Customer Reviews

The Many Faces of Oliver Hart

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The best song on the CD is "Bottle dreams", a poetic, vivid and depressing masterpeice. I know you might think that's a bull$hit, that an underground rapper could make a "masterpeice", but it's not an exageration, this song is a masterpeice. The song is about a 10 year old girl, a prodigy violinist, who in desperation writes God, asking It to help her, and putting her written prayers in bottles throws them into a river. The song builds up beautifully to a horrific, yet gentle end. This song is a perfect display of Eyedeas poetic abillity and of his potential as a great rapper. One thing Eyedea lacked on his first album, and perhaps this one in some places as well, is making songs that are pleasing to the uninterested ear. Eyedea shows with Bottle Dreams that he has grown in that respect, as well as others. The melody on this track is great, and I hope in the future he does more singing/rapping. "Here for you" is my second fav. track on the album. Eyedea rapps his best style, in my opinion, at the begining of the second verse. A mellow, soft and smooth voice that glides over the beat. He should do more of that, I think. "Weird side" was weird, in that I have never heard an Eyedea track that I thought could be a single on the radio. This song is fresh as hell and is very easy to listen to. Ill track! "How much do you pay?" is dope too! I like Eyedea's style when he raps agressivly, as he does on the hook of this song. "Step by Step" is a great track. The only flaw is it is a one verse story, and would have benifited with a hook and a format. "Forget me" feat. slug is ill too. I don't get why Slug, it seems, is always mentioned when the subject of dope underground rappers comes up before Eyedea's. On this track, atleast, it's clear that Eyedea is on another level than Slug. But I guess that's arguable. "Soundtrack of a romance" is a great song with a not so great hook. Well, the hook is good, it just doesn't seem to fit the melody of the song. "Ode to the Wall" is an ill ass beat, I don't know why Eyedea didn't rap over it, it seems like such a waste. "How EYE ONE the WRITE TOO Think" is ill too. There are very few times on the CD where EYEDEA seems to be lacking in lyrics. The problem Eyedea faces is trying to get people to listen to them. Most of the beats on the Album really aren't that good, with the exception of "Bottle Dreams" "Step by step" "Wierd Side" "Here for you" and perhaps a few others. "A song about a song" is creative and great lyrically but there is a lot of dissonance between the 'beat' and the words. Same with "Motormouth's Anonymous" "Infared Roses" and others. Great Lyrics, but not that easy to listen to. Over all this is a awesome CD, and I highly recomend it to anybody who appreciates great lyrics. Just be sure not to judge too quickly, Eydea is different, but increadably gifted. I love the names of the songs too, very creative.

It should be pointed out that Eyedea (Oliver Hart) had written, produced, arranged, mixed, and engineered this whole album on his own, aside from a track or two (not to mention this album is 73 minutes long).

Eyedea would have been 20 years old at this point. Every project that Eyedea takes part in makes me respect him even more. There is just talent and potential oozing out of this B-Boy. There is not a bad track in the bunch. This album takes you on a unique ride in hip-hop, spewing philosophy lessons in nearly every song.

It seems that Eyedea wants to stand out from pretty much every recording artist out there; and after hearing this album, and E&A's two albums: First Born, and E&A (2003), he has succeeded with flying colors.

The title "The May Faces of Oliver Hart" is self explanatory. Each track is very different. Mixing several different kinds of music and styles. The second track "Weird Side" introduces the album quite nicely. The track after that, "Song about a song" is also very unique. There are plenty of standout tracks on this album; "How Much Do You Pay?," "Walking," "Prelude To Coaches," "Coaches feat. Carnage," "Forget Me feat. Slug"...the list goes on and on.

I watched the MTV video awards 2004 last night. They were probably the worst MTV VMAs I've ever seen (I say that every year). All the nominees for rap and hip-hop were just absolutely horrible. For best rap video, you have: 50 cent ft. Snoop Dogg & G-Unit, D12 & Eminem, Jay-Z, Lil Jon & The Eastside Boys, and Ludacris with Jay-Z winning for 99 problems. For best hip-hop video, it was Black Eyed Peas, Chingy, Nelly, Outkast and Kanye West, with Outkast winning for "Hey Ya", Outkast is great, but "Hay Ya" is a way overplayed radio and MTV song. I was just shaking my head in embarrassment, for all the morons who think MTV knows good music. It's too bad that more people couldn't be exposed to quality hip-hop groups such as Eyedea & Abilities, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Anticon, The Roots...etc.

Eyedea is the illest, freshest, most sick MC on the planet. MTV needs to take a step back and recognize what real music is. Get out there and get this album, and the other Eyedea & Abiilities albums if you want to experience a REAL journey in hip-hop.

