Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Unremarkable
It's ok. All I Need was pretty good. Everything else was standard early 90s rap and blended into the background.
I've always had a soft spot for Method Man due to the fact that when I saw the Wu Tang Clan live, Raekwon and Ghostface didn't bother showing up, so he was the highlight of that show really This wasn't as good as I'd hoped.. RZA is a great producer but I'm not sure this is some of his best work. The beats are not that catchy and in some places i don't find the mix with the vocals to be right. His rapping is alright but it's hard not to compare to his contemporaries and their early solo efforts, and this didn't chime as well with me Not bad, but not great either
All I Need 10/10 REalease Yo Delf buena
I'd say this is good not great, especially when compared to other Wu-Tang solo projects which followed it. It's dark and mostly murky, almost like an extension of 36 Chambers (see callbacks "Mr. Sandman" and "Method Man" (remix)). Overall it just doesn't stand out among the other Wu Tang projects. Many of the instrumentals are similar song to song, and they get a bit repetitive. A few tracks annoyed me, like "All I Need", "Sub Crazy", and "Release Yo Delf". My favorite tracks were "Bring the Pain" and "Meth vs. Chef".
classic, but a bit discordant
If I'd got this early on in my list I would have probably been nicer to it, but it's really difficult to see how we need so many of these middle of the road hip hop albums (or indeed any genre's middle of the road offerings).
Good classic 90s shit
Ah to be a young member of the Wu Tang Clan during their early days. What an unlikely success story they must have felt like at the time. Mixing experimental and mainstream hip hop with a (let's be honest) nerdy love for Kung Fu. As the first solo release from any member, and produced by RZA, there were undoubtedly high hopes for this album. Unfortunately it doesn't really hold up that well. The dark murky beats are interesting but the album feels pretty underdeveloped. I liked "What the Blood Clot" and "Release Yo Delf" but the rest felt like it needed more work. Future Wu Tang projects were definitely more interesting, in my opinion but I guess they had to start somewhere.
Rawwww.
Good hip hop album, Method Man is talented and put together a solid collection of songs and beats. Still better as a part of Wu-Tang, but good individual album for him
Fora ali malo zastarjelo
3/5. A bass production with a minimalist rap performance, it feels large and heavy, like rising from a pit. The actual content was not memorable, it seemed very laid and chill while still having this dark undertone though. It's interesting listening to all the Wu-Tang members debut albums and how they all have their unique sound while still sticking with similar themes. This seems to be mainly due to RZA, the producer of all the records. This one definitely feels the least interesting, compared to the other two, despite Method Man's legacy. It was not bad but a little too laid back to be a great album. Best Song: Release Yo' Delf, Bring The Pain, Meth Vs. Chef
Not listened to this before but I enjoyed it more than I expected to
1994, what a year for hip hop music!
Not my kind of sound
Nice flow, but how is the production so bad. I legit thought my headphones might be broken based on how muddy the vocals sound - like the mic was underwater.
I will say, as someone who is very much a rock fan and not a huge fan of hip hop, I have been consistently surprised by my enjoyment of hip hop on this list, while still not my preferred genre I think I was being lead away by artists I do hate like Drake. That’s all to say this is another in that lineage, while not a favorite even among the hip hop albums I’ve gotten, its beats are solid all throughout and the vocals are pretty good. It’s also solid in the background.
For all intents and purposes, Method Man was largely the face of the Wu-Tang Clan. Most will recognize his smooth, deep delivery and rhymes, most prominently featured on tracks such as "Method Man" and "C.R.E.A.M." from the iconic "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)". Here, Method Man teams up with fellow Wu-Tang compadre RZA on production. You can tell this is a Wu-Tang production, as we have a gritty and rugged sound backing Method Man's rhymes. While I don't have any issues with Method Man's presence on the mic here, I thought the aforementioned sound/mood held things back a bit here. Not a lot stood out as a result and arguably the biggest song on this album (...All I Need) wasn't even on the standard edition either. For my money, there are better and stronger works in the Wu-Tang solo discography (Liquid Swords and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, for some). This is still a strong debut from a formidable MC who would go on to enjoy more success collaborating with fellow East Coast rapper Redman.
Good wutang album. Not sure it included anything that sets it apart, and I know method man has some unique songs in his solo catalog.
The beats were sick but
Not a big rap fan, but this was good.
Peak “listening to music about murder and drugs on the way to my 9-5”-coded music
I like Method Man, but this album is just okay for me. It's hard not to compare it to Wu Tang or the stuff he did with Redman.
Pretty perfectly okay. Enjoyed the beat a lot of the time, but only a couple things standing out to me
Another pretty decent East Coast boom bap album, though it didn't really do much to stand out from the others we've heard so far.
"En garde, I'll let you try my Wu-Tang style!" RZA's production is a fucking treat - dark, grimy beats that get your head bopping, as it should be for this sort of rap. And the use of martial arts movie samples? Absolute peak 🔥 This is, however, a Method Man joint, and good production only gets him so far. His energy and delivery are great, but his flow and rhymes are nothing mind-blowing or deep.
I don't think I've ever head a love song done as rap. Great flows. Great production. I could come back to this one for sure.
I’ve never been able to get into any Wu-Tang Clan music even though I associate NYC hip hop with them more than anyone else. Method Man is no different; his lyricism is great but the cadence gets a bit repetitive.
I like lots of stuff that comes from the Wu-Tang clan, but I found this album to not do a whole lot for me. Maybe something I need to spend more time with, but it was just OK this playthrough. 3/5
Was ready not to like this but actually it's pretty good! 3.4/5
I recognised All I Need, I've heard the remix version before which polished the song up a bit and turned it into a radio hit. Come to find out that remix was done by one Puff Daddy, so it's probably unlikely I'll be hearing that again soon.
