Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 379

Volsoc - Compuphonic Intelligence single review

Volsoc - Compuphonic Intelligence was one of the most advanced techno singles of 2002 that was way ahead of its time due to the morbid synths and beats used on Compuphonic Intelligence, Jrumn, and Shout Out. The 303 filter movements are remarkable. His sequencers are warpy and rhythmic. The single uses a set of upbeat breakbeat rhythms that are off filtered. Clearly Volsoc was inspired by the 80s electro sound. This is some pretty sick dark electro music.

 
The song Compuphonic Intelligence is a techno song that was way ahead of its time due to the morbid synths and beats that were used. Volsoc was inspired by the 80s electro sound why you can hear 80s electro all over the song. The VST sound is used also. Bit-depth used in the VST sound. Modulation of this song is quite retro. Calling this song would be an understatement.

Compuphonic machines program Volsoc’s beats He uses a sequencer rhythm that moves your feet. Volsoc’s music is oscillating across the nation. Revolving at an unprecedented amounts of speed. The microchips are pumping and the woofers are jumping. Volsoc has got the generator running on overdrive. He will make your body rock. Rock the VST sound. The Pretension crew ain't got time to fuck around.


Shout Out is real true electro music. You have those crunched synths, 8 bit synths, groovy bass lines, and not to mention those eerie pads. Volsoc knows how to make the noise so groovy. This is some pretty sick dark electro music.

5/5*****!!

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SoulChef - Escapism album review

SoulChef - Escapism is a beautiful modern jazz rap album from the 2010s era that was overlooked and under appreciated. Not too many people appreciate jazz rap these days. You have nice piano driven ballads such as When I Close My Eyes. You also xylophone driven ballads such as Oh No which is heavily influenced by that bossa nova sound. Who knew that rap from New Zealand could be jazzy? Tunji is a featured artist all over the album. This is because SoulChef has produced several songs for Tunji in the past.


When I Close My Eyes is a song about dreaming about wanting to drift away into the past.

Tunji rises with the sun in the early morning. Facing this world we born in. His mind's swirling, storming, and working until the words be forming. People tell him that the sky is the limit. But Tunji is living for right now because he could die any minute. This life is turning the page. Learning to stay firm in your ways. Burning with rage. Learning only for the lessons. Roaming lonely through this Californian urban decay. Sometimes he wants to drift away.

Tune is grateful for the painful things that forced him to grow as a person because now he knows to head straight at that fork in the road. He learned from the best. If you love something and it's really worth a damn, then you should always feel the passion like you first began.


Oh No is a xylophone driven jazz rap song with a nice lush percussion set. That nice lush percussion set is what makes the song so calming. Oh No was dedicated to all those people outside who can't fucking mind their own business.

Talk is cheap. You mad weak. These people are acting like paparazzi. Saying what they saying day by day to try and stop Tunji. Smiling up in his face on his record release date. Gossip on computer screens. Always saying something that they see him chilling. Nobody be concerned with the drama. Just the karma. Now wait, look, most of y'all are too concerned with Facebook. Worry about the street instead of pictures that these snakes took.

He stays hungry like Ghandi. Kicking fat rhymes be his modus operandi. Don't be exaggerating if you saying that you rap great. Making music that you're feeling New York to New Zealand. Banging live beats out on the concrete jungle.

4/5****!!

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SoulChef - Good Vibes album review

SoulChef - Good Vibes is a beautiful modern jazz rap album from the 2010s era that was overlooked and under appreciated. Not too many people appreciate jazz rap these days. The master of soulful beats released this soulful jazzy album back in 2015. The New Zealand beatmaker gives new life to this album with his soulful jazzy beats. Who knew that rap from New Zealand could be jazzy? But, would you expect anything else from SoulChef?


The message of Summer Rain is to take unexpected paths to be testing you and know always challenge will come again. So whatever happens it happens and it's all great. Even if what happens not happening in your way.

Summer rain. it's happening again. Wasn't supposed to but it can. Look out for summer rain. It's happening again.

At first, Chima Anya wasn't really sure about what was happening. It started to pour. Wet socks squelch on the floor. She takes off her wet socks when she gets in the door. But she still got far and there's no cover. She is prepared. This supposed to be summer. So look out for that summer rain. Summertime made for the Barbie’s. But rain came on harshly. The forecast is wrong for saying it might even snow.

And get some entertainment from your predicament. Capital gains from the pain that are stressing you. You don't expect it but expect it. Take unexpected paths to be testing you and know always challenge will come again. So whatever happens it happens and it's all great. Even if what happens not happening in your way.


The Séance was a rap song about a séance. A séance is a summoning event in which people try to contact dead spirits. It's a séance. That's why the candles lit. Hear the young vandal spit. His mind's not to ever be tampered with. Come correct when you approach and salute when he is ghost. But don't get burnt like fingers clutching a roach. Feel the warmth like the inside lining of coats.

4/5****!!

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Al Stewart - 24 Carrots album review

Al Stewart - 24 Carrots is a unique quirky folk album which uses a huge touch of retro electro music. Mondo Sinistro is one example. You have your political based folk songs such as Running Man, Ellis Island, Tonton Macoute, and Murmansk Run. Not surprising given that this is an Ian Stewart album. Mondo Sinistro is one of the quirky romance songs on the album.


