Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 406

Kim Burrell - Everlasting Life album review

Kim Burrell - Everlasting Life is one of the most holiest gospel albums of 1998 which deals with subjects such as praise, religious warship, domestic abuse, and infidelity. The album uses a secular blend of vocals, contemporary soul, and gospel. Kim used her 1998 album to create what she calls “gospel jazz” with her raspy alto and piano backing.


Holy Ghost is the song Kim used to create what she calls “gospel jazz”. This song was the first song to be referenced in using gospel jazz. Her raspy alto and piano are the gospel jazz portion of the song. At the same time she keeps in touch with her religious roots.

The Holy Ghost song describes a Sunday afternoon conversation between Kim and the Holy Ghost. Kim uses this opportunity to request help from the Holy Ghost to continue leading her on the path of righteousness she started on. Kim calls out to God to purify her heart. The same way King David did in the Bible.

Verse 1, along with the bridge, is a Biblical reference to Psalm 51:10-11 in the Bible:

Psalm 51:10:

    Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:11:

    Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

[Verse 1]
Create in me a new heart
Oh God
And renew the right spirit
Within me
Cast me not away from thy
Presence oh God
Take not thy Holy Spirit
From me


Kim sings about how marriages are being destroyed by domestic abuse, infidelity, and oppression on her song It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way. Kim Burrell is to tell people it’s really not supposed to be this way. This is one of the more worldly songs on the album.

Many marriages are being destroyed by domestic abuse, infidelity, and oppression. Both on the job and in the home. Somewhere along the line, married couples seem to have lost focus and strayed away from what God created. Kim Burrell is to tell you it’s really not supposed to be this way. Don't you know it wasn't meant to be this way? We're living the wrong vision. We have lost sight of God's intention. In the beginning, God made a man. The man was lonely. So then God's plan was to make a woman so they can be together forever happily, That's how it’s supposed to be.

The Bible says, "A man that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing". This Scripture is found in Proverbs 18:22. Men, if you have a good thing, hold on to her and love her like yourself in an unselfish and unconditional manner. A joy you'll find if you have God in your marriage. With God inside you can conquer anything. God ordained marriage and the devil.

Wives, when you done all you can to make a happy home and your husband still raises his hand, have respect for yourself and tell that devil, "No, I'm not taking anymore abuse from you. I'm The Lord's child." It wasn't meant to be this way. Wives, when your husband loses his job and the bills are due, don't discourage him. Encourage him. Get together and pray. Pray together, you'll stay together. Now that's the way it’s supposed to be.

Husbands and wives, when that man or that woman that keeps calling your house and hanging up in your face, before you jump to conclusions. You need to get down on your knees until the Lord shows you what to do. He knows whats best for you.

Husband and wives, when the spirit of depression comes into your house and the devil tells you to turn your back on. God, tell that lying devil, "As for me and my house, we're gonna serve the Lord". That’s how it’s supposed to be! Kim knows that these things happen. It’s a part of our everyday life.

5/5*****!!

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Simken Heights - Cocaine album review

Simken Heights - Cocaine is the most explicit street savvy album about the highly addictive drug called cocaine. Every song on the album revolves around the subject of cocaine. The album is laced with that heavy gangsta rap sound Lansing, Michigan is known for. Simken Heights - Cocaine is a long forgotten classic Lansing rap album filled with horrorcore and neo gangsta rap music. Of course their album has some wicked shit! You can't really go wrong with Simken Heights for the most part. The only downside is that a majority of the songs are only a minute and a half long. The album lacks in longevity and duration. And the fact this album is extremely difficult to find.

The title track Cocaine revolves around the subject of cocaine nonetheless. Cocaine is filled with horrorcore, acid rap, and gangsta rap. The rough brash gangsta rap sound (along with the horrorcore) gives this song an edge. This song has that classic Simken Heights sound.

Down Wit Tha Product uses a more neo gangsta rap sound than the classic Simken Heights sound which consists of acid rap and horrorcore due to the updated 2000s sounding production that crystal clear high quality sound. So if you were expecting the classic Simken Heights sound, then you will be sorely disappointed.

