonder. Just as Meth is quite clearly leagues above practically every other rapper in 1994 sans a small handful, if that, so is his producer, Wu-Tang abbot RZA, who produces the entirety of Tical: from the antiquated flutes and kung fu flick samples that open the album, to the pulse-accelerating beats of "Bring the Pain" and the fist-pumping ones of "All I Need" (the b-boy version rather than the radio-geared one featuring Mary J. Blige), to the rallying, warlike horns of "Release Yo' Delf." Despite a few outside contributions, most notably from Raekwon on the rowdy spar-fest "Meth vs. Chef," Tical is strictly a two-man show, Meth bringing da ruckus and RZA the swarming soundscapes, and that's precisely what further makes this album such a treasure amid the many Wu-Tang gems. Where most of Meth's clansmen delivered guest-laden albums that sounded more like group efforts than solo ones, Tical strictly spotlights the group's two stars and does so with refreshingly straightforward flair. There's none of the epic overreaching that mars so many rap albums of the era; rather, there's just over a dozen tracks here, and they're filled to the brim with rhymes and beats and little else -- no pop-crossover concessions nor any heady experimentation for the sake of experimentation, just good ol'-fashioned hip-hop, albeit with a dark, dark deranged twist.

5

Awesome album from Method Man. The solo projects after Enter the Wu-Tang Clan are definitely worth a listen. Method Man's flow is great and the guest appearances from the other Wu-Tang members really takes it to the top.

5

Out of all the first solo outputs of the Wu-Tang Clan members, this is the one that too many critics and listeners have always criminally *underrated* in my humble opinion. And it's happening again, on this app: OK, there are very few 5/5 grades, but if you pay attention to the 4/5 and even 3/5 reviews, the vast majority of those reviewers seem to have really, *really* enjoyed listening to this record (3/5 reviews are usually not that positive overall). Not taking into account the 2/5 and 1/5 marks here, where it's obvious that those other reviewers can't enjoy or even understand good hip hop. Since most of those complainers were quite candid about this lack of understanding on their part, I can still respect their honesty at least. Always better than the few bad faith takes here and there, like that one reviewer trying to explain how late nineties "gangster rap" was better, and then putting east coast Wu-Tang (as a whole unit) and west coast Dré, Snoop Dog or 2Pac under that *same* umbrella genre. As if those two groups of rappers were creating the same sort of music... Buy yourself some ears before giving us your "impressions", please. Anyway, and in spite of my own complaints about some of the reviews and grades, I'm so happy this record found its way to this list. Its overall mood is dark yet lively, RZA goes from one catchy loop to the next, and Method Man's husky voice and lyrical aggressivity do wonders. His voice is a little buried in the mix sometimes, but I actually like that choice, it adds to the hazy ambience of the whole thing. Listen to "Biscuits" or "Bring The Pain" for stellar examples of the sort of moodpiece RZA and Method Man can create here, one that's not so far from what the kind of murky trip-hop that someone like Tricky would play not so long after, right on the other side of the pond. Contrasting with those more atmospheric cuts, you have boom bap bangers such as "Release Yo' Delf"--with its blaring warlike horns and interpolations taken from "I Will Survive"--or "Mr Sandman" and its eerie and haunting opera-like soprano voice lurking in the background like a spooky ghost. Funny how those bangers are actually closer to the end of the album than the more atmospheric cuts. *Tical* kinda starts with low-key stakes, but it then builds up from one track to the next, and I can't praise that sort of tracklisting enough (and this in any genre). It's when everything goes out with a bang at the end that you fully realize the scope of this record. See the other boom bap miracle that "Stimulation" is (that goddamn sample of uneasy strings!) and the unavoidable remix of "Method Man" concluding the proceedings--a callback to *Enter The Wu-Tang* that obviously needed to be included here, in this first solo output from one of the most prominent member of the Staten Island crew. Speaking of the LP's "architecture", I also love the fact that this record is quite short for a hip hop album, and that the individual tracks never overstay their welcome themselves, encouraging repeated listens rather than meandering through too many filler cuts for 60 or 70 minutes (a flaw that even the greatest rap albums out there have often displayed). My overall grade for this thing would be 4.5/5, just to differentiate it from the masterpiece that GZA's *Liquid Swords* is when it comes to legendary Wu Tang solo outputs. Had *Tical* included the insanely good "All I Need' remix featuring Mary J. Blige (only released as a single), maybe it would have been up there with *Liquid Sword*, to be honest. But given the injustice I still sense in this album's reception, whether it was then or now, I'm gonna round up that grade to a perfect 5/5 here. Wu-Tang Forever! Number of albums left to review: 685 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 155 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 72 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 89

4

The signature Wu Tang sound permeates this album, and Method Man's attitude comes through in every track.

