Tow Down - By Prescription Only album review
Tow Down’s album, By Prescription Only had moderate regional success in the state of Texas in 2000 with songs such as Country Rap Tunes and We Shinin’. By Prescription Only is an example of fine country rap next to Haystak, Butta Bean, Paul Wall, Bubba Sparxxx, Lil Black, and Nelly. In fact, Tow Down’s delivery style of rap is similar to Haystak, Butta Bean, Paul Wall, and Bubba Sparxxx. Not everyone can handle the brehsiveness of Tow Down. Take notice of the raw country sound.
Now what’s unique about this album is the theme. The theme for this album is similar to a pill bottle you would get at a pharmacy. The concept and design is a pharmaceutical drug related theme. The back cover has the color scheme of a pill bottle hence the orange. The CD has the texture of a pill tablet. The back cover is designed in the fashion of a label on a pill bottle. Warning labels are included of course. Notice the DR. M. E. Feelgood? That’s Dr. Me Feelgood aka Dr. Make Me Feel Good. Also notice the caption that says, “Dime Records The Records Company America Trusts”.
The most hilarious warning label filled with humor is this one. DANGER: Listening to this album high or intoxicated may cause varied listening effects while increasing your desire to operate heavy machinery.
Country Rap Tune was his first buzz single that got him radio play across Texas and Louisiana back in 2000. Country meets rap on this song. HAWK and Big Pokey laid it down lyrically on this track. Tow Down, HAWK, Big Pokey, and Joe Slaughter are just some Texas tycoons makin' country rap tunes. The instrumentation is backed with a pedal steel guitars, acoustic guitars and shakers. The song has a bit of Americana added.
H.A.W.K lets us know that H-Town is taking the game to another level at the beginning of the song. Rappin the country western style of course. It's about to go down. He had to let these people know that Tow Down is a trendsetter, mann!
Towdown is from the land of longhorn and cattle which is a place called Texas. We ride leather and wood. Seatbelts with saddles, chrome wagon wheels, and carriages with candy paint. Instead of tumblin' weed, we been blowin' dank from sun up to sun down. His duro (wood) stays lit. His peeps be shinin.
Wanted dead or alive posters in cities of which he rob are posted around Texas. Days are hot and long. And the nights are restless. All of his exes live in the best little whore house in Texas. The devil's riding dirty from Georgia with two aces. Tow Down is not Garth Brooks but has got friends in low places no one would expect.
Tow Down put his own spin on the western film How The West Was Won and turned that into How The South Was Won during the last part of his verse. Tow Down plays the role of the Southside Strangle. The Southside Strangle is sluggin the chain and strong armin’ strangers. He might have a chainsaw. Packin gats and stackin funds. The Dirty South is what How The South Was Won is about.
The very end of his verse incorporates lyrics from Kenny Rogers - The Gambler which are “Gotta know when to walk away/Know when to run”
H.A.W.K. is Houston's best kept secret and is representin' the Dirty South. Uncut and raw on this country rap. Think country western rap. One of the coldest you ever saw. An immortal outlaw. HAWK shreds this track like a Texas Chainsaw Massacre with the use of adjectives and nouns. HAWK is an H-Town superstar who sips soda mixed with barre. His horse is a car and his carriage is a 4.6 Range Rover with a V 12 motor. The game is over. Now this countrywestern rap is officially in.
We Shinin’ was another buzz single that got regional play on radio stations across Texas and featured Lil Flip. Country meets rap on We Shinin’. The song is about flashy materialistic things such as cars and jewelry.
Tow Down has never been discreet about his secret activities regarding marijuana. Some of the lyrics expose his past of being a marijuana distributor. “Blowin' trees, TVs, green, CDs, and DVDs/I'm high but low-key, ridin SUVs/High-dollar baller keepin the 'dro in stock/I hit the spot, drop the top and I pop the crop”
Lil Flip rides in a drop top Jaguar on chrome all day. Sucka free and Dime Records got stacks. Bubbled-eyed Benzos and Cadillacs. We all ball for the millennium.
This Tow Down tune called Slant Eyes is all about getting high. Plain and simple as this Tow Down tune is smooth country rap. Some pimpilistic shit.
Tow Down has never been discreet about his secret activities regarding marijuana inside of the lyrics to many of his songs. Some of the lyrics expose his past of being a marijuana distributor. Read some of the lyrics below to have an understanding.
