Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 219

Jaz Infinite ‎– 93 Culture album review

Jaz Infinite ‎– 93 Culture instrumental hip hop album from San Antonio that got way overlooked by many hip hop heads. This album is his ode to the golden era of boom bap hip hop and rap. He keeps the sound authentic by using only techniques and tools typically used in the early 90s. That is how Jaz Infinite excels at keeping the sound authentic as possible.

The recording process for this album was as follows. This album was mixed using ProTools, recorded onto a cassette, and was then digitized again using array of sound equipment. The array of sound equipment was an ASR-10, Akai S-950, and a MPC 60II. This album was mixed by DJ Chorizo Funk and hosted by Dinco D of the Leaders of The New School to keep the vibe going. That is where the old school vibe comes from.

93 Culture was a free release from Jaz Infinite’s bandcamp page and was released as a digital download in AAC format and FLAC format during late 2013. To all you tape heads out there, there is no psychical  release for Jaz Infinite ‎– 93 Culture.

New Era uses heavy boom bap beats and is hosted by Dinco D of the Leaders of The New School. Jaz Infinite and Dinco D use an old school vibe and sound on this song. A few hazy chords are used to blend with the nostalgic boom bap sound. Hazy and nostalgic are two words to describe New Era.

To The Top uses an electronic piano keyboard played in whirlwind array form. The whirls fit in with the boom bap sound. DJ Chorizo Funk mixed the instrumentals on this classic.

Respect the Contender uses thick infectious boom bap beats and an infectious piano. What I mean by infectious boom bap beats are those hi-hats, snares, and kicks coming from a drumming machine of course. Possibly from a MPC 60II.

Underground Lovely is the horn driven jazz hop song where jazz meets hip hop. A piano and horns selection make up the jazz portion while the beats and vinyl scratching make up the hip hop portion.

Unda Dweller uses a mixture of Afrocentric beats and boom bap beats over a horn sample. Afrocentric meets the sounds of boom bap hip hop on Unda Dweller.

Stay Calm has a calming sound and vibe back a single acoustic guitar and a jazzy saxophone. This recording uses a Nouveau jazz style of sound with hardly any gaps. Jaz Infinite produced those beats. What is different about this recording from all of the others on this album is Jaz Infinite using an acoustic sound here.
 
Mad ILL Shine is driven by a light cymbal kit and boom bap beats. Dinco D of the Leaders of The New School keeps the vibe going by brining that old school sound.

Da Ova Level is a funky bass driven hip hop instrumental with a groovy jazz vibe. You can definitely tell there is some footwork with the piano as some of those piano chords are sustained. Jaz Infinite produced those beats. Instruments such as a bass guitar, horns, drums, and a piano are used.

Bumrush the Sound uses a tiny of harsh noise and a bit of distortion. Other than that, the song is straight up boom bap hip hop.

An element of nu jazz is used on Stop Time as a handful of instrumentation layers are used on the song. A piano, horn selection, upright bass, and a drum kit were the instruments used to create a nu jazz vibe. These elements of nu jazz are simply amazing.

5/5*****!!

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Lil Cap’n Travis - Lonesome and Loosin’ album review

Lil Cap’n Travis - Lonesome and Loosin’ is a mixture of country meeting alternative rock. You have the naive charm of the Beach Boys sprinkled with an edge of grittiness similar to Crazy Horse with an edge of Waylon Jennings. When you look at the album cover, you will automatically think of 60s pop. The low-grade color tones used on their front cover give away a nostalgic vibe as their album obviously looks like an album from the 1960s or 1970s. However this is not a pop album. This is an alternative rock album which was released in 2001. Rock meets country on this album. These are the three subjects on this album you can expect to hear: love, country, and drinking.


I Don't Wanna Go Out Tonite uses a country rock type of sound similar to a Johnny Cash or Waylon Jennings tune. This song uses an edge of countrified grittiness and a woozy kind of twang. Country meets rock on this song of theirs. One might think this is plunderphonics but that is not the case as this is an original song which uses no samples. Christian Braafladt is good at playing the guitar especially on this song. The song follows a honky-tonk country beat.

Restless is an upbeat alternative rock song with a rambunctious mood. You can easily tell by the upbeat tempo and sound. It’s not really difficult to define.

