The Shacks - The Shacks EP (digital EP) EP review
Mix ‘60s progressive rock and ‘70s psychedelic rock and you have the sounds of The Shacks. The Shacks are quite similar to Lil Cap’n Travis and The 13th Floor Elevators. It’s if Neil Young were to meet The Black Keys or if Neil Young were to meet MGMT. This is no conventional type of rock or rock band at that. The Shacks released their debut EP on CD and vinyl on Big Crown Records in 2016.
The digital EP for the The Shacks - The Shacks EP contains 9 songs with 2 bonus tracks. The 2 bonus tracks are Strange Boy and No Surprise. The digital EP for the The Shacks - The Shacks EP was released in 2018.
‘60s progressive rock meet ‘70s psychedelic rock on the song Strange Effect, which is no surprise because the song covers The Kink - Strange Effect. Henceforth the hazy humor laced over distorted twangy guitar notes. The song does have strange yet desirable effect on its listeners. So far this is the best cover version of The Kinks - Strange Effect. The Shacks did wonderful performing this excellent cover song.
Sharon Wise has an Enya vibe in her voice. She also has a Tweet vibe in her voice as well. Her whisper-vocals breeze through the speakers. You can hear the youthfulness in her voice. You will love the real dreamy sound. Notice the cool chord changes. This song certainly has an edge.
The song plays in synchronicity as they blend and loop with each other. This song is a song that will get stuck in your head and you will have to research and look it up online to listen to over and over again repeatedly. The synchronicity of this song is what really stands out.
Strange Effect is their most well known song(s) to date. The music video for Strange Effect reached over 100,000 views on YouTube since 2016. The music video has since surpassed over 300,000 views!
The music video for The Shacks - Strange Effect is currently featured in the Apple iPhone 8 global ad campaign that has been playing on television and the internet. The music video has appeared on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram reaching up towards 20 million views worldwide combined! The lead actor in the spot was all over the place in the music video.
Orchids is a suspense ridden, sax driven song with dark lyricism. Orchids is truly a beautiful original song. The song is about heartbreak and sorrow driven with such fearless emotion. Overall Orchids as a song has a groovy sound despite the dark vibe and tone. The chords don’t change or alternate that much. The rhythm section is perfect in orchestration.
Sharon Wise has an Enya vibe in her voice and also has a Tweet vibe in her voice as well. The youthfulness in her voice really help this song stand out on its own. Leon Michels produced Orchids with Max Shrager. Although Leon Michels take most of the credit.
Orchid is one of their lesser known songs to date. The music video for Orchid reached over 30,000 views on YouTube since 2017. The music video has since surpassed over 33,000 views!
Sharon Wise laid down her vocals perfectly on Rain. Rain is orchestrated in a pitch-perfect melody soothing to the ears. Sharon Wise has an Enya vibe in her voice. Her voice is a breath of fresh air compared to what’s on the radio these days. The freshness of this track is what really stands out the most.
Reggae meets rock on Hands In Your Pocket. Frightnrs represent the rhythm section backing Sharon’s voice with Max Shrager on guitar. The song is a pitch-perfect melody. Laying down a pitch-perfect song is an easy task for Sharon Wise. Max Shrager does half of the acoustics. The reggae sound on this track is what really stands out the most.
No Surprise is a short but sweet rock song lapsing from 3 to 4 minutes long. Max Shrager does half of the acoustics while the other band member takes on the other half of the guitar portion.
5/5*****!!
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Nicole Moses - The Answer album review
Nicole Moses is hailing from Ontario, Toronto, Canada with a breezing new album with a proverbial sound. Her sound is reminiscent to Angie Stone, Evanescence, Liz Phair, and Mary J. Blige. The album was produced by James "Homegrown" McQuaid. Summer Breeze has proverbial breezing sound to it. The song Get With Me has a sound similar to Mary J. Bilge. Whatcha Do To Me is a funky tune with a funky vibe. Canadian indie artists are often overlooked.
5/5*****!
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Lil Za - Youngest Balla Of Them All album review
The album Youngest Balla Of Them All was released in 2005 on BOC Records (BOC Entertainment) from Tyler, Texas, US. It’s a children’s music album filled with rap and pop. Pop rap meets children’s music with gritty Dirty South sound on top of a friendly vibe. Youngest Balla Of Them All was Lil Za’s sophomore debut. Lil Za is the best in East Texas rap next to Lil Tec, Lil Twist, DJ Nasty, Pimp C, Bun B, DJ DMD, Boonie Locc, USC, 903, UGK, and Texas Playas among others.
