Customer Reviews

Dark Days Bright Nights

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The track "Ugly" has blown up to a size that very few expected. When you put Timbalands beats together with some raw lyrics and a fresh delivery, ur sure to get a hit. And yes...the story sounds familiar. An Interscope label, a superstar rap producer and the final element...a white rapper. But this is far from another trip down "Shady-ville". Bubba Sparxxx is country and his mic time concentrates om discussing how gritty and carefree hw really is rather than venturing in the dark side of the human mind. No pop disses, just an all-out good feeling inducin rap album. Actually the "Ugly" might give listeners a misconception about the DARK DAYs, BRIGHT NIGHTs album. It showcases a hyper-uptembo beat that is only found on selected tracks such as "Twerk a little" with Timbaland. The itself is very laid-back and TImbaland seems to move away from his usual production direction to a more "Bump-in-da-Trunk" approach that reminds me of Organized Noise and Outkast. For those of yall that expect a glittery, superstar mainstream rap album...think again. Bubba is on a mission to rap his guts out by keeping this album real and extremely country. No glitz just sharp lyrics and bouncy beats that make tracks such as "betty,betty" and "bubba talk" some seriously hot joints. The next single "Lovely" is sure to put some people on their feet in the clubs. BUt the albums greatest moment comes at the beginning of the cd in the intro 'Take-off" where Bubba discusses his nervousness of being on a plane that is almost a sure simile for his career and the way its taking off. Overall, Bubba doesnt disapoint and Timbo's BEat Club may have found its own next big white rapper....but as far as Bubbas concerned, he's doing his own thing with his own style and this is what makes him so great.

For everyone that doesn't have this album, I truly feel for you. It's a virtual lesson on what music should be- original, fresh and entertaining. It's a graphic look into the life of an artist, raw and gritty with slice of country soul. Every song is tantalizing, like a hot, buttered biscuit of musical style and rhyme. Shame on the naysayers that pawn Bubba Sparxxx off as a piece of 'White Trash' with an album. One man's trash is another man's treasure...

If you base your impressions of Bubba Sparxxx on the video for "Ugly", his album could seem very much like a gimick; the rurual white boy rapping. But if you give the album a few listens (it definetly takes more than one), you could be pleasantly surprised.
Starting with the obvious, the beats are off the hook. Timbaland dropped one of the hottest beats of the year on "Ugly", and "Open Wide" is even hotter, with is propulsive back beat and guitar riffs. And the Organized Noise produced, "The Same" mananages to combine elements of country, blues and hip-hop into something incredibly funky.
But this album is not just about the beats. Bubba is a real MC with a brand new perspective to represent, which is rare in today's world of carbon copy MCs. On "The Same" he pokes fun at racial stereo types and emphasises the larger similarities. On "Infected" he rhymes about the perception that drugs are an "urban" problem while drug use is rampant in his rural community. And on the title track, he presents a new perspective on racial dynamics and the seperation of the races in the south - that of the white outsider looking across to the "dark days side of town where they hide the blacks".
Really, this album disserves about a 3 and a half. Bubba's flow can seem a bit monotonous at times, and he does not yet have the mic presence of a Ludacris or Big Boi (two MCs with whom he does share some similarities). Ironically, while it will probably be the Timbaland cuts that become hits, Bubba doesn't seem quite comfortable flowing over bouncy party beats yet. He's much more in his element on the slower, darker tracks on the second half of the album where his lyrics really shine. Overall, and impressive debut.

I bought this cd and wasn't expecting too much out of it. However, after listening to this cd non-stop all day I realized what a genius Bubba is. His intense rhymes that are similar to Eminem's tie together perfectly with the tight beats that Timbaland drops. He and Timbaland make an awesome team and I think that he will be the next Eminem or maybe bigger. Every song on the cd is pretty decent but the five best songs on the cd are Infected, Ugly, Dark Days-Bright Nights, If its Bumpin', and Lovely.

5. Lovely-It has a pretty good beat and Bubba has some tight rhymes on this track.
4.If its Bumpin'- It starts off with no beat and Bubba rappin but the beat progressively becomes more complex as the song goes on. This is a pretty good song if you like faster rappers like Outkast,etc..
3.Dark Days-Bright Nights- A really good song where Bubba talks about his life and its good and bad sides.
2.Ugly- A great song and video!
1.Infected-My favorite on the cd. Bubba has some really catchy rhymes in this song and the bass is awesome! This song will be running through your head all day.

Let's be honest, southern farmboy hip-hop isn't immediately the most appetising prospect. The idea of such a determinedly urban music adopting country manners reeks of novelty; how can the sounds of the porch compete with those of the projects? A dumb joke perpetuated by desperate men in search of a gimmick, surely?

