Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 218

Me Phi Me - Sad New Day demo single single review

The Me Phi Me - Sad New Day single demo was a cassette with hand drawn artwork in ink format by Mr. Me Phi Me himself. This demo had 5 songs which were eventually used on the One album. The Me Phi Me single demo is a socially conscious worldly alternative hip hop/rap album with minimal to no profanity. Everyone can listen to this album including the whole family. The album deals with real topics such as combating homelessness, politics, hopefulness, positivity, and self integrity. The album has some truth and knowledge that was sadly overlooked in the era of pop and gangsta rap. Me Phi Me was the PM Dawn of Flint, Michigan and Flint rap. To sum it all up, the Me Phi Me demo is a world music album itself. This demo was released in 1992.

Sad New Day shows spiritual awareness. The song is a surrealistic perspective and insight of society's outcasts who become inspired by the positive rhymes of hip-hop innovator. Me Phil Me on the same level as PM Dawn with spiritual awareness in their music.

Verse 1 shows spiritual awareness of being mentally locked down. Trying to break free from being mentally locked down is not easy. You to be in total control of your actions. Read the lyrics.

[Verse 1]
Pain, it's as dark as the night
Keeps you up-tight
Forever you fight
You try to break the bondage you experience
Deranged, delirious, mentally serious
Tell ME how do I break the chains on my brain
My mind, my body, my soul
I need total control
Of my freedom and my liberty
When will it be for all?
All Berlin walls must fall
The physical torture and mental oppression
The anguish of depression
Life is a lesson
That you've got to study hard because the hard times
Are grippin' and whippin'
Quit slippin'
Don't be a slave just create a positive state
Don't break just make and take
Be great
Don't be controlled just be strong never doubt your tomorrow
And we'll hear you scream out...

When it rains it pours for pain is a force. Let happiness be your source and keep goin' for yours. Let happiness be and your life and over come the sadness. Choose the right path in life. You have to help yourself. Me Phi Me gives advice on self-help.

Verse 3 highlights how life is special.

[Verse 3: Me Phi Me]
Solar energy within ME all through ME
It's the sun full of light bringing power and might
All right makin' everything start to swing
You be the king or queen of your own dream
Life can be supreme, it's a special thing
Just keep the faith through the night time
You operate smooth and you might find
All of the loving, the bliss, the joy -- a happy deal
Friendship and jubilee, you live The Elysian fields
For real -- you need to feel unchained and free
Into the ME PHI ME
And you are in the rat race, so put on your gym shoes
Run emphatically, step on them blues
Choose the right path and be on your way
And you'll be able to say
What a wonderful life!


Keep It Goin’ is a song about individuality. Individuality motivates us to keep on going. Individuality is key to a great personality. My brothas and sistas, this is a beautiful song. This song was the theme for the short lived Fox TV show Tribeca.

The first verse explains the philosophy of individuality and self-love.

[Verse 1]
Shine, like the sun at noontime
Light the path that leads to a new mind
Look into my mind and what do you see
Individuality
The ME PHI ME
Can you handle my philosophy?
Love yourself and you will never go wrong
Because self-esteem is like a real live party
It keeps me going all night long

You heard the rhythm and saw the mechanism. What a funky system. Fighting the battle for joy and euphoria is something we (can) all strive for. Show them what happens when you're proud and strong. You keep going all night long. Something about every person is great. We need more members to add to the sunshine. So come sign up if you got what it takes.

A smile for yourself it helps to bring your mind to realize you dreams. Attitude helps keep you flow and go. Never take a break from loving yourself.


Black Sunshine deals with homelessness. Me Phi Me was so far ahead of his time with his song. Me Phi Me performs on Black Sunshine using an acoustic guitar. Homelessness and vagrancy are issues which still plagues societies today. The song still has relevance with today’s audience.

The first verse of this Me Phi Me song explains homelessness and vagrancy in a nutshell.  

This old box is all I own
I call it home
I live life like an animal
It's not understandable
I'm just like you
But you don't live alone
Call me the lonely man
I'm trying to make a stand
On the dignity that God has given me
But it's so hard for me to follow that plan
When my favorite restaurant is a garbage can
Every morning I see Black Sunshine
It's in my mind
As the world pretends they don't see
I can't fit in no one wants me
From the dark light
The world is unkind
Black Sunshine, Black Sunshine
No matter where I look
There's no shade from
Black sunshine beaming it's dark light
On every move I make

Me Phi Me calls out the government along with society for not helping out the homeless the way in which they should. Me Phi Me criticizes society for turning the other cheek against homelessness. People wouldn’t know how it feels to be homeless unless they were once that position themselves.

