N.O.T.A. - N.O.T.A. album review
N.O.T.A.’s self-titled eponymous album is a politically driven hardcore punk rock album similar to NOFX - War On Errorism. This album will remind you of what NOFX was like back in the early 2000s. A twist of political punk rock is one way to describe this album. The EP is nothing short of compelling meaning it’s worth listening to and worth writing home about.
Overall the N.O.T.A. album is one of the most hard criminally underrated albums punk rock has to offer. You can feel the angst and frustration in their lyrics. N.O.T.A. wrote intelligent lyrics and had real soul in their songs. This Tulsa, Oklahoma rock band never fails to disappoint. N.O.T.A. is None of the Above.
This album was released in 1985 on vinyl by the infamous Rabid Cat Records label based out of Austin, Texas. All of the songs on this N.O.T.A. were recorded and mixed at Cedar Creek Studio in Austin, Texas. Songs for this album were written in the timespan from 1979 to 1985. However a majority of the songs for this album were written during the 1980s.
The song Ultra Violent has that hardcore punk rock, wreckless wild child type of vibe. Quite similar to the Dead Kennedys and Henry Rollins.
Tension builds up inside the club as people are going out for a night of fun. The night turns ultra violent as a fight breaks out. Ass kicking begins. This means cops are out for a night of fun too. Police might just shut the place down. So you know police will use brutality tactics to shut down the club and get people arrested. So here comes police brutality.
The song Takin’ Away Your Rights is short song about how taking away rights is part of the government’s plan. This song is especially relevant in todays political climate and social climate. Governments across the globe have been taking more rights away from their citizens. All this does is hurt people and inflicts more potential damage.
Taking away your rights is all part of the master plan to condition you into live in a police state so the government can have full control of your life. The lyrics “It’s part of the plan/To condition you” and “Takin’ away your rights/It’s part of the plan/The master plan” highlight evidence of taking away rights.
On The Pavement is a song about police brutality and corruption. This song is still relevant today especially in todays political climate and social climate.
The song takes place during morning time. Overnight a police officer took another person’s life. Violence on the streets is to and so is unlawful power behind a badge and a gun. Unlawful power behind a badge and a gun is exactly what happened last night.
Here are some lyrics highlight how police use military tactics to arrest people and get them to comply. Read the following lyrics.:
Military tactics judge and jury badge
Shot him in the back they killed him when he ran
When they say stop you better do what they say
Save them time when you’re blown away
These lyrics highlight how police use military tactics to arrest people and get them to comply. If they do not follow into compliance, police will often use a gun to kill them or seriously injure them. Using a gun is part of the military tactics police often use for compliance.
Police Front deals with how police will make criminals out of people who are not a threat to them. This can happen to anyone. It can happen to you.
Imagine yourself in this scenario. You’re hanging out in front of the club with your friends. You’re not hurting anyone. But here come the cops. You gotta run! Police front. They write their reports. They love it when you resist. This just gives them an excuse to use their guns. Police know you’re not a criminal but they want to make you one. Police making criminals out of people who are not a threat to them is a more subtle form of police brutality.
Below is an example of how police make criminals out of people who are not a threat. Unfortunately this happens too often.
Gary was a man who was just clowning around throwing cans. He was not really a threat to anyone. A cop who was passing by decided to make a criminal out of Gary by taking him downtown on a ride to the police station. He went to the police station for questioning and was jailed.
Redneck Mentality is almost similar to Dead Kennedys - Nazi Punk Fuck Off!. The song deals with the conservative redneck mentality. The punk rock scene has gone to shit thanks to them in the eye of N.O.T.A. though.
Obviously the band was very much into left-wing politics when they wrote this song because they do not side with the right-wing rednecks who very much cater into right-wing politics.
Sick Society deals with how people close their eyes to the truth are sick. People close their eyes to the truth can’t see what they’ve done as they live in the past. Those people have money and security. They don’t have to face their own insecurities often.
N.O.T.A. calls out the people who close their eyes to the truth for polluting the Earth. They clearly don’t care if the water and air are poisoned. Pollution kills the Earth. Nuclear waste is what kills the Earth as well. Often times society is sick. Overall society is sick.
Nightstick Justice deals with the grim realities of police brutality. The song is similar to songs Police Front and On The Pavement.
You can feel the angst and frustration in their lyrics on the song Frustration. You know you’ve hit rock bottom when you have no job. The frustration shows when you’ve got no money or hope.
5/5*****!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N.O.T.A. - Toy Soldiers EP review
N.O.T.A.’s Toy Soldiers EP is a hardcore punk rock album driven similar to Black Flag – Jealous Again. No pop punk here. Overall this N.O.T.A. album is one of the most hard criminally underrated albums punk rock has to offer. N.O.T.A is hardcore punk rock at its best. This Tulsa, Oklahoma rock band never fails to disappoint. However the fidelity in recording is not perfect.