Peelin' Out in Zeus' Yard is an epic alternative rock instrumental that will just blow you away. The harmonies are laced with guitars and a drum kit. This song is powered by a psychedelic twang in the guitars. Now of course Peelin' Out in Zeus' Yard is another one of their upbeat songs. The song in contrast is not similar to the title track.


The song Pink Elephants is hilarious and staggering. The song is about alcohol and getting drunk. This is one of their more laid back songs with a slacker vibe that is fun. Well at least for them.

It is 3 AM in the morning and they off the poison that’s killing them. Wheat, malt and barley is their enemy. Seems like LCT and alcohol used to be friends. The pressure of giving in to alcohol is too much for LCT to bear. Their wallets are bulimic as their spent all of their money on alcohol. Knots in their stomachs keep churning away. It’s hard to understand the complete disaster of a man when they resort to alcoholism.

You obviously tell there had been a lot of drinking and drunkenness going on during the songwriting process. Read the lyrics to this song to understand.  

Three in the morning and I’ve killed off the poison that’s killing me
Wheat, malt and barley is my enemy
And it seems like we used to be friends
All my money, I just can’t seem to keep it
I think that my wallets bulimic
And the pressures giving in the bends
Wonder how long, how long can I drink till I’m drunk
How far can I sink till I’m sunk in a river in old sweat and shivers
It doesn’t’ seem very far
Those pink elephants keep crashing my car
Got to steer clear of whisky, jim, beer, and bourbon
The knots in my stomach keep churning
And I’m turning my wheels in a rut
It’s hard to understand the complete disaster of a man
Whose bed spinning faster than a ceiling fan, tired of being a toilet bowl slut
Wonder how long, how long can I drink till I’m drunk
How far can I sink till I’m sunk in a river in old sweat and shivers
It doesn’t seem very far
Those pink elephants keep crashing my car


The title track, Lonesome and Loosin’, one of Lil Cap'n Travis’ most emotionally powerful compositions to date. Lonesome and Loosin’ is about losing somebody you love and not being able to ever see that person again. It’s really difficult to understand or grasp those feelings sometimes. That’s why this is a sad song. This is one of their more downbeat songs in their catalog.

These lyrics are what make the song emotionally powerful and very sad but not mournful. "Would you think it's corny/If I said I missed you?/It's been too long/Since I got to kiss you" and "I am lonesome and loosin’/without you"

4/5****

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Lil Cap’n Travis - Lil Cap’n Travis album review

Lil Cap’n Travis - Lil Cap’n Travis is the eponymous self-titled debut album from the Austin, Texas based band Lil Cap’n Travis that is notable for tunes such as My Life in Amarillo, Sheri Lynn, Little Drops of Summer, and Burn My Barn Down. The band leans using the retro country and western sound on this album more than indie rock or alternative rock as they did post-2000. Think of this album as a retro country rock album. This album is most definitely an excellent piece of work.


My Life in Amarillo explains how LCT lives their life is living in the town of Amarillo, Texas. Living in the town of Amarillo, Texas is quite boring for them as there is nothing to do or see. That is why they often face and suffer from boredom. This song deals with the realities of life in Texas. The song uses a heavy influence of country music and indie rock.

Waking up late in the afternoon at 2:30 is normal for them. Smoking is one of their habits. They live the slacker lifestyle. They drink cheep beer because there is nothing else to do in Amarillo. There is nothing to see or do. Boredom is something LCT faces daily.

Look out the window and you’ll see a truck on concrete cinderblocks on a neighbors lawn. Nearly everyone works for Pantex which makes warheads and weapons for Uncle Sam. That’s life in Amarillo. Amarillo is filled with friendly people who do nothing wrong. People stay busy by working. There is nothing to do. That is why the days seem boring.


Burn My Barn Down is about a man who wants to burn his barn down. A man is lonely since a river flooded and washed away his horses. As a result, his ranch is lonely and devoid of animals or any other wildlife. So he decides to burn his barn down to spare himself the pain.

Burn My Barn Down deals with the state of loneliness, sadness, and isolation. There is a sense of monotony in the vocals. The song uses a small bit of Delta blues and a huge chunk of country music.

These lyrics deal with loneliness. “Little river washed away my ponies/This ranch is kind of lonely now” Here these lyrics deal with sadness. “Wicked fate/This time you’ve done your worst/What did I do to deserve such a curse?/Oh Mother Nature/You finally won your battle”

This song got Lil Cap’n Travis a small amount of radio on KLBJ-FM back in 2000 which led the band to press up a CD single of the same name in limited quantities.