Who can help the homeless don't you know
You're never gonna hide behind the sunglasses
If your brother's hands are tied
You got to wipe some asses
So men will survive the night
Let the Black Sunshine turn bright


Pu' Sho Hands 2 Getha served as the closer for this demo. The song was an appropriate choice to be the closing track for this demo because of the title. Pu' Sho Hands 2 Getha was recorded and mixed at Concept Sound Studios in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

5/5*****!!

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Lil Louis & The World ‎– From The Mind Of Lil Louis album review

Lil Louis & The World ‎– From The Mind Of Lil Louis is a classic acid house album that was an international hit across the globe when it was released in 1989. This was the album which had the sexually provocative house hit French Kiss. A smooth house hit called Nice & Slow was included on this album. The deep dark religious song Blackout, which was a hit in rave clubs, showcased a much darker side of Lil Louis. Also this album is known for the zany, goofy love song I Called U.

One thing is for sure is that this album is still ahead of its time today. The house of music today cannot hold a candle to this album. It stands the test of time in today’s music and climate. Lil Louis is a genius and  sure has a unique eclectic taste in music.



I Called U (But You Weren't There) is a hilarious electronic song is about an ex-girlfriend trying to get back into Lil Louis’ life by stalking him. She continuously calls him over the phone. She gets into his business by stalking him every chance. Some call this song the “ballad of the psycho ex-girlfriend”. The vocals are what make the song unique. The song is definitely something that the guys can definitely relate to. Both genders can relate to this song also. Some call this song the “ballad of the psycho ex-girlfriend”.

The song begins with a telephone ringing. Lil Louis picks up the telephone to answer whoever is calling. A man in the back asks Louis if that is another prank call. Read the lyrics below.:

Lil Louis: Hello.... hello?
Man in the background: Louis, is that another crank call?
Lil Louis: No, I know who it is.
*Lil Louis hang up the telephone*

Apparently an ex-girlfriend is stalking Lil Louis wondering about his whereabouts as she now wants him back in her life again. She calls him over and over again everyday. Now she wants him back in her life. She leaves a messages on his answering machine which is “I called you but you weren’t there.” Of course this annoys him to no end.

His ex-girlfriend confronts him on the phone by asking “I called you but you weren’t there.” Lil Louis tells her, “Well I was out taking care of business.” She questions where he went by asking him “Where did you go?” Lil Louis tells her “It’s not your place to ask me that anymore.” She asks him, “Why not?” He proceeds to tell her, “Because where I go and with home is no longer your concern.” However his ex-girlfriend knew he was not taking care of business. She obviously knows his whereabouts. She lets him know this by saying, “You weren’t out taking care of business.” Lil Louis asks her “And how do you know?” She proceeds to tell him she was following him in her blue car with the famous/infamous line “I followed you in my blue car.”

Lil Louis’ response to her is “Oh did you now?” She then asked him, “Who were you with last night? Was it someone I know?” He responds by saying, “Look. Don’t ask me that.” She asks him, “Why can’t we start again?” Lil Louis clearly does not want anything to do with her anymore. He has moved on with his life.

Her responses were “I called you but you weren’t there.” and “Why can’t we start again?” He responds by saying, “Look. Don’t ask me that.” Her response was “I called you but you weren’t there.”

If you listen closely to her vocals over the phone, she sounds as if she were drunk. She says, “Why not?”, “Why can’t we start again?”, “Where did you go?”, “Who were you with last night? Was it someone I know?”, “You weren’t out taking care of business”. and “I followed you in my blue car.” in a slow slurred manner.

I Called U (But You Weren't There) is a hilarious electronic song that uses a house soundscape. A piano accompanies the house soundscape along with a saxophone. An Afro-centric percussion ensemble is used. Djembe, shakers, conga, and bongos are used. The vocals are what make the song unique along with the Afro-centric percussion which is used.

I Called U (But You Weren't There) charted at #16 on the BillBoard in the UK in January 1990 and at #23 in Ireland in January 1990. I Called U (But You Weren't There) also charted at #48 on the BillBoard in Belgium in March 1990. The song was a hit in several European countries in 1990.


Nyce & Slo uses a repetitive house soundscape. The song’s tempo transitions from downtempo to mid tempo pretty quick. Tempo transitions back and forth from downtempo to mid tempo and back downtempo. Tony Humphrey co-produced this song with Lil Louis in 1989 just before the release of his debut album. Peter Black is the person playing the piano and Lil Louis is in charge of the vocals.

