Funky Blue Velvet - Taurus album review
Sactown is an ode and tribute to the city of Sacramento, California of which the band Funky Blue Velvet represents as that is where they are from. The sound of the Sac-Town Funk can be heard on this track no de plume. Funk meets Rock music on the track Sactown.
Heavy is fueled and anguished with anger. Funky Blue Velvet unleashes their angst on Heavy. This is where they truly shine on the Taurus album!
Peel Away starts off with a cymbal solo from the drum kit. Quite stellar effort added. Funky Blue Velvet unleashes their angst on Peel Away also.
Nogaj is a hodgepodge of rock, easy listening, and jazz music. Think of Nogaj as a mixture of musical genres. In fact, Nogaj is the longest track on the Taurus album. A bit of spoken word is included at the last two minutes of the Nogaj track.
The track ABCBACC masters the musical notes of the A, B, and C scale. Notice how the track has no flats and no sharps. Notes A and B are pitches on the C major scale. A major is a pitch on A scale. Notice exactly how the intervals and scale degrees stay relatively same throughout the track. Most of the track masters musical notes, key pitches, bass clef, and intervals. Some of the musical notes, however change in the duration of the song.
ABCBACC begins with cows mooing loudly with the rain pouring in the background. This lasts for about 25 seconds. In comes the drums! Heavy rock is being played in rotation. A majority of the ABCBACC track is an instrumental. A loud, distorted, buzzy heavy rock instrumental with killer guitar riffs.
5/5*****!
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C-Note - Different Kind Of Love album review
Many people who are music fans will think of this album released by another douchey Latino R&B group which is trying to jump onto the boy band wagon in an attempt to sell out in the pop market. The album Different Kind Of Love is obviously the case here. Latino R&B group C-Note has been marketed and packed by their record company, Epic, as another boy band. A Latino boy band at that. However, C-Note is a unique boy band that had a bilingual approach. Think similar to Nu Flavor. C-Note had the exact same bilingual approach as Nu Flavor did. Which has surely added a mix to the market. The Latin factor can't be underestimated. Different Kind Of Love is filled with intimate affectionate romantic love songs of course since this is an album that came from the Pop genre. These romantic love songs are filled with the moods of affection and fondness of love.
The album Different Kind Of Love has a wide variety of cover songs such as I Like by Guy which features a well-crafted sample of KC & the Sunshine Band's That's The Way (I Like It), One Night With You by Diane Warren among others, and Wait Till I Get Home. Unlike many boy bands from the era of boy band mania, C-Note did many cover songs for their debut album while appealing to many naive teenage girls.
No Dejo De Pensar is the Spanish version of "Wait Till I Get Home" which can be heard in English at the very beginning of the album.
I Like is a Guy cover song that covers a song called I Like. A well-crafted sample of KC & the Sunshine Band's That's The Way (I Like It) is included on the tribute to the well comforting cover song by Guy called I Like from 1989. C-Note incorporated the elements of Funk, Rock, and Pop on the track I Like.
While the album Different Kind Of Love may have stood out from being a lot different for being bilingual and having sung cover songs by other artists, C-Note was another douchey Latino R&B group which had tried to jump onto the boy band wagon in a lame attempt to become sellouts. They were trying to ride on the coattails of success from NSYNC or O-Town. One reason why C-Note didn’t take off is because there was another by the name of C-Note from the Botany Boyz from H-Town (Houston, Texas for those who don’t know) who gained regional success from the visceral confrontational single “Diamonds In Yo Face”. No wonder things didn’t shuttle off as planned. Everyone kept confusing the Latino boy band C-Note as the Houston rapper C-Note.
3/5***
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SAC - Freedom Or Death album review
SAC is Serious Ass Criminals from Sacramento, California. You may have heard of SAC from Brotha Lynch Hung - 24 Deep or X-Raided - Psycho Active from 1992. Serious Ass Criminals is a rap group and not a single individual as some fans may have you think by popular belief. Other than that, SAC is a rap group composed of 5 individuals by the names of Kaos, Big O (Omar Gooding), LA Chill (Willie Charles, the producer for X-Raided - Xorcist), Shot Gun, and BIG. SAC released an album on cassette called Freedom Or Death in 1992 on Accent Records.
Green Bud is rap track that is an ode to marijuana. The Green Bud track also pays homage to many other drugs besides marijuana as well. But the posse cut Green Bud is mainly about marijuana. Think similar to Sac-A-Indo on X-Raided - Vengeance Is Mine.
SAC goes political on the Freedom Or Death track. SAC vents out against the American justice system for all the years of injustice and oppression against blacks in America. All SAC wants is freedom. Freedom Or Death is a no holds barred track. Freedom Or Death is another posse cut by SAC.