Little Drops of Summer is a perfect relaxing summertime tune. It's the song built for the summer night air to chill out to. In fact this song is perfect for both daytime and nighttime. The song definitely has a nostalgic 60s rock sound and vibe. This is also another one of their songs that deals with the realities of life

Lil Cap'n Travis sticks to the roots of country and western music on Truck Driving School. Of course the roots of country and western music have not been forgotten. This tune is driven by a harmonic keyboard organ over a powerful retro electric guitar. Using elements of country music is a tradition LCT has done for a long time now. Truck Driving School has a Whiskeytown vibe.

Ghost In The Window is the haunting but upbeat country rock song about a ghost who haunts people in the night. An edge of country grittiness is used in the guitars. There are points in the song where the instrumentation gets funky.

Rodeo Clown is one of the more spacey psychedelic cosmic cowboy type of songs off the album. The atmosphere is quite airy, spacey, and atmospheric. A guitar and keyboard provide the harmonies for this song. The song is quite funny and has a country charm.

Flattened By The Good Times stays true to the roots of country and western music the same way the song Truck Driving School. Notice how the keyboard is used to provide harmonics. LCT lets the good times roll on this song.

5/5*****!

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Lil Cap'n Travis - Burn My Barn Down single review

Lil Cap'n Travis - Burn My Barn Down is one of the more rarer releases from LCT that is impossible to find and is considered to be long gone. This single one of those releases that not everyone knows about this release due to its obscurity. Only longtime LCT fans know about this single. The single Lil Cap'n Travis - Burn My Barn Down is laced with that retro country sound backed by guitars and harmonics.

Lil Cap'n Travis - Burn My Barn Down was issued on CD format sometime in 2000. All LCT releases were issued on CD and never cassette. That has always been the cases with their releases.

The front cover has a boy on crutches feeding horse an apple inside of a barn. A bale of hay is located right next to his horse. That imagery alone can already give you a perspective about what type of music is exactly on this particular single. Each song has a sort of laid back country vibe to it.


Burn My Barn Down is about a man who wants to burn his barn down. A man is lonely since a river flooded and washed away his horses. As a result, his ranch is lonely and devoid of animals or any other wildlife. So he decides to burn his barn down to spare himself the pain.

Burn My Barn Down deals with the state of loneliness, sadness, and isolation. There is a sense of monotony in the vocals. The song uses a small bit of Delta blues and a huge chunk of country music.

These lyrics deal with loneliness. “Little river washed away my ponies/This ranch is kind of lonely now” Here these lyrics deal with sadness. “Wicked fate/This time you’ve done your worst/What did I do to deserve such a curse?/Oh Mother Nature/You finally won your battle”

This was the song that got Lil Cap’n Travis a small amount of radio on KLBJ-FM back in 2000 which led the band to press up a CD single of the same name in limited quantities.


My Life in Amarillo explains how LCT lives their life is living in the town of Amarillo, Texas. Living in the town of Amarillo, Texas is quite boring for them as there is nothing to do or see. That is why they often face and suffer from boredom. This song deals with the realities of life in Texas. The song uses a heavy influence of country music and indie rock.

Waking up late in the afternoon at 2:30 is normal for them. Smoking is one of their habits. They live the slacker lifestyle. They drink cheep beer because there is nothing else to do in Amarillo. There is nothing to see or do. Boredom is something LCT faces daily.

Look out the window and you’ll see a truck on concrete cinderblocks on a neighbors lawn. Nearly everyone works for Pantex which makes warheads and weapons for Uncle Sam. That’s life in Amarillo. Amarillo is filled with friendly people who do nothing wrong. People stay busy by working. There is nothing to do. That is why the days seem boring.


Little Drops of Summer is a perfect relaxing summertime tune. It's the song built for the summer night air to chill out to. In fact this song is perfect for both daytime and nighttime. The song definitely has a nostalgic 60s rock sound and vibe. This is also another one of their songs that deals with the realities of life

5/5*****!

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Henry & His Kasuals ‎– Slowly But Surely / Workout single review

Henry & His Kasuals ‎– Slowly But Surely / Workout is one of the many overlooked Chicano soul singles from that 60s that got very much overshadowed. Not many outside of San Antonio, Texas know about this single. The 2 songs on this single use a fusion of both soul and funk. Slowly But Surely / Workout was one of the many soul singles that helped shaped the San Antonio soul sound of the 60’s. This single would also undoubtedly mould Westside soul sound too.

