Hey all,

First of all, check out my man Daz's review of this CD here.

This is my first real solid taste of Fat Joe on a large scale. Of course I've heard his bigger singles but I've never sat down and listened to an entire album of his.

First thing is, I think Fat Joe is a great rapper and this CD is very good, in my opinion. However, there were some positives and negatives about it.

The positives are Fat Joe's delivery and lyrics. Although he neatly fits into the 'gangsta rap' category, he is still an innovative lyricist and his delivery is fantastic and much better than many rappers on the scene at the moment. The production on the album was also an awesome factor, Cool & Dre did a great job producing more than half the album and the tracks that are produced by DJ Khaled and Timbaland are also terrific.

I was also happy to see the Lean Back Remix on this CD, when it was released last year I picked it up and thought it was a great track and it fits into this album nicely (apart from Eminem being on it, given the current Fifty vs. Fat Joe beef it's kind of inappropriate, bet they'd be kicking themselves in retrospect if it weren't for the quality of the track...). The only negative about this track is Mase's return. I don't like Mase.

My biggest problem with the record is the lack of quality in the collaborations. Not counting Lean Back which was created last year, the CD features some big name artists but most of them fail to shine. The Timbaland track is really great (but his vocal contribution is minimal, his production rocks) but the tracks featuring Mashonda, Nelly, R. Kelly and J-Lo all basically suck. I think this is really disappointing for Joe. Firstly because he has a strong history of quality collabo tracks (ie. Whats Luv, Crush Tonight, etc.) and also because the tracks with the big names are the tracks that have the most single potential but, in this case, the big names are outweighed by the suckiness of the tracks.

The standout track for me on this CD is by far the Fifty Cent diss My Fofo. As Daz mentioned in his review, Joe totally kills Fifty on this track! "Is it me, or does Candy Shop sound like Magic Stick", spot on - the two songs really do sound incredible similar. "You see MJ in the hood more than Fifty..." thats a great line as well but there are countless more. The chances of this track coming out as a single are very slim because it is battle-rap which rarely makes single-material but it's a great track nonetheless.

I also liked Temptation Pt. 1 and Rock Ya Body. Honourable mention goes to Safe 2 Say. I doubt Temptation will be released as a single because its not very PC (basically about the temptation to kill) but here's hoping the other two make the cut.

All in all, a good CD, albeit disappointing contributions from some big names. Fatty puts it together in the end though as a result of his skills as a rapper but is he the King of NY? Daz and I had an interesting convo about it over msn, now that Jigga has left the scene, who is the new King of NY? I dont know but I dont think its Fifty (unless it's left up to the 14yold girls).

Alex

PS. How does Fat Joe get so many women? Is it only because he's rich? I mean he's incredibly fat, so it's not his looks, and he's quite a bad man, so it's not his personality... hmmm...

PPS. Next Review - Jay Chou

Yes another music review folks, exam preparation procrastination at its peak. This review I'm gonna try to format my reviews a little more like my man Daz (check out his blog in my Blogs section) ie. putting the artist names in bold and stuff....

Reviewing the new White Stripes CD is kind of hard for me because I've never actually listened to a full White Stripes album before. I know their singles of course but no full album.

Musically this CD is quite impressive, for a two-man(well man and err... woman) group the White Stripes can really make a simple sound complex. The songs on this CD are kind of a blend of musical styles like country, folk, rock, blues.... and can be loosely defined as 'alternative'.

Highlights are most definitely the first single Blue Orchid, a typical White Stripes single full of shoutin' and kickin' and rock. The Denial Twist is also similar and probably another reason why that track is a highlight for me. I prefer their more straight-laced rock tracks rather than their really experimental ones.

Another interesting track is Take, Take, Take which is the story of an obsessed fan who encounters Rita Hayworth in a bar and asks for a bit too much. Autobiographical? Perhaps... but an interesting perspective on fan-pleasing, nonetheless. Finally, the ballad As Ugly As I Seem is another seemingly autobigrophical piece from Mr. White. It's a really fantastic piece of music and lyricism.

Overall the album is both difficult and easy to listen to. Some tracks are great and mellow and other tracks are kind of rude and everything else we've come to expect from the White Stripes. The music is fantastic and the lyrics are at best full of complex symbolism and at worst random, but I do recommend the CD to anyone who was a fan of their previous work, you will *not* be disappointed. If you do not know The White Stripes then beware... its a strange place to visit.

Upon my first listen to this album, only got through about half of it, it didn't impress me at all but, having listened to it completely a second time I've grown to like it considerably more.

