Sep 3, 2024

Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That s--- Gold

review

Was pulled in by the smooth production and flows but the more I listened to this album the more I found the content of it obnoxious, felt like a prolonged lecture over soulful production. Some of the songs got old real quick because of their repetitive structures. The storytelling here feels kind of forced to me, the project sacrifices vibes for infinite narratives that drown in their own blandness. This thing’s tracklist feels like a series of preachy songs that, when on other rap albums, take up a song or two of the runtime and ,hence, fit well; they aren’t overwhelming cause they’re fewer in number, done better, or just fit better with the tapes’ pacing. The album tries hard to impress yet falls short because of its reliance on safe song structures and repetitive approach to song writing, subject matter has a bunch of variety but what confuses me is how similarly all of these topics are approached. Enjoyed the production though, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That s--- Gold is sonically pleasing and engaging, Ant killed it. However, I think Slug does not and will never work for me because of his fake-it-till-you-make-it approach to developing a personality on the mic, which is based on his attempts to cover a variety of themes via a same, familiar method. Direct art is good, but loses its intensity when absolutely nothing is left to the imagination, Slug’s verses sometimes tend to feel like sections of an amazon life guide handbook that were placed atop of hiphop beats. They want to be extremely deep but the execution just isn’t there, which is a shame cause I f--- with how his delivery sounds.

@DiggleDogg69 said the cover reminded him of cologne and I can see it. Sadly, to me, the project has shown itself to be akin to one of those wanna-be fancy bath, body, & hair gift sets you’d get as presents from distant relatives; these come in a fancy box and try so hard to seem luxurious and fancy, but in the end, it’s nothing more than toiletries. Atmosphere takes Slug’s bland and uninspired performances on the microphone; these cover a wide array of content (almost like a 3 in 1 shampoo lol, sorry I’ll stop with the body wash double entendre) but excel at pretty much none of them. The all over the place subject matter is then crammed into the fancy name-brand box packaging of Ant’s production, in hopes of it becoming an adored product and a welcome gift to the listeners. To me, at least, it fails.
There are moments on this album, listed in my ‘favorites’ section, where I feel like the songs achieve what they set out to do. Should have known better and Yesterday sound much more genuine and natural than some other stuff on here, The Waitress is fun and more interesting than most of the other tracks here.

Also, that chorus on Wild wild horses still continues to confuse me.

Favorites: shoulda known better, Yesterday, The Waitress, Parts of ‘In her Music Box’

Least favorites: Puppets, Guarantees(god I hated this), Wild Wild Horses


4.5/10

 

Aug 28, 2024

@AOTWClub

Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz didn't keep it too Crunk on S80, they scored a 5.9 which is 10th place!

Looking forward to seeing what bright eyes gets this week!

 

Aug 28, 2024

Kings Of Crunk - Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz REVIEW

Score: 6.5

First Listen Review:
Listening to Lil Jon in the college dorm, is this what it was like to be a young adult in the 00's? I have never listened to a Lil Jon album in full, but have of course heard him appear on multiple songs over the years. Love what he adds to songs and he seems like a cool, stand up guy in real life, but this album has the exact issue I was worried about. It just kinda...drags. I'm sure if these songs came on individually in my liked songs (I liked a majority of the tracks), I'm gonna be nodding my head. As a full album though, it's a loooooong listen. Some of these tracks did not have to be as long as they are, and there could have been cuts made to the tracklist. The middle portion of this album is pretty good, then it drops for a bit, then finishes very strong. Get Low is a f---ing classic though. Nothin On deserves more love, it only has just under 900,000 streams on Spotify which shocked me because it sounds like a song that would be a hit. Pitbull had a standout feature (this might be the earliest verse I've ever heard from him), Oobie has a gorgeous voice, and loved what MJG and Bun B brought on Diamonds. BME Click is also a strong closer. Basically, this album has lots of bangers, but it isn't the most enjoyable listen as a whole album. That's why its score suffered. Songs will sound great when they come on shuffle though! Thanks for the pick @Yeez !

