JUNE 4TH & 5TH, 2021
1.TEARS OF RAGE- Great bluesy, slow 60's ballad.
2.TO KINGDOM COME- A bit more upbeat than the last track. The R-&-B influence of the music is beginning to shine through.
3.IN A STATION- Yet another great track emblematic of the era, the same kind of vibe as "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum and "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells. Cool, unique instrumental accompanient.
4.CALEDONIA MISSION- This album keeps on getting better and better! Great piano work on this mid-tempo track.
5.THE WEIGHT- One of my favorite tracks on this album. Nothin' but bittersweet, yet good vibes from this folksy, soulful, vaguely-countryish track.
6.WE CAN TALK- Gotta love that organ. 'Nuff said.
7.LONG BLACK VEIL- Slower, bluesy, not too bad.
8.CHEST FEVER- KILLER OPENING! Sounds a tad "heavier" than the other songs (with those drums and psychedelic-ish organ and all). Perhaps my other favorite song on this album.
9.LONESOME SUZIE- Slow, melancholy type of song. I definitely don't dislike it though.
β10.THIS WHEEL'S ON FIRE- Definitely the most "far-out" song on the album. Pretty darn cool with a different vibe, and the third of my three equally favorite album tracks.
11.I SHALL BE RELEASED- Strong closing track to a very good album.
γγThe VERDICT: Great album that should be listened to by anyone interested in C.C.R, Bob Seger, Neil Young and of course, Bob Dylan, along with late-Sixties music (and the era as a whole). Would definitely add it to the vinyl collection and listen to it again (and might enjoy it more the second time).
β RATING: 4.25/5
June 6th, 2021
1.SURE SHOT- I'm liking the flute sample. GREAT party track.
2.TOUGH GUY- Pure punk rock craziness. REAL crazy stuff.
3.B-BOYS MAKIN' WITH THE FREAK FREAK- Great drums, hilarious sample (lol), but I wish I knew what they were saying...
4.BOBO ON THE CORNER-Jamming instrumental. Once again, great drums.
5.ROOT DOWN- Dope track (probably the best on the album so far). Love the funky 70's bass and jazz samples.
6.SABOTAGE- Solid rap-rock.π―
7.GET IT TOGETHER- Unusual vibes.π―
8.SABROSA- A funky instrumental straight out of 1973, just made for "passion".
9.THE UPDATE- Those drums go hard. They're probably spittin' bars too.
10.FUTTERMAN'S RULE-Yet another funky instrumental track.
11.ALRIGHT HEAR THIS- The drums and bass are π₯ (I hear that cowbell too). I wish I understood the lyrics more...
12.EUGENES LAMENT- WOW! TOTALLY DIFFERENT SOUND. Interesting gypsy vibes with the fiddle too.
13.FLUTE LOOP- Some more flute samples like "Sure Shot" in a mellower track.
14.DO IT- Total 90's vibes and more intelligible vocals.
15.RICKY'S THEME- Another seventies inspired instrumental, this time more on the jazzy side.
16.HEART ATTACK MAN- F'n crazy! Lives up to its name.
17.THE SCOOP- Jazzy beat and I can sorta tell what I'm hearing.
18.SHAMBALA- The Buddhist chants are a cool touch in this other funky instrumental.
19.BODHISATTVA VOW-The Buddhist vibes sort of continue in this track, both in the form of the title and the cymbals.
20.TRANSITIONS: Pretty funky slow jam of a final track.
>In Review: Considering that my existing musical tastes are pretty far from this, I'm actually surprised at how my I enjoyed Ill Communication. The album is primarily a dynamic duo of punk rock and hip-hop, and the funky seventies-flavored instrumentals make it a unique trifecta. Even though I found that the vocals on several tracks were tough to make out, I enjoyed the overall eclectic sound on this album and would give it a 7 out of 10 if possible.