Legendary label owner Abe Epstein over saw the production duties of this Henry & His Kasuals as he did with all of the band’s 45” singles. Henry & His Kasuals ‎– Slowly But Surely / Workout was released as a 45” vinyl single in 1968. Henry & His Kasuals was a Texas Chicano Soul band which was fronted by Henry Peña.

Slowly But Surely is a soul song that follows a 50s style beat at a mid tempo pace. There is something Henry's voice which will make you love his songs and style. This is pure Chicano soul right here. Slowly But Surely is the A Side to this 45” single. Workout is the instrumental on the B Side to this 45” single. The song is driven by a keyboard, handclaps, and a horns selection. This song uses a fusion of funk and soul.

5/5*****!!

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Henry & The Kasuals ‎– Forever / Funny Funny Funny single review

Henry & The Kasuals ‎– Forever / Funny Funny Funny is another one of those soul singles from San Antonio, Texas that got very much overshadowed and overlooked. Not many outside of San Antonio, Texas know about this single. You can hear the sound of Tejano soul all over this single with horns ensembles over drum kits and guitars over slow to mid tempo beats. Henry & The Kasuals ‎– Forever / Funny Funny Funny was issued as a 45” vinyl single on the Cobra label. Perfect Brown soul here.


Forever is one of those heartbreaking love songs. The woman breaks the man’s heart and the man plays the role of a fool. The woman takes his love for granted. This song is perfect for anyone who is going through a tough time or a breakup in their relationship. The song follows a 50s style beat at a mid tempo pace. Forever is on the A Side.

Now at the beginning of this song, you are greeted by a loud barrage of horns which is actually a horns ensemble. A loud horns ensemble is always a great way to start off a song with especially during the beginning. The loud horns ensemble is what makes this song stand out.

She can break his heart forever. He can play the part of acting a fool just to be with her. She can torment him and take his love for granted. Although she already takes his love for granted. If he could be with her, he will be her slave for the rest of his life. That is what he wants and that is his desire. Clearly he loves her in so many ways that she is currently unaware of. Being with her is what gives him thrills. No matter what she says or does, he will always be a fool for him.

The man tells the woman these words during the beginning of this song. “Darling forever, forever. You can break my heart forever if you want to. I'll play the part of a fool just to be with you forever. You can torment me. Take my love for granted. But I'll always be just a fool. If I could be with you, I'll be your slave for the rest of my days.”

He explains how thrilled he is to be with her by telling her these following words.: Just to be with you thrills me through and through.

Lyrics to the song explain in clear detail on how much the man loves the woman.

Darling forever, forever
You can break my heart
Forever, if you want to
I'll play the part
Of a fool
Just to be with you
Forever
Darling forever, forever
You can torment me
Take my love for granted
But I'll always be
Just a fool (just a fool)
If I, if I, could be with you
I'll be your slave
For the rest of, of my days
Love you more in so, so many ways
Just to be with you
Thrills me through and through
And darling forever, forever
You can torment me
Take my love for granted
But I'll always be
Just a fool
If I, if I could be with you
Darling forever, forever
No matter what you say or do
I'll always, I'll always


Funny Funny Funny is backed by an electric piano which alongside a slow 50s style beat. Here the electric piano sounds very much similar to a harmonic organ. The electric piano is provides this song with harmonics. That is why this sounds as if it were laced with a harmonic organ. Of course those harmonics follow alongside the slow 50s style beat. The beats and tempo are much slower on this song than on Forever. Forever is on the B side.

Funny Funny Funny deals with a couples maturity. The song explains those funny things a couple used to do and say. However those things are not funny anymore as the couple in this particular song are growing up and having to face maturity. Things are changing for them. Inevitably a change is going to come for the both of them. The couple show signs of maturity and awareness during the song. They grow up to realize those funny things they used to do and say are not funny anymore.

These lyrics what gives this song an edge of maturity and awareness. “Those are those we used to do and say/They’re not anymore/We’re growing up/There’s a change for you and me/We’re growing up“

5/5*****!!

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Freeway ‎– Philadelphia Freeway album review

Freeway ‎– Philadelphia Freeway is one of the deepest more heartfelt album from the Roc-A-Fella label that got overlooked despite having a couple of buzz singles. Many of these songs deal with the struggle and the search for something better in life. Roc-A-Fella Records was putting out quality music back in 2003. Freeway rapped his ass off on those blazing hot Just Blaze beats. Just Blaze production skill was hot and totally on point at the time. Some of the songs use soul beats. 00s hip hop/rap was good.


