Joi Cardwell – Wanderlust (The Soundtrack) album review
Joi Cardwell – Wanderlust (The Soundtrack) is a soundtrack album that was released both digitally and psychically in the year 2007. Sadly the album did not garner much attention or chart on the Billboard. Garage house meets the sounds of deep house on this album. Song of love and personal freedom are what’s on this album. This album used a handful of producers some of which who made her songs into different mixes.
What’s Freedom tells us what freedom is all about in Joi’s words and lyrics. The song is also about seeking the truth. What's living if you can't be free? What is freedom if you can't be yourself?
What is freedom? Freedom is the truth that people seek. Everybody's got to find their own way to seek the truth.
Joi stands up for herself by telling us what she is not down with. Read these lyrics below.
People pushing their morality
Trying to mold you with
Their words thought and speech
I'm not feeling that reality
People have their own agenda. People push their own standards of morality and try to mold you with that. Just because there's a majority doesn't mean their choice is the right thing for anyone else.
Imperfect tells us that life isn’t always perfect.
Sunrise and Sunset. Each day is a miracle see. And sometimes joy and pain comes within them. It's time to realize that life can be paradise and it will come to you. Even in times of happiness, we are not always blessed. It’s all true.
Life is imperfect and full of insanity. Life isn’t always perfect. But it is the joy it brings that counts. Love is imperfect. Things will be alright even on those days when you're feeling alone. You have to keep pushing through even when times are tough.
After The Rain is about waking up in the morning with the one you love not being there.
Joi woke up this morning and the person she loved is not there. Joi is listening carefully so she can hear that person’s voice in the wind. There it goes again. That’s wishful thinking on her part. Joi is left with a heart filled with sorrow and pain. There's always tomorrow.
She smells that unique perfume. That unique perfume smell stays with her through the day. But she must begin to complete her chores. Her heat is filled with sorrow after the pain. When she looks around, it's them she sees. Joi knows that her heart has her deceived.
She asks herself this question. “Am I asking too much to wish for your touch to last forever?”
Happy tells to keep being happy even when people bring us down. Some people will bring you down with words, distractions, and actions for reactions. This turns your smile into a frown. They find fullment and joy in bringing you down. They'll make you think you're crazy. The key to life is simply to be happy. In life you can choose to be. You have the right to be happy. Ain't nothing wrong with being happy.
Wanderlust is an original love song written by Joi Cardwell. Joi can see it in his eyes and knows that he wants her.His body can't deny that. What words won’t tell, his body will. Lost in emotions. Her body fueled by fire. Kept afloat by desire. Deep in his ocean. We'll call it wanderlust. A feeling that you have to trust. He’s the only thing that Joi can see. It's where she wants to be.
4/5****!
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Zapp - Zapp II album review
Zapp’s Zapp II success was equal to the success of their debut album which is why the album went gold in the United States. The album contains a hodgepodge of funky songs equipped with that electro sound and rhythm. The album contains Dance Floor, Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing), Do You Really Want An Answer?, and Come On. All perfect for the dance floor.
Playin’ Kinda Ruff deals with the rough reality of daily life. Life is not always easy nor is it always fair. Life is imperfect. It’s the daily blues.
Roger wakes up every morning to hear his neighbors screaming. His alarm clock is ringing. He wants to lay back down. Now he’s got such a sweet lady.Sometimes he wonders why she sticks around because the pieces just don't fall in place and add up. It sure is getting tough and rough out here.
In Verse 2, there is a missing lyric to the lyrics “Lift that bale, tote that barge”. The missing lyric here is “Lift that bale, tote that barge/show boat” which is originally from the song “Old Man River” in the 1927 musical Show Boat.
He needs some money and a job. The man is on his back 8 hours of day. Sometimes he just wants to quit but he knows he can’t. Lord it’s rough out here. His wife and children are depending on him. He can't duck life’s responsibilities.
Do You Really Want An Answer? is a song about Roger wondering where that girl went. Do you really want to know? Do you really want an answer?
He sits by his window alone and listens to the breeze go. It seems like just yesterday he had everything in this whole wide world. Roger asks, “Where is that girl? Won't somebody tell me?”
Roger asks himself, “Is this really happening? Am I alone tonight?” He has such a lovely lady. She gave him everything I ever needed with love. What kind of fool was he to let her go? Somebody tell him. Where can she be?
