Customer Reviews

The Ringmaster

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

As foretold by the Tarot cards of a mechanical gypsy, society's criminals will be visited by a circus of pain and anguish. This traveling mass of evil will leave behind a rotting trail of corpses while judging the fate of every departed soul. And the leader of this Dark Carnival is none other than the Ringmaster, a wicked manifestation of mankind's greed and avarice. Step right up as the Ringmaster takes you on the ride of your life. For with the wave of his magic wand, he will send the ICP's Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope to swing their battleaxes and split squirming carcasses in half.
Released three years after "Carnival of Carnage," this album is undoubtedly the most sinister of all six Joker Cards. The punishing rap beats and scratches are mixed with a spooky calliope and backward masking. In addition, ICP's lyrics are wildly obscene. Dementedly brilliant, the tracks are greatly influenced by horror movie gore while encrusted with the grime of the ghetto zone. Obviously, "The Ringmaster" is not suitable for sensitive women, small children, or anyone with a bad heart condition. Does anybody want a chicken neck sandwich?
"Murder Go Round" is basically a gang war in which gun violence occurs on all sides. Supported by a bass, this song will shoot down any hoodlum who dares to enter ICP's terror turf. "Chicken Huntin'" is a grisly underground classic that pulls the trigger on the American South. Like fresh poultry in a butcher shop, hillbilly farmers are chopped and trimmed of their drumsticks, necks, gizzards, and eyeballs. The chilling "Mr. Johnson's Head" concerns a quiet high school nerd who decapitates a teacher and leaves his body in the hallway. "Southwest Song," which samples an awareness speech by Mister Rogers (RIP), addresses the hopelessness that infects Detroit's working-class neighborhoods. "Who Asked You" is a foul funfair track that roughly blends necrophilia, cheap motel rooms, lollipops, and Wayne Newton. Perhaps the creepiest song ever to be made by ICP is "The Dead One." Fueled by a powwow drum, a grieving flute, and a heavy metal guitar, this dirge reveals how a thug is killed in a brawl and then faces the gripping fear of becoming a festering zombie. "My Fun House" rides spoiled bullies through a death spectacular. The torturous thrills of this gorefest are provided by a creeking door and kindergarden screeches. The moonlit saxophone of "Wagon Wagon" invites Juggalos to ride in a ghost car loaded with cadavers. In "The Loons," Violent J plays a demented serial killer who prepares to slash the throat of his next victim. Both "Love Song" and "Bugs on my Nutz" are unbelievably raunchy. Together, they are packed with veneral disease, prostitution, and potty-mouth pillow talk. Finally, the eerie "House of Mirrors" forces ignorant spectators to see a reflection of their evil selves. Featuring a surprise appearance by Capitol E, this song punishes anyone who refuses to show compassion and respect for others.
If you seek an audio masterpiece of scares, "The Ringmaster" is what I recommend. It will whet your bloodthirsty appetite for the following Joker Cards, "Riddlebox" and "The Great Milenko." Who's next in line for the Murder Go Round?

The day has come, the time of reckoning. Who will perish in dreaded hell and who's soul will be content within the pleasures of heaven? Looking past the words spoken with a wicked tongue and looking past the evil deeds done in one's life, but instead looking into the conscious of man.

What is the real evil that seems to plague mankind? Who are the real demons that walk this earth? Is it those whose minds have become devious because of a lifetime spent inside of a caged hell, or is it those who invented this caged hell years ago and done nothing to help destroy it yet? Who's guilty, Frankenstein or the doctor that created him? The sword, or the man who has slain with it? Which is the real evil, the man who kills another for food or the man who does not share his food to avoid the killing? While you sit in judgement of a criminal, you may very well be the one who's guilty. Guilty of greed, deception and hate.

Those who are rejected at the gates of heaven, shall be dragged off into the pits of hell. Viciously torn from this life by the non-living, the phantoms of the dead. These beasts take the form of a demented carnival, that of a wicked, dark, circus, led by one. One who was created by your own evil ways. One who will judge your very fate. The one known only as... The Ringmaster.


This is by far the darkest and best icp album/Joker's Card ever. I love all of them but this is just incredible, I have been listening to this cd for years and still have it in my walkman on a regular basis. (I mean, you can't say this about alot of cds) I mean, the beat on " My Fun house" is a creaking door and it sounds great, not mnay bands could make that work. This was the first icp cd with just Violent J and Shaggy 2 dope ( Shagg's brother John "kickjazz" Ustler was in the band up until Carnival of Carnage and Greez-E was on the Beverly Kills ep.) If you love icp and for some odd demented reason don't own this cd yet, buy it right now. You will not regret it. I would give a personal run down of all the tracks but i don't think I would have the room so i will just list my personal favorites from this cd. Mr. Johnson's Head (Greatest icp song ever, I must have listened to this song 25 times the day I bought it) Murder-Go-Round. My Funhouse, Wagon Wagon, The Loons. I can not recommend this cd more. I hope this review helped, enjoy.

