Bad Dreams

Swollen Members | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 13, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Battle Axe
• ASIN: B00005R5DH
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,365 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. Killing Spree

3. Full Contact

4. Take It Back

5. RPM

6. Bad Dreams

7. Camouflage

8. Poker Face

9. Deep End

10. Anthrax Island

11. Snake Bite

12. Total Package

13. The Reflection

14. Ventilate

15. Burns And Scars

16. Dark Riders

17. Fuel Injected

18. High Road

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There's no shortage of bad dreams on this follow-up to Balance, Swollen Members' full-length debut (and indie-hip-hop success story). Take, for instance, "Anthrax Island," recorded pre-September 11, 2001. It's not enough that the narrator is on said island--he's a cannibal, too! The title track is just as scary, thanks to producer Alchemist and some spooky keyboards. But Bad Dreams isn't all doom and gloom, as the Vancouver act's Mad Child and Prevail take on such topics as cross-border rapping (in "RPM") and the virtues of late-night recording ("Deep End"). The two have plenty of help, particularly from the Dilated Peoples crew--MCs Evidence and Iriscience and DJ Babu contribute to a number of tracks, including "RPM" and "Full Contact." Other guests include DJ Revolution, who contributes some thrilling turntable action to the Snap!-sampling "Take It Back"; Rattlesnake Jones (you've gotta love that tag); and Chris Guy, who adds extra spice to the flamenco guitar stylings of "Snake Bite." But Mad Child and Prevail really prove their flow on "Ventilate," which finds the MCs trading insults in an electric, funny dialogue and the ultracatchy "Fuel Injected." The meditative "High Road" wraps things up with Zen-like calm, and hints at even better things to come from this rock-steady West Coast hip-hop crew. --Shawn Conner

Product Description

'Bad Dreams', the 2nd full-length album, showcasing the advancement and maturity of Swollen Members with conceptual songs such as 'Ventilation', 'Camouflage', and 'Temptation'. Beats on the album are courtesy of renowned producers such as Joey Chavez, Evi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen Carefully!, October 18, 2004

By 

Donella (British Columbia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Dreams (Audio CD)

Whoever thinks "Deep End" is about suicide should really listen carefully to the lyrics. Whoever thinks MadChild doesn't listen to bars should consider that maybe MadChild doesn't give a [damn] and considers that his style. I love Bad Dreams as well as every one of my Swollen CD's. Each MC's style is unique: Prevail is brainy. MadChild uses ancient and fantasy based ideas. Bad Dreams is the cd that you pop into the cd player in your car during a long midnight highway drive. Excellent.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AwEsOmE!, October 27, 2002

By 

"steppin_thru_" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Dreams (Audio CD)

Bad Dreams is one of the hottest albums out there! Ok...Not to be rude or anything, but that person that said the song Deep End talks about suicide is WRONG! The song Deep End is talking about Swollen's late night recording rituals. "Working late night, not that we hate light, just feels right, that's when tracks come out tight." Sorry, but how do you get suicide out of that?
I'm a HUGE Swollen Members fan, and this is a must have for any other Swollen fans out there. Swollen Members are themselves, not influenced by a major record label. They still keep their underground vibe, even though they are becoming more and more well known like many mainstream artists.
Like I said, you got to get this album!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars [...]/barropanama, June 14, 2010

By 

C. Diaz "barro panama" - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bad Dreams (Audio CD)

i really like this one... but for real.. they get better with time.. so im waiting for beautiful death machine... mad child is a lil genious