4/5****!

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Albert R. Brand – The Songs Of Wild Birds album review

Albert R. Brand – The Songs Of Wild Birds is an album of field recording of wild bird calls recorded and released in 1936. These bird calls were recorded directly from nature. Albert R. Brand studied bird song recording while he was pursuing a doctoral degree under Arthur A. Allen at Cornell University. Bird calls from a Wood Pewee are super squeaky and whiny. Bird calls from a Vesper Sparrow are quite warm.

4/5****!

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Lil Yo ‎- Youngsta's On A Come Up album review

Lil Yo ‎- Youngsta's On A Come Up is a real masterpiece of Memphis rap and hip hop. Anyone who disagrees doesn’t know what they’re talking about. The dark sounding sinister atmosphere, his triplet flows, snap music, and gangsta sound are what make this album great and enjoyable to listen to. The best songs on the album are "Creepin" and "On My Way To Texas". Lil Yo had a dope killer rap flow on this tape with his triplet flows as he was spitting heat. DJ Sound and Kingpin Skinny Pimp produced this legendary album on the local production label called Gimi Sum Productions. The sounds of snap music and gangsta rap are truly dope.  

For those who did not know, Lil Yo is Yo Gotti. Yes, Lil Yo and Yo Gotti are the same people despite what some people believe or have you believe/think. It’s Yo Gotti before he became Yo Gotti.

Yo Gotti started rapping under the name Lil Yo in 1995 and had recorded this album in 1996 when he was 15 years old. This album was released on cassette only in Memphis, Tennessee on a local production label called Gimi Sum Productions. He was leagues ahead of his time the way he mastered triplet flows in his raps. He was the dopest teenage rapper out of Ridge Crest in Memphis, Tennessee at one point. Crazy how Lil Yo went from this to Unplugged. Hard to believe this is Yo Gotti. He was 15 years old when this album was released. His flow was murderous at that age.

People say Lil Yo was biting Three 6 Mafia, Tommy Wright III, Gangsta Pat, Lil Gin, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, and whoever else from Memphis. That is false as it’s a Memphis flow period. The Memphis flow is what he uses in his raps with the fast pace of triplet flows. People have compared him to xxxtentcion interestingly enough.

Many Memphis rap fans seem to favor Yo Gotti’s older style of rapping from when he went by Lil Yo than his new style of rapping as a national artist. Many Memphis rap fans like Yo Gotti better when he was a local artist especially old heads. They wish they would hear him rap like this now because he lost his Memphis flow and beats when he became a national artist. Old heads and haters consider Yo Gotti to be garbage now. People seem to like or dislike Yo Gotti these days in terms of popularity. Either way, people should respect his hustle as he has a family to feed. Times and situations change. That is why he changed his name, his beats, and flow.

Lil Yo ‎- Youngsta's On A Come Up is one of the most sought after cassette tapes in Memphis rap. The album is impossible to find especially with the original cover still in place. Many copies that still are in existence have no cover intact. The album sells for astronomical prices when sold online by hundreds and thousands of dollars.


Creepin is one of the dopest junts on the album that is still a classic to this day. The junt has that dark grim gangsta rap vibe that was trending in the Memphis underground during that time. The junt Creepin is one of his best works on this album and of all time. This junt will take you on a trip down memory lane. This is one of those junts you’ll keep coming back to and listen to. Creepin is a highly influential underground classic in terms of Memphis rap.

He killed this junt by mastering triplet flows in his rapping by rapping 3x times fast. That is a true Memphis flow.  He was way ahead of his time with this junt. Especially in 1996 when no kid rapper was using triplet flows in a fast manner like him. His flow was murderous at that age. The production of Creepin was inspired heavily by the horror film Psycho which is why you can hear a mixture of horrorcore rap, snap music, soundtrack, and gangsta rap.  Lil Yo was inspired by the sound, style, and influence of Tommy Wright III, Lil Maniyak, Soul Takers, Psycho, and Kingpin Skinny Pimp.