Pretty solid hip hop, nothing fancy but nothing bad
Very samey but listenable
Took me a long time to realize why he kept talking about Wu Tang
Is it sacrilege to be a native Staten Islander and not listen to anything from the Wu-Tang Clan? I mean, it seems to be one of our only meaningful exports. Well, honestly, I’m hoping that didn’t have a huge impact of my experience with this album. In my opinion, this was very serviceable rap. Some songs were good, some were ok, and some were weird. Seriously, I don’t know if I like the weird riff of I Will Survive on Release Yo’ Delf. I didn’t see anything special about this album, and I hope that sentiment doesn’t continue when I’m given an actual Wu-Tang album to cover. But given that rap isn’t my favorite genre, serviceable will do just fine. Favorite track: All I Need Other hits: Bring The Pain, What the Blood Clot, I Get My Thang In Action, Stimulation, Meth Vs. Chef
Fine. No standout tracks that I can recall.
Liked this one, though I didn’t love it. Not much else to say. Solid.
I'm not sure I have enough listening experience to offer critical analysis on hip-hop albums--and I was distracted when I listened to this--so I'd like to just let this one go, but I have to give it some stars in order to move on, so don't take my rating as a critique.
Even if this wasn’t my jam this is a really solid album. Super cohesive and fluid sound.
Not bad
Meh. Not bad, but I’m okay never listening to this again.
Liked the lo-fi. 3/5
Fairly average hip hop. Felt like the mixing was lacking on some songs and no one song really stood out that much.
I initially thought this was just a Wu-Tang spin-off, fine and as expected. Not my style of rap or hip hop, but I liked and appreciated the number and variety of references in the lyrics: The Shadow, poetry, other songs. All nice, clever, there was more going on than first met my ears.
Not my thing but I get it.
Love Method Man's style. Don't love skits between songs. Overall solid hip hop but not my favorite
Groovy and sophisticated, A little dark.
I had this on at the gym this evening and enjoyed it but it wasn't stand out by any stretch. Cuban linx has been my favourite solo discovery from wu tang so far.
I listened to their solo stuff all at once and some of their bigger projects didn’t stand out at all, but I’ve enjoyed going back and letting them breathe a bit more.
Much better than expected. Great hip hop.
Funny how life works sometimes. While I listened to this I thought it was OK. I didn't know exactly where to place it within the genre and overall for a while -- as I listened. But Youtube as it is prone to do just auto played the next video after the album ended and I had not realized it at first, BUT, I was like "OK, now this is a pretty good one." And it was then, when I realized what had happened that I placed this album as "OK." It is OK. Nothing more, nothing less. I neither gained nor lost from listening to it. Unfortunately that does not make it particularly special either. But such is life.
3.5/5
It's fine
Meth's voice and flow exude cool (even when he's threatening to kill you). And RZA creates a dank world around him. Unfortunately, the results are hit-or-miss, especially in the second half. Highlights: "Biscuits" (cool organ sample, though I wish Meth's voice was more forward in the mix), "Bring the Pain", "What the Blood Clot" (the looping piano stabs are simple but effective) Notable: "Release Yo' Delf" (the chorus is a profane lyrical flip on "I Will Survive"), "Mr. Sandman" (is this a stab--no pun intended--at horrorcore?)
Así de fondo no está mal, pero todas las canciones me parecen iguales. A lo mejor las letras son la hostia, pero no me apetece fijarme. Así a bote pronto no tiene pinta.
Pretty good! I never listened to WuTang before
Maybe if I got more familiar with it I would like it more but it seemed like a second rate effort
Some highlights but feel like it rehashed enter the 36 chambers far too much 3.5*
Pretty nice flows but I still prefer Wu Tang
Struggled to understand the method behind the madness
Vibes
As a massive Wu Tang Clan fan, I'm surprised that this is my first time listening to a Method Man solo album. I like Method Man on Wu Tang albums but I don't think he's able to carry his own albums as much as other members of the clan. Overall a good album with good songs. Favorite track: Meth Vs. Chef
This is quite dark in places, although it has a decent flow with the beats. It made me want to smoke once again, and probably something a little stronger than 20 B&H.
I had the same feeling for almost all solo albums released after Wu-tang Clan. They are okay, but nothing else. It was not different with this one. It's a round 3-star album.
Average rap album
Songs blend into each other but it's good background music. I don't mind it at all but I probably won't revisit. 3
Solid Hip Hop but it's nothing compared to the full power of the Wu-Tang altogether, as you can guess seeing as he is trying to create that style so much. 6/10
not quite as much personality i'm looking for in a Wu Tang Extended Universe production but a good album generally.
Method Man is not my favorite solo Wu-Tang MC (I’m more a RZA/Gravediggaz/ODB kinda guy) but this is solid stuff.
Really not my thing but my husband enjoyed it.
Love the Wu Tang album, but why should we go through all the solo careers of each member of the crew? There’s cool tracks here and there and Method Man’s voice is lethal, but should I listen to this before I die? 2.5/5
Like this one
I liked it, the production does meld together but there are highlights. The title track was good and was prob my favorite. The production was great but it does blend together similar to Pure Heroine by Lorde. Initial listen: 7/10 or 3.5/5.
Decent 90's rap/hip hop.
While I do think Method Man is one of the best rappers in Wu Tang Clan I don’t think he’s one of the most interesting. This was a solid 90s rap album but was nothing special to me. Would do a 3.5 if possible.
Distinctive Wu Tang production - sparse herky jerky beats and Kung Fu samples for a vaguely spooky combative action-packed cinematic feel that sets the stage for the verses's terse concise delivery. As good as this, Raekwon, Ghostface, and GZA's albums are, they do feel kind of over-represented on this list. A tight 2 disc compilaiton of the best of the Wu-Tang extended universe would really hit the spot.
Solid enough, with a few standout tracks. I'm not the biggest hip hop head but I can appreciate this well enough.
Listenable
Did not grab me the way other Wu member projects do 3/5
An alright album but no standouts songs for me.
Quite a hard and moody vibe to this. Must say, I didn't enjoy this as much as I did with Ice T's original gangster. I think mainly because lyrically it does not say much to me, although I do accept I am not the intended audience. Found the songs quite samey. 3 stars from me.
It's fine, but feels a bit average for someone who isn't SUPER into hip hop. I can't imagine I'll go back to it.
