BACK TO MAIN
By tadah - UrbanSmarts.com
20 tracks don’t make an album. Well, not even 20 dope tracks necessarily make an album. But I said that before. Then again 20 tracks can make an interesting travel through space, rhyme, time and pace.
Let’s just mention everybody that is on this here: Swollen Members are Prevail, Madchild, Easy Rock and Zodak. Proof for the fact that these Canadians are much respected, is that a whole bunch of people showed up in the studio, to lay down tracks: The Alchemist, Aceyalone, Evidence, Kutfather, Paul Nice, Kutmaster Kurt, Mixmaster Mike, Del, Unicron DJ Science, The Edge Crusher, Divine Styler, Everlast, Thirdrail Vic, Saafir, Big Nous, Kemo (Rascalz), Mr Brady, Tony De Skitzo, Son Doobie, Iriscience and Joey Chavez (...whew...). And if you catch the European version, what you get is all the songs on the 12", what makes this a somewhat less interesting ordeal for those that already shelled out their hard earned ducats for the releases on black gold. But then again, who’s complaining? You still got 6 brand new cuts.
Let’s break down the nicest moments on here. "Front Street" from the newest 12" is still nice. And everywhere Aceyalone lends his magic to, just sets new standards in dopeness. Case in point "Consuption" with the beautiful chorus of "people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones" as heard on the blue 12". Paul Nice does follow up that unusual Evidence production with a mega bouncy "Lady Venom". This can even be played in clubs. Well, "Bless & Destroy" is just one big kick in the groin. This cut has to be one of the best tracks of the 90s, what makes you wonder why Zodak is not handling all the production for the Swollen Members. "Brace Yourself" is interestingly stripped down and "Curcuit Breaker" enlightens with strings from heaven. Another cut from the white 12", "Strength" is again one of the best tracks on here: "making fun of myself / I’m quadrophrenic mentally / not laughing at me, I’m laughing with me accidentally". Things get cinematic on the paranoid "Horrified Nights" and experimental on the appropriately titled "Battle Axe Experiment". Nice. And the last cut "S+M On The Rocks" from the red 12" heats things up again to leave a definite good impression.
So what now? Yes, the lyrics are amazing, sometimes strange but also strong and thoughtful. But it’s not an album, although it has 20 dope tracks on it. The emcees spit more venom than lama with rabies. Cop it? Yeah, do so.
[UrbanSmarts.com]