Don't feel like writing a review... but my line of thinking is
that while this album is disappointing and spotty, it's solid
and better than most stuff... but I have far higher standards
for Blackalicious, and for the first time there's more than 
one song I don't like. 

Ya played Ab? naw! Ya played yourself (DaMachine@webtv.net) wrote:

: Track by Track Commentary:
: 1) Searching - Basically an intro, with a beautiful jazzy groove playing
: in the background, featuring Erinn Anova and Gift of Gab reciting a
: spoken word joint. After they finsh up, there is a nice little chorus of
: what appears to be children chanting "nia". Nice way to start off the
: album.

I don't like this or the interludes... they're just weird to me.

: 2) The Fabulous Ones - DOPE! Sorta reminds me of Bombonyall fron the
: Quannum Spectrum LP. Gab spits some flawless battle rhymes over a
: customary funky, bouncy and dense Cheif Xcel beat. Very hype, may go
: over well in mix shows. Xcel also shows off some skills on the ones and
: twos that I didnt know that he had. If this doesnt have you wanting to
: listen to the rest of the album, then this album may not be for you.

One of the HOT songs on this album. I counted about 4 in total.
Classic Blackalicious, but not quite "Rhymes For The Def" or
"Lyric Fathom". Very, very good nonetheless.

: 3) Do This My Way (featuring Lyrics Born) - Somewhat of a filler track,
: but I'm glad that they put it early in the album like they did. LB and
: Gab celebrate their independence on this one. Beat provided by Lyrics
: Born, and it is somewhat reminiscent of "Say that" from the Latyrx LP.
: Basically drums with a funky guitar, subtle flute and computer noises.
: Not bad, but by far not the best song on the album. The closest thing to
: fast-forwardable material to the album, due to the slightly bland beat.

This track is one of the best ones to me... just shy of the
four classics. Such charisma. The "Say That" comparison is
close. Lyrics Born is so good sometimes.

: 4) Deception - This is the same track that popped up on the "'A2G" EP
: from earlier this year. Nice little story of how a once dope MC got
: gassed by success and wound up playing himself.

Never liked this song... it's so monotonous.

: 5) A to G - Once again, this track was on the "'A2G" EP. Another dope
: joint, with Gab at his best, demonstrating his masterful grasp of the
: english language, running through the alphabet effortlessly. Xcel rips
: it again with a classical piano loop, and rolling drums that seem to get
: hyper as the song goes on.

Nothing we haven't heard before. No need for explanation. It's
tight.

: 6) Cliff Hanger - Produced by DJ Shadow. Features crazy sounding,
: Mantronik-esque 808 drums that will shock you at first, but will amaze
: you later. Gab tell an ill story of how he meets a woman in a bar, who
: turns out to be the "dragon queen" trying to find some lost scrolls.
: Sounds corny, but must be heard. They actually pull it off, and if you
: are into mystical story rhymes and old school hip hop, or just likes
: different, off-the-wall sounding shit, you'll love this track.

This song is just plain unlistenable to me. Wack beat, corny
song. Gab sounds by far the worst he's ever sounded.

: 7) Shallow Days - WOW!!! In my opinion the best song on the LP, and
: thats saying a lot! words cannot describe the dopeness of this track,
: but I'll try anyway. The beat has a mellow bump to it, not like the
: Roots, but more like 40 oz. for breakfast on the Melodica EP. On this
: track, Gab bemoans the dormant state of conscious hip hop, while not
: totally condemning the thug type of rap that dominates today. It seems
: to me that he is really just trying to unite the torn hip hop nation,
: and create something special. Rewind over and over again. WOW!!!

Another good comparison (to 40 oz. for breakfast) although the
subject matter (while sad) is not quite as sad as it is tired
(and I don't mean sad or tired as bad). The 2nd classic to me.

: 8) Ego Trip By Nikki Giovanni - Just Erinn Anova reciting a Nikki
: Giovanni poem over a funky Xcel beat.

Again, I was like "what the hell?". I skip this on every listen.

: 9) You Didnt Know That Though - Funky ass beat laced with the classic
: Quannum touch with Gab basically doing his next level bragadocio. Dope,
: yet unspectacular.

Very, very fresh to me. If the stuff I consider classic wasn't so
good, I'd call this a classic too. Like "Do This My Way", this is
very hot to me but not quite classic.