Mondo Sinistro is an electro folk song where retro electro music meets folk music in a style of new wave and synth pop. The new wave and synth pop elements help give the song a retro electro feeling. Al attempts to hit on a waitress in an attempt to get her to be with him but she rejects him. That is the basis of the song.

Al took his troubles on a Friday night to the heart of the bistro among the shadows and the low lights. He knows his favorite waitress will be here tonight. He loves the way she wears those fishnet tights (fishnet stockings). She's so hard to resist in this Mondo Sinistro (sinister world). She picks a menu up and throws it his way with a flick of her wrist. He is sitting hoping that the night might take a romantic twist.

Al orders chicken and a chilled chablis. She brings him grapefruit and a cup of tea. She's a little Mephisto in this Mondo Sinistro.  He really loves her dark brown eyes and the way that they tease. He tells her every time she passes by. He grow weak in the knees every time she passes by. Al asks her if she would like to come and play. She blows his candle out and walks away. I just cease to exist in this Mondo Sinistro (sinister world).


Rocks in the Ocean explained unrequited secretive love a boy had for a girl. The boy took her love for granted.

This boy met with a girl in the spring in a place far away on a night just like this. And something about him just turned her around. As though she were caught on a string. And being so young they held on to each other to see what the moment might bring. He loved her then in a secretive way. Not showing his care or his need. She stayed beside him and looked to the day he would somehow begin to be free. In the chill of the night she would hold him and say, “This is how they always should be. Rocks in the ocean. Waves on the sea. Keep it in mind. If love comes unsatisfied, don't forget me. Don't forget me.”

And so he come to depend on her more. Though the lesson was still to be learned. He was taking for granted the gift that she gave as though it were something he'd earned. And she was growing slowly away from a love that was never returned. Then came the day that he never foresaw. When he woke to find she was gone. He followed her then to the ends of the world to tell her how much he'd been wrong. But the more he called her, the more she was lost. Leaving only the words of her song. He still listens out for her foot on the stair. As he looks for her down through the years. And the friends that he had have all left one by one as their words weren't reaching his ears. He chooses instead now to wander alone to a song that only he hears.


Ellis Island explained how the immigrants who came to the United States of America helped create the United States into what it is today. The song explained how they left their past behind and came to the new world.

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away. Meanwhile from the market come the cries of every tongue and every nation. Refugeless refugees. Faces from the endless plains of Russia, to Blonde Norwegians, to dark Croatians. If you just use your head, you can make your fortune here. One lucky break and that's all it would take.

It’s another day. Another ship pulls into harbor and the crowd spills down the gangway. Immigrants clutching their suitcases tight. Blinking in the sunlight at the door of the new world. They hold the handrail with all the past thrown behind. Caught in between now and forever. Wondering just what lies ahead. Each one is waiting and hoping. The door will be open to them.

4/5****!

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Al Stewart - Between the Wars album review

Al Stewart - Between the Wars is a 20th century themed folk album which is similar in tone and subject matter to his 2005 album “A Beach Full of Shells” because this album has that vintage 20th century theme. Al’s concept album is about the period between World War I and World War II. There are songs with several references to events that occurred throughout the 20th century. Much of the album alludes to moments in history. The album has many songs which cover historic events. Scottish musician Al Stewart definitely thorough did his research for the historic aspects of his songs for this album of his.



Night Train To Munich is about one spy meeting another spy. They don’t know each other. The two spies are dispatched to meet at a station under that clock with both of them carrying an umbrella. Night Train to Munich is a reference to the 1940 movie by director Carol Reed called Night Train to Munich which is about a British spy infiltrating Nazi Germany to rescue a scientist and his daughter.

The ballad begins by explaining that this is about one spy meeting another. They don’t know each other by sight, so the one being addressed here will carry an umbrella so as to be recognized. Presumably nobody else at that station under that clock would be carrying an umbrella at that time.

A spy is dispatched to meet another spy at the station underneath the clock. He is told to carry an umbrella. The man in the Homburg hat is hiding in the fog. He will be watching the spy get himself a ticket a go through the gate at 7:45 precisely.  And he takes the night train to Munich, Germany.

The conductor is part of the spy organization as well. The spy is told to look for the conductor with a stain on his tunic and a paper underneath his arm in the restaurant car. On page 27 of the newspaper, there's a photo of a bride underneath the story of a man who died in Morocco. The spy is told to memorize the article word for word. The man in the Homburg hat understands the code and makes sure the conversation isn't overheard. The newspaper publisher is working with the enemy and prints a bogus news article about the bride of a man who died in Morocco that is encoded with a secret message. When he gets to Munich, they’ll be waiting in the car. There won't be anyone else there. The spy’s enemies are indeed Nazis.


The Age of Rhythm showcased the more poetic side of Al Stewart. A side of Al Stewart hardly ever seen. The lyrics are quite dark and edgy.

Today Al feels like Dorothy Parker because he’s got the critical eye for poetry. He paints his world just a little bit darker. He doesn't even have to try. Everyone seems a little bit desperate. Oh so witty but over the edge. The light inside his head is getting darker. This is the age of rhythm.