Welcome Back reintroduces us to Lil Za again. It had been 2 years since his debut album No Pass No Play was released in 2003. No Pass No Play was Lil Za’s first album that was released on BOC Records (BOC Entertainment). Young Money signee Lil Twist was featured as well. The beginning samples John Sebastian - Welcome Back with an updated sound and production. The production is beautifully orchestrated. Lil Twist is Lil Za’s older brother and they were both signed to Nico Hernandez’s label BOC Records in the early 2000’s.
L*i*l*z*a is a Lil Za solo track. L*i*l*z*a explains the personality and persona behind Lil Za as both a regular citizen and pop artist. The track L*i*l*z*a is down south rap that speaks for itself.
Youngest Balla features Houston rap icon Lil Keke and Baton Rouge rap artist Lil Trill. Lil Za raps for the bulk of its duration for 2 minutes long. Nico Hernandez produced and arranged the horn selection.
Lil Za covers Nelly - Juice in the track Jungle Juice. It is a pop rap freestyle. The beats are absolutely nuts as the whole track is wild. Twist & Za is a Lil Za and Lil Twist duo cut the two of them freestyle. Get Buck is a Lil Za freestyle.
Lil Twist and Lil Za cover Fat Joe - Lean Back on the track Lean Back. It’s another Lil Za and Lil Twist duo cut. Lean Back is only 2½ minutes long though.
Round & Round Remix is a remix of Round & Round from the 2003 album No Pass No Play. This version and the original song were written in 2002. Lil Za wrote all of the lyrics by himself when he was 8 years old. Lil Za covers the children’s music song Wheels On The Bus. Round & Round was the first single for the No Pass No Play album that had a music video to promote the single and album.
Lil Za covers the song Wheels On The Bus with his own original lyrics. Take a look at the chorus and some verses.
The wheels on the Benz go round and round
The wheels on the Benz go round and round
and the car is stopped
It’s Lil Za, BOC
you know we puttin’ it down
We more entertaining than Bozo the Clown
Heard of Romeo and Bow Wow now it's my time
Raindrops features Tum Tum & Fat B of DSR from Dallas, Texas. Children’s music meets Dirty South rap. Lil Za isn’t as vocal here as he is elsewhere across his sophomore album.
Lil Za has improved in his songwriting and lyrics since his debut album. Take look at these lyrics. His lyrics are awesome on this track.
I’m Lil Za, you won't believe I’m only 8
playin PS2, and man 2000 tre
No Pass No Play
yes it's in stores
watch so many screens like that's my chores
screens on my floor, shoes Air Force ones
if it ain’t that, it's Air Jordans
Lil Za and DSR represent yo click
youngest balla of them all so my pockets thick
5/5*****!!
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Lil Za - No Pass No Play album review
No Pass No Play was Lil Za’s first album that was released on BOC Records (BOC Entertainment) in 2003 from Tyler, Texas, US. It’s a children’s music album filled with rap and pop. Pop rap meets children’s music with gritty Dirty South sound on top of a friendly vibe. No Pass No Play sold 10,000 copies in its first year. So far over 20,000 copies have been sold across the United States and the world. The album was very successful for children’s music from Texas along with Texas rap. Lil Za is the best in East Texas rap next to Lil Tec, Lil Twist, DJ Nasty, Pimp C, Bun B, DJ DMD, Boonie Locc, USC, 903, UGK, and Texas Playas among others.
Lil Za wrote his first debut album when he was 8 years old in 2002. He finished writing the rest of his debut album in 2003 before the album was mixed and mastered. Nico Hernandez produced the album for Lil Za.
No Pass No Play is down south rap that speaks for itself. No Pass No Play is a track written by Lil Za that got radio play in East Texas and eventually Dallas, Texas. This track was written by Lil Za when he was 8 years old in the year 2002. The track No Pass No Play was the first track he had ever written.
Youngest Balla features Houston rap icon Lil Keke and Baton Rouge rap artist Lil Trill. Lil Za raps for the bulk of its duration for 2 minutes long. Nico Hernandez produced and arranged the horn selection.
Round & Round was written in 2002. Lil Za wrote all of the lyrics by himself when he was 8 years old. Lil Za covers the children’s music song Wheels On The Bus. Round & Round was the first single for the No Pass No Play album that had a music video to promote the single and album.
Lil Za covers the song Wheels On The Bus with his own original lyrics. Take a look at the chorus and some verses.