Creepin has been sampled in new school rap junts such as Bodyguard - Fatal and Lil Ramsey - Magnolia. The most notable example of Creepin being sampled in a new school rap song is Bodyguard - Fatal. A vocal sample from Creepin can be heard at the 0:38 duration mark. The other samples that are included on there are start to kick in after the 0:38 duration mark plays.


On My Way To Texas is a classic. The junt has that dark grim gangsta rap vibe with those raw beats produced by Kingpin Skinny Pimp and DJ Sound. On My Way To Texas is similar to Creepin. Lil Yo also uses triplet flows here. People say Lil Yo was biting Three 6 Mafia and Tommy Wright III. That is false as it’s a Memphis flow period. His raps are brutal either way. The junt has that Down South flava.

Now the sample used on this junt used is from Geto Boys - No Nuts No Glory. That is where the lyrics “been selling out the same dopehouse since the age of 16" come from. That song has been sampled a countless number of times. The Geto Boys also had an influence on Memphis rap and snap music. That is where the scary tune sample comes from also. That is why this junt has got that Houston-Memphis vibe.

On My Way To Texas has a strong influence of 8-Ball & MJG. Lil Yo was inspired by the sound, style, and influence of 8-Ball & MJG that was trending and becoming popular in Memphis at that time when he wrote this junt. That is why the 8-Ball & MJG influence is heavy and strong on the junt On My Way To Texas. The  production was inspired heavily by the horror film Psycho which is why you can hear a mixture of horrorcore rap, snap music, soundtrack, and gangsta rap.

Not only was he influenced by 8-Ball & MJG. He was also influenced by Three 6 Mafia. One can tell Lil Yo was obviously influenced by Three 6 Mafia when he wrote and recorded On My Way To Texas. Ironically he used to talk shit about Three 6 Mafia back in the 90s. As for his feud with Three 6 Mafia, he had beef with Three 6 Mafia and was arguing with them at that time over who was the better rapper. He did not want join Three 6 Mafia after that beef/feud.


Wicked Hearted uses a small layer of beats and a single bass line which plays only a few musical notes. The junt is about how Lil Yo is a cold hearted wicked person. Lil Yo is the first person to rap and Mr. Yack is the second person to rap.

Wicked Hearted was heavily influenced by the Geto Boys and MC Eiht as this junt samples clips of their songs. The junt Wicked Hearted samples Geto Boys - Be Down and MC Eiht - Def Wish III. The vocal sample of “I’m taking my nine” comes from MC Eiht - Def Wish III. Many people have wondered where that vocal sample came from. Not many people know this but Memphis rap was heavily influenced by Geto Boys with horrorcore oriented gangsta rap sound and edge. Geto Boys also had an influence on rappers such as Lil Yo and MC Mack.


Amazing Murder is a horror film inspired gangsta rap junt which uses a sample from the movie Natural Born Killers. His raps about a brutal murder that took place in Memphis, Tennessee. Lil Yo and Lil T went the hardest on this junt with their verses.

Now what stands out about this junt is the sample that is used. The sample at the beginning of Amazing Murder is from the movie Natural Born Killers. The sample comes from the sub climax of the film which opens with the journalist interviewing Mickey Knox. That is also where the junt begins. Actor roles for the characters are as follows: Robert Downey Jr plays the journalist character. Woody Harrelson played the character Mickey Knox in Natural Born Killers.

The case of this murder is an unsolved mystery. Everyone is wondering who killed Ted. Ted was an innocent citizen who wound up dead as he was murdered. He was murdered in the projects. There are no leads to any suspects. Ted was 21 years old when he died.

His family is constantly going to court. Tears were shed. There is nothing sadder than hearing tears of sorrow. The funeral was so sad. This brother had plenty of knowledge, edumacation, and skills.
 
Already 3 days later and someone else wound up dead in the same projects. It's the same old shit everywhere we look. Death and destruction. Killing over nothing. Everybody is suspicious. Wondering who is committing these murders. They found another person on the curbs already. Detectives have no evidence. So who could it be? Your guess is as good as mine.