@Justin Trudeau @AOTWClub

My Rankings:

1. Sling - 9.0
2. Cilvia Demo - 8.5
3. Melodrama - 8.5
4. Orpheus vs. the Sirens - 8.5
5. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - 8.5
6. The Death Of Slim Shady - 8.5
7. Laugh Now, Cry Later - 8.0
8. When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 - 8.0
9. All My Heroes Are Cornballs - 7.5
10. Americana - 7.5
11. Big Conspiracy - 7.0
12. Kings Of Crunk - 6.5
13. MID AIR - 6.5

DiggleDogg’s Rating Average: 7.88

 

Aug 24, 2024

Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz- Kings of Crunk
7/10

Favorite: rep yo city, nothin on, knockin heads off, pitbulls cuban rideout

been extremely busy, had to travel for work, hence I’ll keep the review true to the crunk ethos with a simple visual review


Naw in all seriousness, liked the album. I love that goofy MFer pitbull and I love when crunk is done right. Excited to see the album of the week club keep going

 

Aug 23, 2024

Seems like about the same 8-9 people are participating the last few weeks, if it stays like this I don't mind we can share more of our stuff with each other as long as you guys wanna keep going

 

Aug 21, 2024

Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz - Kings Of Crunk

Favorite tracks: Throw It Up, Knockin' Heads Off, Push That N—— Push That H—, Nothins Free, Get Low

OVERALL RATING: 7/10

Thots:

This that classic Crunk sound. There’s some classic songs on here like Get Low that everybody knows. The album flow was interesting going from hype tracks to slow jams in the middle back to hype at the end.

Some of the sexual tracks like Ooh Na Na Naa Naa were too hilarious to take seriously but maybe that was the point. I feel like Nothins Free did it better. I really liked Oobie’s features, she is one of the highlights of the album for me. She gave me Ariana Grande vibes. I was not a fan of Chyna Whyte’s multiple features, I just don’t like her voice.

I know repetition is part of this subgenre and can elevate some songs, but I feel like this album got too repetitive which started to make me lose interest toward the middle of the album. There’s some features from legendary rappers on this though which is dope. Also, I was surprised to hear Pitbull absolutely k--- it on his song. I’ve never heard of The BME Allstars but they killed it on that last song of the album. Play No Games was nice as well but not quite one of my favorites yet.

Overall it’s a good album that could’ve been better if they trimmed some of the slower songs and some of the super repetitive s--- like Diamonds. @AOTWClub

 

Aug 19, 2024

Laugh Now, Cry Later - Ice Cube QUICK REVIEW

Score: 8.0

First Listen Quick Review:
This was my first ever full listen to a Cube album! Back to back west coast bangers, amazing production, and the exact style you would expect from Cube. Only one miss to me, that being Spittin’ Pollaseeds. Great pick from your discography @icecube ! Thanks for bringing the album here. Glad I was able to finally find the time to fully focus in on this album and listen.

@Justin Trudeau @AOTWClub

My Rankings:

1. Sling - 9.0
2. Cilvia Demo - 8.5
3. Melodrama - 8.5
4. Orpheus vs. the Sirens - 8.5
5. The Death Of Slim Shady - 8.5
6. Laugh Now, Cry Later - 8.0
7. When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 - 8.0
8. All My Heroes Are Cornballs - 7.5
9. Americana - 7.5
10. Big Conspiracy - 7.0
11. MID AIR - 6.5

DiggleDogg’s Rating Average: 7.95

Give me an hour or so and that Iron Maiden review will be in

 

Aug 18, 2024

This weeks Album chosen by @Yeez is Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz- The Kings of Crunk



I'll tally up Iron Maiden on Wednesday instead of Tuesday, I'm on nights so might not have time Tuesday!

Ripperroo: 7/10
Jankland: 7/10
Justin Trudeau: 5.5
Omar Little: 4/10
Stepdad enjoyer: 7/10
Michael myers: 6.5/10
Gimp: 4/10
DiggleDogg69: 6.5/10
Wreckless: 7.5/10

55/90= 6.1

 

Aug 16, 2024

@AOTWClub

Out of all the classic Heavy Metal bands Iron Maiden are the ones that I've listened to the least, hopping in on a later more conceptual record was an interesting starting point but I appreciate Wreck for picking it.