: 10) If I May (feauturing Lateef) - This one was co-produced by DJ Shadow
: with Xcel, and not nearly as "left field" as "Cliff Hanger". Gab rhymes
: about the end of time and religion skillfully over a funky, lush guitar
: loop that seems ever changing (I know that makes no sense, but you'll
: see). Lateef basically just helps out with the hook. Dope as hell.

This is the 3rd classic to me. Very good music. It all comes
together so well.

: 11) Dream Seasons - Another guitar loop, this time a little more funky
: and less lush and acoustic, but equally as dope. The only bone I have to
: pick with this track is the too loud kick drum which may be a little
: nitpicky (as a beatmaker I notice things like this). More dopeness.

Decent, but I expect more from Blackalicious. Gab doesn't come
as nicely as I'd hope.

: 12) Trouble (Eve of Destruction) - Raw ass battle rhymes over a
: throwback, boom bap sonic creation. Dope as fuck, once again.

Again, decent, but not a standout. Something just doesn't sound
right. I don't like Gab's rhyme structure sometimes on this.
The beat isn't that fresh to me either. It's still ok though.

: 13) Smithzonian Institute of Rhyme (featuring Lateef) - Lateef and Gab
: rhyming double time over what sounds like a spy movie soundtrack with
: very odd drums. Very creative and different. Most will either love it or
: hate it. I love it.

Really disappointing to me. Again, it's weird and doesn't really
work.

: 14) Beyonder - Gab flips it abstract over a ridiculous beat that Xcel
: should be smacked for (and thats a good thing, btw.). Funky ass drums
: laced with animal sounds, cowbells, and everything else but the kitchen
: sink. Dope and very creative.

The beat here is cool, but I hate Gab's style on this. It's scary
that there's multiple instances of me not liking Gab on this. It's
still a solid track, and Gab really turns it on in the second verse,
but it's just the first verse is hard to get into.

: 15) Making Progress - Beautiful, feel good track, where Gab gives love
: and respect to all those struggling, trying to do their thing. I just
: catch positive vibes coming from my speaker everytime I hear this track.
: Very inspirational, and very dope too. Can be found on the "A2G"' EP.

Very good track again. I liked this one a lot on "A2G" and I'm
glad it showed up again here.

: 16) As The World Turns - The shit just keeps getting better. In this one
: Gab sorta plays the role of detached world observer, who also starts
: reminiscing over his younger years. Erinn Anova blesses the track with
: her very distinct, beautiful voice, for the soulful hook. Once again,
: Xcel should be smacked (once again, a good thing). This shit is so,
: funky, jazzy, soulful, you just wanna.....I just dont know!

This song is cool. I'd much rather see Gift 'experiment' like
this than like 'Cliff Hanger' or 'Smithzonian...'.

: 17) Sleep - Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!!! Lovers of the piano loop, behold. This
: shit is just so smooth that it doesnt need a bassline. This shit is a
: tear jerker, straight up. It almost seems as though Gab is talking over
: the track, with some ill abstract spoken word poetry, but he actually is
: rhyming. The beat itself just gives you visions of whatever you want.
: This shit takes it home! My God!

This is the 4th classic. Amazing, amazing song, hindered only very
slightly by a tone that plays over the hook (sounds kinda like a
voice singing 2 tones). Other than that, it's basically flawless.
Incredible song to me. When Gift applies himself, he puts such
feeling into it. This is classic stuff.

: 18) Finding - Great way to end the LP. Basically ends the same as it
: started with Erinn Anova and Gab reciting another poem, equally as
: beautiful as the opening track, with the funky shit provided by hip
: hop's best producer, Chief Xcel (yeah I said it).

You're insane. Xcel missed on some of this stuff, and when his body
of work is as large as Prince Paul or Premier I'll consider him
great, but until then, he's just a good producer.

: For those who understand and enjoy Blackalicious, enjoy, you will
: not be dissapointed. For those who dont feel them, or never heard them,
: I ask that you PLEASE give them at least a chance. On a scale of 1 to
: 10, this recieves an almost perfect 9.7.

What's to "understand" about Blackalicious? For those who've enjoyed
Blackalicious in the past, I don't know that they wont be
disappointed... I was a little disappointed myself, and I no longer
hold Blackalicious as highly as I used to, although to me they still
put out one of the best albums of the year and still are great.