Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 327

Mandy Moore - Candy album review

The Candy album by Mandy Moore was an overlooked pop album from 2005. By this time record companies were attempting to replicate the success of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera by pushing their artists into the pop format. This album got lost in the shuffle of successful contemporary pop artists that were coming out at that time such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

Now this album was packaged as a new album. What Epic Records was really trying to pass off this release as a “new album” which was really a compilation album. The Candy album was a compilation album that featured songs from her first 4 albums that were never released as singles. Only completionists should buy this album to fill their Mandy Moore collection.


You can see the mature side of Mandy Moore on the song Saturate Me. She uses words that are considered advanced vocabulary such as “barrage”, “desolate”, “evaporating”, “arid”, and “parched”. This shows her side of maturity. The song strayed away from the bubblegum pop sound of that era.

Words that are considered advanced vocabulary such as “barrage”, “desolate”, “evaporating”, and “parched” are used in Verse 1, the chorus, and bridge.

[Verse 1]
The desert I wander lacks its mirage
There's no mistaking the barrage
Of sand and wind that tears my skin
Leaving what's without, exposing what's within
Forsaken, left here in my barren desolate

[Chorus]
My soul is evaporating, won't you saturate me
Won't you saturate me?
Rain down on me with life
My soul is evaporating, won't you saturate me
Won't you saturate me?
Storm around me, bring the tide

[Bridge]
The dunes that shift, drift and lift in the wind
Cover up my hope as I start to give in
To the cracks and creases and the dips in my will
As I am pushed toward the brink, I drink down arid swill

The desert Mandy wanders in lacks its mirage. There is no mistaking the barrage of sand and wind that tear her skin. Leaving what's without, exposing what's within. Forsaken, left here in her barren desolate. Her soul is evaporating. Won't a boy saturate her? She needs a boy to satisfy her insecurity and companionship.

Her days stretch long into the heat as the sun brightens her defeat. The dunes that shift, drift, and lift in the wind. Her lips are chapped from being parched and dry in the desert climate. Thirst builds with every day gone by. The thrust builds up inside of her. There's no mistaking the hot desert climate. Now Mandy wants a storm to form around her because a storm will bring the tide in. As she is pushed toward the brink, she drink down arid swill.


Mandy defies gravity on Yo-Yo as she breaks away from a toxic relationship from her previous lover. This is one of her more mature songs with a touch of dance.

Their toxic relationship is broken. However Mandy still has some attachment to her previous lover. Way down is still where her previous lover gets through to her. She’s told herself it isn't right but it isn't wrong. She needs protecting from herself. It's not hard to figure out why she can't hear herself singing the same sad song. She is not a Yo-Yo. She is not a thing you let go. She keeps hangin around. She keeps hangin around as she has got some attachment to you and to them.

However Mandy breaks free from her toxic relationship by explaining to her previous lover telling them, “I’ve got to move forward. So I've cut the cord.” “You're leaving me no choice and I'll be on my way” She had to cut ties with her previous lover by moving on without them. She is not a Yo-Yo. She doesn't come back when thrown. Mandy keeps hanging around but can't defy gravity. This is because Mandy has got to move forward. She assured, adored, and satisfied her previous lover. Clearly that wasn’t enough for them.

Her previous lover was leaving her no choice. She can't let that hope in. It's broken. So she cut the cord and moved forward. It isn’t right the way Mandy was treated.

These lyrics explain how Mandy still has some attachment to her previous lover.

I know what you want
I'm not a Yo-Yo
I'm not a thing you let go...
I keep hangin around
Got some attachment to you
Way down is still where you get through
I've told myself it isn't right but it isn't wrong
Yet I've found
The more you hot and cold me
The more I need protecting

This is how Mandy explains that she is not a Yo-Yo.

