The Cold Vein

Cannibal Ox

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 15, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 15, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Definitive Jux
• ASIN: B00005BIVW
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,992 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Cannibal Ox is the latest brainchild of Company Flow's El-P, whose lumbering, aggro-electro production on this album is as unique as a signature. Down-tempo and discordant, the beats sound like trip-hop gone to heaven and hell--some songs, like "A B-Boy's Alpha," have an almost angelic feel to them even as El-P soils his tracks with grit and grime. Others, like "Raspberry Fields," are chaos forced into unstable order--snaking synthesizer whines struggle to break free, rhythm sections run amok. This is a taste of the apocalypse turned aural. The music of The Cold Vein is so distinctive that, for a moment, you might forget that Vast and Vordul are actually rhyming on it, which is paying El-P a compliment rather than dismissing the two MCs. Vast's commanding baritone stands out in sharp distinction to his partner's, as his deliberate flow punctuates every line. It's hard to categorize what they speak on, as their songs mix the surreal and abstract with street-level commentary. But they're definitely taking reality rap on one helluva acid trip. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, subtle work, February 4, 2002

By	S. Flask (the Pequod) - See all my reviews

I don't listen to hip-hop to be honest with you. I'm essentially a metalhead that strays from the pack now and again. Until today, I thought that hip-hop was in the toilet, and there was no redeeming value.

I'm sure people listening to this cd feel the same way about metal. Unfortunately, when you're not immersed in the underground of a style, whether it be hip-hop or metal, you only see the crap that's thrown at you on television. And I think that both hip-hop and metal have a terrible image in the general public.

But I bought Cannibal Ox, and found out that hip-hop, like metal, has an underground that craves quality first and foremost. And this album is proof. I bought it on a whim, reading good things about it in Terrorizer, an underground metal magazine. Look, I don't know much about hip-hop, but i know a few things about this record: First, it's not the same meaningless crap that is thrown at you on tv. Second, the electronic beats and atmospheres that line the floor of this cd are wonderful, creating excellent texture. Third, the lyrics are top notch - I don't think I heard one track about a rolex or pimping - and well thought out.

So I found a record that shows another side of hip-hop. The side that tv doesn't want to show you. The side where the true artists hang out. I'm impressed with the work here, and happy to see that music like this exists. And I'm happy to own this excellent album.

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, June 14, 2002

By	"punkrawker1738" (Las Vegas, Nevada United States) - See all my reviews

I first heard of Cannibal Ox on a sampler for All Tomorrow's Parties, a festival of mainly abstract rock bands. I'll admit it, I'm not too big on hip hop. I'm a white boy that's into rock music. I own a few hip hop records like "Quality Control" by J5 and "Things Fall Apart" by the Roots, and that's about it. I put off buying anything by Cannibal Ox, that is, until I went to Santa Barbara when I bought the F-Word single. Every song on it was amazing, so I recently bought "The Cold Vein."

Cannibal Ox are like the Radiohead of hip hop, with beautiful soundscapes and little bits and pieces of abstract sounds here and there. The beats, are amazing. The lyrics are great, sometimes dark. The production is top notch. Some of my favorite tracks are "Iron Galaxy," "A B-Boys Alpha", and "The F-Word." However, I would suggest listening to the album as a whole.

With "The Cold Vein," Cannibal Ox have created a cd that everyone can get into, whether you're an art student, hip hop fan, etc.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CUZ THEY WOULDNT LET ME GIVE IT A '108', July 18, 2001

By	John Shea "noveggiesplease" (detroit, mi) - See all my reviews

Let me just start by saying that i am not a herb backpacker who jocks everything el-p puts his name on. With that said,let me continue by proclaiming that with his production on 'The Cold Vein' he has no doubt changed the entire face of the underground genre of hiphop music. These soundscapes provided for Vast Aire and Vordul are far superior to anything i have heard in the last 5 years.Don't get me wrong,both of these mc's come more than correct,but the beats are what seperates this album from the rest of the pack.For once,an album has lived up to the buzz surrounding it. Believe the hype...Cann Ox has dropped what will probably be regarded as one of the finest underground hiphop albums ever recorded