These were the dark lyrics he used in the song.

Today Al feel like Dorothy Parker
Today I've got the critical eye
I paint my world just a little bit darker
Don't even have to try

Everyone seems a little bit desperate
Oh so witty, but over the edge
I don't know why they try to impress you
With one foot on the window ledge

Don't try to understand it.  It won't get you very far. Even the Great Pretender is really as naked a Hedy Lamarr. He’ll see you all later down at the bar. Think up a line and say it.

Life is a constant party swung to a shot of jazz. Even the broken-hearted can steal a feel of the razamatazz. These are lyrics even the broken hearted can relate to. “Life is a constant party swung to a shot of jazz/Even the broken-hearted can steal a feel of the razamatazz/This is the age of rhythm”


Al talks about leaving a modern world on Sampan. Would you leave your modern world behind?
 
The sun is high. The emptiness rises beyond the jetty. Seagulls raining like confetti on the water. Sea and sky come together in. A hazy kiss out on the ocean. Europe seems a foreign notion hardly thought of.

Al is riding in his sampan. In the shade stands the foreman in a floppy hat and linen suit beneath his ancient leather boots. The ground is straining far away as figures bend to tap the endless seas of rubber trees to coat the wheels of Paris taxis where it's raining.


Lindy Comes To Town is a song which makes reference to how American aviator Charles Lindbergh flew his plane across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. Al puts his own fictional twist by rewriting history and adding himself to the historical event during December 13, 1927.

American aviator Charles Lindbergh flew his plane across the dark Atlantic Ocean. He landed his airplane down near Paris France and the crowds went frantic. They raced across the field to touch the wings and wheels. He reached inside the cockpit just to see if he was real. People watched and waited back in New York City The news came down the wire and they celebrated. And in that brief time, it was everyone's belief that the world had grown no bigger than a pocket handkerchief.

When Charles Lindbergh comes to town, all the bands are playing and all the flags are waving. Mr. Calvin Coolidge will say it's a public holiday. You can see them ride down Wall Street in a ticker-tape parade. Al wants be right there when Charles Lindbergh comes to town.

Al can tell the world he saw a new day dawning. Every day is better than the day before it. If Al sees a rain cloud then he just ignore it. Everybody says it'll get much better yet. It's 1927 and his whole life lies ahead of him. He’s gonna get himself a car and find a place to park it. First he needs to get a little cash and put it in the market. And on his wedding day he will turn around and say there never was a better time than this one anyway


Three Mules told the story of three mules dragging a cart over a hill.

Three mules came over a hill dragging a cart. The cart seemed to be falling apart because it was creaking. Laden with millions of dreams. It weighed more than they thought. They never noticed the wheels getting caught. They pulled on. Staring ahead with blinkered eyes and lowered heads hoping that all would be fine.

Ramsey, Stanley, and Neville were the names of the mules. Each wore a bridle encrusted with jewels. And though a murmur of voices were rising behind. Each laboured on and they paid it no mind. They pulled on with never a doubt past boulders and holes until the road petered out. And giving a snort they sat down. Waiting for somebody else to come around. And from this are our lives writ large from the beach at Dunkirk o Pickett's Charge. It's hard to go back after coming this far down the road.

Three mules looked over a fence at the field beyond green as a forest it shone in the sun. Into the stillness they broke like a stone in a pond. Kicking the gate down. They brayed at the ground and pulled on tugging a dream. Out of a smile and into a scream. And tossed the damp soil all around until the whole field turned muddy brown. It's not very easy now being a mule. Look at these long and unfortunate faces. I don't believe you appreciate all that we do. Three mules came over a hill with a sorrowful air. It's hardly fair.


A League Of Notions is a satirical take on the failed attempt by the powers of Europe and America to create a League of Nations to promote international peace and security. As was common practice in all previous wars, the victors got to redraw the borders; more for the winners, less for the losers. The problem with this war was, there were just too many winners and every one of them wanted a piece of the action. Many believe the Treaty of Versailles was unfair to Germany


Life Between The Wars was a song about the period between World War I and World War II.  The song covers historic events. Scottish musician Al Stewart definitely thorough did his research for the historic aspects of this song.

Paul Gervaise picks up the Herald newspaper and sees the face of Zelda Fitzgerald. She's part of the scene of life between the wars which is the period between World War I and World War II. The tropic sun is sticky and warm. And it bakes the head of William Somerset Maugham who is writing a scene of life between the wars.

You're waiting by the hotdog stand in the onion air as the ball flies through the park.Violet and Vita run through the streets of Paris. Their laughter floating through the dark. A fog that fell is swallowing London. Coco Chanel came back with a suntan to brighten the scene of life between the wars.

There will be a pint of milk and a Hovis loaf of bread at the end of every street. You can hear a silver band on the radio. And it makes the grocer tap his feet. The King is leaving Buckingham Palace. It's all too cold. He'd rather have Wallis. They're part of the scene of life between the war.


Betty Boop’s Birthday is an instrumental song driven by strings selection. Well mostly guitars strings to be accurate and fair. The song was dedicated to 1930s instrumental noir film music and cartoon foley effects.