Mandy is not a Yo-Yo. She is not a thing you let go of. She keeps hangin around as she has got some attachment to you. Way down is to where you get through to her. It's not hard to figure out why Mandy is never too far from the floor. You can only take her up and down. Nowhere else. She doesn't come back when thrown. Mandy keeps hanging around but can't defy gravity. Of course she rebounds every time you touch her. Now you've come to face the fact. But Mandy running as fast as she can to the door because you just wanna swing her front and back. You're leaving her no choice and she’ll be on her way. For every climb there is a downward slide.


Candy was the heavy bass driven memorable bubblegum pop song many 80s and 90s babies remember clearly. The song uses a funky guitar with a loud presence back behind some mean heavy bass lines. Those mean heavy bass lines are what make the song stand out and memorable.

These lyrics show and indicate how addictive the song really is. The sound of his voice is sweet like candy.

I'm so addicted to the loving that you're feeding to me (Ooh)
Can't do without it
This feeling's got me weak in the knees (Oh, baby, baby)
Body's in withdrawal, every time you take it away (Ooh)

Like sugar to my heart (Ooh, baby)
I'm craving for you (I'm craving)
I'm missing you like candy (Missing you like candy)

4/5****

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Sista D - In The Mile High City album review

Sista D - In The Mile High City is a forgotten Denver rap classic which has a spicy dish of Spanish rap and Latin flavor. Her album is filled with dope beats and wicked G-Funk sounds. Female rap from Denver, Colorado hardly receives any notice or notoriety. The hooks to many of her songs are lovely. For example, “I’m rollin' thru my hood” and "Bounce on down to that little house on Mariposa" are some of the memorable lyrics that can be heard on this album.

4/5****!

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Brothers 4 The Struggle - No Hard Feelings album review

Brothers 4 The Struggle’s No Hard Feelings album was very much overlooked along with their other albums. This one is no exception. The album is mixture of conscious rap, gangsta rap, funk, soul, and jazz. Most of this album is conscious rap. Sadly this album got lost in the mix of gangsta rap and pop which was popular at that time.


Prodigal Son is a rap song with Afrocentric sounds and percussion. The song is Christian themed with references of Christianity inserted on occasion. Accapella, singing, and percussion are what give Prodigal Son an Afrocentric vibe. The raps, production, and heavy bass are what make this B4TS song wonderful. Background vocals are done by Rev. J. Edwin and Theresa Jones.

Rev. J. Edwin performs a spoken word at the beginning. The song samples the classic soul cut Down n’ Out while sampling the lyrics “nobody wants you when you’re down and out”. Overall the beats and bass are dope. The beats are fire!

Prodigal Son is an Afrocentric rap tale of a man who had 2 sons. The younger son wanted a share of his estate now before the father died. The father agreed to split his wealth between his sons. A few days later, his younger son packed his belonging and traveled far away to a distant land. He wasted his money on partying and prostitution.

Pratt Attack is on the outskirts of Cleveland forsaken and lonely. He hasn’t eaten in a week. So he is comatose and bony. His friends don’t want him around nor do they want to associate with him. Pratt Attack does not look for handouts. The sooner Pratt Attack left, the whole neighborhood dissed him. He is aware that his only alternative is to seek a job occupation. This won’t work as he is not presentable. Pratt Attack compares himself to the prodigal son.

He is so far gone that you could not hear him with a microphone. Pratt wants money so bad. He wants his old life back so bad. Don’t nobody want you when times get hard. Your long lost friends will act all chummy like everything is good and they didn’t abandon you in your time of need. Then they act all concerned. The reason why Pratt was gone for so long is because he was strung out on cocaine. His friends reacted real strange upon hearing this. He asks, “My brother, can you spare some change?”

As for the other son, Jimmie got grown and got his own life. So he went back home where he belonged because he did wrong. He dropped down and started praying. He started paying real close attention to what the preacher was saying. Praise God. It turns out he’s like the prodigal sun. Looking for love in these streets where there was not any. Jimmie stunted his spiritual growth as a Christian. Praise God. Jimmie came back to church.