4

One of the first groups to switch me on to hip-hop was the Gravediggaz, and this album reminded me a lot of "6 Feet Deep" for obvious reasons. Love the grumbling hypnotic bass lines a load of these tracks have. Fave track - "Stimulation" as it reminds me a lot of Dr Octagon's "Blue Flowers", which was another one of my hip-hop first loves. I'm a sucker for a meandering ethereal melody line lifted from a classical piece, it seems!

4

It might not be my favorite Wu-Tang solo album (that title belongs to GZA's "Liquid Swords"), but Tical is still an essential entry in the Wu catalog. I reserve the fifth star only because it sounds a bit dated to modern ears, but Meth's talent and skills are completely undeniable and the best songs on the album ("Release Yo' Delf" jumps to mind) are bona fide classics.

4

Tres bon rap et tres bon 1er album solo. Son flow est là.4.5

4

My second favourite member of the Wu. On this, his debut album Method man wages lyrical warfare on any man that tries to test. The influence of Jamaican soundsystem clash culture and the Wu's inimitable Shaolin, Kung-Fu style production make this album a vicious assault on the senses. Dark, gritty and aggressive, Tical is a stand out album in mid 90s hip-hop. Best track: Bring the Pain & Release Yo Delf.

4

another album i listened to a ton as a kid, but have since written it off as a guilty pleasure. looking forward to this listen. 1/2 way - just as good as i remember it. method has incredible flow compared to most of today's rappers IMO.

4

Pretty solid Boom Bap album. I've been meaning to check out the solo material from the Wu-Tang members for awhile

4

I need to listen to a few more times as it's super layered. The flow is great of course, but there is so much going on in the background that deserves to be heard. There's a tinge of darkness and moodiness to this album that is really intriguing. An excellent addition to the mystique of the Wu Tang Clan

3

Tical is the debut studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man. This is the first solo album by a Wu-Tang Clan member after their debut album, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)." Method Man has gone on to say the title of this album is an acronym for "taking into consideration all lives," and I'm very excited to experience that consideration. This album opens with the titular track "Tical," at 3 minutes and 57 seconds. This track has a muddy buildup of audio samples from kung fu movies over a beat until Mr. Man's vocals come in. This song feels very much like a 90s east coast hip hop track, with lyrics about weed and other drugs, per Genius.com: "In 2011 interview with Complex, Meth revealed that this song was performed while he was high on “dust” (a.k.a. angel dust or PCP)". Track 2, "Biscuits," features another consistent hip hop beat with lyrics of meth, guns, and other lyrical assault! Next up is "Bring the Pain," which offers another consistent beat with Method Man rapping about being real: "if you’re really real, then you need to bring the pain because pain is the only real thing in life, its something that you feel." The next track on this album is "All I Need," where Method Man raps about his girlfriend and their dreams of having 1,000 kids together. The Beatles said that love is all we need, and I think Meth agrees. "What the Blood Clot!?!" is track #5 on Tical, and Meth raps about an argument he had with other members of WTC. I like these storytelling lyrics: "Keep your thoughts on your lessons What the Blood Clot!?! To tell the truth you don't amaze me Killa Hill Project, a Star Trek phaser couldn't faze me" A classic "what the FUCK" track. After blood clot comes "Meth Vs. Chef," a rap battle track between Meth and Raekwon the Chef. There are some great disses on this track, and I am all about that. There's a boxing ring and audience applause in this song that really gives it a competitive feel and it's really fun. "Sub Crazy" comes next on this album, it features a really cool, kinda spooky beat. I dig it! "Release Yo' Delf" featuring Blue Raspberry is another dis-like track. Meth goes off about the other industry singers/rappers. Blue Raspberry reminds us that those careers won't be lasting long while a siren wails in the background. The next track, "P.L.O Style" (aka Palestinian Liberation Organizations [unorthodox and ruthless fighting tactics]) features Carlton Fisk. This track was inspired by guerrilla tactics in the middle east used to de-establish Israel in favor of Palestinian justice. "I Get My Thang in Action" is another solid track by Method Man with wonderful word play and clever phrasing: "Shiiit, I told the boy If you can't get yourself a ten The least you can do is fuck five twos And we out, Method" You can't compete with that. Track 11, "Mr. Sandman," features an ensemble posse consisting of Carlton Fisk, Streetlife, Blue Raspberry, Inspectah Deck, and RZA. New York-specific lyrics mixed with Blue Raspberry's high octave singing of "Mr. Saaaandman (bring me a dream)" gives this track a true chaotic, fun energy. Track 12, "Stimulation" is the final track exclusive to this album (as the final track is a remix from an earlier Wu-Tang album) and features Blue Raspberry singing, welcoming the listener to Method Man's stimulation of our senses. Another solid hip hop track to nod one's head to. The closing track, "Method Man (remix)" is a "fat dub stack" song (a bag of weed that weighs a little heavier than usual. Showing how this song being a remix is giving you a little more than usual.) This track asks "Have you had your meth today?" and now I can say I have! I'm not too well-versed with 90s hip hop, but this album is consistently good, with no "filler" songs or boring, celebrity-filled garbage. A solid album with some amazing word play. Favorite track: Meth Vs. Chef Honorable mention: All I Need