I feel like a lot of bands in this era when they were scrambling for ideas for new records went into this weird fantastical slightly corny (not an insult) medieval sounding concept albums, but they're usually also enjoyable and this isn't an exception.

Most of the other reviews on this brought up the lyrics and concept so I'll go a different route and that that I really enjoyed the instrumentation and how over the top the vocal performance was, I also loved how cohesive all the songs were, it felt like one journey instead of one long song which could be tiring if you don't walk that tightrope well. I also feel like I'd enjoy some of their heavier works but as @Wreckless said it's a good starting point for people not as invested in the genre.

The commitment to large scale long songs is something I enjoy which doesn't really happen anymore due to how streaming works unfortunately.

The riffs and drum work are my favorite part of the record in particular and I look forward to hearing more!

Favorite Songs: Moonchild, Infinite Dreams, The Evil That Men Do, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Least Favorites: N/A

I have been super busy so I wish I got more time with this one but I'm definitely keeping the album saved cause I know it's gonna grow on me even more than it already did. I hate doing s-----y decimal placements but I felt like this was the right score so feel free to round up or down to a 7 or 7.5 @Justin Trudeau lol
RATING:
7.3/10

 

Aug 15, 2024

Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

RIPPER ROO’S REVIEW: 8/10

Favorite songs: Moonchild, Infinite Dreams, The Prophecy, Only the Good Die Young

Thoughts:

First thing I’ll say is this album does a good job at building a world of its own. From the cool a--- album cover to the crazy intros that make you feel like you’re going on a trip in songs like “Moonchild” and “The Prophecy” to the consistent lyrical themes throughout, it feels like its own thing. The lyrics tell a lot more of a story than I thought they would. There’s a lot of religious, spiritual, and existential s--- here.

It’s cool how a song like “Moonchild” is from the perspective of the devil. This album is basically like a battle between God and Satan or good and evil and they’re basically fighting for control over this really gifted “chosen one” child that has been born. It’s a question of what path that child will take. There are things constantly swaying people towards good or evil in this world, and it’s especially important when that affects gifted people. Gifted people have the power to change the world, so whatever path of good or evil they go down has ramifications.

There’s even a song like “The Evil That Men Do” which talks about how that evil lives on and on even after the men are gone. It’s the evil that gets spread from generation to generation, the evil that gets passed down from parents to child, etc. I think this album is actually saying a lot that I’m not even touching on right now. It’s spiritual warfare out here.

I love these lyrics of verse 5 from Infinite Dreams:

“There's got to be just more to it than this
Or tell me, why do we exist?
I'd like to think that when I die
I'd get a chance, another time
And to return and live again
Reincarnate, play the game
Again and again and again and again”

There’s some really poetic lyrics on here like in The Evil That Men Do:

“Love is a razor, and I walked the line
On that silver blade
Slept in the dust with his daughter
Eyes red with
The slaughter of innocence”

These lines on The Clairvoyant really resonated with me:

“There's a time to live, but isn't it strange
That as soon as you're born, you're dying?”

I could go on and on about the lyrics because there’s a lot of good stuff here.

Overall, I liked this album a lot more than I thought I would. It’s not the type of music I would listen to much when I’m chilling or in the car or anything like that, but it’s great for rumination and also great for working out. I put this whole album on my workout playlist. I’m almost certain I’ve heard Iron Maiden playing at local gyms before. The deep lyrics and amazing, intense instrumentation is a nice combo. @AOTWClub

 

Aug 14, 2024

Oh it is? i thought i counted 7 for big krit

On a side note though, there's definitely a few people who only popped in for their pick of the week. Would be nice if regular contributors get priority in the next rotation so they don't have to wait as long for their turn.

 

Aug 11, 2024

Boomer rock. What are you gonna suggest next, The Beatles?!

 

Aug 11, 2024

Title: Ice Cube - Laugh Now, Cry Later
Standouts: Why We Thugs, Go to Church, Laugh Now, Cry Later, Child Support
Skips: The N***a Trapp, Doin' What It 'Pose 2Do, Stop Snitchin
Score: 7/10
Final Thoughts:
It was a solid comeback for the West Coast legend. It delivers that classic Ice Cube vibe; raw, aggressive, and straight to the point. The beats are heavy and match his commanding flow, especially on tracks like "Why We Thugs" and "Go to Church," where he mixes social commentary with his signature attitude.