Marion The Chatelaine was a story about how a girl named Marion who would later become at chatelaine in charge of a large house.

When the great collector found Marion, she was just a girl. She rang a chord inside him and he stole her to the centre of his world. Many wished they could be in her shoes. But she surely did know how to have the blues. He tried to make a star of her. She never did know why. And though she could have told him, there were some things that his money couldn't buy. She never knew a way to refuse. But she surely did know how to have the blues. They say tomorrow's such a long time. They say tomorrow never comes. Count the days as they run.

He built himself a castle on a hill above a bay where Marion the Chatelaine. Charmed every single one who came to stay. Some never knew while others read the clues that she surely did know how to have the blues. When all the parties ended in the castle on the hill, the paintings and the statues stood alone and all the corridors grew still. She got caught between the shadows and the booze. And she surely did know how to have the blues.


Joe the Georgian was written from the perspective of the deceased Russian Bolsheviks that Joseph Stalin had executed for treason or sent to the Gulag. The Bolsheviks promise to torture Joseph Stalin for eternity once he joins them in hell. The nostalgia on this song is ironic given that the Bolshevik revolution was an anti-nostalgic movement.


Always The Cause was about the April 26, 1937 bombing of Guernica, Spain. The town of Guernica, Spain which was bombed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy on that specific date at the request of the Spanish Nationalistsduring World War II. The song explored various viewpoints about Spanish neutrality. Various views about Spanish neutrality were divided in the year of 1937.

Bad news over the Great Divide in the country of Spain comes in from every side and came in from every side of the political spectrum. The Great Divide occurred in the country of Spain during the post-World War I period in the year of 1937. Still hope won't be denied because there was always the Cause. La Pasionara (passionate passionflower) sang “This day, no pasaran!” It echoed out in Catalan using the Catalan language. There was always the Cause. Mariposa late nights waiting on the via dolorosa (painful way) which hold Al closer. 3 years gone in the heart of Spain brings home a quiet pain.

Setbacks come at every turn. New ways are hard to learn. Tonight Al saw the town of Guernica, Spain burn during the April 26, 1937 bombing of Guernica, Spain when the town of Guernica, Spain which was bombed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy at the request of the Spanish Nationalists.

These lyrics explored various viewpoints (both positive and negative) about Spanish neutrality in the country of Spain during that time period. These lyrics explained the difficulties and challenges of learning new ways which was difficult for the citizens of Spain. Setbacks come at every turn/New ways are hard to learn/Tonight I saw Guernica burn/There was always the Cause”


Laughing Into 1939 is about a classy bourgeoise lady who is dancing with various gentlemen at a soiree (private party) during New Year's Eve night in 1939 during World War II. Laughing Into 1939 takes place in 1939 of course. This is one of the more romantic songs on the album.

A classy bourgeoise lady is dressed wearing a party hat and a satin dress. Silver paper curled in her long black hair. She is tapping one small elegant shoe in time. Oh, the way she plays with them. She is dancing with various gentlemen at a soiree.
Smile at one, Then she goes on to dance with another gentleman. Pretty soon they're forming up a line to dance with her and she's laughing into 1939.

The party draws them in. It breathes and moves to a life its own. In its arms it's gathering all time. From the dark a gentleman watches this classy bourgeoise lady moving in and out of the bobbing crowd. If she even notices, she gives no sign. She's laughing into 1939 for tonight is New Year's Eve .

Uncork your spirits and welcome it in. Who knows what it's got up its sleeve. Can't wait for it all to begin. Stand by the girl with the purple balloon. The look in her eyes just lights up the room. In the corner of her smile. She'll be seeing you soon under a mistletoe moon. The King and Queen come. The crowd goes wild out on the balcony. But that's just fine. They're laughing into 1939.


The Black Danube is another guitar driven instrumental song which served as the closer (closing track/concluding track) for this album.

5/5*****!!


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Kokane & Clint Dogg - International Ganxtaz (Remixes) album review

Kokane & Clint Dogg - International Ganxtaz (Remixes) is a US-Australian remix album filled entirely with rap music. The album has that heavy G-Funk influence with mixing and arrangements made by Kurt Kobane (former Death Row Records producer). There is amazing talent and such outstanding brehsiveness on the album. This album is a bit more upbeat than his previous albums.

Clint Dogg says the remixes are a little better than the originals. Kurt Kobane produced 8 songs for the album and Clint Dogg produced 5 songs for the album. A few of the beats were produced by 4 different people. A guy from Turkey produced beats for one of the songs on the album. Müzikalite Ent produced one of the beats for one of the songs on the album. Clint Dogg co-produced 2 songs. To be honest, Kurt Kobane pretty much produced the whole album except for a few songs.

The recording process of International Ganxtaz (Remixes) took 6 years. Clint Dogg first publicly announced the news about the International Ganxtaz (Remixes) on his Facebook profile on the date of December 31, 2016. The album was 96% complete at the time of announcement because Clint Dogg had to have just one more verse drop so he could then put some final touches on the album. The album was finally released on Xmas 2020 through Spotify.