Is there any room for reconsideration? His whole world depends on reconciliation. He asks, “Have I lost you, girl? Are you gone for good?” Somebody told Roger they saw her at the club sitting with a friend. She seems to have found another love. Roger is heartbroken by all this.
Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing) uses a mixture of boogie pop, electro funk, and blues. Notice the harmonics from the harmonica in the song? That harmonica represents the blues portion of the song. Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing) is similar to the Electric Slide due to the upbeat electro funk sound.
The band explores their fetish for women’s legs on the song Come On. These lyrics indicate the band has developed leg fetishism. “Come on, and give it to me, Come on!/Why don't you common and give it to me!/You got to know your legs can/Make the best of men slip/How do you keep your head straight/And still move your hips?/I dont know, but it sure looks good to me”
5/5*****!!
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Mr. International – Tomika/Remi -N- Alizé single review
Mr. International – Tomika/Remi -N- Alizé is a unique R&B single which incorporates the sounds of hip hop, funk, rap, and easy listening all in one recording. Sounds of smooth funk meet hip hop and R&B on this single
Tomika was advertised and listed as the hot new single on the sticker case. Tomika was the lead single off his debut album. Carmen Miller sang the background vocals on Tomika. The single got radio play in Houston, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana.
The song is about Mr. International trying to make a girl named Tomika his woman. She tells him she already has a man. Of course Mr. International won’t take no for an answer. He wants to remain friends with her one way or another.
This girl Tomika has been Mr. International the feeling. He feels as if they are compatible. Her sign is compatible with his. She’s got him wondering. He peeps the way of her slick talk. He guarantees once it starts that it won’t be over quick enough. The surprise is that she already has a man. He wants to remain friends with her.
Tomika images the touch, the warmth, and the kiss of him ¼th into the song. She wants to do the things no other girl would do.
Mr. International would rather have a woman instead of a girl. Someone like Tomika seems to be nonexistent. So many women seem to have men twisted. Tomika turns out not to be an exception to this case as she’s got her man twisted up. He ends up leaving her in the end. He gets disappointed with her act.
The title track Remi -N- Alizé has that smooth G-Funk sound which mature people can relate to. Only mature people can appreciate the sound. The smooth piano is accompanied by some heavy bumpin’ bass which adds into the G-Funk sound.
The song and title track is about the finer things in life. Think champagne dreams and caviar wishes. Sex on the beach.
4/5****!
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Andrés – D.ATLien EP EP review
Andrés – D.ATLien EP uses a great mixture of electronic, Latin, and soul music. The EP is instrumental for the most part. Ensolardo uses a touch of Latin and soul over loud vocals. The beats move to fast paced rhythm. Dance meets electronic on I Can't Hear You. The beats are smooth and thick. A funky bass guitar is added to the mix. D-Town Connection uses that Detroit techno sound.
4/5****
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Zapp - Playin' Kinda Ruff / Do You Really Want An Answer? single review
Zapp - Playin' Kinda Ruff / Do You Really Want An Answer? is one of the many overlooked singles from 1982. The single was overlooked due to the success of Dance Floor and Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing).
Playin’ Kinda Ruff deals with the rough reality of daily life. Life is not always easy nor is it always fair. Life is imperfect. It’s the daily blues.
Roger wakes up every morning to hear his neighbors screaming. His alarm clock is ringing. He wants to lay back down. Now he’s got such a sweet lady.Sometimes he wonders why she sticks around because the pieces just don't fall in place and add up. It sure is getting tough and rough out here.
In Verse 2, there is a missing lyric to the lyrics “Lift that bale, tote that barge”. The missing lyric here is “Lift that bale, tote that barge/show boat” which is originally from the song “Old Man River” in the 1927 musical Show Boat.
He needs some money and a job. The man is on his back 8 hours of day. Sometimes he just wants to quit but he knows he can’t. Lord it’s rough out here. His wife and children are depending on him. He can't duck life’s responsibilities.
Do You Really Want An Answer? is a song about Roger wondering where that girl went. Do you really want to know? Do you really want an answer?
He sits by his window alone and listens to the breeze go. It seems like just yesterday he had everything in this whole wide world. Roger asks, “Where is that girl? Won't somebody tell me?”
Roger asks himself, “Is this really happening? Am I alone tonight?” He has such a lovely lady. She gave him everything I ever needed with love. What kind of fool was he to let her go? Somebody tell him. Where can she be?