Well, not quite. The entrepreneur launching Bubba Sparxxx is none other than Timbaland, the world's most creative producer. Sparxxx is the first signing to Timbaland's own label, Beat Club, and the grateful recipient of rhythms that rank alongside Tim's best this year (Missy's 'Get Ur Freak On', Aaliyah's 'We Need A Resolution', Jay-Z's 'Hola Hovito'). So far, so fine.

Oh, and there's the rapper himself. Bubba Sparxxx is, in fact, a 24-year-old former school gridiron star called Warren Anderson Mathis. Mathis - based in Athens, Georgia - is emphatically not Beat Club's token white boy for the Eminem market. Sure, he exaggerates the good ol' southern boy persona at times, but there's no doubting his skills as a rapper.

'Dark Days, Bright Nights', then, is a late challenger for rap debut of the year. You've doubtless heard the invigoratingly silly, Missy-sampling single 'Ugly' by now. What's most impressive is the way Sparxxx and his producers maintain that imaginative party atmosphere throughout. Obviously, Tim's contributions (nearly half of the album) are the most striking, as he threads acoustic guitars through his trademark eastern-tinged beats on 'Open Wide' and the horse-sampling 'Bubba Talk', or unleashes the kind of twanging funk on 'Lovely' that made Missy's 'Dog N' Heat' so thrilling.

Nevertheless, Atlantan Shannon Houchins' work stands its ground well, and there's an outstanding dirty south groove on 'All The Same' courtesy of Outkast's production team, Organized Noise. Eminem comparisons are rarely apposite save, perhaps, Bubba's idea of distributing sheets of acid with the album on 'Infected'. But he's a smart, funny character in his own right, and Beat Club couldn't have hoped for a more auspicious launch.

Well to be honest I expected a bit more from this album.The lead off single "UGLY" is the best beat and the best song on the album I mainly bought the album because Timbaland is one off the best producers in the rap industry but when you hear "UGLY" you think that the whole album is produced by Timbaland but Organized Noise drop some beats for the Athens native so I was a bit surprised by that.A lot of people are comparing Bubba to Eminem but he isn't in the same leauge as him.After the "UGLY" track the best song is "TWIRK A LITTLE" which features Timbaland this track should be played very loud as the beat is another Timbaland classic.Hopefully Bubbas next LP is better than DARK DAYS,BRIGHT NIGHTS

This album is a very successful start to Timbalands new Beat Club Records. The beats are supurb, even the ones that Bubba produces himself. I definitly recommend this to anyone who supports white rap and anyone who enjoys Timbaland beats.

"Ugly" was the perfect lead single for newcomer Bubba Sparxxx's career. The beat is so fresh and so clean, and it shows how talented Timbaland is as a producer.

The rest of the cd shines by letting Bubba Sparxxx rip up the tracks laid down for him. Get over the skin color: This man can rap. His country influenced lyrics and southern sounding beats are a perfect fit for his personality. My personal favorite song is "Bubba Talk." The banjo-like sounding beat is so original and tight sounding you can't help but like it.

Only a few songs are lackluster, like the soon-to-be-next-single "Lovely." I wish they would not put this out as the next single. "Betty, Betty" is a perfect single type of song. Basically, Bubba Sparxxx will blow up soon for those who don't know yet. This album exemplifies how a rappers career can be seen by their first cd (ex: Nas, Xzibit) Watch out, Bubba's comin!

The beats and production are top notch and reminiscent of the work Timbaland provided for Missy Elliot's latest album.
The problem with this album lies in Bubba Sparxxx's rhyming. At best, his rhyming is merely adequate, nothing to get excited about.
Very few rhymers in the history of rap (dating back to the late 1970s and up through the present) can grab you with a few words and their vocal tone. Bubba Sparxxx. He just doesn't compare to even the best rhymers of today, nevermind the best lyricists of the past 20-plus years.
But perhaps like Eminem, fans are going to buy into his album as they usually do when a novelty rapper who at least shows an average level of skills surfaces.
But for a better overall album with sound production (and a variety of styles) and stronger lyrical delivery, check out Petey Pablo's "Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry."

I thought this album had dope beats in it. This is obvious, you'll be satisfied with the melody and the beats cause Timbaland produced it. However, the fact that hes a country white rapper doesnt bother me much as it has for other people, but the fact that he keeps saying 2 words in all the songs is annoying : The words Betty and Athens. Try some variety, Bubba! The only song where he doesnt say those words are in Ugly. No wonder it was the first single. His voice isn't incredibly annoying, after all, he's a country rapper. If you listen to tracks 1, 2, 5, 11, and 15, though, you'll be pretty satisfied what bubba can do with Tim's beats.