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Things you hear

Ace of Base (Discography)

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Ace of Base (Discography).
Genre: Pop, Reggae, Eurodance, Techno.

- Happy Nation/The Sign (1992/3): The best album man every song took me way back. There’s this one song which says ‘dance or fade out’ took me back to Prasheel’s room, his moms would give us these tiny tubs of Nutella and I’d hog mine one time, Prashla would wait till I finish then open his and savour it lol. The Sign took me back to Power Hits USA. All That She Wants and Happy Nation took me back to chilling with Meera, Priya and Komal and Africana/Jadini Beach. Loving it!
- The Bridge (1995): It’s ok, they get too Abba. Note: The chubby one Jonas/Joker writes the songs and admits that Whigfield inspired You and I. Pretty obvious if you hear the start itself.
- Flowers/Cruel Summer (1998): Again it’s ok. Too many songs about the Sun.
- Singles of the 90’s (1999): Just that.
- De Capo (2002): Ok, so this is why they decided to step out of the spotlight and focus more on concerts and stuff. The albums totally ass and off base. But the group still gets a special Big up for doing the art thing and experimenting on later albums, adding flavours from gospel to ballads to mo-town to retro, salsa, reggae, etc.

Juice: The guys that originally started it left after changing the band name so many times and the four as we now know finally settled for Ace of Base. Used to perform live till they hooked up a studio in the basement… hence the name. They got bad rep coz dude with cool styles used to be a member of a Neo-Nazi group. Damn! I thought it’d be the fatty. They’re also in the Guinness Book of World Records for world’s highest selling debut album. OF COURSE ITS HAPPY NATION/THE SIGN! Now I thought I’d review them coz they wont release anymore so it’ll all be together but they claim they’re even more inspired and to expect an album next year.”

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Terrence Trent D’Arby (T.T.D.)

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Terrence Trent D’Arby.
Album: Greatest Hits.
Genre: Soul/Funk/Pop/R&B/Rock
Comment: Wow most of the hits are in this joint. Hardy any other artist has changed styles as much as him which just makes me more curious. Dude now goes by the name Sananda Maitreya (Maitreya meaning Rescuer of the Universe in Buddhism). Loving it! Some tracks have instruments that remind me of Sesame Street but hey, TTD got wicked vocals, kinda confusing messages in some songs but there’ll always be a verse or more that grabs your ears. Like in Vibrator he’s referring to the divine and vibrations. Let Her Down Easy was a very personal message for a friend back home, A Change Is Gonna Come … very deep. Check this out… dudes folks were both into music, Dad – Guitar player who then became Reverend, Mom – Gospel singer. Dude wont allowed to hear secular music but a buddy gave him a radio and he’d be tuned in to all kindsa music. Yo… I might have just found another favourite star… check out the knowledge section. In the mean time I’mma have to find all his albums.

Terrence Trent D’Arby. Genre: R&B/Rock/Raggae/World/Soul/Etc.
- Introducing the Hardline (1987): Since I already did an intense review on dudes background and styles and all I’ll just rate the albums. Introducing the Hardline is alright (As Yet Untitled is so boring, depressing and tone-deaf).
- Neither Fish Nor Flesh (1989): Neither Fish Nor Flesh is lively/LOVEly/bluesy/so-so.
- Symphony or Damn (1993): Symphony or Damn is a bit better.
- Vibrator (1995): Vibrator gets a bit more better… got a few thoughts on what he says about God being the vibrator (focus please) and vibrations on the whole.
- Wildcard (2001): Wildcard albums lyrics got me interested in his songs again coz if you notice the last couple of lines I do get frustrated but his spiritual/symbolic/riddlish lyrics just do it for me. Basically they’re exactly what I need to hear right about now. Suga Free and Shadows lyrics you just have to google!
- Wildcard Joker’s Edition (2001): The Wildcard Jokers Edition is pretty much the same with some ‘additions’.
- Greatest Hits Double CD (2003): Wonder what the Greatest Hits CDs would be about… hmmm. Wait a min… the second disk has pretty good live tracks.
- Singles/B-Sides/Misc: Finally singles, b-sides, misc has wicked live stuff, the Metamorpheus choon stands out, She’s My Baby hit history home… LOOK OK… I sieved his best ones back then so just let it go… some songs got really nursery rhyme instruments. In fact quite a few songs.

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B. B. King

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B. B. King.
Genre: Blues.