The Intro marked a comeback for Clint Dogg as well as his return to music. The intro was remixed by Clint Dogg himself.

All Nite Long (Kurt Kobane Remix) is another solid song on the album which Kurt Kobane put in his solid efforts of his production into. His production words are what helped make the song memorable. Kurt Kobane put in that classic Death Row sound in the Kurt Kobane Remix of All Nite Long.
 
The remix of Mo & Mo sounds very futuristic due to the synths and chords from the electronic keyboard hence the futuristic sound. Kurt Kobane put in a crossover of hip hop/rap and pop into the remix of Mo & Mo. Think crossover pop in a sense. The remix version of this song was very much ahead of its time. Mo & Mo is the second best song on the album.

I Come From (Kurt Kobane Remix) has that classic Death Row sound with the claps and hi-hats. Notice and pay attention to the beats. Relax is the frequent contributor who had rapped on everything Clint Dogg has ever released.

Cherry Pie is a G-Funk love song with a romantic loving vibe, tone, and sound. Funk and soul meet rap on Cherry Pie thus creating a G-Funk fusion. The smooth laid back sound leaves much to be desired. This song is similar to those West Coast rap songs from the 1990s and 2000s. Clint Dogg did a killer job on the turntables with the vinyl scratches. The scratches do not overlap the rest of the instrumentation because those vinyl scratches you hear were set a medium level volume. Now some of the some of the synths sound similar to the synths and chords that were used in Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message. The remix was done over Kurt Kobane’s beat. A few of the beats were produced by different people.

Clint Dogg remixed the beat on track 6 which was the skit which was 1 minute and 20 seconds long (1:19 to be exact).

Now the original version of International Ganxtaz was the back and forth duet between Clint Dogg and Kokane. The US-Australian rap collaboration. The original version of International Ganxtaz had contributors from countries such as Germany, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

So High (Kurt Kobane Remix) featured Ms. Toi and Slip Capone. Kurt Kobane brought forward that classic West Coast sound with a new fresh touch of modernized production the remix. So High is the best song on the album next to Mo & Mo.

The Way was remixed by Kurt Kobane. He added his own beats to the song. Kurt Kobane brought a breath of fresh air to the song with his touch of modernized production. Frequent contributor Slip Capone rapped throughout the song. Think West Coast rap when you listen to this song.

Rollin My Ride is mainly Kokane rapping. But the song has verses from Clint Dogg and Saul Good. This is another US-Australian rap collaboration (collabo).

Sex Wit Me (Kurt Kobane Remix) is a posse cut (possie track) with Australian rappers Clint Dogg, Relax, Saul Good, and Johnny Rotten. All of whom are from Newcastle, Australia. That’s some good shit!

The outro was remixed by Clint Dogg himself and features MacShawn100. Now many people know this or knew this but the outro was a prelude to Clint Dogg’s next album.


5/5*****!!

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Draco Rosa - Mad Love album review

Draco Rosa - Mad Love is a tight dual language album with songs sung in the English language and songs sung in the Spanish language. Think romance with Latin flavor. That makes sense since Draco Rosa is a veteran as a songwriter since he has written love songs for over several decades.


Draco asks his lady if she feels like coming to dance because he wants her to dance with him in the rain. She's got a sexy pose when she looks at Draco. After dancing for a while, she slowly takes off all her clothes. Then they commence to making love. That is the plot of Dancing in the Rain.

Draco asks his lady if she feels like coming to dance or making love. Draco asks her, “Do you feel like coming to dance? Or make love, baby? I know you want it. So come down and show me what you need.” He asks her to dance in the rain with him. “Do you want me to stand alone? Take that flower from your hair and come dancing in the rain with me.”

He notices she feels like running because she is shy. She can do no wrong when she moves while she is dancing. There she goes. She's like a sexy rose. And her body's like a secret that you gotta know. It's where Draco wants to be. She's got a sexy pose when she looks at Draco. And she slowly takes off all her clothes. Then they commence to making love. There she goes. Sweet sex can drive Draco crazy. It feels just like candy when they bump and grind all night. He see the girls dancing slowly and the boys they moan like they're so horny.


Noche fría (Cold night) is a love sung entirely in Spanish by Draco Rosa. Draco spends another night desperately looking for a little passion in a woman he wants to love. He wonders what can he do to have her love. Draco wonders what can he do to get his message through to her. His heart goes sad waiting for her in the shadow of the sun. He gets bored and leaves her.

Tonight is colder without his lover. He doesn't know what to do. Draco feels so far and so close that he is unintentionally going crazy. He wonders what can he do to have her love and suffer. He likes her dearly.

Draco spends another night desperately looking for a little passion. Another desperate night looking for a little passion. No, he didn’t find passion in the woman he wants to love. His heart goes sad waiting for her in the shadow of the sun. He gets bored and leaves her. The pain of forgetting does not let him forget.

4/5****

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Teaz II Pleaz – Tears album review

Teaz II Pleaz – Tears was one of the lesser known electronic pop albums of 1995 that had an element of Latin music that was used over a set of freestyle music. Teaz II Pleaz is on of the best ever but never acknowledged.