If you are looking for longevity or a full length album, then you are sorely out of luck as this EP is only 9 minutes long. This EP lacks in longevity.
Riot Kids is about not being pushed around anymore. Also it’s about being a kid in the summer. Remember laying on the grass during the summer heat thinking about those mindless dreams you once had? The downtown of your city looks so fine. People are tired of getting pushed around. Tired of getting fucked up. You don’t know who to blame. So far, everyone is tired of bullshit in their way. Now is the time to strike back. Stand up for yourself.
The title track is an upbeat thrash powered but melodic number. The kick drum and snares are what give this song an upbeat thrash powered kick.
Fucked Up has a hardcore punk edge. This song is where things start getting rough for this EP. It’s fucked up there too much strain. Honestly the fidelity in this recording is not the best nor is it perfect. Parts of the lyrics are hard to decipher.
3/5***!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zoo Brazil – Ties / Sundance single review
Zoo Brazil – Ties / Sundance was released by the SCI + TEC Digital Audio label in July 27, 2018 to bandcamp as a digital download online. This single uses the progressive ambient electronic sound mixed with tech house music. Zoo Brazil’s single also uses the subtle rhythmic house music sound. Both songs use a tempo of 122 BPM. Both songs are played in minor key form on the musical notes scale.
The song Ties uses a tempo of 122 BPM and is played in B minor. The song ties uses an upbeat melodic sound which in part is due to how the beats are programmed. Beats are programmed to follow a tempo of 122 BPM. Bass is what is what gives this song a melodic sound and vibe. Just 2 minutes into the song and you can already feel the intensity rising. Of course you hear that in all of electronic music.
The song Sundance uses a tempo of 122 BPM and is played in G minor. This song seems to have been looped. Notice how some of the synths repeat. Just 50 seconds into the song and you can already feel the intensity rising. Of course you hear that in all of electronic music. Anyway this is a great song. Zoo Brazil uses melodic sound for you and everyone else to enjoy.
5/5*****!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lil Rob - Still Smokin’ album review
The Lil Rob - Still Smokin’ album was a bootleg compilation album Familia Records made in 2000. This album was released without his permission. Most of these songs were previously released or remixed songs. Some songs don't even feature Lil Rob on them. Most of these songs are firme though. However his fans refer to this album as an average album or a “firme album”.
Still Smokin’ was part of the string of albums Lil Rob released which was bootlegged several times because of high demand. This album was bootlegged 4 times over the years. Surprisingly this album is easy to find despite the album not having received any radio play when released. Lil Rob's former record label already had issues with him at the time even before this album was ever released. Chicano rapper Lil Rob soon left the label during the following year.
All versions of Still Smokin’ us a light cyan back with bold black text. Even the bootlegs.
Wicky Wicked is not an unreleased song as many fans of Chicano rap would have you believe. This song was previously released on the Southsider Riders, Vol. 4 compilation album in 1998. This song has since been leaked onto other albums.
Wicky Wicked was a track about people trying to stop Lil Rob succeeding. Lil Rob tells people he has no desire of changing his style and never will change. He comes wicky wicked. VMF makes a guest appearance on Wicky Wicked also. VMF can do no wrong when it comes to producing or rapping just like Missy Elliot, Timbaland, Chad Hugo, Cricet, or Pharrell.
The song starts off with VMF (Steve Vicious) saying he saw Lil Rob standing over there just a minute ago. VMF says, “He's pretty bad on the mic, ya know.”
It's the wicky wicked Lil Rob! Putos step and trip. Lil Rob rips 'em apart from the heart to the brain. Still he remains the same and won’t change. You can't stop it. So stop this nonsense. Lil Rob coming with the steelo. People got this because they want this. So watch them bump this.
Lyrics are like the bullets out of a cuete. It's time to reload. (Cuete is the Spanish word for firecracker.) He never runs out of ammunition until the mission is done. He fixes all the mistakes putos make.
Verse 2 is where Lil Rob and VMF take the negative and turn it into positive energy. Lil Rob uses his lyrics and Chicano rap style to remember him by. That is what the lyrics “The people in my memory/Remember me/It'll never be/The way you want it to be, it's not in my destiny, don't mess with me” mean.
Lil Rob uses a bit of Spanish rap by changing from rapping in English towards rapping in Spanish. “Report the dedo/Chinga tu respecto, porque no lo quiero, no lo/Necesito, suavecito es mi steelo” In English, this translates to “Fuck your respect because I don't want it/I don't need it/it's my steelo”
I Remember chronicles the experiences of Lil Rob growing up in San Diego, California. Throughout this song is where he talked about growing up in San Diego. This song is what made him an icon and King of Chicano rap in San Diego, California and across the globe.