Honestly, this is the worst release yet to come from INSANE CLOWN POSSE. It is quite dull, and lacks the unique flavor that came from CARNIVAL OF CARNAGE (1991) and BEVERLY KILLZ 50187 (1992). After this, they rebounded with true classics, such as THE TERROR WHEEL (1994) and RIDDLEBOX (1995). Here, there are a couple good songs, especially "Murder go round". This album is better than TUNNEL OF LOVE (1996), but not as good as THE GREAT MILENKO (1997) or FORGOTTEN FRESHNESS 1-2 (1998). It is not even comparable to AMAZING JECKEL BROS. (1999) or BIZZAR and BIZAAR (2000). It has a similar stlye to PSYCHOPATHICS FROM OUTER SPACE (2001)or PSYCHOPATHIC RYDAS DUMPIN' (2001). However, if you like gangsta style music, you might want to check this out, along with RYDEN DIRTAY (2002), TALES FROM THE LOTUS POD (2002), or the new release FORGOTTEN FRESHNESS 3 (2002).

Ok I have to admit that when I first bought this I was dissapointed. I thought it had no good lyrics or beats. I must have had my head up my arse coz this CD really kicks it! Now I listen to it the most aside from Riddlebox! It's old skool ICP and has a good dose of wicked shxt! My favourite song is 'The Loons" and also 'Bugs on my nutz"...a must buy! (Though I will say I don't like the original Chicken Huntin', the new one is a lot better). MCL JUGGALOS

THIS IS AN ICP CLASSIC AND IT IS PHAT! THIS CD IS GREAT YOU GOTTA HEAR THIS! THIS CD IS ABSOLUTE GREATNESS YOU GOTTA PICK THIS ONE UP!

ICP is complete garbage! Face painting posers for frustrated suburban teenage boys who can't get laid. God bless the USA! People will buy garbage like this and make two cretins rich!

This was the first CD of theirs I ever owned (first CD I ever owned was alice in Chains), first Concert tour I ever went to, and first band shirt I ever bought. This band as a kid, and even today, is an amazing CD describing and explaining all the things that I had no idea were really goig on in my life. There is so much back story to me that I won't get into, but this album shows how ICP went from street to CD that sold big, very big, with constant effort by these guys.

Get this album now!

NICE ALBUM IT WAS GREAT BACK THEN AND STILL IS NOW IVE ALWASYS LIKE ICP THIS IS THEIR SECOND BEST ALBUM NOW I'LL RATE THE SONGS

1.WAGON WAGON
GREAT SONG ONE OF MY FAVORITES 5/5

2.MURDER GO ROUND
IN MY TOP 5 FAVORITE ICP SONGS 5/5

3.CHICKEN HUNTIN NOW THIS IS OLD SCHOOL AND IT WAS GREAT 5/5

4.MR. JOHNSONS HEAD
I REALLY LIKE THIS SONG, GREAT 5/5

5.SOUTHWEST SONG
NICE SONG, THIS IS DARK ICP 4/5


6.GET OFF ME DOG
PRETTY GOOD 3/5

7.WHO ASKED
SUPERB SONG 4.5/5

8.WAX MUSEUM
NOT THAT GOOD 2/5

9.THE DEAD ONE
NICE PRETTY GOOD

10.MY FUN HOUSE
I LIKE THIS ONE 5/5

11.FOR THE MAGGETS
GOOD SONG 3/5

12.THE LOONS
ONE OF MY FAVORITES ABOUT A NECK CUTTER WICH IS VIOLENT J GREAT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BETTER 5/5

13.LOVE SONG
THIS SUCKED 2/5

14.HOUSE OF MIRRORS
ANOTHER GREAT ICP SONG I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO IT 5/5

15.BUG ON MY NUTZ
NOT THAT GOOD 3/5

16.RINGMASTER
2/5

GREAT ICP ALBUM ALOT OF GREAT SONGS LIKE MUDER GO ROUND,HOUSE OF MIRRIORS AND MORE HOPEFULLY ICP WILL MAEK MORE ALBUMS. GREAT SONGS.

As their second album, ICP really outdid themselves on this record! Their songs are truly hilarious (and sometimes sick) but hey, it still RULES! The Ringmaster also has the best-looking Joker's card! My favorite song is "Wax Museum". If you're thinking about buying this album, don't think twice... Buy it now!!!!!!

I AM A BIG ICP FAN AND I HAVE GREAT MILENKO, AMAZING JECKLE BROTHERS,AND THIS, BUT IVE HEARD THE OTHER ONES TOO AND THIS IS MY FAVORITE ICP CD! THE SONGS LIKE MR.JOHNSONS HEAD,THE LOONS, AND HOUSE OF MIRRORS ARE ALL PHAT AS HELL. 2,5,7, AND 13 ARE REALLY GOOD TOO. PEACE