The wheels on the Benz go round and round
The wheels on the Benz go round and round
and the car is stopped
It’s Lil Za, BOC
you know we puttin’ it down
We more entertaining than Bozo the Clown
Heard of Romeo and Bow Wow now it's my time
4/5****
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Main Source - Breaking Atoms album review
Breaking Atoms was a jazz rap classic masterpiece of an album. Main Source grouped together and made this awesome album called Breaking Atoms that was in 1991. This album is where Jazz meets Hip Hop/Rap. Both Jazz rap and Jazz hop are stylistically incorporated on this album as Breaking Atoms was recorded during the golden age of hip hop. Its heavy original use of sampling and production made the album an instant classic underground. The album was high favored by music critics as being deemed as a classic album in hip hop. Breaking Atoms is both Canadian Hip Hop and Canadian Rap at its finest.
Main Source was a Hip Hop/Rap group from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and New York City, New York, US. Main Source was just like Dream Warriors for example. Dream Warriors was another Canadian Hip Hop/Rap group similar to Main Source. Think Canadian-American Hip Hop/Rap when listing to this album.
Looking at the Front Door was hit single that received minor success with radio play across the United States and Canada. The song hit #48 on the Billboard Charts. Main Source was smart for using a funk sample accompany a jazz instrumental. Funk and jazz blend in well with each other. We can that they had fun with this track because it gets funky right away!
Watch Roger Do His Thing was another moderate success that received airplay on the radio and was played on television. Watch Roger Do His Thing has a funky jazz sound that meets hip hop. Large Pro produced this cut.
This is the best Jazz rap album ever! This is a must have album for ALL Hip Hop heads and Rap junkies! As well as you vinyl junkies out there.
5/5*****!!
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Jesse Cook - Vertigo album review
Looking for something similar to Brian Eno, U2, or Cher? Well this album may just be right for those of you who like the calming style of music. Think jazz with world fusion with the calming style of music. While he does hit the Cajun notes on his guitar at certain times, Jesse Cook does kick up some harmony well. While this album isn't a must have, there are fairly good decent songs on this album. He just keeps getting better with each new release heard so far. Jesse Cook hails from the region of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
4/5****
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The Dayton Family – Dope Dayton Ave. EP review
Dope Dayton Ave. was a demo pressed on cassette released on GrayT Records (GreyT Records) in 1994. The Dayton Family had this tape circulating around Flint, Michigan. Only 500 copies were ever made and released. This demo tape is extremely and hard to come or even find in retail stores. This album was released only in Flint. This demo cassette became a cult classic and a fan favorite in the underground scene of Flint rap. This tape was sold at Wyatt Earp’s Store in Flint also.
Some tracks from their demo cassette were from the albums FBI and What’s On My Mind. Most of these tracks are the demo versions that differ from the studio versions seen or heard from the albums FBI and What’s On My Mind. This demo is realistically more of an EP than an actual full length album due to its short duration in time.
This version of Dope Dayton Ave. is quite similar to the 1995 version of Dope Dayton Ave. heard on the What’s On My Mind album. Only the sound is a lot less polished and unmastered in terms of production. This version of Dope Dayton Ave. has a more ghetto underground sound. The beats are raw. This is where The Dayton Family gets real raw. They are constantly aggressive on the track.
Dope Dayton Ave. is named after the infamous Dayton Avenue, is known as one of the most crime-ridden streets in Flint, Michigan. Bootleg, Shoestring, and Backstabba rap about coming up from their own upbringings living in the hardest conditions of the United States of America. The trio’s name is derived from Dayton Avenue in Flint.
This was the first track The Dayton Family had ever recorded. Dope Dayton Ave. was recorded in 1991 and released on a cassette single that was a demo with Ghetto Thang included. Dope Dayton Ave. was re-recorded in 1994 with Mark Taylor and J Robinson producing the track. The group began working with local producer Steve Pitts and formed The Dayton Family later.
Backstabba gets hardcore and aggressive. The track is known for its patterns of aggressiveness. Read his verses used in the lyrics of Dope Dayton Ave.:
nobody fucks me
especially on Dayton Avenue
because all I do is smoke weed, sell crack, and screw
brew too.
Ghetto Thang is a demo of Ghetto from the FBI album that dropped in 1996. This version of Ghetto is very much different from the version of Ghetto on the FBI album. Ghetto Thang samples Art of Noise - Moments in Love while Ghetto on the FBI album samples The Floaters - Float On. The lyrics are very much different from each other but have the same concept of living in a cycle of poverty. However Ghetto Thang has some similar lyrics to Ghetto from the FBI album. K-Mill (R.I.P.) of Raw Deal speaks at the end of Ghetto Thang.
Ghetto Thang provides emotional insight showcasing the life cycle of poverty. The mood is sad and mournful. The lyrics are very much different from each other but have the same concept of living life in a cycle of poverty. It's about survival. Hustling and trying to have a normal life in an impossible environment.