Lil Rob wants us to sit back, relax, reminisce, and think of all those wonderful times. He says this at the beginning of I Remember. Read these lyrics.:
I want you to sit back...
Close your eyes...
And think of all those wonderful times...
That we used to have...
Yeah
Now I know things aren't the way they used to be right now...
But they are, gonna get better some day...
Mmm
And I know that...
Verse 1 is an autobiography and perspective of his early life. Lil Rob was involved in the gang life at a young age. Age 12 to be exact. Lil Rob was a graffiti tagger and a gangbanger. Verse 1 is also where Lil Rob shares some of his memories with the listeners. Lil Rob raps honesty about the world around him. Read an excerpt of some of his lyrics.:
It must have been genetic
To get in trouble with the law
Take what I break
I spray at the walls, that's what I used to do
Smokin' a joint or two
Lil Rob (Lil Rob) gettin' a little blazed
Walkin' through my concrete maze, remember the days (remember the days)
'Member goin' to school, party by the tracks, smokin' a sack
With the vato that I sold it to, get him stoned, then I jack it back
'Member the guero, he used to look at us all
Funny and strange
Cause my pants was bigger than theirs, but now they all
Wear 'em the same (Yeah)
I used to get jealous, wonderin' why, I never had the same rights
Is it because I'm burnin' natos down, eatin' menudo, frijoles and rice?
When a minority gets their priorities straight, they can become the ruling majority and have control in their lives. People become successful and can succeed when they get their priorities straight. These lyrics highlight exactly how.:
Someone explain to me, all of this insanity
I'm not understandin' you, never understandin' me (never understanding)
When a minority gets their priorities straight
We become the majority
Inflate
An incredible rate, controllin' our fate, controllin' our states
On the chorus is where Lil Rob remembers when time was easy. That's what everybody says, but not him. He still loves them and had to have them. He remembers the things he used to do and the place he used go. These lyrics showcase that. “And I remember/Remembering the things/We used to do/Places we used to go“
Lil Rob shares more memories of his youth in Verse 2. Wicked ass times on SD streets. Lil Rob lets us know that he was not a person to mess around with. He used to live his life dangerously. Names of the homies who passed away were given. Read all the lyrics in Verse 2.
And I remember kickin' it under the street lamp
Smokin' a jay (Smokin' a jay)
Hearing my homie say, "Hey homie, pass the joint this way" (Alright)
And this was everyday and every night
Was the same
We didn't call each other by the first or last, but by nicknames
Dreamer
Pee wee
Oso Negro
To name a few
One passed away
Rest in peace, the others locked away
In prison blues
'Member the things we used to do
Can nobody take it away from us
We used to live life dangerous
Time flew away like angel dust
Leva known as pests, pesta, so levas
Stay away from metiches and chepas
Talkin' mentiras, cause they can't beat us
Mira
Lil Rob
On his lowrider
Bicicleta
Lookin'
For munecas
Beautiful
Like Aztecas
But when it comes to love
Leave all of the agony for the ecstasy
What comes around, goes around, so baby
Don't mess with me, don't, be testing me
Cause Lil' Rob be
One of a kind, original individual
Unforgettable, memorable, indelible
Incredible
Infallible
Mr. Shadow and Lil Rob used the song Go Ahead to showcase their lyrical skills and abilities. Lil Rob and Mr. Shadow can do no wrong when on the mic. Both Mr. Shadow and Lil Rob are the best of Chicano rap along with a handful of others.
It is undeniable that Mr. Shadow is an unfadeable lyricist who brings out mad hits. Mr. Shadow is known to explode like a box of C-4 when he performs at a show.
Party people in the house can ya feel me?! Drinking Don Pereon Dry Gin and Barcardi is what he does. Down to the bone on the streets or on the microphones. Getting bent is a daily thing in California the home of real pimp and players with the raw dough.
Take to the Sky is a perfect track spark up a blunt in order to sit back, relax, and think of all those wonderful times. It’s a perfect track to get high to. So take a puff and another puff. Exhale, Then take a breather. You wanna get high? Well come back this time. When you really want to fly, you get high. Take to the sky on your natural high until the day you die.
Lil Rob escapes from his reality through the use of marijuana. Life is a crazy maze so people will use drugs to escape. These lyrics highlight that.:
Life is like a maze
Gots me in a craze
So I hide away in marijuanas maze
Change my evil ways
Stay half day
Captured in the rapture
Love the way she plays
Gots me feelin' very loose
4/5****
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N.O.T.A. - Moscow EP review
N.O.T.A.’s Moscow EP is a politically driven hardcore punk rock album similar to NOFX - War On Errorism. This album will remind you of what NOFX was like back in the early 2000s. A twist of political punk rock is one way to describe this album. Notice the politicized themes? N.O.T.A. wrote intelligent lyrics and had real soul in their songs during performances. N.O.T.A. is None of the Above.
