Customer Reviews

Ironman

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was probably the last "classic" Wu album. The sophomore albums to follow were decent, shining at times, but not quite there. From Enter the Wu-Tang through to this Ironman album: this represents the Wu-Tang era I would like to remember. After this comes Cappadonna, the Bobby Digital albums, U-God's Redemption album, etc, etc... It ended with Ironman as far as I'm concerned. Inspectah Deck, arguably the best lyricist in the Clan, had his shot at a solo album after this, but the album was not given the attention it deserved and the album can be filed in with the other Wu letdown albums. Don't get me wrong, I own all of the Wu albums and I was always a supporter, but the mystique created by Enter the Wu, where they had kids scouring magazines and the internet for information on the legend of the ancient Wu-Tang Clan, those days ended with Ironman.

This album represents Wu-Tang's last true production gem. As someone who listens closely to the beats and production, these tracks are classic, grimey Wu. From the skits to the old movie snippets, it's a great album. Wu members are still making music and Ghostface has definitely become the most accepted member of the Wu in the mainstream (musically, as he is basically the only one you will hear on the airwaves from time to time), but Ghost will never recapture this feeling. This album is a classic and it's the best I've heard from Ghostface.

I have to speak out against Matthew Wilson's review for the sake of all hip hop heads who may be discouraged from copping later Wu releases based on Wilson's unflattering description of albums post-Ironman. Firstly, Ghost's sophmore release, Supreme Clientele, is easily one of the most inventive and seminal hip hop albums of all time. While Ill admit it lacks the richness in production and stylistic consistency of Ironman, due to cast of rotating producers (featuring RZA, JuJu of the Beatnuts, and Inspectah, mind you), the album is a milestone due to Ghost's reinvention of his lyrical attack. In various interviews he has stated that, after the gangster style Ghost flipped on Ironman and the Purple Tape (Cuban Linx) was so blatantly bitten by MCs on the east coast (ex: Cristal, Clarks, Mafia themes, etc), he felt the need to flip a new style. The result are some of the most creative darts written, "Scientific, my hand kissed it, robotic, let's think optimistic, you probably missed it, watch me dolly dick it..." An album like 36 chambers or Ironman is blessed with consistency in quality and sound because RZA holds creative control of the project, while later Wu albums suffer from sheisty record company intereference, whack production, and whack guest MCs. However the value of growth which occurs from album to album for an MC like Ghost is impossible to ignore; these MCs elevate in skill overtime, so why would you opt to pass up hearing how they've sharpened their darts? Ultimately, you put in a Ghost abum to hear Ghost, and he's gonna be kickin you that same ill style, whether its on a RZA beat or a beat that sucks. In my opinion, any fan of Ghost will enjoy his latest Pretty Tony release, or the widely sh*t on Bulletproof Wallets, which happens to be ILL. I can agree with the idea that later Wu releases lack the atmosphere and consistency of that original Wu material, however an album like INS's Uncontrolled Substance or RZA's Digital Bullet is still more compelling and enriching that 90 percent of the other hip hop out there. By the way, cop the version of the album with Sole Controller on it.

If you had to categorize Ghostface's abstract style of rap it would have to be impressionistic. Ghost's in your face style rarely comes forth in a conventional manner, instead he splashes the canvas with an array of vivid colors and images creating an aural kaleidescope of soul, funk, dry-wit, and braggadocio unmatched by any other. Sadly far too many men have had to come up in America's ever-sprawling projects and ghettoes but few have ever told their story as well as Ghost. This is a masterpiece.

Some guy reviewd this cd and was boggled by the significance of the cover. Let me bless you, The wu-tang, but mostly ghostface cappadona and raekwon, are obsessed with british shoes called Wallabees. On "Glaciers of Ice" a track from raekwon's "only built for cuban linx" Ghostface is telling raekwon that he had the idea of dyeing his wallabees in two different colors inorder to increase their flavor. Ghostface is know as the wallee-champ for his creative wallabees, on the cover of ironman, Ghostface, Raekwon, and Cappadonna are overseeing the production of their multi-colored wallabees. It makes perfect sense.