3

I keep trying to like Wu-Tang because I feel that someone who digs hip hop should like them. And I kind of do, but not for a whole album. At the end of the day, though, I like my hip-hop with hooks. Must be the pop guy in me. Also, for all the talk about what a genius producer RZA is, I often feel like his records lack depth. And on this album there were several tracks where I couldn't clearly hear the rappers. i didn't hate this. and at least this one mostly avoids all the long chattery intros that plague so much of Wu-Tang albums from this era. If one of these songs came on in a mix, I'd be excited to hear it. But a whole album just wears me down.

3

A little downbeat, a little understated, and quite a bit gritty and lean. The mid-tempo vibes fade out or just break down in a way that feels both quiet and slightly ominous. The tinny shuffling drum beat links the track and one like the grace notes and chime-y bells that toll across cuts. No huge standouts, just a murky, sometimes menacing mood, like SI on a grey day, one supposes. And of course the Mussorgsky opening is a nifty touch. One feels inspired to log a bit more time in some Chambers with the WTC.

3

I love Wu Tang and Method Man but for whatever reason I can't fully get down with Tical. I know it's regarded as Method Man's best album but maybe I just like him more as a verse here and there in other songs.

3

Je pense que c'est l'album hip-hop que j'ai préféré jusqu'à présent. La pièce Release Yo' Delf m'a vraiment interpellée. J'aime la voix de Method Man. J'ai aussi trouvé l'ensemble plus épuré, moins «tape-à-l'œil» que ce qu'on entend habituellement dans le genre.

3

What can I really say about this album. It is… a wu-tang album. It’s good. But I will be honest with the exception of ODB I’m not entirely blown away by any solo wu-tang member

2

The same beat for every song, lyrics I could hardly hear. Very average

5

Dope.

5

Top album

5

5

Wutang Clan aint nothing to fuck with

5

great beats and his flow is top notch he has a way better switch of tempo compared to N.W.A. from earlier this week Probably one of the only 5 star albums where I won't add a song from it, but I can respect that this is a bomb album

5

Method had all the best rhymes in the 90's - Fav Track: Bring the Pain - one of my top rap songs, PERIOD.

5

Fuck yeah. Keep it moving, ya punk.

5

Love wu-tang, listening to Method Man extends that, and generates a banging song radio afterwards too

5

god damn this fucks so hard can’t believe this came out in 1994 nearly every song is such a banger, I can’t believe I like this so much but here I am - 10/10, at time a little repetitive but not too bad

5

Good stuff

5

This is dope! Finally some fucking hip-hop. This would appear to be Method Man's first album. The quality isn't great and some of the beats I find tedious and unappealing, but Method has such command with his distinct voice I could listen to him on just about anything.

5

cool

5

Good! Fun!