South Park Mexican: “Nuthin but the doh-doh for me/Jus' like the potpourri/My bitch hit my weed and coughed up an ovary/Tow Down blow 'dro with me”
Tow Down: “I get high on each second of every minute of every hour/Like Cheech and Chong, blowin' the bong/Or rollin' in the Eddie Bauer/I stay tall like skyscrapers/Weed's always around so I gotta have papers/And you can get high too/Whether a gram for you, or a pound for ya whole crew/Whatever you need I got weed, from liquid trip to dip to hydro to ecstasy”
“I get so high. You ever get so high you smoked your self sober?”
Not a day goes by that SPM and Tow Down don't get high. Gotta get slant, ey? High so high. They get high on each second of every minute. Like Cheech and Chong blowin the bong or rollin in the Eddie Bauer on the hour. Tow Down and SPM have enough weed for your whole crew to smoke and enjoy. Tow Down is the hemp hunter and weed connoisseur. From liquid trip to dip, hydro to ecstasy. Smoke a blunt of that good shit. Inhale exhale. Now that's some good shit. With dope like this, I know you'll take a hit.
Also Cool is a laid back country rap tune with an upbeat vibe. Grizz produced the track in 2000. The song samples old school beats.
5/5*****!!
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Terell Shahid - Chocolate City album review
Terell Shahid - Chocolate City was the most sultry and soulful album in Austin R&B/soul in 2004. His album stood out due to the live instrumentation from a handful musicians who made contributions on that album. Ter'ell's irresistibly soulful voice and infectiously smooth grooves that are sure to cure any sweet tooth looking for a taste of decadent ear candy. Terell made a respectable name for himself in the R&B/Hip-Hop community of Austin and San Antonio with this album.
The title track Chocolate City is a mid tempo soul funk song with that live sound. The song uses live instrumentation which provide those smooth infectious grooves. King Shahid claims “Austin as a future chocolate city” as he plans a funkified takeover. King Shahid also claims Austin as a “funky city”.
2 Hours After Midnight has an angelic soulful chorus reminiscent of The Delfonics. The song was the beautiful soulful buzz single which featured Angie Fisher. The song definitely has that soul flavor and flair. 2 Hours After Midnight is about people trying to make their way through life during hard times. You may not be where you want to be and get there yet. You don’t have the money you wanted. That’s when you know who your real friends. It’s one of those slice of life songs and is another.
Come On Baby has a D’Angelo type of vibe and sound with the funky guitars. The song is dedicated to all of the beautiful women.
5/5*****!!
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The Loafers – Living In A Suitcase EP review
The Loafers – Living In A Suitcase is a ska based EP that has been a forgotten classic in reggae music. You have one half of the EP which is instrumental and the other half which has lyrics. The mood for this whole reggae ska EP is upbeat and colorful. Now the EP lacks in longevity but that does not stop anything on here from being a classic. The EP is patterned of the Two-Tone movement and ska-revival.
Living In A Suitcase is a ska-fired reggae song about living life in a suitcase. The song is backed by a single organ and some electric guitars. Skankin' At The OK Corral is an upbeat reggae ska instrumental backed by an electric guitar, a set of drums, and some live horns. Skankin' At The OK Corral is 2:18 long. Z Cars is another upbeat reggae ska instrumental backed by an electric guitar, a set of drums, and some live horns. Z Cars is 2:22 long.
4/5****!
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Maroon Town – Maroon Town single review
Maroon Town – Maroon Town is one of the lesser known live releases from the reggae ska band Maroon Town that has gotten overlooked for a long time. The release has that upbeat uplifting powerful reggae vibe and sound to it which includes positive motivational songs to party themes about having fun. The sounds are similar to the sound they had on their first album as well. The sound is pretty animated and live.
The 3 songs that were included on this release were performed live at the Seville Expo '92 hosted at the Andalusian Pavilions on the Lake of Spain which is located in the city of Seville, Spain. That is why you can hear some dinner ambiance among other noise in the background.
Maroon Town – Maroon Town is a self-titled release from the reggae ska band Maroon Town that was released at concerts only in 1992. This release was only issued on cassette single. There is no CD or vinyl edition of this Maroon Town release that has been issued by the band or their labels.
Average Man is the first song of 3 songs on this cassette and is a Maroon Town classic. The song incorporates and interpolates Johnny Clarke - None Shall Escape The Judgement and Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers - Egyptian Reggae in the riddim.