Is there any room for reconsideration? His whole world depends on reconciliation. He asks, “Have I lost you, girl? Are you gone for good?” Somebody told Roger they saw her at the club sitting with a friend. She seems to have found another love. Roger is heartbroken by all this.
4/5****!!
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deadmau5 – Everything Is Complicated EP review
deadmau5 – Everything Is Complicated is one of the lesser known EPs from deadmau5. Fans of electronic music will enjoy this EP for years to come. It’s techno music with that progressive house sound of which house heads truly enjoy.
secondary complications is breathtaking unique deadmau5 song. This is because the song used 3 major notes and keys of C, D, and E being played at once. The song uses a mixture of techno and progressive house.deadmau5's minimal house game really shows on secondary complications. secondary complications should have been named as 5econdary complication5. Secondary Complications was only available exclusively on the Beatport website.
The kicks are pitched differently. All 3 musical notes and keys of C, D, and E are played at once. All major notes and keys (C, D, and E) play seconds apart. The D key progresses after the C key is played. In a way, the D key overlaps the C key by 20% percent.
secondary complications uses a plucky low pass filter. A sawtooth is used with a filter and hardcore compression. The compression gives the synths and sawtooth a distorted sound. A handful of filters and equalizers seem to have been used on the song. Sample delay is used in an extremely quick manner.
everything before uses a low end filter in a perfect way. The song everything before uses a progressive house sound. Electro meets techno and the sounds of progressive house music.
The percussion consists of a kick and clap. The beat progresses slowly over time. Notice during the middle of the song is when and where the beat picks up to a faster pace. The beat stays at a constant pace throughout parts of this song. Time signature used for this song is 4|4.
everything after uses a plucky low pass filter which is why there is a rumble inside of the synths. Subwoofer bass is used on the song which is why you hear bass rumbling inside of the synths. The song everything after is perfect for a rave or the dance floor.
complications has a percussive drum beat that is considerably slow. The percussive drum nearly overlap the reverb and synths you hear in the background. The sound off bongos are a bit off key. The sound is monotonous. A rhythm is used. Overall the song is okay.
4/5****!!
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N.Y. House'n Authority – Dyckman House EP EP review
What’s unique about the N.Y. House'n Authority – Dyckman House EP is that each track is named after a low-income housing project in New York City (NYC) hence the names Ravenswood, Tilden, Dyckman, High Bridge, and Fort Green. It’s another overlooked yet under-appreciated electronic house EP from the 1980s.
Dyckman House uses a plucky low pass filter in the synths. Production for this song is rather lo-fi and not high quality. The beats are rather thin. Dyckman House has that raw techno sound.
Fort Green House uses an experimental style of electronic music with a slight touch of minimal house. The song serves as a tribute to house music. The song uses trippy filtered synths. Synths used in the song are delayed in such short time.
Ravenswood House uses a lot more loudness than any of the other songs on this EP. Beats and bass give the song a loud pounding sound.
4/5****!!
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Geoffrey Landers – Many Hands Make Light album review
Geoffrey Landers – Many Hands Make Light is an electronic pop album with a new wave sound. Electro pop sounds from the 80s is what you can expect to hear on this album. Many Geoffrey Landers slept on this album and overlooked buying it. It’s another overlooked 80s album. Percussion on Camella is backed with a kick A hard rock guitar and funky bass are added into the mix. The bass will make you feel wiggly and get out of control. Carry Me Off uses a much more lo-fi sound in terms of production.
4/5****
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Geoffrey Landers – 1 By 1 album review
Geoffrey Landers – 1 By 1 is a compilation of songs previously released and unreleased. Music From Memory issued this compilation album on vinyl in 2017. Funk meets the sound of electronic and pop on this compilation album.
The song Breedlove uses a touch of David Byrne and Brit-Pop. Music From Memory did an excellent and professional job of remastering a legendary jam! Mack is the song which calms down this compilation album due to the chilling vibe and nature used. The song has a chill mood for the most part.
Say You'll Say So is a funky electronic song with an injection of new wave. The song is similar to the band Teras For Fears - Rule The World. The bass guitar and synths seem to copy/interpolate some of the musical notes and keys from that song. The song Say You'll Say So was used in an Adidas skateboarding video.
4/5****!