Quite grim and ominous sounding in general. Got some interesting beats here and there, 'Release Yo' Delf' was definitely my favourite tune, really cool with the trumpet sample. Other than that I didn't find anything particularly noteworthy, but overall decent groove.
Sounded like Wu-Tang without the major hits. Favourite track was Bring the Pain but the rest didn't leave any lasting memory. Not bad just nothing that stood out. Weak 3.
Solid solo outing from Method Man
Not an unpleasant listen, but lacks that essentialness of the best of the Wu-Tang.
Some solid tunes on here
So, I do prefer the laid back vibe of this compared to other hip hop albums on here: And it seems to be somewhat less offensive. It all gets a bit samey after a while. At least it is a reasonable length and doesn’t have annoying interludes
Not bad, I enjoyed the sound.
It's alright, but nothing really hooked me.
Never listened to much Wu-Tang, but this one's alright. The flow is all well done, but I feel like the mixing was a little odd at times. It sounded like he was rapping through a styrofoam filter from a couple feet away from the mic for a few of the songs. Favorites were Bring the Pain, All I Need, and What the Blood Clot
Definitely not my favorite wu-tang solo album, but the production is still good and the flow is there. Method Man just never really seemed like the one to carry a whole album. Favorites were Bring The Pain, Meth Vs. Chef, Release Yo’ Delf, and Mr. Sandman.
Some of it is good, most is nothing special. Favorite song: tical.
Not bad, I'm not as familiar with his work as other artists around this time. I like it a lot, great beats and lyrics. Seems well thought out, like he has something to say or a story to tell. I'm sure I will listen to this again.
3.5/5. Method Man kinda lit cos of his beefs with Wendy Williams and Diddy.
3.
Seemed lyrically dense, but not something I typically listen to, so I didn't get much out of it.
Not a bad listen.
Great beats from RZA and great rhymes from MM. It needs to be here but can't say it's up there
I enjoyed that. Really good beats and felt varied enough for me.
I’m a pretty casual hip hop fan who enjoys Wu Tang, especially their first album. For some reason their solo albums haven’t really clicked with me. This was a good rap album but lacked the interesting changes of a full WTC album.
Definitely not the worst thing I've heard this month, but I find it harder and harder to listen to so much rap. It's probably an above average listen, nothing that really resonates with me, but at the same time there was nothing I hated or couldn't listen to. Solid, but isn't this list suppose to be essential, "must-hear" listens? Apparently, not all.
Somehow, this album made my parrot very sleepy. You’d think it was a lullaby compilation. Anyway, I didn’t mind this record, but writing this review the following day I honestly can’t remember much from it. I remember thinking it was decent and enjoyable, but there was nothing that particularly stopped me in my tracks and made me pay more attention. I know that Method Man is a huge name in hip hop, but this album didn’t really blow me away. I much prefer his work within Wu-Tang.
It's kinda a morose Wu-Tang album. Very enjoyable.
I feel like the Randomizer's just being cruel at this point. Seriously, this is the third solo album from a Wu Tang member my group's gotten now. First LIQUID SWORDS, then FISHSCALE, and now this, only two days later. It's just incredible how many of these we're getting before we've even gotten 36 CHAMBERS. It's like watching THE MANDOLORIAN before A NEW HOPE,y'know? Obviously it's not bad, but I feel like you'd appreciate it more after seeing the original. Which, I feel like I have more to say about that than the album itself. Like, I'm not gonna say it's bad, or that I didn't enjoy it, but until it hit me in the face with the "I Will Survive" interpolation on "Release Yo' Delf", I really didn't have much to latch onto. The beats are fine, Method Man's raps are fine... It's all nothing that really inspires me to wanna say much. Honestly, part of me can't help but compare it to FISHSCALE album my group got two days ago. That had some incredible beats, and in general I found Ghostface Killah to be a more interesting MC. It jus' kinda... Pales a little. And maybe if I'd been allowed to have more space in-betweenI wouldn't be thinking that, but since the Randomzier decided that I needed to hear it **now**... And I don't have much else I really wanna say about it. It's a perfectly fine 3. I just hope the Randomizer decides to give us 36 CHAMBERS sooner than later — though, watch, we're gonna get ONLY BUILT 4 CUBAN LINX... tomorrow, I guarantee...
classic illmatic-style post wu-tang 90's rap. it's a vibe
Hot take: I was always underwhelmed by Meth’s solo work, especially when comparing the debuts of Liquid Swords, OB4CL, Return to 36, and Iron Man, and on this revisit I feel the same. It’s solid but Meth feels detached from the beats (which is crazy with how good his flow can be) and he doesn’t leave a lasting impression on a lot of tracks. I think it’s the weakest first step forward outside of the Clan
Rap. Nice
A nice fat slab of 90s hip-hop, if a little samey overall. Favourite tracks: Biscuits, Bring The Pain, All I Need.
Enjoyed this…partial to original Wu.
3.5
A solid output of Method's brand of 90s and early 2000s rap game.
I didn't like when he started screaming in my ear during "Express Yo'Delf"
Good beats. This rating's for Joe.
I'm not the biggest fan of Wu-Tang Clan - but at the same time I have never been overly familiar with their work; just bits and pieces here and there. I felt I could never really commit to a full LP or a full deep dive into their discography. I said it in a previous review that hip hop often lives or dies on the production table - which is why I gravitate towards the rappers that I do: OutKast, Kanye West (just his work, not him as a person), Dre, Jay-Z etc. This side of the world in hip hop I find has phenomenal lyrics and bars that I find so engaging; but I often find myself getting restless with the lack of layers in the production. That's not to say Method Man's debut 'Tical' totally lacks in bells and whistles. He must have just come off a trippy horror movie marathon or something because almost every song has haunting instrumentation over his beats. Vocal samples that seem to purposely go against the melody, moody sound effects, and sombre piano/keyboards. It's surprisingly engaging for a rap album that I would consider a more "back to basics" effort in the sea of innovation that was happening around the time. And while he's not the most technical or proficient rapper, he more than makes up for it with his wordplay and conviction. Sure, it has its fair share of confident bravado, but it's combined with his social commentary delivered through highly intelligent lyricism. I enjoyed ‘Tical'. I just wish the production had more of a kick to it. Because I admire the effort in making the tracklist darkly atmospheric, I admire his words, and I admire keeping things fundamentally simple. However, I can also see why this album flew under the radar when it was released. It's a good LP, and well worth a listen if you're in any way a fan of rap/hip hop. But I can only compare it to works I prefer - and there just happens to be a lot that I do prefer. 3/5
It's alright for hip hop.