The song Takin’ Away Your Rights is short song about how taking away rights is part of the government’s plan. This song is especially relevant in todays political climate and social climate. Governments across the globe have been taking more rights away from their citizens. All this does is hurt people and inflicts more potential damage.
Taking away your rights is all part of the master plan to condition you into live in a police state so the government can have full control of your life. The lyrics “It’s part of the plan, To condition you” and “Takin’ away your rights, It’s part of the plan, The master plan” highlight this evidence.
Moscow is the highlight song and title track to the Moscow EP. The song has a theme of desolation, coldness, and poverty. Although this song is mostly about oppression. With oppression comes poverty.
Lyrics in Verse 1 shed light on a cold desolate environment. “The fields are green but the bear's in the north/
The streets tell stories and ugly reports/Warsaw in the winter and its people still cold” People of Moscow, Russia are cold, poor, and oppressed. The cold winters of Moscow, Russia are similar to the cold winters of Warsaw, Poland. That is no coincidence as both cities share similar environments.
Lyrics in Verse 2 highlight oppression. “Work all your life and you still come in last/Got no delusions when you hate the ruling class” These lyrics mean that no matter how hard you work in life, you still end up being oppressed or end up dealing with oppression.
Moscow uses the D, F, and C keys during verses of this song. Verses 1 through 3 use the D, F, and C keys. The chorus modulates from the A key to C key. No major keys are used. Much of this N.O.T.A. song uses the D key a majority of the time.
This Country Was Once Free was a song about how the United States of America was becoming a police state. When you listen to This Country Was Once Free, it’s as if N.O.T.A. was telling the prophecy to a speech or story. They were predicting the future. This song was way ahead of its time. N.O.T.A. wrote such intelligent lyrics on This Country Was Once Free.
The lyrics “Can’t holiday head up, can’t make a sound/Protector of the people gonna kick me down” is about how those who are supposed to protect us (law enforcement) beat people down into submission by using brutality tactics.
These lyrics are about the government will use police to beat you into submission and compliance. Analyze the following lyrics.:
What are your rights?
Just words in a book?
Your face in the dirt because of your looks
Try to be free
You’re a runaway slave
The Enemy has a theme of political awareness hence the given title. Can’t you hear the sounds of impending battle? Our homes are now the battleground. The governments compete for the markets of the world. The governments compete for the markets making people go to war.
5/5*****!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruscola - One Love…One Struggle album review
Ruscola - One Love…One Struggle is one of Ichiban Records most slept on R&B albums which did not receive much if any recognition. The album has perfect slow jams and love ballads. Songs on this album are perfect for a romantic date. Songs such as Let’s Get Personal and Mood For Love are love ballads.
Ruscola gets down and personal on the song Let’s Get Personal. Let’s Get Personal is a mid tempo slow jam sprinkled with thin layered beats and low bass. This song is a real treat all unto itself. Let’s Get Personal is the best song off this album!
Ruscola asks his girl to slip on her lingerie. He is in the mood to make love. He says, “Let’s get personal. Let me do things to you that make you feel good.” He caresses her hand gently. This takes her on a pathway to ecstasy. She does sweet things to him. You do realize where this is going?
Dream In Colors is a calming acoustic song backed by a single guitar. The tempo and sound fit the calm vibe. Calm and soothing are two that can be used to describe this song. This song is something similar you would hear from Bruno Mars or Jason Mraz.
Ruscola sings about how his insecurity leaves him to be himself. Deep down inside he wants someone else. He takes things the wrong way when told anything. Trust this heart to achieve. He knows love is real deep down inside. This thought of love lingers in his heart and mind. He dreams of the one he loves in colors. Colors that are brought into his life.
His heart cries when he see her. Ruscola realizes his imagination is the one thing that will drive them apart. He needs her in his heart and life.
Mood For Love is a gentle delicate piano driven love ballad perfect for you and your lover. This gentle delicate piano driven love ballad is synth laced. The song title itself indicates Ruscola is the mood for romance.
R. U. Down? is a love ballad driven by horns, synths, and bass. The song uses thick layers of beats and a thick layer of bass. It’s a let’s get down tonight type of love song. Just 1 minute, 22 seconds into the song is where Ruscola asks the woman he’s dating if she wants to get kinky. He asks to explore her tonight. All of her body. His plans are to please her. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.
4/5****!
No comments:
Post a Comment