That said, while the album has some strong moments, it doesn't hit the level of his early classics. A few tracks feel a bit repetitive, and the overall sound could use a bit more variety. But if you're an Ice Cube fan or into West Coast hip-hop, this album has its moments and shows that Ice Cube still knows how to make his voice heard.

@AOTWClub @Justin Trudeau

 

Aug 10, 2024

Favorite tracks: Why We Thugs, Smoke Some Weed, Doin' What It 'Pose 2Do, Go to Church

Laugh Now, Cry Later is no doubt Ice Cube’s most popular and recognizable album for those who didn't grow up in the 80s or didn’t get to experience his early material first hand. While the album is a solid choice, I was hoping for something a little more original. Perhaps a dive into his earlier catalogue.

Nonetheless, this album delivers undeniable classics like Why We Thugs and memorable bangers like Smoke Some Weed and Go to Church. But it also includes its fair share of filler tracks.

Overall, it’s a solid record that offers a mix of hits and misses.

7.5/10
@AOTWClub

 

Aug 2, 2024

@AOTWClub

First things first. Krits voice and flow are immaculate, sometimes southern rap can be a big hit or a big miss for me but his style is great. There's a confronting thing for me with this album and it's that even though I like most of the songs the runtime just makes it tiring even though there consistent quality.

I appreciate the second disc being a bit smoother and I like subject matter on songs like The Light but I would be lying if I said the bangers weren't my favorites on the album. I can see myself going back to this as a whole when I know I'm gonna be too busy to pay attention to the music I'm choosing for a long period and want this vibe, but even without full revists I got a lot of songs I'm definitely going back to.

My discussion about the length of the project is kinda overtaking my actual thoughts so I'll say I really enjoyed it and I need to listen to more K.R.I.T. for sure, I'm a sucker for southern bangers and this album was full of them!

Favorite songs: Big K.R.I.T., Confetti, Big Bank, Subenstein, Keep The Devil Off, Price Of Fame.

Honorable Mentions: Aux Cord, The Light, Drinking Sessions

RATING
7.5/10 (with room to grow, closer to an 8 than a 7)

 

Aug 1, 2024

4eva Is a Mighty Long Time Review

Favorite tracks: Confetti, Big Bank, Subenstein, Ride Wit Me, Get Up 2 Come Down, Mixed Messages, Price of Fame, Drinking Sessions, Bury Me in Gold
Least favorite tracks: 1999, Justin Scott, Keep the Devil Off, The Light

I've always had a soft spot for Southern rap and revisiting this album after all these years made me realize I must have skimmed through it the first time.

Disk 1 is nearly flawless, spoiled by only one track.

While Disk 2 is less consistent, it still features standout moments with tracks like “Mixed Messages” and “Bury Me in Gold” amongst others. If I were rating Disk 1 alone, it would score a 9/10, possibly even 9.5.

As a complete album, it still earns a strong 8.5/10.

@AOTWClub

 

Jul 30, 2024

Hermit and the Recluse - Orpheus vs. the Sirens QUICK REVIEW

Score: 8.5

First Listen Quick Review:
Alright it’s already Tuesday afternoon and I’m late as f--- on this so just to make it easy, here’s a fast review of the album. I thought the concept was cool, the rapping was top notch, and that production was fantastic. I’ve heard a good amount about Ka recently so this album was a fantastic entry point into his music in my opinion. Had a great time listening. I like.

@Justin Trudeau @AOTWClub

My Rankings:

1. Sling - 9.0
2. Cilvia Demo - 8.5
3. Melodrama - 8.5
4. Orpheus vs. the Sirens - 8.5
5. The Death Of Slim Shady - 8.5
6. When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 - 8.0
7. All My Heroes Are Cornballs - 7.5
8. Americana - 7.5
9. Big Conspiracy - 7.0
10. MID AIR - 6.5

DiggleDogg’s Rating Average: 7.2