When he had a whole lot of money, he had a whole lot of friends. When his money ran out, his friends ran out. Thing got so bad that he decided to go back home.


Pratt Attack unleashes wicked rhymes on Toke On. 2Quik performed on the turntables using killer vinyl scratches. Pratt Attack raps in true pimp style.

Pratt Attack awakes from a pitiful sleep because his neck was crooked. Don’t expect too much from him or out of him at least until he gets his toke on.  He smokes on the mic like a misfit vagrant. Notice his blatant style of speech.

He’s a good dick nigga. Slick and slender sporting them black gators. Johnny O, Tre, and Kemp are his pimp associates. He jumped yo bitch because the girl is his. Pratt Attack has got dick for days to keep any bitch sprung. Playa hatas want to cut out his tongue. He’s aware of this. Bitches be hollering his name. Either way, he gets his toke on.


No Hard Feelings has some dope beats and heavy bass that will rattle your speakers. The beat is so dope to where you will be nodding and beatboxing as the song plays. Cleveland rap can’t any doper than this! Funk meets rap on the song No Hard Feelings.

Look what the wind blew in. Come take a closer. It’s the Pratt Attack! Pratt Attack gives the listener(s) what they have been missing because the new shit from Brother For The Struggle is off the hook! It took a little time but it’s all good.

Never confuse the Pratt Attack for a sucker MC. Let’s be honest. He’s slick. He’s so slick you couldn’t pour him on anything. Just like Bill Bixby. All you silly motherfuckers check his flow. So don’t try to incorporate your style with Pratt Attack’s. So no hard feelings.

People said the future for the group called Brother For The Struggle is in doubt. Just because Pratt Attack caught a case for distribution of crack cocaine. Pratt Attack told us when he left he’ll be back. Now look who’s got the slickest record playing.

At the end of the song is where Pratt Attack gives shout outs to some Cleveland OGs of rap such as Johnny O and Cochise.


Scandalous is a song about how members of B4TS are living a scandalous life. The song has that gritty raw Cleveland sound of hip hop and rock.

Paycheck is already on parole and is avoiding the police. He is avoiding the police because he is living a scandalous lifestyle. He is living a life of crime. It seems that police have it out for him which is what the lyrics in the song are implying. One of the other members is wanted for murder. The murder was a result of a fight gone wrong. So things start to heat up.


Winning isn’t everything. That is what the song Crying Game is about. It’s lonely at the top but it’s too crowded at the bottom. Take heed because you will need this knowledge.

The Devil’s Back In Cleveland is a reprise of The Devil Came To Cleveland from the Back On The Scene EP. It’s The Devil Came To Cleveland revisited. This B4TS song has the same beat as Bone Enterprise - Hell Sent. B4TS gets in touch with their religious side on this song which is why you hear references to the Lord, the Devil, Jesus, and Satan. One of the rawest Cleveland rap songs from the 90s. Paycheck and Pratt Attack were the rawest on this B4TS song.

5/5*****!!

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Brothers 4 The Struggle - Straight Outta Cleveland in Full Effect EP review

Straight Outta Cleveland in Full Effect was the debut EP from Brothers 4 The Struggle which was released on cassette in 1990. Straight Outta Cleveland in Full Effect is one of their lesser known EPs. Not too many people mention Brothers 4 The Struggle when bringing up Cleveland hip hop. Brothers 4 The Struggle hails from Cleveland, Ohio. (East Cleveland to be exact.) Brothers 4 The Struggle was the first rap group to put Cleveland on the rap scene next to MC Chill, Cochise, and Johnny O.

The whole EP has that early golden age hip hop sound with party themed songs along with politically conscious songs which raised awareness to the community of Cleveland, Ohio. This Brothers 4 The Struggle EP is where reggae music meets hip hop sounds.