- Aint Nobody Home (1972): Live.
- Live At Newport: Other performers include Big Mama Thornton and Muddy Waters. Little Red Rooster by Big Mama is a clever piece. She gets clucking and crowing away.
- B. B. Boogie: Don’t seem to be the real album.
- Blues Summit (1993): Every song is a collabo with artist like… Ruth Brown, Robert Cray, Albert Collins, Lowell Fulson, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Irma Thomas, Joe Louis Walker, Katie Webster and More.
- His Best – The Electric (1998): Yo the church organ balance is off in some songs. Keeps going left to right… extremely irritating. Mostly studio tracks… which I prefer.
- B. B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King (2000): Clean sound, in rhythm and tone.
- Live at St. Quentin (1991): Ray Charles does a better version of one of the songs.
- Live at the Regal (1965): S’orite.
- Live in Cook county Jail (1971): Usual.
- Lucielle (1968): New stuff.
- The Best of B. B. King: Not good quality. S’orite.
- Why I Sing The Blues (1983): Yeah yeah yeah. It’s all good and stuff.

The Juice: Look the guys done too many albums, too many singles, too many shows. He’s the king of Blues and that’s it. All I can say is since 1950’s he used a custom guitar that he called Lucille. Sorry still recovering from the Madonna review.

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Donell Jones (Discography)

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Donell Jones (Discography).
Genre: R&B/Soul.
- My Heart (1996): Don’t think it was good even in 96. That was me not thinking. What I do think is it must be a lullaby album or something you play when you don’t wanna listen to music.
- Where I Wanna Be (1999): Album with the hits… all 2 and a half of them. Gets better, he has a good voice. Love what he does with it in I Wanna Love U. As for U Know What’s Up… it had the same kinda arrangement and beats as Next’s Wifey and Too Close and Ruff Endz’s No More.
- Life Goes On (2002): Drops back to so so. Put Me Down was a kind of hit.
- The Best Of (2004): The hits and potentials.
- Journey of a Gemini (2006): Hmmm, lots of different tasty tasty new flavours. Think I find one tasty coz it’s got R. Kelly’s steppers flavour. Azzville has him giving a big up to all the ladies with the ‘big old butts’. Dude recorded like 50 songs, complications coz of Sony BMG merger, leaks on the net etc… poor album promoting… etc is why sale wont all that good.

Juice: His pops is a pastor and gospel singer and one of his inspirations. Once his mom got him a keyboard he started learning himself. Trying to find an outlet in the gansterous environment. He’s recently stopped smoking weed and drinking so pretty proud of that. Lot of his tracks remind me of Boyz II Men, Az Yet or R. Kelly.

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Little Brother

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Little Brother.
Genre: Hip Hop
- The Chitlin Circuit. Genre: Rap/Hip Hop. Comment: Pretty good album. Good lyrical skills. Not too gangsta and word is it’s THE album to be playing in your ride. Others say its good old contemporary Hip Hop.
- DJ Drama & Little Brother Separate But Equal (Mixtape) A Gangsta Grillz Extra (2006): Oh my god! The styles, the raps, the flows, samples, instruments, harmony… it all takes you back to the good ol Hip Hop days. Every song has something tasty. In fact not just something… most songs have everything in the right place. Truly impressive.
- The Minstrel Show (2005): DJ Jazzy Jeff makes an appearance. If I heard this album first I’d be wowed and then even more wowed by the mixtape. It’s still pretty good. Just love the old skool feel. Twin daughters called Faith and Abstinence… funny. Slow It Down is THE perfect track… the bass, tambourine, ol skool sample, new skool R&B and philosophical love rap.
- The Listening (2003): Their debut album and what just like the rest of the albums. Pure quality! Big up Viv once again for the recommendation.”
- Getback (2007): They do it again! For rap fans this is a must have. I’m really glad Viv told me to get these guys stuff coz rap had become so damn stagnant with boring stuff. I mean there was hits now and then but not hit albums. These guys are THE CHEFS of lyrical delicacies. They carve those words just right, mix in the music so tight. At the same time it seems so simple but its not. The samples, the touch of R&B. They’re so good I started writing rhymes again. Lol I’m at work with scrap paper full of lines.
The Juice: Reminiscent of the days when Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and others carefully crafted complete experiences from beginning to end. They’re great!!! The attitude is anti-mainstream. Their sound is jazzy/soulful/ol skool and focus is positive. Impressed with the boys. Big up Viv for the recommendation. The 9th Wonder controversy. He says he’s still part of Little Brother. Big Pooh says they’ve decided to part ways to continue giving the world dope music.