5

ovo je skoro petica, zašto? najdraži mi je iz wu-tanga, nažalost nema tako dobru solo karijeru kao Raekwon ili Ghostface Killah, ali je bar dao ovaj sluznjavi, mračni, sirovi i old school zvučni album. baš se osjeti taj period glazbe, osjete se godine izdanja ovog klasika.

5

The way any of the WuTang era melds lofi beats and Kung Fu spirit with hard lyrics, it's such a microcosm of hip hip that can never be replicated.

5

I'm familiar with his biggest hits but I never did a deep dive of his albums before. Very impressive skills of rapping/flow just goes to show how much of a legend Method Man is. Fantastic rap album!

5

It's great but Release yo' Delf is so good I can't dock *s. Absolute banger

5

This was good

5

Rap makes me think a lot of Metal in that both are Ouroboros genres. Which is to say that in the same way that metal is consuming and recreating itself in search of something "harder", rap does the same. This aside is to point out how tame this album sounds in 2023 especially after everything from speed rap to the island boys. That being said, tame doesn't mean bad - this album is absolutely killer and the snippets of lyrics that I picked up were super insightful about the black perspective of NYC that was trying to come out of total bankrupcy/warzone status in the 1970s. I think of art as trying to make others see the world through your (inherently inaccessible) eyes, and intentional or not, this album succeeds at that while also being musically great.

5

Holy crap. I love Method Man every time he shows up on a Wu-Tang-related album, I've got "Blackout" and "Blackout 2" (his albums with Redman), and I've seen "How High" more times than I can count ... or remember. Despite that, I hadn't listened to even one of his solo albums until today. I expected good things, but I was unprepared for just how excellent this album is. It's hard to find a much smoother lyricist than Meth, and he doesn't disappoint on this album. Production-wise, my first impression is that this is some of RZA's best work—right up there with "36 Chambers." RZA's signature kung fu film samples create moody, musical landscapes that Meth nimbly battles through without a missed step. This album is top-notch kung fu.

4

1994: Bring The Pain, Meth Vs. Chef, What The Blood Clot

4

Very mature album for 94 and a couple of bangers on there but a bit sweary for me

4

Slaps. Pretty. Fucking Hard.

4

3.9

4

A lot better than I expected. Moody, bluesy rap. I liked it.

4

It’s method man. So yeah, great! More exceptional, but great.

4

Good to very good. That first wave of Wu solo releases was quite special.

4

great one although a little derivative from the WTC work, I mean, why a solo path that sounds almost like the group?. When I was young I wondered if they had not access to good recording studios but now I know that foggy sound is actually deliberated and I love it

4

Rap de boa qualidade!

4

The first solo Wu Tang release and not the greatest but still a very good album. RZA is one of the greatest producers working.

4

really good.

4

// Favs: Biscuit / Bring The Pain / What The Blood Clot / Release Yo' Delf / Method Man Score: Light to Decent 4

4

It's wu-tang, what more do you want.

4

Classic Wu-Tang sound. Solid all the way through.

4

Dark and moody, like Gerald Ford on a good day

4

El klasiko wu tangowe na liscie, nie moze byc, jest to pierwsza solowa plyta tangowa wydana prawie rowny rok po 36 chambersach, wiec 94, jest to takze pierwszy solowy material w dyskografii pana Methoda, czyli jednej z najwazniejszych postaci chambersowej, bo jesli chodzi o kunszt liryczny nie ma on sobie rownych w skladzie, ale co z ticalem, album praktycznie w calosci wyprodukowany przez RZA z pomoca 4th Disciple na dwoch trakach, jesli chodzi o featury to tak jak to bywa na wutangowych materialach musi pojawic sie ktos z bandy, ale tutaj akurat featury sa bardzo oszczedne, co podkresla solowy charakter plyty, jedynie Mr. Sandman jest trakiem goscinnym gdzie mozna uslyszec Decka RZE pana Blue Raspberry, Streetlife i Fiska, ktory pojawia sie takze na P.L.O style, poza tym jeszcze kawalek meth vs chef z Reakwonem, bo jak mowi lore wu tangowe membery musialy sie duelowac o bity, wiec taki duel wlasnie tutaj ma miejsce, przy czym zwyciescy tutaj nie ma wiec obaj panowie sa na traczku, glownymi motywami bedzie tytulowy tical, chociaz sam meth zdradzil gdzies, ze to akronim od taking into consideration all lives, no ale jednak marihuanina sie przewija przez cala plyte, wraz z opowiesciami o zyciu na projektach, milosciach projektowych, no i typowym dla methoda lirycznym prezeniu skillow, solidne 13 kawalkow zamkniete na 43 minutach cidika, na plejke ciezko cos dodam, bo najbardziej klasyczne kawalki jak bring the pain czy mr sandman juz dawno dodane, wiec sluchajac tym razem hajlajtami beda wspomniany juz meth vs chef jako najlepszy ficzur ktory wyciaga flow samego metha na nowy poziom, kolejnym numerem bedzie what the blood clot, czyli jechanka po calej bandzie, wiec bardzo niecodzienny okaz w tak zgranym skladzie, przynajmniej jeszcze w tamtym czasie, gdy RZA rzadzil silna lapa, tak w ogole bloodclot chyba razem sie powinno pisac po dzamajskiemu ingriszu