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David Chesworth – Layer On Layer album review
David Chesworth – Layer On Layer was released on the long forgotten yet legendary Australian label in Innocent in 1981. The album was issued on 12” vinyl in a limited number of 500 copies. David Chesworth’s Layer On Layer album is an electronic pop album with a new wave sound. Layers is what this album is about. Different layers for different reasons.
Thoughtful Food uses filtered funky distorted synths over weird percussion. The songs uses an experimental sound of electronic music. Some may consider this song to be unsettling to the ears. One thing for sure is that this song is unique and different.
The Bits That Move Together is a bass driven new wave song which uses a layer of instruments. The beats, synths, and percussion are what stand out. The song is an instrumental.
The Unstated Weight uses a flanger filter and sound effects over unfiltered distorted keyboard notes on top of a quirky instrumental track. There are some vocals present. One thing for sure is that this song is unique and different.
4/5****
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Vallejo - Sins (digital version) EP review
Sins was the very first EP that was released by the Latin rock band Vallejo in 1994 on CD. Sins sold 5,000 copies within its first year of retail release. The Sins EP was later re-released and remastered in 1999 on Vallejo Music Group (VMG) in Austin, Texas. Since then, Sins has sold over 15,000 copies total. Sins is a must have for Vallejo completionists out there who don't have this album.
Vallejo was living in Birmingham, Alabama at the time which is where all the songs for this EP were recorded at. That is why the sound is much different on this EP than all their other releases. The sound is very similar to the early days of Metallica, Alice in Chains, Creed, Pearl Jam, and Grupo Fantasma. The sound is very dark in mood and vibe.
The Vallejo band explains in their lyrics through songwriting what rhythm is on the song Rhythm Is… as they do on all their other songs. This is one of their deeps songs which has a dark vibe.
Rhythm is in your gains slowly flowing through you similar to a river of red rain. The Vallejo band has not found their religion as music seems to be their vision. Rhythm is in the blood of human souls. Rhythm is in your blood as well. We are the future of the next generation.
Out Of Time is dark song with dark mood and vibe. Out Of Time is similar to a song by Metallica or Creed from the Garage Days. Definitely early Metallica sounding if you catch the drift.
The band Vallejo gives you something new on the song Something New. Bell-bottoms and funky hats. You can wear what you want because that's where it's with when you're rocking (with) Vallejo. This song will blow your mind!
Heavy Sugar is a heavy acoustic guitar ridden song accompanied by heavy bass lines. The bass lines are similar to what you would hear inside of acid jazz. Heavy Sugar sounds very similar to an early Metallica song from the Garage Days time period. The song Heavy Sugar also seems similar to a Creed song.
Sins is the title track that served as a single which also had a music video out. The music video was around 5 minutes long and was aired on cable TV in 2000. Sins teaches us that good things must come and go. "Lord take me away from the world of sins." is quotable dialogue from the song.
There is an 8th track on the digital version of this EP. The 8th track is an untitled track which lasts 54 seconds.
5/5*****!!
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deadmau5 – Bot / Some Kind Of Blue single review
deadmau5 – Bot / Some Kind Of Blue is a tech house single with a progressive trance sound. This is one of deadmau5’s overlooked singles. Bot uses bitcrushed distortion synths with a sample delay over a catchy beat. You never heard beats like this in an EDM song before! Most of the beats and synths are chopped up. Bot is one of those songs which fit into more than just one genre. The 2:47 mark is where an automated low pass filter is used. A saw wave is used with the low pass filter. Some Kind Of Blue is ridden with heavy bass and a lovely beat. The beat and bass are lovely. Some Kind Of Blue has a nice ambient feel.
5/5*****!!
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Unto Ashes - Burials Foretold album review
Burials Foretold was Unto Ashes seventh album on Projekt which was released in October 12, 2012 before Halloween. This folk album uses a unique neo-medieval sound. You will have a mystical experience when you listen to this album. Michael Laird is charge of the bass. Natalia Lincoln sings the breathtaking vocal harmonies you hear.
4/5****
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Juvenile - 400 Degreez album review
Juvenile - 400 Degreez is the album that catapulted Cash Money Records into mainstream success and stardom. The loudness of New Orleans bounce is what helped this album become a success. Juvenile never fails to disappoint audiences with his raps.
The song Back That Azz Up is what made Cash Money take over the years of 1998 through 2001. The loudness of New Orleans bounce sound in this song and its versatile sexually provocative lyrics are what made the song an international success.
