Paullelujah

MC Paul Barman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Coup D'etat
• ASIN: B00006JOFI
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,321 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #51 in Music > Indie Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental

Track Listings

1. It's Here

2. Paullelujah

3. Cock Mobster

4. Old Paul

5. Bleeding Brain Grow

6. N.O.W.

7. Excuse You

8. Vulture Shark Sculpture Park

9. Anarchist Bookstore Part 1

10. Burping & Farting

11. Talking Time Travel

12. Anarchist Bookstore Part 2

13. A Somewhat New Medium

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challahlujah!, November 9, 2002

By 

taogoat (the mothership) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paullelujah (Audio CD)

MC Paul Barman might be the most inventive lyricist in hiphop history. What he lacks in rhythm and delivery, he makes up for in humor and verbal creativity. This is not to say that he cant flow; his flow is nice, and it fits his lyrics--and he's only going to get better & better. Also, he's got an interesting voice that adds humor to his words.

Those who enjoyed the sex jokes in "It's Very Stimulating" will not be disappointed with "Paulellujah"--there are two tracks with some very clever sex rhymes.

And "Paullelujah" has another track describing how mind-numbing school us. This is not just some kid saying school bored him--this is an ivy league educated man intelligently critiquing our school system which saps the life out of its students. Mandatory schooling is part of the American indoctrination system. "Back-to-school nights are visitation rights and boredom is the warden."

There are 2 songs on this album describing the scene in the local anarchist bookstore. Youre sure to appreciate these songs if youve ever been in a radical bookstore... And it helps to know who Noam Chomsky is--but hey, if you dont get some of Barman's references, just do some homework so you can get his jokes. Now, granted, these are humorous songs--but that doesnt mean that they are meaningless. He's dealing with a pretty serious topic--a volunteer run anarchist bookstore, full of political implications--but he's giving us the human side, the reality that people hang out chatting & rarely buy anything. It's funny because it's true. He clearly understands the scene and has read his Chomsky. At the end of "Anarchist Bookstore Part 1," he gives a brilliant critique of the term "P.C.," politically correct.

He's got another political track that only tangentially mentions serious political issues while focusing on the humorous & human side of things, talking about hooking up with girls at pro-choice rallies...

In "Old Paul," he rhymes from the point of view of himself as an old man looking back on his career, questioning his place in hip hop, facing some of the criticism of his nay-sayers...

Then there's the highlight of the album, both because of its clever flows and Prince Paul's lovely production, "Bleeding Brain Grow." Possibly the most impressive lyric on the album--or in rap history, for that matter--is Barman's palindrome quintuplet: "Ma, origami magi roam. Eve, Mika, Rza, Evil JD. Nasir is Osiris and J-Live, AZ, Rakim, Cormega, Cage, Mr. OC: I'm anomie. I, mon ami." Now read it backwards. You find me another rapper who spits out 5 palindromes in a row (okay, 4--"eve" was a gimme). That's just impressive, and unprecedented in hip hop history. In his own words, "Acrostics, narratives, Fibonacci challenge poems, declarative palindromes, manifestos. My five fans can attest, yo."

Probably the only slightly serious song on the album is "Excuse You." Barman, far from being blind to the pain of existence, chooses to face life with humor & creative wordplay.

"Make No Mistake" is an anti-war song that quotes Bob Dylan and Noam Chomsky--and it's funny too...

Then there's "Talking Time Travel," which is an imitation of & homage to Bob Dylan's talking blues songs. His imitation of Dylan's pauses & intonations is absolutely perfect. If you havent "Talking World War III Blues," you will really be missing the whole joke when you listen to this song. Somewhere out there, Bob Dylan is smiling...

The last track is a really funny and well-done spoken word/poetry piece. He simultaneously makes fun of the medium while doing a very good job at it. This is a nice ending for the album, youre cracking up & going "What?!"

In short, this is a tight album with a little something for everyone by one of the smartest lyricists in hip hop.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hallelujah for Paullelujah, November 11, 2002

By 

D. Phillips "Film fanatic and librarian" (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paullelujah (Audio CD)

Wow I really enjoyed It's Very Stimulating with its funny tongue twisting rhymes and its surprising and witty sampling and I was really interested in what Mr. Barman would do with a full length format. The answer is finally here and I'm happy to say it's mostly more of the same.

MC Paul Barman has established himself with not only the typical braggadacio (ie: "I'm the best" kind of thing) of rap but also a sly kind of self effacement. In Co** Mobster he talks about bedding dozens of famous women (including Amy Tan!!!!) but then makes it equally clear that it's a fantasy and that he's not really up to all that anyway. It's an interesting combination and allows him to get away with some outrageous rhymes, and boasts. He even manages to address his place in rap. He ponders the question of his authenticity several times.

There are questions of substance here. I would say listen a couple of times and you can find quite a bit of substance not only in Paul's very sly rhyming couplets but the funny way he parodies different popular forms. I'd also like to correct an earlier review which suggests that Paul actually sings on this disc. Both Talking Time Travel and A Somewhat New Medium feel, to me, almost like a parody of beat poetry and as such they are very funny and do expand Barman's sound and range of material. His type of rapping is typically like a beat poet on speed with a sense of humor anyway.

The production is great with excellent beats and sampling from all over the map. You think you know where a song is going and then bam!! a sample hits you from way out of left field in the best hip-hop tradition. In short, if you find Paul Barman whiny and annoying stay away. For those of us tuned in to his brand of comic rap, the feast has been served.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More meaningful than most, November 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Paullelujah (Audio CD)

A previous reviewer writes to say that MC Paul Barman has wasted his time. That reviewer, I am sorry to say, has wasted mine and yours. Barman's second CD is a significant improvement over the first in technique, content, rhyme, and diversity. It includes his usual self-deprecating and enjoyable humor; serious attempts to discuss the orgy of war, the orgy of the sexes, our contempt for the environment, and our occasional contempt for each other. And this is done with some wonderful imagery and poetry as well as Barman's trademark esoterica. Personally, I don't understand how a writer can say he has enjoyed MC Paul's previous work and find this one less meaningful. It is altogether more thoughtful and less sophmoric.

Sometimes a performer just outgrows members of his audience.