Smoke The Devil’s Ass is a track similar to Back Fade and 24 Deep. Gritty tales of street life and horrid murder stories are told by the group SAC. SAC goes horrorcore on this track.
4/5****!
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Pleasure Sparks - Something Ta "Smok" To (The Pure Sound) album review
Something Ta "Smok" To (The Pure Sound) was released on cassette in 1994 by Apple Pie Recording Productions out of Saginaw, Michigan. Pleasure Sparks is Charles Pleasure Sparks out of Saginaw, Michigan. The album was mastered at U Be U Inc. as most Apple Pie Recordings products were. Bay Music lent a hand in production as usual. Think about a mixture of Soul, Easy Listening, Rap, R&B, Hip Hop, and Rock as you listen to this album.
Charles Pleasure Sparks showcases and displays his smooth "Pleasure Sparks" sound which he is infamous for on Something Ta "Smok" To (The Pure Sound). The “Pleasure Sparks sound” is heavy bass, thick layers of percussion, digitally processed beats, treble reduction on the acoustic notes from the guitar, and live instrumentation.
Get funky! Fire it up! Sit back on this laid back track as Pleasure Sparks will give you ta smoke to. Pleasure Sparks needs to make his day easy. Things will surely get dope. As Pleasure Sparks will obviously go around the corner to the local convenience store to buy and obtain a 5 oz. pack of cigarettes (smokes). Pleasure Sparks is high. Everyone just needs to be calm in these times. Something Ta "Smok" To (The Pure Sound) is an Easy Listening track filled with lazy stoner rap and smooth sounding soul. The sound is laid back.
Charles Pleasure Sparks showcases and displays his smooth "Pleasure Sparks" sound on Smooth Dogg. Pleasure Sparks shows off his "smooth side" on Smooth Dogg. Smooth Dogg samples George Clinton - Atomic Dog which is appropriate for this track. The sound is funky and upbeat considering the obvious. Pleasure Sparks gets funky here on this track.
Smooth Dogg sounds like a name of another rapper from the 90s era of gangsta rap. Some rap heads may think this track sounds corny. Pleasure Sparks is an overlooked and underrated producer anyway. He does not get the credit he deserves.
Lonely Heart is an R&B song filled out with some Soul and of course that smooth "Pleasure Sparks" sound. Lonely Heart is sad R&B song filled with sorrow and mourning. It seems to be one of those infamous "breakup and makeup" R&B/Soul songs.
Gotta Gitt Whit It is a fast paced love song with smooth notes from the acoustic lead guitar and reduced bass lines. Of course, Gotta Gitt Whit It is a love song.
Keep ‘Em On Our “Smak” is a shoutout track. Pleasure Sparks gives out a list of the people who are on the Apple Pie Recording Productions roster such as Crazy Al, Madame Dane, and Don Q. Keep ‘Em On Our “Smak” is more of an outro since the duration is only 1:25.
Charles Pleasure Sparks showcases and displays his smooth "Pleasure Sparks" sound which he is infamous for throughout his entire album. Something Ta "Smok" To (The Pure Sound) has that signature studio production sound with the trademark “Pleasure Sparks sound” with heavy bass, thick layers of percussion, digitally processed beats, treble reduction on the acoustic notes from the guitar, and live instrumentation.
He should have dropped 2 or 3 more albums after this one. Pleasure Sparks is an overlooked and underrated producer who does not get the credit he deserves as he made a staple for himself in the Michigan music scene and Saginaw rap frontier along with Gee Pierce, Don Q, Crazy Al, Mack Tha Jacka, Daddy Madd, and too many others to name. From a production aspect, Pleasure Sparks is often very much overlooked. Saginaw in general often gets overlooked in the Michigan music scene. Pleasure Sparks is an overlooked and underrated producer anyway. He does not get the credit he deserves.
5/5*****!!
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Crazy Al - Gather 'Round album review
This album was released on Apple Pie Recording Productions from Saginaw, Michigan in 1994. Charles Pleasure Sparks and Crazy Al did the production and UBEU mastered this cassette. For those who didn't know, Al is the one holding his middle finger up. Keith is the one holding the 40 oz. Keith is an employee at Bay Music in Saginaw. Crazy Al is Al Wicker.
Born Crazy And Free has that signature studio production sound with the trademark “Pleasure Sparks sound” with heavy bass, thick layers of percussion, digitally processed beats, treble reduction on the acoustic notes from the guitar, and live instrumentation. Charles Pleasure Sparks showcases and displays his smooth "Pleasure Sparks" sound which he is infamous for through out this entire album. Other than that, Crazy Al describes exactly how he is “Born Crazy And Free”. He also spits out some inspirational quotes that have positive uplifting messages.