The Good: We’ve got Kung Fu sounds again! The Bad: ‘70s sound effects where great on 36 Chambers… The Ugly: The grill… I mean, who came up with that concept??? Of all the rap from the ‘90s I have had the (dis)pleasure of listening to on this list, I find that anything WuTang related is the only palpable stuff (except for Snoop and M&M) I can set myself to listen to, and actually enjoy. So, here’s to the Method Man making me enjoy rap a little bit more! 3*
The Wu-Tang Clan have made their impact on hip-hop in a way few other groups can really compete with. But an aspect of their history that probably gets overshadowed more than it deserves is the members’ solo careers, and how solid most of them are. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and GZA/Genius all have solo projects that rival the best of the group as a whole. Even RZA, and his stint with Gravediggaz, made waves. It’s proof that each of these guys is as good on their own as they are collectively. But I specifically left out Method Man from that list. Not because I dislike him or anything though. It seems of all the members, he has received some of the least critical praise for his solo work. This debut, Tical, doesn’t seem to have really broke any new ground for audiences. But for me, all I really need is production from the RZA. I know these guys strengths well enough to have some hope. As a whole though, something feels off about this album. There was a lot of hype going into seeing what each member would be able to pull off on their own. Method Man was sort of pinned as the star player for the group, so there was especially expectations for him. And I think these expectations led to this being rushed out before it was really done cooking. The output from Method Man and RZA, who are really the two key players here, isn’t bad at all. But it’s definitely some of the most lackluster I’ve ever heard from them. The production feels muddy, and not nearly as polished or detailed as his best material. Compare something like 4th Chamber to the best this has to offer, and it’s night and day. Method Man, on the other hand, feels half asleep on most of these tracks. His lyricism is still as sharp as ever, but his delivery is surprisingly monotone and uninteresting. One of the best songs on the album is Meth Vs. Chef. And that’s almost entirely because of Raekwon, who seems to be putting way more energy into his performance and immediately upstages his co-star. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was a huge success for everyone, and it highlighted each member’s qualities very well. So I’m glad to see that most of the major ones are represented in some way on this list. But I’m also disappointed that something this drab could come from such a great artist. Rating: 6/10
Definitely not a genre I listen to but as always I will give these things a go and it wasn’t half bad. In fact I’d go as far to say that I actually enjoyed bits of it.
Tical is a brief, tonally consistent ‘90s boom-bap album that showcases RZA at his grittiest as a producer and Meth at his most competent as a rapper, although he’s clearly holding back from selling out here by resisting the urge to add in a few great hooks, which ultimately puts every track on the same playing field, with no particular song standing out above the rest. I mean all this as a compliment. Similarly, Tical is a brief, tonally consistent ‘90s boom-bap album that showcases RZA at his grittiest as a producer and Meth at his most competent as a rapper, although he’s clearly holding back from selling out here by resisting the urge to add in a few great hooks, which ultimately puts every track on the same playing field, with no particular song standing out above the rest. I mean all this as a critique.
Decent, nothing more 3.2
Pretty good. Not perfect but I think this one will grow on me.
Discos que te hacen sentir gangsta y que vives en GTA San Andreas. Bueno.
Cool!!
this is like a sequal to wutang
一般
Never listened to this one before, but I do know Method Man from Wu-Tang (and The Wire), so I had an idea of what to expect. Technically this is a really good rap album, he has a great flow and some really interesting rhymes. The production from RZA is great too. It also doesn't suffer from the bloat that other hip hop albums of the time were starting to have, clocking in at just over 40 mins and no skits or interludes to be seen. I'm not normally into this really braggadocious style of rap, but the inventive production and just plain weird lyrics alwere enough to keep me interested. The misogyny is kept to a minimum too, thankfully. A song like All I Need was kind of a breath of fresh air for the mainstream at this time, even though he's not perfect in that respect. Having said all that, there's something about this album (and Wu-Tang Clan for that matter) that stops me from engaging fully with it. I'm nots sure what it is exactly, but I find a lot of these songs to be a bit dull or forgettable. Decent album overall though.
This album is fine. It has a few fun moments, but not many. I like the beats for the most part, they are grimey. I think the worst thing about this album is the vocals. Sometimes they just seem really sloppy. Low 3
I'm not really into hip-hop but I was quite okay with this one. I liked the overall dark mood of the album. I even liked it a bit more than Wu Tang Clan's debut for some reason.
Slow paced, dirty and gritty.. I Like it. Perhaps it's bit a long.
a 3 with a heavy heart, some good tracks but album as a whole isnt much
Sure, ok
Wu Tang's solo ventures just never live up to their work as a group it seems, its not bad, but the way everything is arranged you expect to hear everyone else too, its strange.
Ticaaaaal Tical ticaaaaaal Why are there so many mediocre Wu Tang solo albums on this list? ODB better show up at some point so we can at least listen to one of the good ones!
A classic, brought my back to high school
This one doesn't do a lot for me. Probably a 3/5 for me. It's not bad, but not one I'd put on.
Favourite song meth versus chef.
Great rap album. High 3. Not a 4 because there aren’t really any hits
An aesthetic that has grown on me over the years. Nostalgia is a goon.
OK räbäytystä ja aikoinaan tuli paljonkin kuunneltua kun oli yhden kaverin suosikki levyn ilmestymisen aikoihin.
Aina tykänny Methodmanin tyylistä. Tältä levyltä jäi kuitenkin kovaa iskevät piippuun ja tulos jäi tasalaatuisen hyväksi
I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I was bobbing my head the whole time.