Average Man is a song those in the low class and middle class can relate to. The average person can relate to this song. We work 5 out of 7 days a week just about every single month. The average person does the best they can. They go to work everyday. They save up their pay for the future. Complicated circumstances often occur. Headaches and heartaches can make or break people.
A list of priorities you got to get right. That is what people must do and understand. Life is based on making decisions. You know the score and price to get the things you want out of life.
Fix The Future is an uplifting positive song how we as humans can improve ourselves to become better in life. Maroon Town tells we need to learn and grow as we proceed to move forward in life. Fix The Future is also about how we as humans can fix our future so the planet Earth can be a better place for all life forms to inhabit. The song gives us a ray of hope for personal freedom and political freedom. This is one of their positive motivational songs. This song is the second song out of 3 songs.
Gather round there's a story in the making. Doors are unlocking chains are breaking. Fixing the future may seem like the impossible dream but it’s not. If you work together and put aside our differences then we can become better as people. We can improve our lives this way. We know our faults and it’s time to make the repairs. It's only the beginning of a flowing stream in a moment of triumph the walls came down. To fix the future, we need to stay on the right track. Maroon Town says optimism is life.
The lyrics expose the hidden agenda people have when it comes to choosing not to fix their problems and others. People choose to be stubborn and do things their own ways most of the time. “Wherever you go people they are stating/The right to know end of dictating/To take what is rightfully theirs”
These lyrics explain to us that we were never meant to be held back or held down by political oppressions from the system (government).
Fix the future now
State of shock and a state of emergency
Surely that's how it wasn't meant to be
Being held down in our own territory
Bound to cause a major catastrophy
In the life of the majority controlled by a power
That stepping out totally
Yes it's dead and gone
Put the people up where they belong
Fix the future, stay on the track
Pack your things no looking back
Every Little Step is the third and final song on this cassette. The song includes an upbeat reggae rhythm about dancing and having fun. Ralph Lamb plays a mean but funky trumpet on the song. The song follows a dance beat which is actually a ska beat.
Don't you ever underestimate the band that's rocking the beat! Every little step and move they make is never going to be fake. They are here rocking it straight grooving it straight down the line. It's time to celebrate. Tomorrow will be too late. Find the perfect mix and get the perfect blend to the music. The band wants you to dance and have a good time.
Now is the time. So there is no need for hesitation. Go forth and reach your destination. Step in the right direction. It's now and it won't wait.
5/5*****!!
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Maroon Town – High And Dry album review
Maroon Town – High And Dry is a reggae album everyone can relate to. Everyone from the dirt poor to the middle class can relate to this album. So can the average person. The album has positive uplifting motivational songs such as Average Man and People. Maroon Town does not shy away from political consciousness, social awareness or activism as there songs on the album which include that include politically conscious Thatcher's Children, the socially conscious song called People, and the peaceful ska track Prince of Peace. High And Dry is a third wave ska album which includes songs which range from politically conscious songs seeking change, positive motivational uplifting riddims, to party themes about having fun. Reggae from the United Kingdom can’t get any better than this. This album is the full length debut album from Maroon Town.
Average Man is a Maroon Town classic which incorporates and interpolates Johnny Clarke - None Shall Escape The Judgement and Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers - Egyptian Reggae in the riddim.
Average Man is a song those in the low class and middle class can relate to. The average person can relate to this song. We work 5 out of 7 days a week just about every single month. The average person does the best they can. They go to work everyday. They save up their pay for the future. Complicated circumstances often occur. Headaches and heartaches can make or break people.
A list of priorities you got to get right. That is what people must do and understand. Life is based on making decisions. You know the score and price to get the things you want out of life.
The politically conscious song Thatcher's Children calls out the Conservative Party and UK Parliament for not doing enough to take of their citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Maroon Town calls out the UK Government all over the song for doing enough to protect their citizens as they should.
Maroon Town calls out the Conservative Party and UK Parliament for making the cost of living more expensive. It's getting harder and harder to keep on earning money needed for survival. Citizens of the UK are undervalued and undermined by the government. The government lies to the people more every year. Who knows the reasons why? Our lifestyle is complicated by life.
Maroon Town calls out the government for lying to the people in these lyrics below. They explain how the government will blatantly lie to you in your face and stab you in the back during the process of lying to you.
Oh the government, some truth, more lies
Who knows the reasons why, the reasons why
Not for the people not for you and me
In this land of plenty there is nothing for free
I can't believe what they will achieve
How can you believe when you don't receive
It's a fact, yes a fact, a matter of fact
They look you in the face you know
They stab you in the back
Pound to the Dollar discusses the issues of greed and how there is not enough money to go around for everyone in the world. Rocksteady and dub meet the sounds of ska reggae on Pound to the Dollar.