Crazy Al wonders if the world will miss him when he dies. He pays homage to his dead brother’s name. He always thinks about his brother who died. Will the world miss Crazy Al? Crazy Al has brothers who will meet him at the crossroads. Crazy Al warns all those who are coming for him to come for him.
Now Crazy Al lets us know what’s going on. Some brothers fired shots from a couple of .9mm handguns by his mothers home. Seems that Crazy Al has been involved in an unrelated driveby shooting. It scared Crazy Al. It makes Crazy Al want to resort to violence by going on a shooting spree killing of any sucka. Later, on Crazy Al testified against a female who got him caught up in the mix of the unrelated driveby shooting. He probably testified against the two males who were the perpetrators for the incident as well. The reason why Crazy Al testified against the female is because she played Crazy Al for a fool. You want to trip? He has a tip from a little gat. Crazy Al is not playing with you suckers. Crazy Al holds a grudge. They want him to run but he won’t budge. He’ll probably leave some blood on the damn rug. Crazy Al is obviously not running nor hiding.
Crazy Al learned a lot from an OG named Freddie G back in 1989. “When in doubt, reach for a damn nine.” If Crazy Al wanted to set you up, you would’ve been got. Keep his name out of your mouth before you get shot. Crazy Al is the type of brother to sleep under your porch. He knows where your woman works and your kids play. So bring it on because it will make Crazy Al’s day!
[Again Crazy Al warns all those who are coming for him to come for him!] It’s true. He sticks up by standing up for himself and speaking out. Crazy Al describes exactly how he is “Born Crazy And Free”. It’s how he wants to be. It’s how he’s got to be.
Sometimes Crazy Al wonders what his kids will become once they’ve matured. Will they be gangsters like their dad?
Lord knows he went the “gangsta route”. Crazy Al was raised into a life of crime. He sold dope while running the streets of Saginaw. He grew into a lunatic. People thought Al would amount to nothing. He proved them wrong. Now Crazy Al is older and wiser realizing the things he did was wrong.
The last verse is strictly for the kids! “Don’t ever think the world is coming down on you. It’s just a little something we all have been through.” Through time and time again. “Money is no substitute for happiness.” You can make it out of the game just like Crazy Al. [These last verses were strictly for the kids!]
Crazy Al tells us to gather ‘round as he runs it down and unravels his pedigree on the title track Gather ‘Round. Crazy Al experiments with gangsta rap over heavy brooding foreboding bass lines thus making the track have a darker mysterious mood than the rest of the album. The “Pleasure Sparks sound” is once again prevalent on the title track. The thick layers of percussion, digitally processed beats, treble reduction on the acoustic notes from the guitar, and live instrumentation.
Crazy Al was a young punk who ran the streets of Saginaw, Michigan back in the day. He saw people get beat down. So he backed out of the game with the help of Pleasure Sparks. He broke down mentally while he was locked in jail. That was a warning sign to him about his life if he continued the route he was going on. Homicide was all he knew growing up. Crazy Al was true to the game even through the raids. He then proceeds to tell us lurid stories of drug sales and clientele.
Crazy Al breaks it down in rapping as he runs it down and unravels his pedigree. He breaks down his pedigree rap style. Crazy Al was true to the game and always is.
If anyone wants to try Crazy Al, Crazy Al is obviously not running nor hiding. He wonders if he will fall like the others in the drug game from a criminal standpoint of view or not.He has sold large quantities of cocaine in his name. It’s just a part of the drug game. Now Crazy Al raps about how he got a second chance in life. Give the dope back to the dopes.
Lifestyles of a Pimp is telling the tale of a pimp who lives his life selling women as prostitutes for money. The lifestyles of a pimp is plush, scandalous, and excitingly thrilling. Such sexual activity leads to promiscuity. Pimps get all the attention. However leading the lifestyles of a pimp can be dangerous and by unhealthy. In some cases, being a pimp can lead to death.
Tickety - Test is a freestyle rap track ridden with heavy pultruding bass. On a short note, the track is only a minute and a half long.
Both Gather 'Round and Born Crazy 'N' Free have super heavy bass! The bass made the album tight! This album was a bit too short for me. Gather Round should have had 8 tracks.
4/5****!
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MC Pooh - Teardrops single review
It seems that MC Pooh getting in touch with his soul side for this single. He’s getting in touch with his soul by experimenting with the sound of soul music, which was kind of unusual for gangsta rappers at the time despite the fact that rappers used samples from soul music during that time period of the early 1990s. MC Pooh gets in touch with his inner soul on this single. Many Teddy Pendergrass samples are used throughout the single.