I Want U was the 1988 club hit from the trio. Their voices are what made the song lovely. A jam done Miami style. Freestyle forever lives. The song was played during the 5 o'clock traffic jam with DJ Laz and Oliver Zogby on South Florida's party station POWER 96.5!

Arturo Hernandez wrote this song in my bedroom and did the sequencing to everything you’re hearing. Everything you hear are his original sequences. Including the trumpet lick. He took his synth setup to the studio, sequenced everything on an ESQ1 synth had sequenced everything on an ESQ1 synth keyboard, and had the 2 girls sing it. The sounds are stock ESQ1 sounds except for the Marimba which was on a DX100. During the timbale break, you can hear his hand getting tired and he switched it up a bit. But once the beat dropped again he continued the solid marimba track.

Sadly Arturo Hernandez got screwed by management and was never payed anything. The management at the time was supposed to be looking out for his best interest. One of the managers put their name on the record so they could have writing credits and receive royalties despite having nothing to do with the songwriting and copyrights in place. Well those 2 managers were shady. They couldn’t play a note on any instrument and couldn’t sing.


I Know U Know was a super hot lively classic Miami freestyle jam. The hypnotic synths and beats were what made this song very catchy in a sense.

Arturo Hernandez programmed the song using a Casio keyboard and had sequenced everything on an ESQ1 synth keyboard. The management did not produce this song because they couldn’t play a note on any instrument and couldn’t sing. Despite what fans would have you believe or themselves had believed.

5/5*****!

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Coppelius - Zinnober album review

Coppelius - Zinnober is another German inspired and themed steampunk album with incorporated rock elements and a tangent of jazz. This album is slightly different from their other albums because this album has uplifting positive songs such as Risk which encourages people to take a chance. Surprisingly the album is not as provocative or dark.


Risk is a positive uplifting steampunk song which encourages people to take a chance.

This chemical substance gives you strength for the dance all through the night. And you laugh. Take a risk And be it ever so small. Or does it seem too big to you? Come on! Take a risk. Be it small. What do you have to lose?

This investment promises you a quick profit. If anything goes wrong then all your money is gone. That is an example of taking a risk. Here is another example of taking a risk. Look at this beautiful strange woman with her smile on. You understand exactly what needs to be done. Now you finally talk to her! That is an example of taking a risk.


Gumbagumanga was a magical song about the great magician Gumbagubanga.

The great magician Gumbagubanga rests on his porch in the evening. He mixed a love potion today. His grandmother thanks him. But this was just a tiny trifle considering how many great spells he has already conjured.

Once again he wants to prove it to everyone. The sun should shine deep into the night. He’s struggling when he is escaping and begging. So the whole night is wasted. It's already morning. The sun is glistening. Gumbagubanga is beaming with bliss! A choir sang in his honor: Gumbagubanga!

4/5****!

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Al Stewart - Orange album review

Al Stewart - Orange is another abstract and unique folk album from Scottish folk musician Al Stewart which dates back to 1972. His songwriting is lengthy and descriptive as usual. By the 1970s his songwriting skills and technique improved significantly.

Al Stewart told the story of his trip to Amsterdam, Netherlands on the song Amsterdam. He explains that out on the street there's a chance for you to meet anybody you please for your own pleasure. The very thing Al was wanting was to find some way to let you know how he felt. The instrumentation was provided by a small West Indian band.

Al just came back from Haarlem on the very last day of Autumn. He made it through the customs and took the bus into town. The Dutch people were friendly. As they mostly are for the most. You know they put Al up and they fed him. All along a tour of one night stands.

All his days and all his ways are so confused. I can tell you right now that Al is going to make it back to Amsterdam. And you can feel fine anytime. You choose to lose yourself for a while with a bottle of wine in some back street cafe or out on the street. There's a chance for you to meet anybody you please. Taking the time to ease your blues away. Fred was a crazy driver took Al at a hundred miles an hour (100 MPH) down a side street out of a traffic jam.

All his days and all his ways are so bemused. The very thing Al was wanting was to find some way to let you know how he felt. You can't say much in an evening. If you know you'll soon be leaving, there's not much time to talk and it's maybe as well.


Elvaston Place was about a time in the 1970s when Al Stewart lived at Elvaston Place in South West London with his girlfriend Mandi. They shared an open relationship. Sharing an open relationship is something that bothered Al Stewart for a while. However their relationship lasted a couple years. Elvaston Place is a love song about his girlfriend Mandi.

They both lived in a run-down basement in South Ken (South Kensington) inside South West London. Mandi was hiding her face behind the railings in the rain. Stony steps to a small grey herd of dustbins blinking in the sunlight. Their yesterday lives were touched by the fireside in Elvaston Place. There was an electric bar to warm their winter toes. An evening paper for the bath mat. There were curtains with holes in the lace and splintery window frames. Both of them lived in a small furnished space in Elvaston Place.Al was watching the happy face of his girlfriend beside him in Elvaston Place.

The city's spreading like a stony tide across the countryside. Al now lives alone in London town where there are cars and buses everywhere. They hide the sun and eat the air. You need a friend when it gets you down.

Al would give all the money that he’s ever owned tomorrow if I could lay happy beside Mandi in Elvaston Place. Al stopped to look at Mandi today. A new whitewashed face is behind the railings in the rain. She once held a love of his. She changed just like the weather. The Kensington skies go on for ever in Elvaston Place.