4

Very nice, although not as good as some Wu Tang members solo albums.

4

A fresh addition to 1990s East Coast hip-hop. As a detachment from legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, this album demonstrates Method Man's sharp and clever abilities, namely in rapping as a persona. 'Tical' (album) is quick and full of wit, ready to lunge at you if your attention ever sways.

4

What we have here is a continuation, or perhaps less generously an appendix, to Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). We have the same methodology (hah!), the same kung-fu samples, a slightly lighter atmosphere and a slightly more technologically swanky approach to production. But the connections to Enter the Wu-Tang aren't just obvious, but declared; one of the tracks is a remix of Method Man, one of the standouts from Enter the Wu-Tang. To be clear, Enter the Wu-Tang is one of the great albums of the nineties, so where stands this: a noble sequel, a development of an established aesthetic, an exercise in caution or a placeholder? Well, Method Man and Rza are too talented for the last two, and Tical is in no way a bad album. It's just that you wish for more of a distinction from the earlier album. I'll still give it four stars, but that's in part goodwill.

4

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: All I need

4

No le he prestado atención a lo que rapea pero sí a cómo suena. Y suena muy elegante. Me dan ganas de escuchar más cosas suyas y de los Wu-Tang Clan.

4

Excellent – I love the raps and beats (even if all WTC sounds the same), will definitely listen closer.

4

i think i really liked this. the schoolhouse rock references were so unexpected and fucking hilarious

4

90s hip hop when done well is consistently one of my favorite genres and this was done really well… tempted to give it a 5 but i shant.

4

Solid solo effort from Mr Meth, sticking to the format that worked so well on the Wu Tang debut album - grimy RZA beats, Kung Fu movie samples, Meth spitting darts. Moody, atmospheric, classy.

4

Great album with an incredible, dark atmosphere. I actually liked it a lot more than I used to.

4

Method Man oozes wit, but sometimes his theatrical persona can run counter to his flow. Regardless, some of the grooves and samples here are so well produced, and they really ground things some of the darker/deranged themes on Tical. 3.5/5 Fav Tracks: Release 'Yo Delf, Tical, Bring the Pain, All I Need

4

Rap, but actually pretty good.

4

I don’t have enough background and knowledge to know how to really rate this but 4 stars seems right

4

Great instrumentals classic samples. One of the best solo records from this first wu tang hiatus era.

4

Love the wu production, and the variance through the album.

4

Almost a 5, really reminiscent of 36 chambers- very good but it feels tired in some spots. Hence the 4, will listen to again

4

Was great, feeling like badass, nice sampling of well known songs.

4

Interesting to hear the lisp and some pop culture references. Solid album.

4

The Nice dark and sleazy Method Man drawl makes this a mean rhymed record. Solid album.

4

The first solo Wu Tang album, and in many ways it's a proper successor, reusing samples and referencing the gang, with the same vibe that made the debut so amazing. In a lot of other ways, it holds its own identity, clouding itself in an atmosphere of dark, industrial, claustrophobic music. "What the Blood Cot" for example has both RZA and Method Man talking at the same time. Method Man is an incredible rapper in his own right. He's been featured in his own self-titled track on the debut, which I complimented before for being an excellent showcase of his smooth flow and mature, collective attitude. Had a music video and was a successful single and all. I consider him the most accessible member, closely tying with Inspectah Deck and GZA. I did think the 4-track stretch from "Sub Crazy" to "I Get My Thang In Action" was weak. But I did legitimately enjoy everything before and the last 2 to the point where I couldn't pick a favorite. "Mr. Sandman" is pretty much just a Wu-Tang track. I also enjoyed the single "I'll Be There For You" with Mary Blige.