Great beats and a fun, bouncing flow. Method Man has a playful rhyming style. You can hear him having fun. Sometimes I think Wu-Tang Clan albums are style over substance and I think that’s the case here too. But the style is great so I don’t mind too much. “Bring the Pain” and “P.L.O. Style” popped out as highlights for me.
Wu-Tang is great and hugely influential, but I have to admit that the start of this album has been kind of annoying to listen to. There's so much going on; so many layers that don't work well with each other and it leads to this sound that feels like I'm sitting in a room with several conversations going on at the same time and I'm expected to pay to attention to one (the vocals) as the highest priority... and yet the vocals are so low in the mix. It kind of continued throughout, but the flow and lyrical quality kept me from a 2. It's a 3.
Method Man has some really solid beats in this album, and his lyrics are very good. Unfortunately, his actual rapping abilities fall behind his writing. This is still a pretty good (but not great) hip-hop album, just not as good as others by Wu-Tang members.
A really good rap album showing of Method Man's gruesome skill. Could be considered a 4 but its close
If 36 Chambers was a double-LP this whole album could serve as the second disc. 3.5/5
I've only listened to one Wu-Tang album (and thought it was fantastic), so I'm wondering if I'd appreciate this more if I were more familiar with their discography. I like to let an album marinate a few days before jotting down my thoughts, and this one hasn't been super memorable. I saw another user's comment that really clicked for me: "I like my hip-hop with hooks. Must be the pop guy in me."
A great album to listen to after 36 chambers.
The Method! Another album closer to the Clan
Method Man's Tical is the first and, unfortunately, most forgettable of the first batch of Wu-Tang solo albums. That's not to say that it's flat-out terrible, it's just that with what came out afterwards (Return to..., Cuban Linx, Liquid Swords, Ironman) it is lacking in the door bursting bombast that makes those subsequent records classics. It is a little too introverted, whether or not that was the intention. What saves is largely is Meth's swaggering, smoky personality and the way he approaches his rhymes on the mic in the unmistakable manner that made him the reluctant rugged heartthrob of the Wu. If Tical had been placed in another rapper's hands, one would not give it a second thought. Such is the transformative power of the Shaolin swordsmen. Favorites: Tical, Bring the Pain, All I Need, Meth Vs. Chef, Release Yo' Delf, P.L.O Style, Mr. Sandman.
It’s good and I enjoyed it. It does get a bit monotonous after a while.
This is real cool. The production sounds so evil and ominous. I read that a bunch of the Wu Tang guys did solo albums, but they all had the same Wu Tang guy produce them? That’s kind of funny. Bet they’re all pretty decent though if they sound like this.
I was pleasantly surprised by this because I expected to dislike it.
A lot of people wrote long reviews for this album.
Nah not quite the music I needed today. It improved over the course of the album but I couldn't get into the motivations.
This was a much better album than the last few we have gotten just due to it not being some old 60's rock album. I'm not a huge Method fan and this didn't change my opinion but I'm always happy to get some more hip hop education.
Artista desconocido, de un género que como suelo decirme, tengo ganas de seguir ahondando. También sumo a Wu-Tang Clan como una serie de artistas que tengo agendados escuchar. En esta escucha lo siento como un disco ideal para preparar una comida colectiva y mantener la buena onda con la gente (nótese mi interés en combinar ambos consumos siempre. La música no solo marida bien con cualquier situación sino que hay músicas que hacen más placentera o reflexiva cada vivencia).
Tjo, meget fedt, 3.5/5 vil jeg sige
Me gusta este disco de hip-hop
Эстетику вутанга я понимаю, но всем сердцем принять не могу..
Not bad hip-hop. Maybe because I couldn't make out the lyrics. Stand-out: Method Man - Release Yo 'Delf
Lots of Wu Tang style old school rap.
I've never listened to any of Method Man's solo work before, but I did love reviewing Enter the Wu-Tang a few weeks ago, so I have high expectations for my first solo album from a Wu-Tang member. I didn't love this album, but I thought it was pretty good. The beats, production work, and sample use were the highlights on this album for me. I'm not a big fan Method Man's rapping, but the rhymes were good, and the lyrics were pretty clever and witty. On the title track, I liked the use of the music from Superman and the reference to Superman later on in the lyrics. The opening lyrics to "Biscuits," while vulgar, were incredibly funny. I don't think I've ever heard a song say "Yo momma don't wear no drawers" and then reference the Human Torch later on. "All I Need" and "Release Yo' Delf" were my favorite tracks on the album, mostly for their brilliant use of samples. "Meth Vs. Chef" was in a close third, with its great back-and-forth between Method Man and Raekwon. Other than the rapping that I wasn't the biggest fan of, a lot of this album felt like filler, and I didn't think it really added anything significant to east coast hip hop. While it was fine, it just didn't stand out much to me.
Ehh... not super into this. Especially since yesterday I got Run-DMC. At least it doesn't suffer from the overly long rap albums that were coming.
The evil and lo-fi sound adds a lot to these songs. Probably the weakest Wu-Tang album I've had so far though. First four-or-so tracks were excellent and after that, it just all kind of blended together. Still alright.
Another rap album. My second. Didn’t recognize any songs. Probably because I don’t listen to rap. Will a wutang clan album be on here? I’ve heard of them. I guess I’ve heard of method man
At the first songs I was vibing, but then somehow lost that feeling
Unique flow, clever rhymes, solid beats. All muscle, no fat. Enjoyed it.
I was going to complain that he'd put protect ya neck on this album too but I must have kept listening after it finished so I think that's a good example that it was enjoyable to listen to but basically more wu. I think as an album its better than raekown but I'm not sure if he's a better rapper than method, I think they compliment each other and I'd say 36 chambers is better than all the solo work. It ticks the boxes for 90s east coast rap but it's not essential. 3.5.
Been a while since I listened to method man. High school me was all about this. Holds up ok.
Not a bad album, but one that wouldn't be on my frequently played list.
