Fresh Mode [EP]

Ugly Duckling | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP
• Label: Fontana a&M
• ASIN: B00000INW2
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #248,255 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh, July 24, 2000

By 

jiakenmin (OZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fresh Mode (Audio CD)

I had the opportunity to interview these guys for a campus paper a few years back, and trust me, they're not just some white guys trying be a part of this scene. Ugly Duckling has an old school throwback that's drawn comparisons between them and Jurassic 5. The only difference is that while J5 reminisces on the early 80's, the Native Tongues (esp De La Soul) influence in Ugly Duckling's music is pretty apparent. Young Einstein is one talented producer, definitely one to look out for in the future, and emcees Andycat and Dizzy approach the mic with a lighthearted demeanor that contrasts with today's thugged out hip-hop the same way that De La Soul's 3 Feet & Rising did back in 89. You probably won't find a cleaner album in the rap section of the store (one of Ugly Duckling's rules: don't curse). The only drawback is that some of the lyricism is a little corny (some people might call it weak) but if you're feigning for the old days, this album is a breath of fresh air.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New York Jazz beats meet Jurassic 5, April 20, 1999

By 

Neil Collis (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fresh Mode (Audio CD)

The first time I put this on the deck I was blown away with the crisp jazz samples kinda reminding me of Low End period Tribe and the like. The 2 MCs flow in a non complicated yet refeshing style that is pure hod nod material. This album is absolutely superb, quality from end to end and the classic hip hop quotable "Do You Know What I'm Sayin" is awesome. As someone kinda said recently "Pretty Fly for White Guys" (sic). Not that it means too much but the cover is one of the best as well !

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Give It A Chance, April 7, 2004

By 

"truthordare3" (Winchester United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fresh Mode (Audio CD)

This album is one of the most refreshingly different albums I have heard in a long time. It shows that there is more to hip hop than talking about the clichéd themes that are in so much rap heard today. Don't get me wrong I listen to all sorts of music from Stevie Wonder and N.E.R.D to Ben Folds/Five and The Pixies, so I'm not saying that other rap artists aren't good, U.D are just a funny intelligent alternative. Finally, to 'a music fan from Harlem' a Tribe Called Qwest's "Low End Theory" is not the greatest album of all time but it is one of the best. If you were a true music fan you would respect U.D and A.T.C.Q for daring to do something different even if you didn't like it. Their music is not an imitation they are just influenced by other artists that they respect. You can appreciate good music with out loving it.