Raekwon pioneered the "Wu-Gambino" philosophy with "Only Built For Cuban Linx," his "solo" album which featured this man, Ghostface Killah, on nearly every track. It was in that same spirit that Ghostface released his solo debut, "Ironman," the most soul-infused Wu project. Snippets from the Delfonics, Al Green and the Jackson 5 can be heard throughout the album, but the beats are strictly Wu. The result is a beautiful but bleak mixture of soulful chaos, architected by the RZA at the peak of his production potential. Gems? Ohhhh yeah, there are plenty. Check out "260," the story of a coke robbery gone wrong set to a dark, nervous horn loop (sampled from of all people, happy-happy Al Green). Also look for the scathing "Wildflower," where Ghost snaps on an ex, and the amazing "Daytona 500," probably the most complete song on the album, containing brilliant cameos by Raekwon and Cappadonna's best verse to date. Also, the most surprising inclusion was "All That I Got Is You," a tribute to Ghost's mother set to a Jackson 5 loop and with Mary J. Blige on the hook. This is a great album.

(actually 4.5)

Dont Get me wrong it is still a tight album and i listen to it regularly but I cant call this a classic. It has its fair share of ups and downs but the weaker songs really detract from this cd. For Example Wildflower, Ghostface curses more on this song than on the rest of the cd combined...and basically there is no point to the whole song. Poisonous Darts is plain wack and thats unusual for RZA. Fish is an average song with nothing to deviate it from the rest of the album and Marvel is the same way.

However Ghost's rhymes are amazing and his partners Raekwon and Cappadonna as well as the rest of the Wu stop by the studio to get in on this album. Cappadonna who is usually wack comes pretty ill on this album and Raekwon comes hard but not as hard as he did on his own Cuban Linx album. The skits and intros into the songs are great to listen to and make this a sorta cinematic experience. The skits don't detract from the quality of the cd.

The stand out songs include Iron Maiden( arguably the best song on the album------great beat, flow and lyrics), 260, Assassination Day, Box In Hand, Winter Warz, Camay, Daytona 500, All That I got Is You, and Motherless Child.

At first I didn't like one bit of this cd. But then gradually, as I began to listen to it more, it grew on me. However it is no masterpiece but still an extremely good album but not as good as Cuban Linx. I just think that Ghostface got skimped on the beats by RZA but it all boils down to personal preference. Alright enough babbling you should just buy the album because it will prove to be an entertaining listen and a worthy addition to your collection. Recommended.

Let it be known that these are my two favorite MC's out of the Wu camp (Meth and Ghost that is). This is kinda like an extension of Cuban Linx, but not quite. It is good in its own right. The Gambino, Quentin Tarantino/John Woo storytellism is still there folks, so don't miss it. I remember '96 vividly and as one of the most productive/memorable years in hip-hop history and this is album is like a bookmark in time for that era. My personal favs are Winter Warz, Daytona 500 (easily the best), Motherless Child, 260 (that Tarantino stuff), Iron Maiden...hell I like it all b. This album is as much a testament to RZA's production brilliance as it is an ode to the Wu and hip hop in general. Ghost's sometimes wacky but always clever wordplay is always welcome. Buy it.

This album is outstanding! The production quality is top notch. I purchased this album after listening to Ghostfaces "Supreme Clientele", hoping to find something just as good. What i heard blew "Clientele" out of the water. Ghosts style couldn't get any hotter. The samples and cadence of the beats are perfect. The song "After the Smoke...." gets play in my car every day. not to mention the heartfelt "All that I Need Is You". Ghost and Mary intertwine the rugged w/ the velvety soft in an unlikely duo. I'm not usually a fan of skits on albums, actually I'm vehemently against them. Ghost's skits dont bug me though, they actually sort of help the album progress in a way. The album is off the hook, so if you don't have it you should grab it.