Funky Town is a funky Memphis rap junt about cocaine. The junt is not about Fort Worth, Texas as some people would believe. Lil Yo raps about how he gets crunk off that funk on Funky Town. Funky Town! Funky Town! Lil Yo is straight crunk off that funk. This is a Gimisum Family posse cut with Lil Maniyak, Lil T, and more.  

This goes to these buck ass niggas who be snortin' that funk better known as that powdery white substance drug called cocaine. Just spread your glock, start to pop, and lay them lemons in the trunk. For all ya niggas goin' funky, throw your sets in the air and keep these bitches out your business, Postin' shit like ya'll don't care. Just get real buck and tear shit up until you finish your job.You full of white, you ready to fight, and bustaz try like they hard.

Lil Yo is a buck ass nigga from The Crest (Ridge Crest) who grew up breaking the law. He started but he had to stop because he knew that's so raw.

It's Lil T! 1 in 1 cocaine is in his nose. Don't you know he’s on that blow? Line after line. Time after time. Parallelization got him chasing demons that be dwelling inside of him.  Nightmares have got him blowin' so much coke. Lil T with the glizzo (glizzock/glock) make them bitches run. W-B, S-O-P, and R-C-G are up on that funk as they hit the party motherfucking deep up on the creep. It's gonna be do or die when they are on that funky shit.

Funky Town is in Lil Maniyak brain. Now you know he’s insane. Lil T is by his side and they are ridin' Chevy thang finna make a stang (commit a robbery) on a busta lemon lame and throw him in the grass. Both of them will lock him in the trunk and snort some funk. Mayne, let's go get crunk. If a punk wants to talk some shit, he gets his wig split. S-L-B and R-C-G, Tha Funky Town Killa Klick don't stand for that punk ass shit. Ridgecrest is just too thick. Ridgecrest niggas are so buck.

Lil Maniyak rapped the most quotable memorable lyrics which were “If a punk want to talk some shit, he get his wig split” and “Niggas be talkin' that shit 'n I whoop to yo dome, 'n you bitches up in a ditch”

Lil Try is beating you bustaz to the floor. He told you bustaz once before that he is clicking while he is on that blow. He is quick to break a bitch and then get on that white hoe cocaine, bitch. Ain't nothin' like that whitey shit. Lil Try is on that fry. You will never see Lil Try falling because he stands tall and snorts a pack of cocaine.

Lil John The Crooked 1 is smokin' that dope and feelin' real high. North Memphis is where he is chiefin' that herb. Smoking that hay.


Try Me If You Wanna Bitch served as a warning to those trying/attempting to test Lil Yo to not try his patience or bother him when he is selling drugs. Try Me If You Wanna Bitch is one of the mysterious darker sounding songs on the album. The heavy bass and that twangy diluted guitar give the song a mysterious sinister sounding edge. This is a classic junt which has that old school Memphis sound with the dark vibe, thick beats, and eerie sound. Try Me If You Wanna Bitch is a highly influential underground classic in terms of Memphis rap.

Lil Yo was saying the most quotable lyrics for a kiddie rapper at his age. Now these lyrics are raw. "I don’t go to high school cuz I go to school high" Nobody out of Ridge Crest was as raw as Lil Yo was. If only he was still this way. The main chorus uses quotable lyrics also. “Try me if you wanna bitch/Ridge Crest my stomping ground/Tiptoe with them niggaz and the Gimisum Family in walkers and browns”

Lil Yo was brought up in Evergreen. Niggas are coming right clean. So he came up on a tomb as he moves with his .4 inch gun (?) late at night. A .40 glock be on the scene and Da Yeezo got his back. So he can’t fall off or get caught slipping off guard. The illegal drug trade business has taken over Memphis, Tennessee. Lil Yo has been selling illegal dope at his high school on a 2 for $15 on the week special for quite some time. It’s $1.05 for a gram. He is booming weight at the back of the school at 3:15 PM. This week’s special is 2 for 15.