Back in the Day is a reggae infused hip hop song with a dancehall type sound hence the ragga type sound. The beats are fairly upbeat and so is the tempo. You can feel the bounce in the beats as you listen to this song. This song is also known as Ready Rocks. Ready Rocks was mixed by DJ Ace and arranged by Paycheck. Back in the Day is a hip hop/rap tale of Brothers 4 The Struggle uplifted themselves out of poverty by selling cocaine rocks.

Back in the Day was first local hit for this Cleveland hip hop/rap group in 1990 which soon became a breakout hit. This song was insanely popular to the point where people began stealing copies of their debut EP leading the cassette to become a rarity and a collectible at that. This was an uncommon commodity.

Paycheck and Pratt Attack used to look so bummy and mean when hey went to the recreation center. They looked down and out because they came from poverty and had no money. To be broke everyday made a brother sad. They would purchase alcoholic beverages to drink the pain of poverty away. Not a smart idea. They knew they had to stop.

That is what the following verse means, “anted up and got a forty with the money that we had/we knew sho enuff dat lifestyle had to stop/but da situation changed when we got hip to da rock”

This all changed when Paycheck formed Brothers 4 The Struggle in 1990 and released Straight Outta Cleveland in Full Effect which became a local hit for the group. People in the city fell in love with the song and EP.

Every hour of the day an ounce of crack cocaine was sold. Sure they sacrificed themselves on the block when it got cold. The cops used to try to play them. Although they were making music, they were still in the business of selling cocaine rocks better known as Ready Rocks. They sold cocaine back in the day.


Brothers 4 The Struggle lets us know that they are noting to play with on the song Nuthin' To Play Wit. They had their politics together back then.

Paycheck takes more control on Study Long, Study Wrong by rapping with his dope lyrics. He has a more vocal presence on this song as he does with Back in the Day. Study Long, Study Wrong uses a dope heavy bass line throughout the entire song. The beats follow a dancehall type of rhythm.  

4/5****!

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Vengaboys - Xmas Party Album album review

Vengaboys - Xmas Party Album is the Vengaboys first Christmas album with remixes of their previous hit songs repacked as Christmas oriented remixes. Ironically and coincidentally Where Did My Xmas Tree Go? is the only new song on the album minus Kiss (When the Sun Don’t Shine) (Treësto vs. Tr3hab Remix).


The song and title track Where Did My Xmas Tree Go? is first Christmas song by the Vengaboys. The song has a dancehall sound, feeling, and vibe due to the instrumentation. Dubs are used within bass. The Vengaboys wake up to find out their Xmas tree has gone missing. Xmas will never be the same.

The Vengaboys woke up this morning to discover all their friends were gone. All because they didn't get to eat. The Vengaboys are now on their own. But they don't care because she will party on. They do it every Christmas time.

Kim woke up this morning to discover all her friends were gone. Now since Kim lost it all, she is on her own. Denise woke up this morning and to discover her man was gone. All because he didn't get any cash. But Denise doesn't care because she will party on. So she put all his clothes in the trash. Ouch. Wicked burn. They both ask, “Where did my Christmas tree go? Where did it go?”

Kim woke up this morning and her garden was green. Her Uncle John just passed away. He left her a magical bean to plant in her garden. Now the good times have come here to stay.


Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom (Snowtek Mix) is a bell oriented mix of their 1999 dance floor hit Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom. There are jingle bells all over the place.

The song Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom! is most notable for its catchy phrase “Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, I want you in my room” and innocent lyrics. The song was a non-raunchy love song. Sure enough, their lyrics are what made the song a certified party hit. Old school Atari-esque blips are layered over new school electronic dance music.   

Vengaboys are back in town! You hear that correctly. They’ve come back with another hit which is a love song this time around. If you're alone and you need a friend, someone to make you forget your problems, then this song is just what you need.

These lyrics are what this song an innocent love song.