This version of FBI is much different from the version found on the 1996 FBI album. This version uses samples while the 1996 version does not. This version of FBI was produced by Mark Taylor instead of Steve Pitts FBI samples The Isley Brothers - For The Love Of You and Ludwig van Beethoven - Für Elise. The beats have different arrangements, persuasion selection, samples, filters, rhythm, and sound from the 1996 version of FBI. Mark Taylor used equal temperament while producing the track. Its enharmonic sound is quite notable. J Robinson laid down the arrangements.
Ludwig van Beethoven - Für Elise is the most the notable sample that used throughout the track being that the sample is looped itself over as the background music. Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (WoO 59, Bia 515) for solo piano, commonly known as Für Elise, is the highlight sample for this track.
The piece is in A minor and is set in at 3|8 time. The song does not lack atonality (lacks a tonal center or key). Left-hand arpeggios are delayed by a 16th note with extra bars in the B section and finally last is the rising A minor arpeggio figure. It begins with an A minor theme marked Poco moto (little movement), with the left hand playing arpeggios alternating between A minor and E major. Then the pitch shifts to the C note (C major) descending into the A note (A minor).
The sample is played in A minor with pitch shifting to B using the ABA scale such as follows.: A-B-A
The ABA scale is the most noticeable music scale used on FBI. A brief section is based around C major and A minor. C major descends into A minor. The structure is A–B–A–C–A in rondo form.The structure is A–B–A–C–A in rondo form much of which is looped throughout the track.
FBI takes ride through one of the worst ghettos of in the United States of America with such gruesome imagery and powerful narratives. FBI is a classic without a doubt. The track itself is a cult classic for Dayton Family fans.
Musical arrangements and beats for the demo version of Flint Town are much different from the version of Flint Town that appeared on the What’s On My Mind album. The lyrics are slightly different with alternative verses not heard of the What’s On My Mind album. Treble is reduced on the demo version of this track as well. Mark Taylor produced the demo version while Steve Pitts produced the 1994 version. Flint Town samples the beat of Run DMC - Rock Box.
Flint Town is the track that made The Dayton Family a legendary rap ground in the streets of Flint, the state of Michigan, and throughout the Midwest US. This is the absolute highlight track for this demo!
The Dayton Family refutes the notion that race does not matter in American society. Flint is not a prosperous scenic town inhabited by celebrities. Michael Jackson says “Black or white, it shouldn’t matter.”. This is a reference to Michael Jackson - Black Or White where Michael Jackson says race shouldn’t matter. Clearly Michael Jackson was living in an idealistic, magical place like Hollywood, California. Flint is a place where things are very rough and race matters. The Dayton Family feels there isn’t any way out of a bleak environment.
The movie industry pays no attention to the plight of Flint. Although, however, Michael Moore’s 1989 documentary Roger and Me shed light on the deindustrialization situation that hurt Flint severely.
Bootleg tried to go to college but didn’t feel he could fit in anyway due to his social, economic, and racial background. This indicates life in Flint is difficult and there is limited opportunity to receive higher education. There are several colleges in the area such as the University of Michigan – Flint, and Kettering University Bootleg makes commentary on discrimination in the college admissions process. University of Michigan’s Affirmative Action policies are often racist. This has been a big issue and still is.
Flint keeps people trapped in an impoverished environment. It is so hard to escape the drugs and violence that plague Flint. He refuses to work hard at a fast food franchise and still be poor. He can’t live in a nice condo as he would still be in the hood.
What’s On My Mind is another track that made The Dayton Family a legendary rap ground in the streets of Flint, the state of Michigan, and throughout the Midwest US. The Dayton Family discusses to the listeners what’s on their mind while not holding back of course. The Dayton Family comes with a “no holds barred attitude” in aggressive form on this track and several other tracks of theirs. Any fan of hardcore gangsta rap will enjoy this track!
The Dayton Family does not hold back for anything! For example, read these verses to the lyrics of What’s On My Mind.:
What's on my mind is a rape in progress
I got my dick in between some bitch’s breasts
What's on my mind is a knife at a hoe’s throat
I took her gold, her pussy, and her mink coat
Fantasies is a track that was recorded by The Dayton Family in 1991. The demo version of Fantasies samples The Isley Brothers - For The Love Of You. The demo version of Fantasies has more added flavor than the studio version. The demo version of Fantasies is a totally different version than the studio version of Fantasies.