One more thing, Clear Channel Blows!

The Many Faces of... is a spectacular album that rarely buckles under the weight of its own creativity. Eyedea is in fine form here as he displays his pananche for freestyling that is carefully balanced with heavier content-laden tracks. He is satirical without being too wishy-washy or disenchanted (luckily this album was recorded pre-war on Iraq), and is quite introspective. Eyedea craftily segues each track, so that the varied themes conjoin nicely. "message in a bottle" is truly a heartbreaking, albeit poetic, song and "here for you" is equally moving. I can't pick a favourite song among these brilliant tracks, but "walking" really hits home for me as Mr. Oliver Hart ponders his restless nature: "...its like my soul holds a song that eternity has left undone.." and "Im eager to unplug my speakers, let my heart be my teacher". In my opinion, The Many Faces Of... is indeed one of the finest releases from Rhymesayers Entertainment.

I first saw Eydea on HBO's blaze battle, he dominated every mc that challenged him and wound up winning the whole thing. Then I bought his first cd First Born, which was freaking amazing. So when I saw that he was coming out with a new cd I jumped all over it. This album is one of the best underground hip hop cd's I have heard. Eyedea's rhyming cannot be tested by anyone, and he has proven this by winning several battle contests. What makes this album even more amazing is that Eyedea himself handled all the production, and DJ Abilites was not along for the ride, yet Eyedea still makes every track groove and most of them make you think about everyday life as well. The standout tracks to me are "How much do y'all pay" "Walk Away" "Bottle Dreams" "Forget Me" "How Eye One the Write to Think" and "Walking" and "My day at the Brain Factory" if you are a fan of underground hip hop or consicous hip hop in general this a must have. It does not get any better than this.

Just to reiterate, this is a must for any underground hip hop fan, ESPECIALLY all you RSE fans. Eyedea's beats are straight tight, and his lyrics, oh my GOD! This cat can write! I don't want to say what's already been said, just buy the album, listen to it, maybe hit a little green and then turn it up! You won't be disappointed, AT ALL.

This is without a doubt one of the best CD's i've ever heard. From the first song Eyedea takes you on a lyrical, consious, and physical (yes, his rhymes are that descriptive) journey. The song "Bottle Derams" made me want to cry, and "Weird Side" is a hilarious look into the mind of one of the most creative and unique emcees that ever spoke on record. Everything about this album is just different in a good way. The songs go from intense hardcore to laidback, and Eyedea has a wonderful sense of humor. If your the type of listener who is sick of rappers talking about money, clothes and girls, then you must get this CD, even if it is only to admire the words and beats.

If you have never heard Eyedea outside of a battle, you will be surprised by this album. Eyedea has proved that he is much more than just a battle emcee. On songs like "How Much Do You Pay" and "Step by Step", he shows the complexity in his mind. However, not all songs are deep; on "Coaches Interlude", he is freestyling with an emcee named Carnige (one of the best freestylists) and on the actual song "Coaches", it is purely a song to listen to in order to hear tight rhymes. The bottom line is this: if you are a fan of hip hop, this is a must buy....

This album is simply phenomenal. Metaphor after metaphor will have you rewinding each track. I recommend this cd to anyone true underground hip hop fan.

I tend to buy a lot of albums by artists who produce thier own tracks cause I figure only you know exactly how you want to sound, and if you have the means to do it, go right ahead. But now I really have to admit, you have to be just a little wierd yourself to truly enjoy this album, hell Eyedea even gives you a disclaimer somewhere in the first 15 minutes. Every single track is filled with quotable lines and brain teasing metaphors, so much that it almost starts to make me jealous of his extraordinary writing skills and super-unique delivery; he sounds like a cartoon character that popped about thirty extacy pills and made an album as the trip wore out, nonetheless, he is being himself in the midst of the influence left over by Dj Abilities. To the person that only knows mainstream, and sorta somewhat has his baby toe in the wasteland of underground hip hop, let me tell you, Eminem is far from being the best white rapper of all time. Best selling, yes, but just disect some of these heads in the Rhymesayers camp and see if it doesn't change your perception just a little. Now, I know you're curious cuz you've already clicked on this CD AND scrolled down to look @ the reviews, so go ahead and take that final leap son.

- Chris BlaQ

The only reason I gave this album a 4 is because I feel like Eyedea can do better, and I can't wait to get E&A, which he himself claims is superior. There are several stand out tracks, but many of them feel a little short or out of place. That said, Eyedea is one of the most versatile rappers out there, as he can go from hard freestyle to smooth flow, and does it all on this album. His lyrics are also almost untouchable.