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MC Solaar (Discography)

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MC Solaar (Discography).
Genre: French Rap/Francophone Hip Hop/Jazz Rap.

- (1991) Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo (He Who Sows The Wind Reaps the Rhythm): Gool ol Jazz, Dance and Groove beats. Reminds me of Kris Kross, Apachi Indian, Shabba Ranks, Arrested Development, etc… in a French fashion. S’alright.
- (1994) Prose Combat (Fighting with Prose): Increased quality and maturity. Good thing is his lyrical content, its not usual American rap and when he does get into the ghetto side of things he breaks it down properly. Of course my French is not that good to understand a lot till Google’s translator kicks in. Don’t know why one of his tracks is called L’HMIACCd’HTCK72KPDP, which is dedicated to Jazz. Anyway even though this gave him international status, I think it’s worth a listen just once.
- (1998) Paradisiaque (Paradise): One track samples from 2Pac’s Keep Your Head Up, another copies Snoop and Dr. Dre, yet another copies Touch Me, Tease Me beats by Case and Foxy Brown… I think. Make’s word play sound so natural.
- (1998) MC Solaar: It’s alright. Starts sounding more like American rap.
- (1999) Le Tour de la Question (Live Double-Album): Live version of most of the songs he’s done.
- (2001) Cinquième As (Fifth Ace): My all time favourite album. I’ll just break you off the names of the bombest tracks. Solaar Pleure (Solaar Weeps… over the crap the world is going through and fighting Lucifer), Hasta La Vista (He mixes Spanish with French… wicked Mexican theme), L’Aigle Ne Chasse Pas Les Mouches (The eagle does not chase the mosquito), La Belle Et Le Bad Boy (Has a Beauty and The Beast theme). Got US exposure when La Belle Et Le Bad Boy was played for Sex in the City.
- (2003) Mach 6 (Mach Six): Excellent album! Dude gets better. More towards Jazz Rap in few songs, more towards American Rap on others. His stories, his word play, his philosophy… dude rules! Content is so diverse… e.g. – life being good, lingala, kwasa kwasa, Gandhi homage (the cover of this single is wicked lol), war, money, God, memories, saving the world, his experience with cops coz of his riches and what haunts him. Big up Solaar!
Note: Couple of beats are not sampled but copied.
- Chapitre 7 (2007): Dude wasn’t gonna release anymore but he wanted to cover something different from French rap and he’s done it well. Apart from the styles above there’s little hints of a country harmonica/mouth organ. Of course quite a bit of the format is pretty similar to his old albums like reminiscing old times, battling the devil, saving the world and that one deep song with nursery xylophones and instruments. The messages are still the same, politics, philosophy, controversial stuff and just so rich with all sorts of knowledge. So imagine all that knowledge in French made into something sweet to the year, something you can dance to. First I gotta review it as music, then I gotta research the lyrics and make sense of it. Add his word play to it. It’s just so fun! Some choons are very reminiscent of 50 Cent (exactly like Candy Shop), Fat Joe (Lean Back remix), some of that Usher shouting. Hell some of the synths and beats are pure Southern style clubbing. Hi Samba one is pretty funky. Clic Clic is a deep story about how big guns are from politics to games and he admits how he fell for the fascination for and then the ‘clic clic’. Blooper! He asks ‘In the Simpsons, “”Who Killed Kenny?””. He does a very skilled speed rap in Avec Les Loups (Twista and Bone Thugs style). Then you got Impact Avec Le Diable (Impact with the devil), which has audio from Hitler and Martin Luther King in the background.

The Juice: Claude M’Barali originally from Dakar, Senegal moved with folks to France when he was six months old. Then stayed with his unc in Cairo. Gets his name from back in his teens when his graffiti tag names were Soar and Solaar. Known for the complexity and poetry of his songs, which rely on wordplay, lyricism, and philosophical inquiry. Dude caught my ear when he rapped for Missy’s All In My Grill and then I saw the Solaar Pleure vid. Amazing! Hehehe he’s appeared on a Japanese TV show called Hum Tum. Apparently France’s most influential rapper and coined the Leader of French Rap Revolution. Other songs not in albums include Inch-Allah and John Woo.

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