Meth has never been my favorite Wu Tang member. This record sort of just reinforces my feeling that he is extremely solid but a little unremarkable. I don't like how muddy the vocals are on lots of this either. This is a record that I wouldn't be mad to here come on but I'm not seeking it out either.
but monotonous, but what is repeated is sick af. interludes & production are rlly cool.
I didn't hate it.
Again a respectable WTC solo project. I like the overall atmosphere, losing it a bit toward the end.
Un buen álbum de rap noventero que continúa el sombrío sonido establecido por el Wu-Tang Clan con uno de sus miembros tomando el protagonismo microfónico. Si bien Method Man es uno de los actores principales del fortalecimiento del "East Side", la producción del disco puede sentirse difusa y repetitiva. En mi opinión, es un LP de 3.5 estrellas.
Really good.
After the success of Wu-Tang's 36 Chambers, members would disburse to work on other projects: RZA did production work with Gravediggaz, GZA released Liquid Swords, Raekwon had Cuban Linx, and ODB Returned to the 36 Chambers. But it was Method Man who was the first one to strike it solo with Tical. At the time, Method Man was arguably the most popular member of Wu-Tang, so it made sense for him to springboard off this popularity into a solo album. His distinct delivery is just as good here as it was on 36 Chambers, and RZA's production compliments his style well. This lends to a majority of the album's personality, making Tical a cold and smokey experience. While Method Man gives a solid performance throughout the album, it's easy to see why Tical got overshadowed by the other releases I mentioned at the top; It's an overall underwhelming experience in comparison. Liquid Swords hit harder, Return to the 36 Chambers had more personality, 6 Feet Deep was darker. Despite Meth's prowess, he was seemingly outdone on all fronts.
This aged better than some of the 90s rap records - no problematic skits throughout. However I really didn’t care for Method Man’s style. But the beats were great - so 3/5.
3.5
It's okay. Didn't love nor hate. 3/5
I liked some beats, samples and arrangements, but overall didn’t love the album
очень не хватило женского голоса, так просто крепкий альбомчик
Оно все норм У битов не хватает жира и какого сока внутри, звучит довольно блекло Читка забавная местами, не более. Панчи тоже есть Алкоальбом: дефолтный виски кола
Solid
Dark and moody but immersive
Really solid album - can function as both an active listen (lyrics are clever, beats are strong) and a background listen too as it has a strong ambient profile past the beat. This comes out after Wu-Tang's 36 Chambers and you can start to hear some of the Eastern sound influence that becomes part of their sound going forward.
This is the debut solo album from Method Man, who was the first of the Wu-Tang Clan to launch a successful solo career. His long career has produced an extensive catalog, both as a solo performer and in various grouping. Method Man's voice has a distinct, rich sound, making his vocals more melodic than most rap. I'm not a fan of the genre - I don't think we should celebrate violence. This album does include some of that, but does have a few tracks with more positive messages.
I don't really like rap music...
The tracks in the middle of the album were more enjoyable for me. Some of the beats were pretty unique w/ a slightly creepy vibe which was cool.
A good album with a bit of darkness to it
I like it for the same reason Jake doesn’t. 90s rap is awesome!
I liked this. This is WuTang era Method Man. He's got a great flow and this album has a few bangers, but it's very 90's and sounds a bit dated.
Average rap album. 3/5
Good rap.not my favorite music but good quality and cool rythm
Method Man, of Wu-Tang Clan spitting verses and calling hearses. Not my thing, but the lyrical genius cannot be ignored.
Was not expecting a Method Man record to appear hear, but I ain't complaining, he was my favorite Wu-Tang member.
It was a a pretty good album. It was my first time listening to the whole album. I had heard some of the songs before. I would listen to the album again.
Day91 - this is a tough one. method man is great the beat flows well, but it feels long and repetitive
rza the razor, with boring lasers
All the elements are there, just not really for me I don't think.
He’s cool af.this didn’t blow my mind though.
Similar to a lot of heavy metal in that I can appreciate the technical ability but also feel that it's a bit too angry for me
Finally a rapper with some skill, but the songs aren't that great.
I like it but I don’t love it. Think Ironman and Cuban Linx are both better.
It was ok. I'm absolutely not into rap music but I kind of liked this one.
I was surprised by this. I've listened to an awful lot of 90'd Hip-Hop/Rap lately, this failed to impress.
Not my style but I loved the samples and references within the music. I’m honestly just impressed that he was able to bring in Holst, Gloria Gaynor, and School House Rock all on one album and yet as abstract and all over the place as that sounds the album was incredibly cohesive.
Not bad No skits so that's a big positive decent length easy listen very in the pocket, very decent Easy 3
It was okaaaaayyyy. Not a big Wu-Tang fan, but respect it. A few decent songs. I’ll round up to 3, but more like a 2.8
The Wu-Tang beat
Not really my style
Liked the sound and flow but not my thing.
I find I don’t have much to say about Tical aside from M-E-T-H-O-D maan I think that’s it for Wu-Tang albums on this list- already heard Raekwon, GZA, Ghostface Killah and the OG 36 Chambers. In a similar vein to Sonic Youth, I never thought I needed to hear 5 albums from this collective, but it’s been a neat journey. HL: “Release Yo’ Delf”, “Bring the Pain”, “I Get My Thang in Action”, “Mr. Sandman” February 29, 2024
It’s chill, not my thing though
Cool to hear method man doin his thing. Not the best wu tang solo album, but definitely not bad. Somewhat one dimensional.
Being a big presence on 36 Chambers, I have a soft spot for Method. Additionally, some of his acting roles are really enjoyable to me. This album is just a classic with the solid kung fu movie sampling, a laid back and cool flow, and some staple beats and some real fun samples. Release Yo Delf particularly stands out with the fun kinda remixy style. Highlights - Bring the Pain, Meth Vs Chef, Release Yo Delf
This was fine. Never wanted to turn it off but nothing particularly grabbed me. 2.5 rounded up to 3.
This was better than I expected. Some reasonably decent melodies here and there. The production at times seemed Dr. Dre-ish, but he wasn’t involved. Wouldn’t listen to again, but a pleasant surprise.