The repetitive nature of this song many annoy listeners and detract them away from listening to this song entirely. Of course this might cause listeners to skip the song completely which is understandable.

Vocals change as well as frequency is changed throughout the song. The woman’s voice who is saying, “Boy. Boy. Boy.” is soon muffled over by Lil Louis saying, “Okay. Okay. Okay.”. This is because Lil Louis and Tony Humphrey were trying to give us a futuristic electronic experience with club music. The bass line is muffled pretty cleverly.

The song had people acting wild and crazy on the dance floor in not just Chicago, but in other countries across the globe. Nyce & Slo is a fine example of Chicago house. Of course Nyce & Slo is a very sexual song and a straight club banger!


French Kiss is the song which made Lil Louis an international underground house music sensation and is a  sexually provocative house hit. French Kiss is the song which was an underground house music sensation on an international level in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As a whole, French Kiss is a 10 minute long electronic music based instrumental blended with a mixture of house music and techno. This song defined Chicago house music back in the 1980s. It’s a perfect acid house jam.

The orgasmic part of the song is the best part. It’s the part with the female moaning. That’s the most sexually explicit part of the record and is considered to be the most memorable part of the song which leaves a long lasting memory in people’s minds.


The song Blackout has a deep house sound mixed with electronic music and dance. The deep dark religious song Blackout, which was a hit in rave clubs, showcased a much darker side of Lil Louis. Back in 1989, the song was played around the world in nearly every club and at every party. Its uplifting vocals are what really energize the song. The song Blackout utilizes a time signature of 4|4.

However Lil Louis gets in touch with his religious side by quoting some scriptures from the Christian Old Testament book. Such as mentioning The Lord is my shepherd from Psalm 23. Psalm 23 is the 23rd psalm of the Book of Psalms.

The first verse quotes the beginning of from the Christian Old Testament and Book of Psalms.

[Verse 1]

The Lord is my shepperd, I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
He leaded me beside the still waters
He restoreth my soul
He leaded me in a path of righteousness
For His name's sake
Yeah
Though I walk to the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me
Thy rod and thy staff comfort me
Thou preparest a table before me, in the presence of my enemies
Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup's runneth over
Surely goodness and loving kindness
Shall follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord
Forverer

In the middle of the song is where Genesis 1:1-10 is quoted. Revelation 6:12 is quoted as well. These are the scriptures listed below.

[Genesis 1:1-10]

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth
And the earth was without form and void
And darkness was above the face of the deep
And the spirits of God moved upon the face of the waters
And God said "let there be light", and there was light

[Revelation 6:12]

And I beheld when he opened the sixth seal
And Lord there was a great earthquake
And the sun became black a sackcloth of hair
And the moon became as blood
And the stars of heaven fell to the earth even as
A fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together
And every mountain and island were moved out of their place

The message at the end of the song tells us to seek out the truth. The message at the end of the song is “The truth is now, don't wait, too late to wake up” .


Wargames sounds similar to sound bites from a 16-bit video game. Lil Louis added in the auto-wah effect to blend in with the upbeat pace. Techno synths in the middle give the song a futuristic vibe and feel.

5/5*****!!

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Lil Louis & The World ‎– I Called U (US only vinyl single) single review

The single of Lil Louis & The World ‎– I Called U (US only vinyl single) showcases the much more ambient side of Lil Louis. Jazz music meets the sounds of deep house music on this song. Jazz meets electronic in other words. The songs on this Lil Louis single are perfect to dance to and do numbers on the dance floor. Lil Louis uses electronic instrumental soundscapes to many of the songs on this single.

Now the US version of the 12” vinyl single for Lil Louis & The World ‎– I Called U has the following songs: I Called U (The Conversation), I Called U (But U Went To The Party), I Called U (The Story Continues), I Called U (A Series Of Events), and I Called U (Why'd U Fall). All other pressings of this record are bootlegs. This is the rare US only promo 12” vinyl single which has the barcode of 0 9870-73153-1.



Contrary to popular belief, I Called U (The Conversation) is not a different version of I Called U (But You Weren't There). This version of I Called U went under the name I Called U (The Conversation) and is the original version  of I Called U (But You Weren't There) from his debut album From The Mind Of Lil Louis. I Called U (But You Weren't There) was just labeled as I Called U (The Conversation) and went under a different name on this particular vinyl single.

I Called U (The Conversation) is a hilarious electronic song that uses a house soundscape. A piano accompanies the house soundscape along with a saxophone. An Afro-centric percussion ensemble is used. Djembe, shakers, conga, and bongos are used. The vocals are what make the song unique along with the Afro-centric percussion which is used.