June 7th, 2021
1.THE CONCEPT- Solid first track in two parts. Definitely a rock "anthem".
2.SATAN- Experimental. Self explanatory.
3.DECEMBER- Not too bad. The violins make the song.
4.WHAT YOU DO TO ME -My favorite track so far. Great harmonies.
5.I DON'T KNOW- All-around good rock song.
6.STAR SIGN- πΌ"ditto"
8.METAL BABY- If the Beatles, circa 1963, made a song about an edgy metal chick, this would be it. Definitely a favorite.
9.PET ROCK- Good guitar solo.
10.SIDEWINDER- Another slightly more contemporary take on Beatles harmonies.
11.ALCOHOLIDAY- This is what happiness sounds like.
12.GUIDING STAR- Nice mellowed out tune.
13.IS THIS MUSIC- A refreshing change of pace from the rest of the album encompasses this final track.
>In Review: It's impossible to truly dislike this album. Even though it's overall pretty straightforward (nothing too crazy) it's well-produced and there's great harmonies, guitar solos and good vibes throughout. It's timeless pop rock for the whole family (well, except for "Satan" of course). With all that being said, "The Concept" is this album's very own rock anthem and "Metal Baby" is an awesome track that brings the Please Please Me-era Beatles to mind. Also, the final track "Is This Music?" is a refreshing stylistic change of pace (another stylistic deviation on this album would be terrific). Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10 if possible.
June 8th, 2021
1.DESAFINADO- Great easygoing Bossa-Nova that sets the whole mood.
2.SAMBA DEES DAYS- Festive tune.
What's not to love about it.
3.O PATO- Nice acoustic work on this song. One of the best on the album.
4.SAMBA TRISTE- Minor key samba. Pretty good.
5.SAMBA DE UMA NOTA SO- The percussion really makes this track something special.
6.E LUXO SO- This one REALLY takes you south of equator. Perhaps my favorite track.
7.BAHIA- Sets a similar mood to "Samba Trieste". Not bad for a romantic evening either.
>In Review: If possible, this would get a 9 out of 10. Like Stan Getz's later album "Getz/Gilberto"(1964), this album is full of relaxing songs that whisks the listener away to the sunny land of Brazil. I do feel as if vocals would have elevated this album (Astrud and JoΓ£o Gilberto's vocals, along with Antonio Carlos Jobim's piano made the latter named album special, a true 5/5). However Getz, Byrd and the rest of the musicians on this album truly made it terrific, and worthy of the record collections of any sophisticated music connoisseur. Should I ever visit Brazil, this will be on the playlist.
June 9th, 2021
1.RIDDLE OF THE EIGHTIES- Awesome opener that let's me know that this will be my kind of album.
2.IN MY MIND- Sort of "island" vibes with the guitar.
3.WHISPERIN' WHILE HOLLERIN'- Heavier than the previous songs. Good stuff.
4.VASTOPOL- Instrumental interlude, overall a very quiet track.
5.MAS COJONES- Kind of an unusual track, but that's what makes this album so versatile.
6.WHAT GETS HEARD- Reminds me of something from DEVO's 1978 debut. Pretty awesome stuff.
7.LET THE DRUMMER HAVE SOME- Oh, he got some alright.
8.LIBERTY FOR OUR FRIEND- The whole damn band sings "all together now..."
9.TIME WITH YOU- Good drum and bass in this track.
10.IF'N- Real mellow stuff at both ends but a rocker in the middle.
11.SOME THINGS- Another one of the more rocking tracks on this album. Good stuff.
12.UNDERSTANDING- Overall, my favorite track.
13.'NUF THAT S*** GEORGE- Once again, the drummer had some.
14.THE SOFTEST HAMMER- Great slower-paced closing song
>In Review: Overall, a great album. I had never heard of fIREHOSE before being recommended this, but I really enjoy their UNIQUE sound and I look forward to checking out more of their material. Even for the country/folk fans like myself, it's real solid stuff