The album was a clear commercial success. And Mathers can execute rap very well. Beyond that, this is a mess of an album coming from someone who’s both insecure and seeks shock value to compensate. I stopped listening halfway through, realizing that if I want to be shocked I can just read the evening news.
An all around great album showing the range and depth of Monk’s work. Every track is interesting and unique in its own right. At times he takes the limelight and others he lets his fellow musicians cook. If someone asked where to start with jazz, this would be a great sequel to big band greats like Ellington.
The album was a clear commercial success. And Mathers can execute rap very well. Beyond that, this is a mess of an album coming from someone who’s both insecure and seeks shock value to compensate. I stopped listening halfway through, realizing that if I want to be shocked I can just read the evening news.
Imagine the late 1970s. You’re driving a giant American car that rivals the size of small boats. It’s dusk on a summer evening. You pop this 8-track in and start bopping your head to the jazz rock fusion. You pay attention to the varying rhythms and surprising chord progressions. You appreciate the excellent production quality of the recording. It seems like the road will last forever. You keep driving. It’s sublime.
This album is an example of what you can do with great lyrics, rhythm, and music all rolled together. Such a breath of fresh air compared to some of the more contemporary, trap-oriented hip-hop.
What an album. Almost every song is captivating. The musicality and creativity shines through. Elton's music grabs you by the ears and doesn't let go.
It’s fine. It’s funky and soul-ful. But it doesn’t stand out to me. Enjoyable but not noteworthy.
A few songs are standouts on this album and really capture the era. The others are decent and fit well with the genre but are forgettable. I’m glad I listened to this album but it’s not one I think I’ll come back to repeatedly.