From the Pound to the Dollar there is lots of money in the world but not enough to go around for everyone. This is due to greed. Many countries are in a lot of debt. A lot of greed goes on even in third world countries where a lot people are in a lot of need. Who will win this human race?
Lyrics to the first part of the song sum up the subject in a nutshell an amicable manner.
From the Pound to the Dollar
From the Dollar to the Pound
Lots of money in the world
Not enough to go around
The song People explores the lack of empathy and sympathy humans have today. People do not care for one another as they should. People are not thoughtful.
The first part of this song explores how people today lack empathy. Read these lyrics here: “What's happening in the world today/People do not care/When you ask them they only say/That they do not care” We got to live together and work together to overcome empathy. Maroon Town wants us to do just that.
The song takes a stance against army recruitment. These lyrics are anti-war and have an anti-draft sentiment which are acerbic and get to the point. “She don't want him back in a wooden case/She don't want no medal, just to see his face/If he come back now, she would never again/Let him put his trust in the recruiting machine”
A woman awaits her man from the war. She forgets what he's fighting for. She start to regret the way people cheered them when they left. All this woman wants is to just see his face. She don't want him back in a wooden case. She don't want no medal. If he come back now, she would never again let him put his trust in the recruiting machine.
Traveling Light is a song about being carefree and letting go of all your troubles. The song is also about traveling fast like light. All of the lyrics are self-explanatory.
Got no bag or baggage to hold me down
I'm traveling so fast my feet ain’t touching the ground
Traveling light I'm traveling light
Soon I'm going to see the love look in your eyes
I'm hooting to holler away from paradise
Traveling Light, I'm traveling light
Got no bag or baggage to slow me down
I'm traveling so fast my feet ain’t touching the ground
Traveling light I'm traveling light
Soon I'm going to see the love look in your eyes
I'm hooting to holler away from paradise
Traveling Light, I'm traveling light
Prince of Peace is a song about a prince named Peace who is on a mission to spread peace across the world. The song has an amiable vibe.
The Prince of Peace comes from the East. The Prince of Peace is walking around under cover. Nobody knows so nobody tells anyone about the Prince of Peace. He's on a mission to find peace with no opposition. That is the ultimate ambition for him. Dedication is his will.
He wears the crown. Born a prince to become a king. The quest of peace is for what he searches for. Although life is not glistening, you get out what you are putting in. He's got the brains, he's got the will and skill. Love and peace are his mission to fulfill. We are still not learning to correct our mistakes from. The Prince of Peace is the only chance. Come make a change with the Prince of Peace.
There's a voice in the air and it's blowing from the East. It’s The Prince of Peace. Come take a stand with the Prince of Peace. Everybody must be free.
Man in the Street has a vibe of uncertainty and foreboding. The song is about a man who a crook that has been standing around on the street all day. The song definitely has a sinister vibe, feeling, and tone.
There's a man in the street looking like a freak. Who is he going to meet? This man has been standing there all day long. What the hell that man is planning? What exactly is going on? So many questions that need so many answers. It makes you wonder. All day long he's been standing alone. Who is he going to meet?
Take a glance. Those burning eyes wouldn't surprise anyone if he were a crook. Leather gloves are on his hands. Is he a murdering man?
Somebody is approaching and you know he's seen them coming. He puts his hand into his pocket and pulls out some money. A quick exchange for a packet of sorts.
Nostalgia is an alto saxophone driven reggae ska song with a rhythm. The song is about those good times of the past people once had. You see we're speaking of Nostalgia.
Whatever happened to the 60s when the world was hip? You boogied down to the Stones and the Beatles. You used to lay in the park and relax. Perhaps light up a joint and listen to Rhythm & Blues. That's nostalgia. Do you remember when you used to go bopping? You would sit back down to watch Batman and Robin. All those silly crazy things that you thought you were doing.
Trendy people flashing their loot, materialistic possessions, and flashy clothing. Chelsea boots, mohawks, and mohair suits. Getting down to the funky sound of the one and only James Brown. Mods and Rockers having fights. Out of their heads on Brighton Beach. Zooming around on your Vespa bike. Talk about the Go Go beat. Twist and shout. Stomp your feet. Crazy colours, kaleidoscope blue.
5/5*****!!
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