Basically feels like a Wu-Tang Clan record, so if you're into that, this should be a breeze. I'm not particularly hooked by it but there is an undeniable charm about classic East Coast hip hop with impeccable production from RZA.
Dark and gritty RZA productions. Method Man is cool and brings a lot of his Wu-Tang tricks with him. It works. It’s a bit too one sided for me to be fully engaged; definitely worth a listen though.
It's fine. Not my kind of music. I got to the end without being annoyed. Feels like a 3/5.
That's not my taste in musik. But ok
all i need, release yo 'delf
Interessant
One of the weaker links in the Clan.
Good beats and tunes. Nothing too memorable or standing or for me. But it was a pleasant listen.
Old school hip hop, good but didn't love it.
I didn't mind this album - it had some nice grooves, clever lyrics, and the songs fit together well (cohesive). But I didn't find there were any songs or parts of it that were particularly memorable. Maybe the underlying beat in Bring the Pain or All I Need, or the twist on I Will Survive that marks the start and end of Release Yo Delf. But even those things I couldn't remember when the album was over so there was nothing calling me back to the album. Feels like good background rap/hip hop music.
Favorite Tracks: Bring The Pain Tical Release Yo’ Delf
not my thing, but solid beats
Even though I’m a hip hop head, this wasn’t very interesting. He obviously can rap, but I found the beats quite wack and the mastering is terrible. Very flat sound.
6/10 - 3/5 Good flow, classic NY hip-hop. Every song sounds pretty similar, with no standouts. It has a good vibe with the martial arts vibe, but I'd never pick it first.
Nice to listen too, but sounds all the same to me.
Yeah fine. I didn't like it loathe this. The definition of a 3 star
Not my cup of tea particularly although did enjoy a few of the songs
It's just average 90s rap. If you haven't listened to it, you don't need to, it's just the starter pack beats with the starter pack lyrics.
I dig Method Man but this album was never quite on a par with some of the other Wu Tang offshoot projects, or indeed his Redman collaborations. Meth is one of the best when he's contributing a guest verse or two to other people's tracks but I don't rate him so highly for carrying a whole album or even a full track. This is good but not great.
Love the variety on this list so far. Some old school hip-hop I'm here for it. Not my favorite album but still appreciated. Favorite songs: Bring The Pain, All I Need
Basically Wu Tang style rap, it was alright but nothing that I was vibing to too hard Solid 3***
Some great memories listening to this when it first came out
Not a bad album, just absolutely was not written with me as the intended listener. Method Man is a legend and this was a good listen.
Best Song: Release Yo' Delf. I love the creativity of this kind of half-way cover chorus. Worst Song: Tical. Bit of a weird intro and too slow and plodding a beat to really draw you into the album. Overall: I will always maintain that Method Man has the best voice and flow of any of the Wu-Tang Clan, and this album only reinforces that opinion. Overall a fun album, even though it never did all that much to elevate to hit that next level like their collaborative work.
Well, the beats were fresh, the rhymes were tight and the hooks were catchy, but I felt this album lacked a sprinkling of platinum (so beloved by the genre) dust. A decent listen nonetheless.
i wanted to like this album but it just didn't grip me. i don't have any nostalgia for wu-tang clan and don't know a ton about rap and hip-hop (so not off to a great start) but these lyrics and production felt solid. the more musical tracks were entertaining, and i especially liked the gloria gaynor interpolation in release yo delf. favorites: tical, bring the pain, release yo delf
Not obnoxious.
3.3/5 pretty good - listened 2x
The second WuTang member I've had on this list, Method Man didn't do much here that would bring me back. Lackadaisical would be a good way to describe the feeling a lot of these songs gave to me. Even the big hits are nothing I'd really come back to. Much respect to Method Man, but this album wasn't for me. Highlight: Bring The Pain Lowlight: Stimulation Surprise Hit: Release Yo'Delf
Maybe 3.5
Method Man ...isn't he an actor? Oh right.. another rapper from New York. Why have all the rappers been from New York thus-far? (Album 29/1001) Anyway, I wish I had listened to more WuTang before this so I could compare it, since I know he's in the clan.. Buuttt hiphop/rap isn't really my genre! In any case... with fresh ears this is a bit rougher to adopt into than ATCQ. it's a bit scrappier than what I am used to and I find his voice gets sorta lost in the mix on some songs. The loops are fantastic, 3 or 4 songs in, the flow is starting to grow on me. Lyrically sometimes he drops a deep nerd cut and references something like Fantastic Four, sometimes he busts rhymes like jizm.... It's all over the place. I just don't get it. lol. There is a grimy, spooky darkness to the whole comp that makes it pretty interesting to listen to, I guess? Review of Reviews: People who love rap love this, so it must be good. Best Song: I will survive.. I mean.. Release Yo' Delf
I like this better than GZA’s “Liquid Swords,” mostly because I prefer the beats on this one. Method Man has palpable energy and as dark as the album sounds, it also has some humor. The features from other members of Wu-Tang Clan elevate the album. I like Blue Raspberry’s vocals on the second half. I think prefer rap that has more hooks, but I understand that wasn’t really the thing to do at the time. It’s a fun album, but not without its flaws. I think I’d give it a 3.5, but given the criteria by which I’ve given albums 4s, I think I have to go with 3/5 for this.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: This should be fine to listen to/educational. It sounds like 1994, but I can also hear how this influenced contemporary hip hop already. AFTER LISTENING: I immediately went to the deluxe edition to relisten to some of the singles and assess if I wanted to do a deeper listen. AFTER LEARNING MORE: The lore is simply too deep to really give it justice on a weekday. RECCOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: Learning about the East Coast rap scene, want some background sounds with a vaguely ominous but not too stressful (if you're not listening closely) vibes... 339 issued / 488 rated
it was fine
Excellent hip hop album from one of the greatest members of the Wu. Som absolutely HUGE tunes on this one!
Like this more than most 90s rap. N-bombs at an efficient minimum and the flow is pretty smooth.