Jake The Flake is a hidden bonus track included on the Dope Dayton Ave. demo. The track is a Jake The Flake solo. The track Jake The Flake is both an underground classic and a Flint rap classic amongst Jake The Flake. Good hardcore shit right here. The track Jake The Flake was recorded in 1992 around the time his debut Time To Go Legit EP dropped. The bass is quite heavy with pultruding bass lines with different musical notes. Mark Taylor arranged the heavy bass lines.
5/5*****!!
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Lil Slim - The Game Is Cold album review
New Orleans bounce meets gangsta rap on Lil Slim’s album The Game Is Cold. This was Lil Slim’s first album he had ever released. The Game Is Cold was released on cassette only in 1993 on Cash Money Records. If you are/were a fan of the early Cash Money sound, then this album is for you! Lil Slim can really take credit for Cash Money’s early sound. Some of the songs have samples in them. These were the rhymes that the whole city switched up for in their bounce songs. This album is hot from beginning to end and is without a doubt an instant classic! You can't find good rap like this anymore.
New Orleans bounce meets gangsta rap on Bounce Slide Ride. Bounce Slide Ride is a gangsta rap cover version of Bounce, Skate, Roll by Vaughn Mason. Bounce Slide Ride is one of the dopest gangsta bounce songs from Cash Money. Bounce Slide Ride put Lil Slim on the map. Lil Slim was only known in New Orleans, Louisiana. Bounce Slide Ride was produced by the legendary Mannie Fresh. Mannie Fresh had a fresh and new style at the time that was unheard of.
These were the rhymes that the whole city switched up for in their bounce songs. :
slide biggity bounce slide ride
getty up
Lil Slim and B-32 keep it real on the track Cold Game. It’s a cold game out there. It’s a dark gangsta rap track from the Dirty South. It was the hustling that made the big bucks. Lil Slim was a hustler in the streets of NOLA.
Lil Slim mimics and parodies the style DJ Jubilee and his song Stop, Pause on Hoes I used to sweat. Bounce rap can be heard all over the track.
The Game Is Cold did fund enough studio time for his next album Powder Shop which eventually led to his 3rd album Thuggin' N Pluggin'. It was the hustling that made the big bucks. Cash Money tried to get their name out there with Lil Slim but that didn’t catch on.
4/5****!!
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Lil Slim - Powder Shop album review
With the underground success of his debut album The Game Is Cold, he soon recorded a follow-up album called Powder Shop. New Orleans bounce meets gangsta rap. Lil Slim can really take credit for Cash Money’s early sound. The tracks are produced by Manny Fresh. Some of the songs have samples in them. These were the rhymes that the whole city switched up for in their bounce songs. This album is hot from beginning to end and is without a doubt an instant classic! You can't find good rap like this anymore.
Lil Slim creates his own style of bounce music called Eagle Street Bounce on the track Eagle St. Bounce. The song itself is a classic among Lil Slim fans due to the sound of New Orleans bounce music. Eagle St. Bounce is an original song Lil Slim wrote himself.
Hoes I used to sweat II revisits Hoes I used to sweat from the The Game Is Cold album. Lil Slim mimics and parodies the style DJ Jubilee and his song Stop, Pause. Although it’s a decent song with low production, the song itself gets repetitive with subject material.
Blunt after Blunt is a decent song Mannie Fresh produced himself. Powder Shop is title track that has many drug references galore.
4/5****!!
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Lil Slim - Thug'N & Pluggin' album review
Thug'N & Pluggin' was the first and only actual full length album Lil Slim released in 1995 on Cash Money Records. New Orleans bounce meets gangsta rap. Thug'N & Pluggin' was released after the successful Powder Shop album was released. The original release came without parental advisory and without a barcode. Both editions were manufactured by Discmakers. The CD version has the same catalog number as the cassette version.
Live In Club Rolex (Real High) is a track that was recorded during a live concert at Club Rolex in Downtown New Orleans sometime between 1994-1995. Baby was responsible for most of the production of course.
Time to murder is a raw rap song that featured former Cash Money artists Mr. Ivan and Kilo G. Kilo G had the best verse. They ripped this joint. Time to murder was definitely an underrated track during an underrated time in when New Orleans rap was overlooked by the major record labels.
4/5****!!
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Atoozi - Atoozi 2000 album review
Mix the genres of dance, pop, and hip hop, and here you have the results of dance duo Atoozi. Atoozi’s album is more pop than hip hop being that Atoozi is primarily a dance oriented album. Such dance music is truly refreshing. Rich optimism is heard on the Atoozi album. An ensemble of live horns blend in well with dance music. Jeffery Burrell and John Sharpe make up the Atoozi duo. EMI really outdid themselves when promoting the album as it 2x platinum selling over 2 million copies.
4/5****
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