4

buena experiencia, el sonido es similar al de wutang, es obvio por qué. la portada está dura, los beats están duros, la voz de method man es asesina.

4

Dark, moody, richly layered. One listen isn’t enough.

4

90s producers learn how to mix challenge

4

I don’t lean towards rap or hip hop generally, but I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would.

4

Great album, strong all the way through

4

This album fucks. Wu-Tang forever. Best track: Release Yo' Delf

4

First time listening to any wu tang clan solo albums. Though I do remember the method man from the know your roles song he did for The Rock, and his his appearance on ready to die. I’m not a huge hip hop fan but do have some time for some of the really good stuff. This would fall into that category, real good dark vibe to the beats, and great flow, deserves to be on this list.

4

M.E.T.H.O.D…

4

Classic wu-tang sound. Crazy RZA production, Method Man goes in with a ton of personality on every song, The album is super listenable and one of the best wu tang solo works.

4

I haven't listened to this album since high school. It really takes me back. Bring The Pain is still such a good song. All I Need is honestly a really sweet song.

4

I know very little about Rap but I know I like this. I also like MF Doom and others and recognise that Wu-Tang were there a loooong time before a lot of the guys nowadays. This is gritty, moody and just as much about the sound as the lyrics.

4

A darker, heavier hip hop album by Wu-Tang's premier rapper. Solid production for mid 90's, record's strength is Method's rhymes. Standouts are "Bring the Pain" and "All I Need."

4

On my review of Liquid Swords I said something about it being hard to decide which of the first Wu-Tang solo efforts were best and I cited Tical as stiff competition. After listening to this for the first time in a while I've gotta say that Liquid Swords is actually the winner. This is really good though. Method Man always sounds so cool with his flow. He is after all one of the many parts that make Wu-Tang great. It's a really solid record, I just don't think its worth a 5. Definitely for any fan of this era of rap.

4

This is a great straightforward hip hop album, nothing but rhymes and incredible production from two of the best in Method Man and RZA. Nothing superfluous and this album is still incredible nearly 30 years later.

4

Solid

4

Murky and shuffling and ominous, with some eerie tunefulness here and there, too. One largely digs.

4

That cover art made me wince. It looks like every 40 year old hiphop fan's musky smelling T-shirt. And it sounded exactly how I expected it to sound. Despite this, it's consistently nice. The beats are decent and the rapping okay. It never annoyed or bored me, so I guess that's quite a feat for a gangster rap album, even for a 40-minute long one. To be honest, I think rap albums shouldn't exceed 1 hour.

4

Dark, great beats. Think it doesn't ever really pause to breathe, just keeps hitting you with one big beat track after another, but it's short enough to where it only started wearing on me near the end. Favorite tracks: "Meth vs. Chef", "All I Need", "What The Blood Clot"

4

It's good, but not as fun as remember 36 Chambers being. I don't remember the big songs, even the Mary J blige version. Chef Vs meth is fun. Release yo Delf is funny. Mr Sandman and Stimulation both good. Things definitely pick up around those. I'm just not particularly moving for several other tracks. Looking back it might just round up to a 4, but a low 4, 3.5 sorta.

4

This is a hard one to rate. On one hand, the beats slap and Method Man's flow is just so good. On the other hand, it's cheesy as hell and, when it's not being cheesy, the lyrics are... kinda dumb. But the vibe, y'all. It's so good. How do you rate that? I put it at a neutral 3 stars at first... but its importance to the genre earned it another star. I feel good about a 4-star score even with the cheesy skits and kung-fu samples.

4

Great record. 8/10

4

Method man knows how to spit, this had some really solid beats, the start of the album seems to have his voice masked by the music but that sorts its self out later

4

RZAs most oppressive production work, almost sounds like it's cursed at times. I'd always thought this was one of the weaker initial run solo albums from the Wu-Tang Clan but on relisten this isn't the case at all - Method Man maybe lacks some of the artistry of GZA and Raekwon but has charisma in absolute spades

4

Oh man this is an old favorite! I wish I had a dollar for every time I played this. This is probably one of his best pieces of work.