Customer Reviews

Cydeways: The Best of the Pharcyde

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Pharcyde a great hip hop group with hilarious lyrics of a young man's frustration "Passin Me Bye" mama disses "Yo Mama" and well known hits "Runnin'" (which appeared at the beginning of a Law & Order Episode) I love very sophisticated complex hip-hop but I have to say I love spinning this disc in the ride and drivin around town I feel instantly better listening to this cd this is a great compilation of a lot of the Pharcyde's best work, caught these guys in concert with Ugly Duckling last year (ugly duckling is another more obscure hip-hop group for those who are wondering what that is) and I can reccomend Pharcyde's concert as much as this cd this is just great energized hip-hop though not as complex as other groups like say the Roots or Common they are however very talented and their music is just good listening get this cd!

This is where the real hip-hop is at. Back when The Pharcyde was busting rhymes in L.A., gangster rap on the death row label was at its apogee. Sadly, this unique band has often been overlooked, and they never garnered the commercial success that artists like Tupac and Dr. Dre got. This greatest hits disc is comprised of the best songs from Labacab and Bizarre Ride (plus a few unreleased tracks), certainly the best Pharcyde cds. Otha Fish, Runnin', and Passin' Me By are three classic songs that should be regarded in the upper echelon of rap music along with huge rap hits like What's My Name, California Love, Nothin But A G Thang, etc. If you like hip-hop at all and you don't own anything by The Pharcyde, this is a good place start.

true to its name, the best of the pharcyde excludes the last two efforts of the group, sans fat lip, which were subpar at their brightest moments. To include those in this compilation would be an injustice to the group's other works. However, this then makes this a selection of some of the more palatable tracks from the first two albums (i.e. all their video hits plus a couple more) and then the favorable remix to "she said", and the relatively hard to find "panty raid". I'll credit previous reviewers with noticing the lacking of material from the group's golden age from 90-95 and maybe even 96, because there are literally dumploads of extra rare (and incredibly good) pharcyde tracks that were only released on vinyl, or in europe, or on promo basis during this time. So for the cheap peoples that won't just go and buy the first two albums, or those that missed the single release of "she said" with the jay-dee remix, enjoy. I don't know why anyone else would buy this. IT IS GOOD MUSIC, don't get me wrong.

Although this cd contains great songs, it fails to captue the wizardry and true talents of the Pharcyde. If you do not have a Pharcyde Cd, do not get this so you have the best songs, this album just doesn't cut it. Pick up "Bizarre Ride...." before anything. This Cd just leaves out too much, using over 4 of thier interludes and skits to fill up the 18 tracks, they are very funny skits though.

The Pharcyde was making records on Delicious Vinyl when Tone Loc and other two-hit wonders were carrying the label, but years later they endure as one of the greatest and most unique hip-hop groups in the history of the art. My first introduction to Pharcyde was several years ago when I saw the video for "Drop" on "Yo, MTV Raps!" From that point on the group has been in heavy rotation in my house. "Cydeways" combines two classics, "Labcabincalifornia" and "Bizarre Ride" into a greatest hits record. It is amazing that in two albums there were so many great songs, but those of you who own both CDs will probably agree that they could have just boxed them together as a greatest hits collection. But even if you own both records, I recommend "Cydeways" because of the superior sound quality and the wonderful Jay Dee (Slum Village) remix of one of my favorite Pharcyde songs "She Says." The original is outstanding, but the remix has quickly become my favorite Pharcyde joint. This record is an absolute MUST for anyone who loves the Pharcyde, Hip-hop, and music in general.

The Good: Representing westcoast rap for more than a decade, Pharcyde has the kind of flow that hip hop heads everywhere can appreciate, but appeals especially to those from California, or better yet, L.A. Pharcyde celebrates all aspects of life in California and it all comes together on this compilation. This upbeat attitude of their experiences can be found in songs such as the whimsical and jig, "Oh Shit", or, "Pack The Pipe", and "It's Jiggaboo Time." Other songs, such as the bluesy, "Passing Me By" and "Otha Fish" are great to chill to, or listen when your girlfriend leaves you because you can't find a job, but you told her that you're looking for one, and is that good enough for her? NOOO... Anyway, don't forget about the hit singles "Drop" and "Runnin" that put Pharcyde on the map.

The Bad: If you already own the first two Pharcyde albums, you already have all but two unreleased songs. Find that guy who has the CD burner, and tell him you'll give him his bike back if he'll put the songs together for you.

The Ugly: Question: How do you drop a new LP and then drop a "Best of..." CD two months later? Answer: Cydeways.

Early Novemeber, Pharcyde's newest CD, "Plain Rap," hit stores. It had about 3-4 really good tracks. Unfortunately, This compilation has none of the them. I guess they didn't want to take sales away from the still new album by putting all its good tracks on "Cydeways."

Oh well, still a good CD to have in your collection.

"Cydeways" is a very satisfying compilation for the average Pharcyde fan, but fails to provide a definitive retrospect of this seminal west coast group. Pharcyde has released THREE albums in total along with an EP, but this album focuses only on their first two albums, being "Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde" and "Labcabincalifornia". Needless to say, these albums are quintessential Pharcyde, but the group didn't stop here, it only went through numerous adjustments. "Cydeways" features the well known Pharcyde tracks which has put the clever group into the hiphop history books, but annoyingly, some of the tracks that Soren Baker mentions in his essay (found in the liner notes) like "Soulflower" aren't even listed on the album. This along with the omission of Jay Dee's dope and relatively well known remix of "Passing Me By" makes the album inferior. It would be easy for almost anyone to make this compilation if they had the first two albums, because Rhino simply throws tracks together, some of which are completely empty of Pharcyde wit, and were simply included as filler/fodder. "Cydeways" is, however, entertaining and truly a trip down memory lane. But it should be the same kind of reminiscent compilation that A Tribe Called Quest's "Anthology" is. Or, at the very least, a presentation of Pharcyde from various stages musically, to date, which is only accomplished by including tracks from ALL of their releases.

I've always loved this CD since it first came out. It put all the songs I loved by The Pharcyde on one CD, so I bought it for my best friend since she really only knew their song "Passin Me By". I know she loves it just as much as I have through the years.

I really enjoyed the Pharcyde when I was in highschool. I was cruising through some music and saw this cd. I would say if you like these guys GET THIS CD!! I listened to it every day for a month after I bought it. Roll a phatty take a drive and listen to the Pharcyde!!

This CD is way far the best compilation I have ever bought. Most hip-hop bands could not pull off a record like this. "Pack the Pipe" and "Runnin" are my two personal favorits, but they are all awesome.