Life is temporary but wutang is forever
Far from the best hip hop
Not really my thing, but enjoyable enough
Favourite songs: Bring the Pain, Biscuits, P.L.O. Style, Stimulation Least favourite songs: Tical 3/5
A solid and fun hip-hop record, but not the strongest Wu Tang solo outing by any means
DOOM took a lot of inspiration from method man and I can see why. Not all the songs are hits but I like a lot of them. Fun wordplay and interesting rhyme scheme. Favorites: Bring the pain All I need
really special ambience to this one, but if youre not in the right mood, these songs can feel empty and filled with silence and awkwardness, instead of the interesting mystery of detuned samples and raw drums
This was probably my favorite Wu Tang project so far, but it is still further proof that they aren't for me. I just don't feel enough variability between the tracks or flow to hold my interest in the whole album. Favorite track: Mr. Sandman
Best wel lekker
I really wanted to like this more that I did.
not really my thing
Good album but not really vibing w the genre atm
I love Method's voice and flow. The album is solid.
Lack of hooks kills it. I appreciate the lyricism and rapping ability but there’s very little to latch onto to make me want to come back to this. 5/10
The highlights are pretty standard, and well executed, 90s rap fare. However, much of the album is experimental, dissonant, and often sparse creating an almost horror movie atmosphere. Not bad, but hard to get into.
I love creepy, but this the kinda creepy sounds that makes me feel uncomfortable
I understand the significance of Method Man & Wu-Tang, but this isn't for me.
Fun fact: Method Man once swam the English Channel naked.
It’s fine. It’s not the best thing he ever did. That would be the South Park concert thing with Ozzie Osbourne and ol dirty bastard. But it’s solid.
Its not aweful. I have now heard even more hip hop and can say I heard something offshot from wu-tan clan but I miss the signifcance and imprtance shirotically msuically or otherwise? why is this different enough to include? Its smooth consistent and like one long background track for a ganster scene - repetitive for me, you? its not talkoing ot me, its not my pain, origin, style or scene I see puff daddy helped on a remix...
Oh, look, it's another mid-90s Wu Tang album. Sometimes I wonder at Dimery's lack of imagination in compiling this list of 1001 albums, and he clearly doesn't know much about hip-hop.... That said, this is a reliably cool mid-90s Wu Tang album. Method Man's flow is charismatic and compelling. The beats have a wonky lo-fi funky feel, with plenty of cinematic atmosphere. The album sounds good, and the lyrics aren't as unpleasant as most gangsta albums (although not without a faint smell of violence and sexism). I don't like the ham-fisted interpolation of I Will Survive on Release Yo' Delf. I do like that this album is both a sensible album length (44 minutes), and so doesn't outstay its welcome, and there are no skits (which are, IMHO, a blight on most hip hop albums). It's OK, but 36 Chambers is the only Wu Tang album you really need to hear.
Not really my thing, but it’s ok.
pretty good sound, unique blends. Lyrical content was not to my liking.
Not lifechanging, but not bad either. Marginally more of a nuanced take on gangster life etc than you got from the albums 3-4 years earlier, but still not exactly subtle. His flow is great, the production is good but not great. A solid but unspectacular album, 3/5.
He's a good rapper, and I like the sound of his voice. I found the beats a little underwhelming, I expect more from RZA.
A bit goofy like typical Wu-Tang Clan output but not bad, definitely something to have on in the background since it's not quite deep, but it's not a bad vibe.
Good, all the tracks were high quality and had a great sound
Pretty classic album that aged well
3.75
Helt billlll
Decent, bra beatz och rapz, men alltså det behövs int så mycket wu-tang att man inkluderar sånhänt som låter som all annan wu-tang... speciellt med hur lite annan hiphop det finns
I'm not sure how to review this, as I was not in the right frame of mind for it. It was much darker than expected, and I shouldn't have listened to it while I was working, because I couldn't focus on the lyrics as much as I should have. But yeah, nothing about it hooked me, really. Maybe I'll try it again one day.
Comme on pouvait s'y attendre, l'album Tical est un exemple de méthodologie. L'artiste commence ainsi avec une phrase d'accroche, une définition des termes du sujet, pose les enjeux de celui-ci et en sort une problématique. Il annonce ensuite le plan puis développe ses idées de manière ordonnée dans un I] et un II] eux-mêmes divisés en A) et B). Un exemple du genre.
Je m'avoue agréablement supris par le dénommé Method Man. Vous n'êtes en effet pas sans savoir que je ne supporte pas le ice cube hip hop, mais ce bon vieux Method Man a réussi à me faire passer un bon moment. Plus fort encore, Monsieur Method ne dépasse même pas les 50mn de musique, fait extrêmement rare pour un album de ice cube hip hop.
Decent rap album, nothing particularly special about it though
Ok
This makes me think of the 90's and I never listened to this until today. I can identify with the early lo-fi rap / Wu-Tang stuff and was happy to have this playing in the background. Brought back some good memories of playing Street Fighter and doing bong hits.
Doesn’t strike me the way 36 Chambers does, but it’s a strong first solo effort from the group. To me it’s not as classic of an album as Raekwon or even ODBs first solo albums, but still has some good tracks that hold up. Generally though it sounds a little dated - and the best track isn’t even on the album - You’re All I Need to Get By with MJB.
It was Ight. Had some pretty damn good songs but nothing blew me away. Solid three, but still a three. B side was better.
Like 3 maybe
Method Man often outshines everyone on wu tang tracks and on guest verses. He has charisma and a unique flow. But I just can’t get down with his records. And although I respect RZA as a beat maker I think his murky dark beats on this are a bit one note. I even own the album on CD. Sits in a box in the cellar. But I never really appreciated it. I can’t help but feel Tical is a bit dreary. It’s hard hitting classic New York boom bap, it just lacks stand out tracks and variety. Compared to other classic rap albums from 94 it doesn’t hold up (in an admittedly extremely tough competition). It lacks the poetic imagery and beat variety of Illmatic or the stand out tracks of Hard to earn. There are even albums in a similar style like O.Cs word…life that I like way better. Tical does not even make the top 10 of rap albums of 1994 for me. For all the negativity above, it’s still method man and rza. 3 stars
3.75
Not bad