Soho (Needless To Say) explains how the Soho neighbourhood of London feeds the needs and hides the deeds along with the mind that bleeds. So take heed to Al’s advice and listen.

The Soho neighbourhood of London feeds the needs and hides the deeds along with the mind that bleeds. The mind that bleeds disenchanted downstream in the night. Soho hears the lies, the twisted cries, and the lonely sighs until it seems lost in dreams.

The sun goes down on a neon eon though you'd have a job explaining it to Richard Coeur de Lion. Animation, bar conversation, anticipation, disinclination. A poor old wino turns with dust in his eyes begs for the dregs from the bottom of the kegs for some or any type of alcoholic beverage. You've never seen a lady lay down and spread her legs like Soho. Faces in the maelstrom. Huddle by the puddles in the shadows where the drains run. Hot dogs and wet clogs clicking up the sidewalk. Disappearing into the booze shop. Rainbow queues stand down by the news stand, waiting for the late show. Minds in free fall. Chocolate-coloured ladies making eyes through the smoke-pall.

Football supporters taking the waters. They're looking round for the twilight daughters. Non-stop strip club pornographic bookshop. Come into the back and take your time and have a good look. Old man laughs with flowers in his hair. Newspaper headline "Midde East Deadline". Jazz musicians are down on the breadline. Needless to say this is Soho.

Al is alone on the Soho streets on a Friday evening. He has been here all of the day. He is going nowhere with nowhere to go. He is in the bedsheets of a woman he is dating.


4/5****!

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Youngblood Brass Band - Is That A Riot? album review

Youngblood Brass Band - Is That A Riot? is one of the most politically charged and environmentally conscious brass band albums of the 21st century. The album deals with touchy subjects such as modern warfare, pollution, and environmentalism. For example how Nuclear Summer deals with the casualties of nuclear war.


March was the politically charged opener for the album. The song explained the brutality of harsh weather conditions soldiers face in combat, skirmishes, and at war.

The month of armies. Months of stomping men in uniform. Winter tries to shed while fighting back. Nostalgia's frozen tears. The melted path summer runs. Yes, spring is a Bully. All the earth in coitus for lonely bees to watch. And as the world grows green, broken birds grow envy. This is its roaring mouth leaving bite marks. Thoughtless ranks who bundle up their fear of age with love lost tattered scarves.

The song began with these famous quote right here.

"... to gather in us the desire for motion towards...
Motion to make that movement vertical... rewrite your
Book while hovering... assemble and advance on the
Sky... there is no more room for forward, for back...
Focus in us flight, and spring. Jump... take up space
It is in the air... take what is yours. Take on space... "


Nuclear Summer deals with the casualties of nuclear war.

From the left shoulder of a nation. From skies lacking the mechanisms of death. From the burdened bellies of wrought iron angels we come and drop bombs. And then we're in. Hordes of us are scraping over the walls. There is no darkness so deep that we cannot paint it present. There is no cause so bleak that we will bail in vain.

Screaming battle cries in all tongues lost. The old blood boiling over timeless ideals. We are staining every soul present enough to look up. Scarred and tattoo the sound all over your body for these. Ink and pigment splattered on barren ground. Sun-dipped blades herald brighter spirits coming. And that gray lump you call a head is sliced clean off. Dead eyes run through. Swords aloft!

Once a benevolent president tears open your cheek, a tongue will come flopping out. It will lay on the ground licking slush off our frozen streets. Then it will die. Your love curdled already besides. Nothing can get wise.

How about a little warhead in your abdomen? Ooh, how about a stain? How about armada is to javelin what battle is to game? Oh! I prefer a phallus to a circle every time. I prefer to make a beat that wipes a village from the map. I prefer a falling payload when it's dancing on your lap. Are you perverts having fun yet?

It all comes out grey and matters less with each sunset. Each time a nuclear bomb is dropped from a high altitude in the sky. The sound off-kilter with casualties pending which brings patented death that serves as the action-packed ending. The sound above language. Asinine lies for assassins in need. Of motives for making that human ink bleed. It's not sarcasm.

All of the lyrics to Verse 2 and the bridge deal with the casualties of nuclear war.

[Verse 2]
How 'bout a little warhead in your abdomen? Ooh, how 'bout a stain?
How about armada is to javelin what battle is to game? Oh!
Inverted world I'm thinking Nobel Prize
Because the marriage of preemption and commerce? That was mine
I prefer a phallus to a circle every time
I prefer to make a beat that wipes a village from the map
I prefer a falling payload when it's dancing on your lap
Are you perverts having fun yet?
It all comes out grey and matters less with each sunset

Here come a bomb. The sound above language
The sound off-kilter with casualties pending
The patented death. The action-packed ending
It's not sarcasm. We're training eyes
Hands were we can see them. Ass in the sky
Asinine lies for assassins in need
Of motives for making that human ink bleed
Champions, fly

[Bridge]
Calling all living. Affirming all dreams
Screaming all hell. As real as it seems
Rescind your explosions. Get up off toes
Kids are at attention tended towards prose
Smolder at shows, shoulder all comers
Dirty old bushmen your season is waning
Sorry about peace, big fucking bummer
Ignite a new kind of soul fusing father and mother
Here come the heat. Nuclear Summer


5/5*****!