It is a good CD but my general problem with it is that its almost identical to their last two. Maybe I'm naive or maybe my analysis of music/rock is not sophisticated enough but it really is very similar! It is the same brand of driven rock ballads mixed with powerful melodies and 'profound' lyrics. It was groundbreaking when they released Parachutes. It was impressive when they maintained it with Rush of Blood but now I feel that it's almost getting a little tedious.

Also, on this album for some reason, it has become more obvious that Chris Martin is actually a wanker. I mean I knew this before and didn't really care but on some of the tracks he clearly appears to be trying a little too hard. I particularly didn't like the track Twisted Logic for this reason, and generally that it was a dull track.

Which brings me to another point, it is damn hard to choose tracks! They all sound so freakin' similar! I dont know why this didnt occur to me before about Coldplay because I had distinct favourites from the Rush of Blood CD but with this one it seems so... difficult to distinguish.

Having said that, the single Speed of Sound, though not particularly impressive, does stand out as the obvious choice for commercial airplay. Also I did enjoy the power-ballad Swallowed in the Sea and the opening track Square One. I also recommend you check out the bonus track Til Kingdom Come, it sounds a little more fresh than the others for some reason... But other than that, the album is a dull roar. It's a roaring wave that engulfs you and then subsides. It's something you listen to while driving along the Great Ocean Road in your car. For those reasons it's great. But I cant get into it, I cant really read into the lyrics or words on the CD or pick tracks as clear, distinct favourites that I can listen to time-and-time-again.

I know hardcore Coldplay fans will disagree with this review. In fact, lots of people will probably disagree with this review. Which is cool with me... The album isn't officially out yet so I haven't really read any newspaper/mag reviews... so I look forward to hearing what others have to say about it. Apologies for the chaffy review but... hey... it's exams dammit!

I think it's interesting to see that Damon Albarn's little 'side-project' is now matching and/or outstripping his original band, Blur, in both popularity and quality. I confess I did enjoy a little bit of Blur back in the day but I don't really listen to them much any more.

Demon Days is a very good CD, in fact I'm happy to say it's one of the best albums I've picked up all year. Unlike their self-titled debut album, Demon Days is more a collection of really great individual tracks, rather than a nice long player you can just pop into the CD player and listen to. Not that it is totally unsuitable for that purpose, it just isn't the same cruisy cafe music as the last one, in my opinion. This may have to do with the fact that the CD is singificantly darker than its predecessor and a strange feeling of dread creeps up on the listener whilst listening to the CD

It's hard to choose stand-out tracks on a CD with so many good ones but here goes... My favourite tracks on this CD are the "very-Anthony-Kiedis-like" Feel Good Inc featuring De La Soul, the single Dirty Harry and the creepy White Light. I also recommend the Dennis Hopper collaboration Fire Coming Out Of A Monkey's Head (yes, thats right, Dennis Hopper... how weird) and O Green World, both delivering some sort of vague social commentary.

I can happily say that, as a sophomore release, this has blown away its predecessor in quality and originality and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Albarn's best Blur releases like Parklife. For a man with an ego only rivaled by Robbie Williams and Chris Martin in Britain, this is a monumental return to form and has the potential to be a big crossover mainstream hit (despite its oddness). Five stars.

Alex

Hey Y'all... Figure I'd write my thoughts/reviews on some of the music that I listen to... Just picked up the new Black Eyed Peas CD and here are my thoughts...

Basically, long ago I've reconciled myself to the fact that BEP is now a pop act, rather than a hip hop act. I've heard a lot of kerfuffle to do with this from various people but I really don't care that much. I really loved Bridging the Gap, it was great, it was awesome, it was De La Soul, it was Jurassic 5, whatever. The fact is, that commercial success means cash and thats what people chase these days, gotta make a living, etc.

The important thing is, the pop made by BEP is actually quite good and original. It isnt like other commercial RnB out there ala Nelly/50 Cent, etc. It's more politically correct, yes, but it's also more dancefloor friendly and very very funky.

Having said that, this album really doesnt bring that much new to the table since Elephunk. It really is a lot like Elephunk in general. Standout tracks for me would have to be the surf sampling "Pump It" which is a cool opener and the current single "Dont Phunk With My Heart". I also kinda like the bizarre Jack Johnson sampling "Gone Going"... it's weird but it's cool.

Overall, the raps on the CD are good, the beats are excellent and the sounds are very, inherently BEP. They are no longer Blackalicious and they are no longer A Tribe Called Quest but they are still very cool, a lot of fun and worth listening to. Don't expect it to challenge your mind, expect it to challenge your resolve against bopping :-P.