True Love is about the authenticity of love inside a relationship. MC Pooh describes true love in his own way. Throughout the song, MC Pooh questions the authenticity of love inside the relationship. Of you know it’s on. So romance ensues. Throughout the song, MC Pooh questions if the love has true meaning.
Love TKO is a love song obviously of course. The song Love TKO deals with the ups and downs in relationships when it comes to love. MC Pooh describes the ups and downs in love through rap music. MC Pooh applied this term to metaphorically describe his love life. His relationship is in shambles and he’s accepting of the fact that the relationship is not going to last very long. It’s another disappointment with love in a relationship.
Love TKO samples Teddy Pendergrass - Love TKO. Henceforth the title of the song and sample.
Tear Drops is a sad emotional song of heartbreak and feels. So feels ensue. Tear Drops is about 3 to 4 minutes long.
5/5*****!
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Absoulute - Albumsampler album review
The Absoulute - Albumsampler is highly sought after by R&B/Soul fans. From 1997-2000, the Absoulute - Albumsampler for the then upcoming Absoulute album was highly sought after R&B/Soul fans. Fans were anticipating such release. Unfortunately the album was never released.
The reason why is because Yero and Corey split up hence the album couldn't get released. Apparently some internal beef between the two had caused them to break up. Only their family and close friends have the album. It is located inside the Bryan Michael Coxs archives also.
Also, typical music industry dispute bullshit did go down with Jermaine Dupri at the time. JD was super focused with Jagged Edge's rising popularity with fans from their concerts and put Absoulute on the back burner the same way Puff Daddy did to Craig Mack when he focused on B.I.G.'s career instead. The contract with So So Def, Columbia, and Absoulute was never resolved. So they split.
It's typical music industry dispute bullshit like this that prevent albums like these from being released. Such a tragedy the album was never released. Unfortunately for us fans, all we have is the promo CD for memories of what might have been.
5/5*****!
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Native Black - Something To Bump 2
Native Black makes their comeback with a sophomore album after six years in waiting with the album Something To Bump 2. They have proven they’ve still got it in them. A lot of Native Black album are not very appreciated by a lot of people. But that’s not always true musically. Native Black still keeps that 'New Jack Swing' influence with this sophomore album. Mid-tempo songs like You, Sweat You, and Love Will Make You Do Things set the mood and tone for this album. The slow jams for this album are Something Slow, Tell Me What I'm Gonna Do, and Brought It On Myself.
That 'New Jack Swing' influence is present on Native Black Party. Ain’t no party like a Native Black Party because a Native Black Party is the shit! The bass is set smooth and low. Native Black brings that ‘New Jack Swing’ sound into the new millennium.
That 'New Jack Swing' influence is present on the track Native Black Swing. The track Native Black Swing is a dedication to the late talkbox legend Roger Troutman. The same Roger Troutman from Zapp! Native Black takes it back to the days of Zapp & Roger from 1980s. This really catchy track imposes their style when it comes to the music. You can feel the funk.
The musical notes for Something Slow are arranged very nicely. Native Black’s singing vocals are well sung. The song itself is pretty catchy. Something Slow is arranged very nicely.
[Native Black is Jerry Sanders, Kenny "KD" Patterson, and Darryl. They are from Cincinnati, Ohio.]
4/5****!
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Native Black - Native Black album review
The debut Native Black album has a more Hip Hop and R&B influenced sound in their production and instrumentals rather than Soul music. Note the 'New Jack Swing' influence. A lot of everything was arranged with a lot of attention & effort in terms of musical arrangement and vocal notes. You notice a musical transition in evolution from New Jack Swing to R&B on this album.
Settle Down is a smooth sultry low tempo song that is a Keith Sweat cover. The trio does an excellent job mastering their vocals for this particular track. Settle Down is really catchy. You Are My Everything is a love song Henceforth the title.
Native Black was dope! It’s tragically sad they unfortunately were never noticed by R&B fans and the music industry alike. Albums like this don’t get shine they deserve. One can wonder what might have been if Native Black had gotten recognition.
[Native Black is Jerry Sanders, Kenny "KD" Patterson, and Darryl. They are from Cincinnati, Ohio. Word has it they are in the process of getting the group back together to record.]
5/5*****!
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Pleasure Sparks - Something Ta "Smok" To single review
Something Ta "Smok" To was released on cassette in 1994 by Apple Pie Recording Productions out of Saginaw, Michigan. Pleasure Sparks is Charles Pleasure Sparks out of Saginaw, Michigan. The album was mastered at U Be U Inc. as most Apple Pie products were. Bay Music lent a hand in production as usual. Think about a mixture of Soul, Easy Listening, Rap, R&B, Hip Hop, and Rock as you listen to this single.