Try Lil Yo if you wanna, bitch. Ridge Crest is his stomping ground. He tiptoe with them niggaz and the Gimisum Family in walkers and browns.  

Lil Yo doesn’t go to high school because he goes to school high. Why are some of these niggaz snorting fry? An undercover police officer posing as a killer hit Lil Yo with that bullshit charge of possession of drugs and the intent to sell or distribute drugs. That’s how that undercover police bust a nigga quick. I’m talking about a 25 years to life sentence of incarceration. To make things even worse, police recovered the .9 millimeter glock Lil Yo used to kill that bitch (woman) over some ana (animosity). There’s a double lame in the game who is a foul nigga.


The song Ridge Crest is about an apartment complex called Ridge Crest Apartments. Ridge Crest is a classic song which has that old school Memphis sound with the dark vibe, thick beats, and eerie sound. Nobody out of Ridge Crest was as raw as Lil Yo was. If only he was still this way.

The title track, Youngstas On A Come Up, are about how young black males are coming up and earning that cash by committing crimes. People do what is absolutely necessary for them to do in these streets. Throughout the song he commits multiples time flows about crimes all over the city of Memphis, Tennessee. The gist of Youngstas On A Come Up is mainly about teenagers doing crime(s). Lil Yo uses the triplet flows when he raps in the song.

5/5*****!!

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The Puppini Sisters - The Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo album review

The Puppini Sisters - The Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo was the sophomore album and comeback album from the Italian-British close harmony trio The Puppini Sisters. This album help solidify themselves into becoming a staple into the swing revival scene of the 2000s. Swing meets acappella and close harmony on this album. The close harmony trio sings about modern and risqué subjects in a quaintly old-fashioned way.

This album showed their songwriting capabilities unlike their last album which was mainly just entirely cover songs of other artists/musicians songs. This album has songs written by members of the trio such as Jilted, And She Sang, It's Not Over (Death or The Toy Piano), and I Can’t Believe I’m Not A Millionaire.



Jilted is a solo song performed by Marcella Puppini which showcased her songwriting ability, vocal modulation, and singing talent. Jilted is a Marcella Puppini solo. The song deals with self-pity, rejection, and depression. Marcella has been jilted again because her man left her along. So she feels depression from the rejection from her man leaving her.

Marcella bought another dinner for one for herself to eat during dinner time. She sit and watch some pointless re-run on TV. And the tears fall down because this is not what Marcella had planned. She stares at all the books on the shelf that are self-help books on how to help or better herself. Lot of good they've done. Another one's gone to hell.

Marcella has been jilted again because her man left her along. So she feels depression from the rejection. He packed his bags and left whistling a happy song. She jumped through hoops to keep that man. How did Marcella get it so wrong? She tried new positions. She learned his friends names. She even made herself sit through football games. This is when self pity sets in and ominous predictions begin. Will Marcella end her days alone and reaching for the gin? Talking to herself and the cat Weeping at the drop of a hat. Oh for goodness sake. Marcella can do better than that.

Well things are gonna change from now on. Marcella think those self help books are a con. She will instead trust the Cosmo quiz for advice. So Marcella will be sure next time her geisha ways will all be gone. Marcella will just be herself and see if that will suffice. But hey, good riddance. Marcella doesn't think that he was meant for her. She jumped through hoops to keep that man. But now he's gone. She is finally free to try new ambitions, learn new friends names, and wash her hair through those football games.

At the end of the song, Marcella realizes her man was not meant for her. She is finally free to try new ambitions and wash her hair through those football games among other things. Read these lyrics.

Hmm I've been jilted again
But hey, good riddance I don't think that he was meant for me
I jumped through hoops to keep that man
But now he's gone I'm finally free

To try new ambitions
And learn new friends names
And wash my hair through those football games

Hmmm, been jilted
Good riddance


It’s Not Over (Death Or The Toy Piano) is a solo song solely performed by Kate Mullins. The song It’s Not Over (Death Or The Toy Piano) encourages people to not give up because the fight is not over.  