If you're alone and you need a friend
Someone to make you forget your problems
Just come along baby, take my hand
I'll be your lover tonight

Whoaa whoaa
This is what I wanna do
Whoaa whoaa
Let's have some fun
Whoaa whoaa
One on one just me and you
Whoaa whoaa

Boom boom boom boom
I want you in my room
we'll spend the night together
From now until forever
Boom boom boom boom
I wanna go boom boom
And spend the night together
Together in my room


Kiss (When The Sun Don’t Shine) (Treësto vs. Tr3hab Remix) is high quality DJ Tiësto remix of their hit Kiss (When The Sun Don’t Shine) which uses a hint of dubstep, gabber, and hard house.

Every Friday her head is spinning round and round. She has been workin' all week long. So she takes a trip downtown to her favorite club. That’s when she sees him with loving arms to fall into. However this girl is not looking for full-time love. There is still so much she wants to achieve. She only kisses when the sun don't shine. The girl tells the boy, “You wanna kiss? Then tonight is fine.”

She can live without full-time love because that is not what’s on her mind now. Freedom is what she’s thinking of that is what she values and cherishes. She ain't got the time for that now. Full-time loving is not what’s on her mind at all. Straight out of the blue, the boy came to her and asked her to be her date in the daytime. The girl turns his request to be his date down. She tells him, “I am sorry. No can do.”


The Merry Corsten Xmix of Shalala Lala is a Vengaboys love song laced with repetitive lyrics over catchy synths, beats, and jingle bells this time. The song follows a Euro dance rhythm over popish chords.

There's a boy in a girl’s mind and he knows. She is thinking of him day and night. The stars shine above me. He's been gone for some time. But he knows she truly loves him. She is singing this song hoping he’ll be back when he hears it. No one knows exactly when he'll return.

If your love has gone away just like hers, you'll feel like crying. Sing along maybe once or twice. Let's try it together. Listen to your heart as it is singing.

These are the annoying, repetitive but catchy lyrics to the chorus. You can obviously tell this song was written in the 00s due to its catchy pop lyrics.  

My heart goes shalala lala
Shalala in the morning
Shalala lala
Shalala in the sunshine
Shalala lala
Shalala in the evening
Shalala lala
Shalala lala just for you


We're Going To Ibiza! (Armin Van Blizzard Mix) is a Caribbean reggae styled sing-a-long party banger fill with fun and good times. Here this song follows a relaxing reggae dancehall ska sound and vibe. The song revolves around Kim taking a vacation to the island of Ibiza. She has to break free from the monotony of her life as a bus driver. However after experiencing paradise, she plans on staying on the island of Ibiza forever.

Hello Party People! This is Captain Kim speaking. Welcome aboard Venga Airways. After take off will pump up the sound system cause we're going to Ibiza!

Kim doesn't want to be a bus driver all her life. So she is going to pack her bags and leave this town.
She will grab a flight to fly away on Venga Airways. She has planned a vacation to Ibiza which is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. The plane flies away high in to the Ibiza sky. Kim looks up at the sky and sees the clouds. She looked down at the ground and saw the rainbow down the drain. She is going back to the island of Ibiza. That is where the Vengaboys are. The Vengaboys are gonna have a party in the Mediterranean Sea. It's really very nice to be at Ibiza.

Thank You for flying Venga Airways. We are now approaching Ibiza Airport. As you can see the sky is blue and the beach is waiting for you.

Now lyrics to the chorus should have been written and chanted in this manner.

Whoah! We're going to Ibiza
Whoah! Back to the island
Whoah! We're gonna have a party
Whoah! In the Mediterranean Sea

Whoah! We're going to Ibiza
Whoah! Back to the island
Whoah! We're gonna have a party
Whoah! In the Mediterranean Sea
Whoah! We're gonna have a good time

Whoah! We're going to Ibiza
Whoah! Back to the island
Whoah! We're gonna have a party
Whoah! We're gonna have a good time


3/5***!