Customer Reviews

One Step Ahead of the Spider

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One Step ahead of the Spider was the first album I ever liked independent of any outside influece. I never heard it on the radio, MTV, or out of any friends or relatives collections. My older brother bought it mistakenly and I fell in love with it. He ended up giving me his copy as a birthday present about 6 years ago and I still have the same copy. It is one of the most overplayed CD's in my collection and is now the most prized (since the uncensored version of Body Count's "Cop Killer" became MIA.)

This is not Spoken Word. This is not Hip Hop. This is not Rap. This is not Jazz. Anyone who has heard the album knows that these statements are entirely true and false. MC 900 Ft Jesus gives us the paradox in music form; soulful, emotional as great art should be, yet deliberate, every note, every word inits proper place. Perfect parts cynicism and intelligence create an album that, while not timeless (sure people have done it better since this one was made.... but did anyone do it before this was made?) is enlightening enough to be in any open-minded musical fan's library.

I've never heard any of his other stuff, but I bought MC 900 Ft Jesus' "One Step Ahead Of The Spider" just to hear "If I Only Had A Brain", which in itself is worth the purchase. Being an odd song in the first place, I didn't know what to expect of the rest of the record. Allthough I only bought it last week, it has already become one of my favorite discs. The combination of funky hip-hop beats, jazzy melodies, and peculiar coffee-house poetry/lyrics help make this cd one of the most original in my collection of 1,500.

The song Bill's Dream on this album introduced me to Miles Davis (its a cover of "in a silent way")--and when I discovered the genius of Miles through MC 900, I thought "typical"--why? because Miles was one of the premier explorers of jazz (along with St. John Coltrane)--he invented an entirely new vocabulary in jazz--MC 900 Ft. Jesus, or Mark Griffin, needs to be recognized for what he has brought to the musical vocabulary of music--he combines such homages to the past as "Stare and Stare" and "Bill's Dream" with daring new excursions into the frontiers of jazz's vocabulary--people call this hiphop, but I really think that Mark Griffin is more of a jazz musician influenced by hiphop and techno/industrial--just as Miles Davis was influenced by rock and roll to create fusion--the one thing I would lament on this album, even though I like the track, is that I think "If I only had a brain" might have sprung from pressure by American records on MC 9-0-0 to come out with a hit single--notice that MC 9-0-0 hasn't come out with a record since this one? thats sometimes the story of an artist and a label having differences in opinion--the artist can't do what they want, they can't get out of their contract--and so they stop making music--we then become deprived of a unique and important voice in modern music--regardless of its record company woes, this album is still a daring excursion into the borderlands of the jazz format that largely succeeds--not to mention MC 9-0-0 has some of the most clever, intelligent lyrics of modern music

I sought out this album after greatly enjoying the video for the catchy single, "If I Only Had a Brain." I expected it to be full of goofy white boy hip-hop. Boy was I thrown for a loop! I'm sure this is the same way people who bought Beck's Mellow Gold album just for "Loser" felt. Within the first minute of the gigantic, eerie opening track "New Moon" I realized that this was going to be an album the likes of which I had never experienced before. While a bit uneven at times, One Step Ahead of the Spider is a fascinating musical journey to say the least. From the somber "Buried at Sea" to the ultra-cool "But If You Go" to the just flat out bizarre "Rhubarb" this album is not easy to pigeonhole into any one genre, so don't even bother. Just pop it in and prepare to be astounded. I recommend listening to this for the first time either on a long walk or in seclusion with only your headphones for company.

Having been strongly into the industrial scene in the late eighties, early nineties It was inevitable to wander across MC 900 FT Jesus. Originally rejecting the earlier single 'Truth is out of style' from hell with the lid off MC wasn't on my 'to buy' list. However when One step ahead of the spider was released, what I heard an the radio was rapidly drawing me in. I purchased OSAOTS and instantly fell in love. The mature jazz compositions, intellectual lyrics and kick arse beats (remind me of DJ Food's later offerings) really set a new standard for me at the time. 'Stand and Stare' has to have one of the most blissful guitar solos (Vernon Reid) I have ever heard. After I purchased both earlier albums It was interesting to see the wonderful progression of musical sounds on each album. From driving electronic/industrial beats and Public Enemy/hip hop samples to latin/jazz instrumentals it's all there. You really need to buy all three to enjoy the full scope. The only downside is that each album has maybe half great songs and half filler. Enjoy

Griffin is the man! His voice and tunes were the business. Where has he gone? He left a huge hole in my musical life.

I certainly miss him and his work. (and that angular jaw, btw)

the person who made this cd, make another one. this cd is the hip hop mega mountain of masterpiece. get this cd so eminem will be broke forever.

Only thing I remembered was the song "If I Only Had A Brain" and I expected the album to sound mostly like that song...not even close. It's like soundtrack music at times, spoken word jazz hipster stuff at other times. Very cool, very mellow. Not very commercial music which is why only "IIOHABrain" was the only song I remembered from this release. Personally I like experimental/avantegarde and this CD goes that way, if you want hiphop beats and samples, etc...not the CD for you.

I first experienced the grand sounds of MC 900 Foot Jesus in the early 90's. While up late one night I caught the video for "Killer Inside Me" from the album Welcome To My Dream. My brain savored every moment as the story unfolded its many layers. I was instantly sold on the idea that I had to look deeper into this artist's work. It took some effort to acquire his music but after waiting a few weeks I got my first listen to the entire ensemble of Welcome To My Dream. I was not entirely sucked in at first but after a few times of listening to the entirety MC 900 Foot Jesus became by far my favorite artist.
Shortly after I spent yet another few weeks attaining the rest of his work that was around at that time. I managed to get my hands on two of more his recordings "Hell With The Lid Off" and the single for "Too Bad". Again it took a few passes through the recordings for them to fully take hold. Once they sunk in I truly knew that greatness still existed. From that point on MC 900 Foot Jesus became a part of my every day life.
When I found that another recording was available I practically ran to get it. Finding the recording had finally made its way to the music stores shelves filled me with joy. I purchased the CD, drove home, popped on the headphones, and sank into the world of MC 900 Foot Jesus. It only took one pass through its entirety to befall enamored. The artistic styling of the album is truly beyond its time.
Mark Griffin is to me the Mark Twain of the 90's. His skill at storytelling is what seals up the deal, the music just being an extra perk. Chris McGuire plays the woodwinds and horns as if he had four arms and six lungs. DJ Zero scratches his mixes up there with the best of them. Followed by the rest of the ensemble. The music of MC 900 Foot Jesus is definitely worth looking into.

I love everything MC has done. I find him incredibly original and the perfect blend of jazz and hip hop sounds. This to me is the thinking person's hip hop. One of the few CDs I own where I pull out the sleeve to read along with the songs. Oh yea and the music is bliss.