Customer Reviews

Blow Your Headphones

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite cds among my 1,000+ collection. An amazing collection of funky instrumental beats and high-quality musical rap. Get this and listen to it often. =)

On another note, people have been asking about the incredible rapper "What what" who tears stuff up on "The Blend" and other Herbaliser song. After some long searching, I found her. Check out the strict rap group "Natural Resource". "Negro League Baseball" is one of their big hits, she's on the top of her game there. Also any Whatwhat fan should check out "I love this world"... this is where "The Blend" lyrics came from, a little extended and different. Quality stuff. =)

-Dr. Airdog

I've finally figured these guys out. I copped "Blow your Headphones" first, then "Very Mercanary"-- only when I finally got "Remedies" did I realize that these cats were a hip-hop jazz band, in the PUREST sense. And with their sophmore effort, one can see the obvious growth and sharpening of musical skills that true artists experience with their second album( i.e., The Roots, Common, ATCQ ). More discplined tracks makes for pure listening pleasure; witness the abrupt but timely jump from "Ginger Jumps the Fence" ( puncutated with skidding sounds, no less ) to the laid back, jazzed out "Put it on Tape". Jazzy cuts with a noir feel to it best descibes this group, and they are a bit more lively then, say, DJ Cam's "Mad Blunted Jazz" ( due to, of course, the actual use of live instruments ). Another notable, "Mr. Chombee has the Flaw", almost goes to full-tilt Swing, but not quite. Most cuts include some great scratching and the tracks with What What are ludicrously head-nod inducing, though the one with Fabian and Big Ted try too hard, and this reveiwer recommends skippage on that one. This is one for the Beat Generation.

The Herbaliser certainly knows how to throw down a Hip-hop or two, and this his second studio album (along with "Something wicked this way comes) is by far his most accomplished work. Although far more of an instrumental album than "Something wicked this...", it's a undeniably a far more kaleidoscopic affair, with the few vocals tracks that are in this album, sitting very comfortably with the Stoner grooves scattered throughout the album. In fact it feels part `Kruder & Dorfmeister', part Dj Shadow, and as highly gifted as both.....The Herbaliser keeps the listener completely on his/her toes by throwing innovative sampling and rough & ready beat heavy jazz tracks in amongst the cut & paste Hip-Hop tracks. In fact it's been constructed in along the lines of a scripted television show, with an introduction, intermission (which are so fantastic....that to not expand it into a fully fledged track seems like something of an oversight), as well as end credits. This album due to its emphasis more on non-vocal tracks, is possibly slightly more suited to enthusiasts, rather than casual listeners (not that casual listeners wouldn't get superb mileage out of it), but it all adds up to become recognised as amongst the very best of the constantly growing Ninja Tune catalogue, that deserves investigation for people curious to seek out artists that are pushing the Hip-Hop envelope and an essential purchase for Ninja Tune fans.

There's a nice mix of pace and style on this CD, and even a spoken-word beatnik style hip-hop track that's actually worth listening to. Herbaliser has good beats and if there's any weakness it's too much vocal work. Herbaliser is best with vocals at a minimum or else it starts to lose it's identity and seem more like a fringe rap album than ace mixing and cuts. Still worth it but look into Thievery Corporation for a something more along the above lines.

this is a very good album if you are into this sort of thing- a little scratching, many instrumental hip hop type abstract tracks, scattered samples and more. Highlighting the album is the smooth flow and lyrics of rapper What What,one of the best female rappers around.

Herbaliser perfectly represents everything I love about british hiphop and the ninja tune label. A musical sneak attack. Every time I play Theme From Control Center or Ginger Jumps the Fence for someone, jaws drop, heads bop and a groove is on. Can't wait for LP #3..

This album is just too clever. You have a few hip hop tracks on this cd, and while I'm not a big hip hop fan you cannot help but enjoy what they have created. "Blow your Headphones" is the type of album you might not fully dig at first but sooner or later it becomes a part of your cd player. Its just such a lovely trippy beat oriented album. The structure of this album really reminds me of DJ shadow's "Endtroducing....."

-<*>-JazzTastic| TriPPed out| Beat Layin| NIce Scratchin-<*>-

i really enjoy this record, just let it go and give it some listens, i like how its not over done, feels real natural and well rounded. its a cornicopea of hip hop, turntablism, d and b and rhymin, not to mention that what what is an ill emcee

I bought this in retro after listening to mercenary but i must say it is not a patch on its successor.Starts off well but then starts to dip into cliche mode.Buy and stick with mercenary/massive attack etc.

Quite the best underground band i have ever heard, from Drum & Bass, to HipHop & Rap, till TripHop you can have anything from them...

I actually dont want to put them on some style allone, check them out yourself!