Far beyond was a time of fame and a time of joy. But for now, this woman has only dark days and nights which she spent cold and shivering. Working the corner at a quarter to 3 PM with nothing but an old friend and some long memories. She sits by the roadside with a cup in her hand. She'll never stop living the life.

It's not over. So don't give up the fight.  Though the times you were loved and adored by the crowd are all gone, it's not over so don't give up the fight. It's death or the toy piano burns in the flames.

There's no past time that overcomes the fantasies of a girl with the world in the hands of her sweet melodies. All those who loved her have forgotten her name. A shadow of a person in some novelty game. But now her sole possession brings her nothing but strife. She still can't stop living the life. She's got to stop living the life.


And She Sang is another solo song performed by Marcella Puppini which showcases her songwriting ability and singing talent. The song is about a boy and a girl who both met by chance at a café. They both fall in love. However the boy took the girl with indifference and broke her heart.

There was a girl who thought the world was filled with gold and pearls. She smiled with the bright eyes of those who trust in life. She had been taught she should believe. This girl was naive and too trusting in people. In all that's good and fair  And the end of each day, she sat contented in her chair.

There was a boy that was the type who thought he had a right to everything he liked. He had an easy air and was confident. And pleasing to the eye. They both met by chance at a café. He thought that she looked fine. And as they kissed, she felt the bliss of love for the first time

She gave herself without reserve with eagerness and joy. However the boy took the girl with indifference and broke her heart. That is what the lyrics, “He took her with indifference/Then cast her off like a broken toy” mean.

There was a girl who thought the world was filled with gold and pearls. She smiled with hazy eyes and lips that barely curled. She had been taught she should believe. So her life went on. And through the years she still could hear the echo of her song.


Could It Be Magic is a 1940s swing jazz cover of Barry Manilow - Could It Be Magic. Could It Be Magic was played in C minor because the song interpolates a part of Chopin's Prelude Op. 28, No. 20 which was the source of Barry Manilow’s inspiration. Notice the Bar 3 ambiguity where you will hear an E♭, in contradiction to the printed score. For the most part the song is played in C minor.

5/5*****!!

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The Puppini Sisters - The High Life album review

The Puppini Sisters - The High Life was another successful album by Italian-British close harmony trio The Puppini Sisters. Only this album is more Hollywood themed as many of the songs are Hollywood musical themed songs. Their album incorporates sounds of 1940s swing and 2000s swing. Swing meets acappella, pop, freeform jazz, and close harmony on this album. This album also showed their songwriting capabilities. This album has songs written by members of the trio such as Is This The High Life?, Liar Liar, and We Love To Be Bop.


Is This The High Life? is a solo song performed by Marcella Puppini. The song is about Marcella wanting to live the high life by becoming rich and famous. She wants to gain fame and notoriety. However she finds out that all that matters is to have some fun. What is the high life? It's living every day like you're in paradise.

Marcella has waited so long for her moment in the sun and in the limelight. She tried to stay calm, but come on! This feels like a con! She has worked it and now she is done. It's time to move up or move on.

She read all the books that keep telling her to manifest her dreams. Fat lot of good they do. She fakes living a lifestyle of the rich and famous to make it. How long will it take? Too damn long it seems. Is this the high life? Then why is Marcella wearing Primark? I don't think so. Neither does she. Then why did they just cut her credit cards?

Marcella had written a song just to stop her feeling numb. The numbers were drawn and she got none. But where she from, all that matters is to have some fun. So keep banging on that drum. Marcella has friends and good times. That's all she will ever need. Her days are more exciting than Jurassic Park.


Accentuate The Positive is a sermon which explains that accentuating the positive is key to happiness. Accentuate The Positive is contemporary style cover of Johnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers with Paul Weston Orchestra - Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive.

You've got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative. Don't mess with Mister In-Between. You've got to spread joy up to the maximum and bring gloom down to the minimum. This starts with the attitude of doing it right.

5/5*****!!