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Trombone Shorty - Say That to Say This album review

Trombone Shorty - Say That to Say This a horn driven pop album with a heavy brass band element backed with trombones. His work is remarkable. Many of the songs are bright, cheerful, and uplifting. Now many of the songs on this album of his are romantic love songs. Be My Lady and Long Weekends are dead giveaways of some of the love songs on this album.


Long Weekend is about Trombone Shorty wanting to spend his weekend with a woman he has had his eyes set on since he was a boy.

Trombone Shorty saw her every summer ever since he was a boy. And now that he’s gotten older, she will see just what he means. When he sees her this weekend, I bet that she would never wanna leave. Trombone Shorty can't wait for the weekend. He is so excited because you never know what could happen on a long weekеnd.

It'll be like old times. Playin' in the dark. They’ll pick up a bottle from the liquor store and make out in the car. He’s gonna keep her up all night under the stars. Trombone Shorty remembers whеn she kissed him and made him promise not to tell anyone about their kiss. Naturally Trombone Shorty told all the guys because he couldn't keep it to himself.


You And I (Outta This Place) explains how Trombone Shorty and his shorty (no pun intended) must leave the place they are currently at.

Between the shadows and the light in the cover of the night Trombone Shorty and his shorty run. They’ll sleep when they getting where we going and feel the heat of the sun outside the city wall. But trouble weighs in at a ton. There's gotta be a better way.

Don't get caught in the middle of it all in the negativity and the hate bause they'll trash talk as soon as you walk away
But they smile in your face. Don't ever let it get you down. Don't ever let it turn you round. The beginning lyrics to Verse 2 tell people to not get caught up in negativity and let negativity bring them down.
 
[Verse 2]
Don't get caught in the middle of it all
In the negativity and the hate
Cause they'll trash talk as soon as you walk away
But they smile in your face
Don't ever let it get you down
Don't ever let it turn you round

Don't waste time with fittin' in
Cause you and I are different


Fire And Brimstone explained how there is music in the heart and soul of Trombone Shorty. Broken dreams can held together with glue. Trombone Shorty has got to keep on trying until that they come true. He knows that all his life he has been tired and blue. But he still has to keep on fighting. He’s got too many things left to do. There is music in the bones, heart, and soul of Trombone Shorty. Everything that comes out of his trombone is fire and brimstone.

Verse 2 has lyrics with a positive message that tells people to keep on fighting instead of waiting on the world to change because we can't keep on waiting for the world to change. Trombone Shorty encourages people to change the world with these lyrics.

[Verse 2]
Shot guns blast, you hear it ring so loud
Follow 'bout the sirens, it happens all year round
But we gotta keep on surviving, they can't bring us down
I'm just trying to stay alive and pick my feet up off the ground
Well it's like it's raining, raining, everyday
We can't keep waiting, waiting on the world to change

5/5*****!

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Kokane & Clint Dogg - International Ganxtaz album review

Kokane & Clint Dogg - International Ganxtaz is a US-Australian rap album which has that heavy G-Funk influence with mixing and arrangements made by Kurt Kobane (former Death Row Records producer) and Clint Dogg. There is amazing talent and such outstanding brehsiveness on the album. This album is a bit more upbeat than his previous albums.

Kurt Kobane produced 9 songs for the album and Clint Dogg produced 4 songs for the album. A few of the beats were produced by 4 different people. A guy from Turkey produced beats for one of the songs on the album. Müzikalite Ent produced one of the beats for one of the songs on the album. Clint Dogg co-produced 2 songs.

The recording process of International Ganxtaz took 6 years. Clint Dogg first publicly announced the news about the International Ganxtaz on his Facebook profile on the date of December 31, 2016. The album was 96% complete at the time of announcement because Clint Dogg had to have just one more verse drop so he could then put some final touches on the album. The album was finally released on Xmas 2020 through Spotify.

Cherry Pie is a G-Funk love song with a romantic loving vibe, tone, and sound. Funk and soul meet rap on Cherry Pie thus creating a G-Funk fusion. The smooth laid back sound leaves much to be desired. This song is similar to those West Coast rap songs from the 1990s and 2000s. Clint Dogg did a killer job on the turntables with the vinyl scratches. The scratches do not overlap the rest of the instrumentation because those vinyl scratches you hear were set a medium level volume. Now some of the some of the synths sound similar to the synths and chords that were used in Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message.

All Nite Longis another solid song on the album which Kurt Kobane put in his solid efforts of his production into. His production words are what helped make the song memorable. Kurt Kobane put in that classic Death Row sound in All Nite Long.

Now the original version of International Ganxtaz was the back and forth duet between Clint Dogg and Kokane. The US-Australian rap collaboration. The original version of International Ganxtaz had contributors from countries such as Germany, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

Kurt Kobane brought forward that classic West Coast sound with a new fresh touch of modernized production on So High. So High is the best song on the album next to Mo & Mo.
 
5/5*****!

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