Ha is the other song which made Juvenile a mainstream success due to his unique style of rapping where he ends every line with “ha”. The song also has that New Orleans bounce sound. Juvenile comes with that Dirty South rap sound. You can never go wrong when you have Mannie Fresh producing a song for you. His beats are pure fire!
Mannie Fresh put down the hardest beats on the title track. There is no denying that. Cash Money was slaying all that came against them. Juvenile was no exception as he was their most exceptional lyricist.
Juvenile On Fire is a cautionary tale telling us not all women can be trusted. Fellas, some of these chicks out here be sack chasers. Be careful for that especially. Juvenile On Fire is true in that sense. It’s sociology on music here.
Follow Me Now calms down the mood of this album. The song similar to a fiesta and has a Brazilian tropicana vibe. Follow Me Now is one of Juvenile’s underrated songs that have lyrical skill.
5/5*****!!
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Grits - Mental Releases album review
Grits - Mental Releases is an overlooked Nashville hip hop album that never got the shine or recognition truly deserved. The album has secular sounds. The whole album has originality, tight lyrics, and beats that age well. Both brothas be kickin’ mo rhymes on this album than ever. Perfect Christian hip hop coming out of the Christian music world. 90s hip hop is perfection. I miss this era of hip hop.
Set Ya Mind uses the old style of rap over a groovy sample. Set ya mind at ease from the pressure by listening to this song. That is what Grits wants you to do. Relax & unwind to this rhythm and melody today. Just that simple.
Grits pays homage and tribute to their home state of Tennessee on the song 10-A-Cee. 10-A-Cee is the best of what Tennessee hip hop has to offer. Originality is what stands out on 10-A-Cee. This is the tight slow jam of the album. There’s no place like home. Here is the part of the song where Christian hip hop is prevalent. “Education is the key/That's what God spoke to me” God is often mentioned in Christian hip hop.
Cataclysmic Circles is a hypnotic rap song where both brothas rap. Notice the hypnotic hook on this song. The percussion is hypnotic too.
5/5*****!!
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Lil Ai - Going My Way EP review
Lil Ai - Going My Way EP was packaged as a single in 2002. Going My Way is one of Lil Ai’s lesser known EPs. Despite having one of the songs used a theme song for a TV show, her EP remained largely unnoticed. Now Lil Ai isn’t exactly the best of J-Pop. What she compensates in flows, her lyrics and subjects matter are nothing new. It is a very good direction that her voice quality contains freshness. She calls the shots on producing everything such as choreography, stage composition, makeup, and styling.
Lil Ai ridiculed the absence individual selfishness on Going My Way. Going My Way is a tribute to herself. She is perfectly happy. Lil Ai, her self, was impressed with he results of the song Going My Way to the point where she often talks about it when brought up. Finding your way and living your way yourself is what this track is all about.
Going My Way is about finding your way and living your way yourself. Keep pushing your way without hesitation. Also, Going My Way is about finding your way in the world. Is it not cool to find your own way? Well Lil Ai breaks down all barriers with her pop raps on here. The track turns into an avant-garde theme. However in reality, Japanese society is still very conformist.
Ain’t Nobody is a song that would eventually turn into Nobody on the 2003 album Ryukyu Rhymer. The sounds on Ain’t Nobody are very futuristic. It seems that Lil Ai was experimenting with the styles of electronic music, dance music, and techno. Ain’t nobody can love you like Lil Ai is the motto of this song written by Lil Ai. Ain’t Nobody was used as the theme song for the NTV JP show あんグラ☆NOW.
Ain’t Nobody is the best of what Japanese rap has to offer. Lil Ai’s rapping and technique is a unique style of blending the Japanese language into the English language. 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. 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. 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.
Born To Sing is the introductory song her very first debut album from 2001. Most of the song is very self-explanatory. Born To Sing explains how Lil Ai was born to sing. She explains she was born to sing. That is what she does and who she is. Some people don’t understand, but Lil Ai doesn’t care. She won’t stop singing.
The line "I was born to sing That's what I am" is pretty self-explanatory as Lil Ai puts it. That is what she does and who she is. She wants to make her dreams come true.
Never uses the elements, clips, and sounds of upbeat dance music. Lil Ai makes you a slave to the rhythm with her futuristic sounds and beats. Never was used as the theme song for the NTV JP show あんグラ☆NOW also. Lil Ai experiments with rock music on Never also.
*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)].
3/5***
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