The song I Called U (But You Weren't There) charted at #16 on the BillBoard in the UK in January 1990 and at #23 in Ireland in January 1990. I Called U (But You Weren't There) also charted at #48 on the BillBoard in Belgium in March 1990. The song was a hit in several European countries in 1990. Now this song was used on this single under a different name and charted #11 on the US Dance charts for a short time.

Here is an outline for the song I Called U (The Conversation).

The song is about an ex-lover trying to get back into Lil Louis’ life by stalking him. She continuously calls him over the phone. She gets into his business by stalking him every chance. Some call this song the “ballad of the psycho ex-girlfriend”. The vocals are what make the song unique. The song is definitely something that the guys can definitely relate to. Both genders can relate to this song also. Some call this song the “ballad of the psycho ex-girlfriend”.

The song begins with a telephone ringing. Lil Louis picks up the telephone to answer whoever is calling. A man in the back asks Louis if that is another prank call. Read the lyrics below.:

Lil Louis: Hello.... hello?
Man in the background: Louis, is that another crank call?
Lil Louis: No, I know who it is.
*Lil Louis hang up the telephone*

Apparently an ex-girlfriend is stalking Lil Louis wondering about his whereabouts as she now wants him back in her life again. She calls him over and over again everyday. Now she wants him back in her life. She leaves a messages on his answering machine which is “I called you but you weren’t there.” Of course this annoys him to no end.

His ex-girlfriend confronts him on the phone by asking “I called you but you weren’t there.” Lil Louis tells her, “Well I was out taking care of business.” She questions where he went by asking him “Where did you go?” Lil Louis tells her “It’s not your place to ask me that anymore.” She asks him, “Why not?” He proceeds to tell her, “Because where I go and with home is no longer your concern.” However his ex-girlfriend knew he was not taking care of business. She obviously knows his whereabouts. She lets him know this by saying, “You weren’t out taking care of business.” Lil Louis asks her “And how do you know?” She proceeds to tell him she was following him in her blue car with the famous/infamous line “I followed you in my blue car.”

Lil Louis’ response to her is “Oh did you now?” She then asked him, “Who were you with last night? Was it someone I know?” He responds by saying, “Look. Don’t ask me that.” She asks him, “Why can’t we start again?” Lil Louis clearly does not want anything to do with her anymore. He has moved on with his life.

Her responses were “I called you but you weren’t there.” and “Why can’t we start again?” He responds by saying, “Look. Don’t ask me that.” Her response was “I called you but you weren’t there.”

If you listen closely to her vocals over the phone, she sounds as if she were drunk. She says, “Why not?”, “Why can’t we start again?”, “Where did you go?”, “Who were you with last night? Was it someone I know?”, “You weren’t out taking care of business”. and “I followed you in my blue car.” in a slow slurred manner.


I Called U (But U Went To The Party) is where Lil Louis stands up to the lady that was once his girlfriend. He goes to a night club with his friend after hanging up on his ex-girlfriend.

His ex-girlfriend asks him, “Why can’t we start again?” Lil Louis tells her, “Look. I’ve tried to be reasonable. Now I’m tired of talking. If you can’t understand that it’s over, all I can say is this.” He hangs up on her. Doing so, he slams the phone in the process. This is all out of anger and frustration of course.

His friend tells him Louis, don’t worry about that girl. Let’s go out and party.” Lil Louis wishes he ex-girlfriend would leave him alone. The song Lil Louis - French Kiss can be heard playing outside the nightclub. Him and his friend arrives to the nightclub to find a long line of people waiting outside to get in. Damn! That’s a long line. Lil Louis is glad to have arrived at nightclub.

Him and his friend pay their admission fee to get inside the club. Everyone is dancing and cheering having a good time inside to the loud music. Lil Louis found his ground at this nightclub.


I Called U (The Story Continues) a bass remix of I Called U. This remix has much heavier bass incorporated into the song. I Called U (The Story Continues) is another remixed instrumental of I Called U. I Called U (The Story Continues) incorporates the same bass lines and beats from I Called U (Why'd U Fall).

The song is classy house music with a jazzy vibe and touch due to the saxophone used. This song is also very jazzy and smooth. What particularly makes this song jazzy is the saxophone being used throughout this song at various times simultaneously. A saxophone follows the beats on a 4|4 time signature which is practically what this entire song uses. A small bit of IDM is used.

Three words to describe this are upbeat, funky, and rhythmic. This song defines the sound of Chicago house. As soon as the bass drop and horns sound, you know it’s time to dance! This is one of those timeless club bangers that is still considered fresh today! This is the upbeat rhythmic dance floor song you would hear at a party or nightclub.