Charles Pleasure Sparks showcases and displays his smooth "Pleasure Sparks" sound which he is infamous for on Something Ta "Smok" To (The Pure Sound). The “Pleasure Sparks sound” is heavy bass, thick layers of percussion, digitally processed beats, treble reduction on the acoustic notes from the guitar, and live instrumentation.
Get funky! Fire it up! Sit back on this laid back track as Pleasure Sparks will give you ta smoke to. Pleasure Sparks needs to make his day easy. Things will surely get dope. As Pleasure Sparks will obviously go around the corner to the local convenience store to buy and obtain a 5 oz. pack of cigarettes (smokes). Pleasure Sparks is high. Everyone just needs to be calm in these times. Something Ta "Smok" To (The Pure Sound) is an Easy Listening track filled with lazy stoner rap and smooth sounding soul. The sound is laid back.
Charles Pleasure Sparks showcases and displays his smooth "Pleasure Sparks" sound on Smooth Dogg. Pleasure Sparks shows off his "smooth side" on Smooth Dogg. Smooth Dogg samples George Clinton - Atomic Dog which is appropriate for this track. The sound is funky and upbeat considering the obvious. Pleasure Sparks gets funky here on this track.
Smooth Dogg sounds like a name of another rapper from the 90s era of gangsta rap. Some rap heads may think this track sounds corny. Pleasure Sparks is an overlooked and underrated producer anyway. He does not get the credit he deserves.
Charles Pleasure Sparks showcases and displays his smooth "Pleasure Sparks" sound which he is infamous for throughout his entire single. Something Ta "Smok" To has that signature studio production sound with the trademark “Pleasure Sparks sound” with heavy bass, thick layers of percussion, digitally processed beats, treble reduction on the acoustic notes from the guitar, and live instrumentation.
He should have dropped 2 or 3 more albums after this one. Pleasure Sparks is an overlooked and underrated producer who does not get the credit he deserves as he made a staple for himself in the Michigan music scene and Saginaw rap frontier along with Gee Pierce, Don Q, Crazy Al, Mack Tha Jacka, Daddy Madd, and too many others to name. From a production aspect, Pleasure Sparks is often very much overlooked. Saginaw in general often gets overlooked in the Michigan music scene. Pleasure Sparks is an overlooked and underrated producer anyway. He does not get the credit he deserves.
5/5*****!
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Lil Ai - Ryukyu Rhymer album review
Lil Ai is a female pop singer from the Ryukyu Islands in Japan. Lil Ai (リルアイ) is Ai Kawamitsu (アイ川満愛) [Kawamitsu Ai (川満愛)].
Ryukyu Rhymer was released on Toukuma Records in 2003. This is her debut album. She is also an accomplished dancer known in the underground scene in the country of Japan. Lil Ai designs her clothes too. Her charm in her singing makes people happy. While certainly not too hardcore, her charm lies in the music. There is a youthful presence in her voice when it comes to singing. Her voice is super cute.
The rap tune "HOLLA" is her point of momentum where she really shines. Her rapping is somewhat subpar though. Her rap is not the best. Her technique of rapping is somewhat versatile and yet hard to understand since she is rapping in Japanese making it difficult for English fans to understand. But you either like or don't like Lil Ai. That's the way it is and that's how she wants it.
Your Love Is is a smooth solo song. A smooth love song filled with such emotion is the best way to describe the song Your Love Is. Love is electrifying.
HANA [粋な] is a smooth soulful track about the flowers in the country of Japan. HANA [粋な] is absolutely beautiful and sultry.
On Ryukyu Rhymer, Lil Ai’s rapping technique is a unique style of blending the Japanese language into the English language. For example: “Kimi ma niha” “Lil Ai is gonna give you some more Ain’t no party like a Lil Ai party because a Lil Ai party don’t stop Everybody in the place You Say Oh~~!” Lil Ai transitions from using the Japanese language by transitioning to use the English language next and then back to using her native Japanese language again as usual.
On the track My Name is Lil Ai, Lil Ai is looking for someone to be down with her tonight. Will she find someone to be down with her tonight? Is she going to find someone to be down with her tonight? That someone to love. That someone to hang on to. All the girls say she will be forever along. All the boys tell her to ignore the haters. Her name is Lil Ai.
But you either like or don't like Lil Ai. That's from the fans point of view. That's the way it is and that's how she wants it. There's a melody to the tracks even if the beats are not catchy and horrible.
4/5****!
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