The Wu striked again in 1996 with another unforgettable effort. After many listens trying to absorb it all, this album is actually about a 4.5 star effort. "Ironman" is quite a different album than other Wu-Tang classics like "Liquid Swords" and "Enter the 36 Chambers." Ghostface may be the headliner, but Raekwon is all over this, and Cappadonna appears many times as well. Rza rhymes on a couple tracks and almost all the other Wu members make appearances (Gza sat this one out). I didn't like this CD much during the first spin-through, but the same can be said for "Liquid Swords," and you HAVE TO keep listening to Wu albums to even attempt to catch the brilliance going on.
"Ironman" welcomed some 'lighter' vibes into the Wu's catalog. Not that the lyrics were lighter or any less hardcore, just some of the beats. Yes, the soul samples were introduced here, and done effortlessly and smoothly if you ask me. There were a couple tracks that showed bitterness towards women or even a specific woman like "Wildflower" and "Marvel." Then women are portrayed in a positive light on the slow, sultry "Camay." Ghost wasn't afraid to get heartfelt and unabashedly sentimental on "All I Got Is You"(w/ Mary J. Blige). This album's got a whole lotta different vibes going on. They didn't forget to include some of their signature grimey, hardcore joints, in case you're worried.
My favorites on this album are the upbeat "Iron Maiden," "Fish," "Daytona 500," "Black Jesus," and "After The Smoke Is Clear." "Fish" is the only beat not done by Rza, and I love the beat here and the track overall! "Daytona 500" has some cool singing at the beginning and for the chorus. I'm not sure why they called it "Black Jesus," but it has a holy beat (think "Gold") that would make Jesus himself proud. LOL! Posse cuts like "Assassination Day" and "Winter Warz" are excellent as well. There's not really one song that I can complain about on this CD, not even the explicit "Wildflower" or "Marvel."
Rza displays his masterful production touch again on this album, even as he was trying many new things. Ghostface's lyrics may be tough to penetrate and comprehend (I wonder if he even understands what he's saying), but it's his hype flow and energy that deserve recognition. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he got help from many of the other talented Wu-members. Every once in a while you will catch a great line from Ghost though, such as "slap box with Jesus, lick shots at Joseph." Ghosface may actually have some profound undertones with all the rhymes he's spittin' here. This was a very good album, I ended up liking it a lot. Check it out!

After the Wu-Tang Clan dropped their impressive debut with "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)," many of the clansman in the group started dropping solo albums. The Genius/GZA was the only one to release an album before the group became known with his "Words from the Genius" record. But him, Raekwon, Method Man and Ol' Dirty [...] all dropped albums consectively from 1993 to 1995. Then in 1996 in was Ghostface Killah's turn. My overall second favorite in the group (and probably the most skilled and lyrical). His album "Ironman" was very well anticipated but does it live up to the hype and can it follow the Wu-Tang pattern with all of their previous solid solo and group releases?

1. Iron Maiden (Featuring Raekwon & Cappadonna) - 50+ Second Intro - 4.5/5

2. Wildflower - 4.5/5

3. The Faster Blade (Featuring Raekwon) - Raekwon Solo - 4.5/5

4. 260 (Featuring Raekwon) - 4.5/5

5. Assassination Day (Featuring Raekwon, The RZA & Inspectah Deck) - 5/5

6. Poisonous Darts - 4.5/5

7. Winter Warz (Featuring Cappadonna, U-God & Masta Killa) - 4.5/5

8. Box in Hand (Featuring Method Man & Street Life) - 4.5/5

9. Fish (Featuring Raekwon & Cappadonna) - 4.5/5

10. Camay (Featuring Raekwon & Cappadonna) - 4/5

11. Daytona 500 (Featuring Raekwon & Cappadonna) - 4.5/5

12. Motherless Child (Featuring Raekwon) - 4.5/5

13. Black Jesus (Featuring Raekwon & U-God) - 1 Minute Intro - 4.5/5

14. After the Smoke Is Clear (Featuring The Delphonics) - 5/5

15. All That I Got Is You (Featuring Mary J. Blige) - 5/5

16. Marvel - 4/5 - After 2 Minutes the track just plays for 3+ Minutes

Overall:

72.5/80

5 Stars

Classic Wu-Tang right here! Ghostface spits nothing but lyrical fire all througout the entire album. Highly recommended to any hip hop fan who loves the straight up hardcore street rhymes that Ghost delivers best. Check it out!