The song begins with the iconic words “Feed me bass.” That was one of the greatest ways to start off a song with. How he started off this song was unbelievable!


I Called U (A Series Of Events) is followed by a series of events related to Lil Louis and his ex-girlfriend who is a stalker. She puts him through a series of unpredictable events much to his own chagrin. He is in disbelief that she is still going after him. This is where things start to get dark. His ex-girlfriend realizes he want to the party. She begins to stalk Lil Louis again.

His ex-girlfriend is trying to figure out if he hung up one her. She says, “Wait a minute. Did he hang up on me? Let me call this black African-American negro back.” She calls him back again. However instead of Lil Louis picking up to answer her call, she hears a busy signal. She knows he didn’t leave. She sighs in tiredness wonder where he went.

Could Lil Louis be at the tunnel? The Fridge? High On Hope? She questions and wonder if Lil Louis is at various clubs scattered in Chicago. Soon she figures out what club is Lil Louis is at. She says, “No. He’s at The Wildlife. Let me visit him.” She goes to The Wildlife in her blue car to visit him.

Now the song transitions into The Wildlife. His friend calls Lil Louis’ name tells him his ex-girlfriend is right behind him. Lil Louis responds back by saying, “Damn.” She tells him, “I called you, but you were at the party.” A man tells her to leave Lil Louis alone. She tells the man “Never.”

Lil Louis concludes, “Damn sista got screwed up because she got screwed. Wish she hadn’t done it but she did and got caught with her drawers down. Crawling from the attic. Tea and cream drinking. Spinning like a top because of her bottom. Hooked on a physical thrill. Twisted sister goes to the club a lot.” It is revealed she did not get any sleep at all last night.

The song ends with her vandalizing his car. She goes to the parking lot. She says, “I can’t have him now. So I’ll vandalize his car.” She vandalizes his car by breaking all the glass windows.



I Called U (Why'd U Fall) follows up to I Called U (A Series Of Events) and serves as the closer to this single. I Called U (Why'd U Fall) is a warped auto-wah version of I Called U (The Story Continues). I Called U (Why'd U Fall) actually got more play on the dance floor in Chicago than I Called U (The Story Continues).

What stands out about I Called U (Why'd U Fall) is Lil Louis morphs his vocals in with the synth line simultaneously at the same time. Very little reverb is used. Lil Louis got futuristic with this song by morphing his vocals in the synth line. Lil Louis experiments with the auto-wah sound effect by using blips and synths in the process.

I Called U (Why'd U Fall) is classic house music which was heavily influenced and inspired by the sounds of EDM.  This song was the song that got everybody dancing on the dance floor. The song gets repetitive fairly quick. This is one of those songs that will get stuck in your head. The song I Called U (Why'd U Fall) is an absolute house classic.

The beginning of the song is where Lil Louis tells his ex-girlfriend, “Wait a minute. If you were going to yield to temptation, then why’d you fall for me? Do you hear me?” The words “why fall” are repeated continuously throughout the duration of this song. Now the words “why fall” are repeated and played in a warped morphed manner.

Notice how the dial tones from the telephone are panned from left channel to right channel to center. The dial tone is off beat but has a reoccurring melody. Listen to this song with headphones to have a better understanding.

5/5*****!!

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Enya - Shepherd Moons album review

Enya - Shepherd Moons is a deep soulful new age album filled with calmness and tranquility. Shepherd Moons is her most vocally soulful album from the 1990s era. The album has depressingly darker moments with songs such as Shepherd Moons and Book Of Days. Overall Shepherd Moons sounds more depressing, sad, darker, and suicidal than all of Enya's other albums that have been written by her. Carribean Blues, Book Of Days, and Lothlórien are highlights off of this album.

Carribean Blues uses a calm tropical sound blended in with world music and the lead single for the Shepherd Moons album. The lead single Caribbean Blue does not avoid repeating the successful formula pattern of Orinoco Flow from the last album. Orinoco Flow is what made her previous last album successful similar to how Caribbean Blue made the Shepherd Moons album become successful.

Book Of Days has a dark subtle slow vibe as the piano plays extremely slow. Some of the piano chords and keys seemed to have been sustained for some reason. This song is known for having such as a dark mood.

The title track Shepherd Moons sounds more depressing, sad, darker, and suicidal than all of Enya's other songs on this album and in her discography that have been written by her. Although it is not unusual for Enya to use depressingly darker sounds. Think dungeon chamber music as this song has such a dark mood.

5/5*****!