The uplifting motivational song Alright teaches us that sometimes we need to struggle to reach for something better in life. We need to keep our faith. You can feel the pure soul, inspiration, and motivation when you listen to the lyrics of this song. It’s a positive track for everyone. The radio stations would rather not play this song but other negative songs instead because this song might and will make your change the ways you live. The radio stations want to kill intelligence instead of uplift people. Radio stations would rather play that bubblegum pop as that is what sells.

Alright is a remix of Allen Anthony - Alright and was also Allen Anthony’s debut single. Allen Anthony’s vocals are kept during the hook. Roc-A-Fella Records made that music you could feel and relate to. Now this is music. Alright uses a huge touch of neo-soul and samples Ronnie Foster - Mystic Brew. The sample fits in perfectly with the neo-soul sound.

Freeway just came back from another ghetto to return to his ghetto. People recognize him by his gun. Freeway still rolls back and forth with a gang of thugs from the ghetto. All his homeboys are still hustlin' and striving  trying to make it out the game. Nothing has changed. Still they don't see the light. Everyone in the hood is striving to make it out of the game trying to reach for something better in life.

Freeway confesses to us in these lyrics that instead of doing something religious such as praying that instead he is something sinful such as drinking alcohol. “Smoke reefer burn reefer/Chill in my spot instead of making salaat drink liters of gin/I’m drunk again I'm high again” Of course this is obvious as Muslims do not drink alcohol. Salaat refers to the daily Muslim prayers which consist of standing, bowing and prostrating.

He plans to write a letter to his niggas locked up in the pen. What’s ironic about that is that they were all on the block last year. It's fucked up.

However everything else is gonna be alright. I know we can make it through this. Don't let go. Let's come together. We gotta reach for something better! Everything is gonna be alright.

Free is on his job to het his music played since he is a rapper. His plan is to let his music get played. So let the music play. He does not plan to hurt anyone tonight. But if anyone gets out of line, he will put them in check and back in their place. Free pops out with hits to get paid for his music and that's alright. His record label is the shit.

He came from the hood and he plans on bringing the hood with him. He will take them to travel around the globe. Freeway has been blessed with the gift of rapping. Snatching your gold to platinum and gold plaques on the tuck. Same shit different line up work. All his homeboys are out there grinding. He’s thinking about getting wit Beanie Sigel to act out of line in his Bentley. Everything gone be alright. All night.

These lyrics are motivational. “We came a long way from a pack and tech/We got to reach for something better”

This world's a crazy place filled with such misery. Wipe teardrops from your face. Everything's gonna be alright for you and me. We got to reach for something better.


On My Own has Freeway holding down his own weight lyrically speaking. He raps without any guest artists.

It's Freeway all by himself. In da place all on his own. In da club with the chrome. Now you see the chrome? Ya'll haters better leave it alone before he blasts you. Freeway got things locked in ya neighborhood. Roc's on ya block and Freeway is serving the medicine. Roc is in ya spot.

Ya'll need to really watch ya'll tone. It's because he’s all on his own now. You can leave him out here alone now.

Freeway is ruthless like a shot from a cannon. He is in effect. Freeway move rhymes like dimes and stays on your mind all the time. His music is played in heavy rotation on your favorite radio station while earning his grip. That is his grind.


Just Blaze produced the Freeway’s famous song What We Do which is known for using the soulful sample of the 1974 song Creative Source - I Just Can’t See Myself Without You”. This song is known for the famous phrase “even though what we do is wrong”. Freeway explicates a fundamental paradox by exploring the right/wrong binary throughout the song as the lyrical content emphasizes on the necessity of moving drugs regardless of how wrong it is.

He still hustles 'til the sun come up. Cracks a 40 when the sun go down. It's a cold winter, y'all niggas better bundle up. Don't you know cops sole purpose is to lock us down and throw away the key? In Freeway’s eyes, he views law enforcement as the enemy who prevent from feeding his children. Regardless drug dealing is illegal and immoral. Yet on the other hand Freeway has a commitment to his family and friends. If you from the hood, I know you feel Freeway.

Freeway will be free until he faces the consequences for his crimes. That is what the phrase “I’ll be wilding til they pick me outta line-up” explicitly means.

4/5****!