Customer Reviews

Shifting Gears

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sometimes the inspiration of an album outweighs its execution. Maybe that's a little the case here, but what the hell - this album is also damn fun.

Stepping back: Z-Trip is obviously a fan - like, a major league old school hip-hop culture fan, and having gained enough notice with "Uneasy Listening" he's got to do a little bit of everything he loves, in the styles he loves, with the people he loves. It's totally infectious: the old school is large and in your face: huge party grooves ("Listen to the DJ"), silly stoner lyrics ("Breakfast Club"), tunes for breaking to ("Furious").

But on top of the nostalgic, party atmosphere, there much more going on here. First and foremost: this album has vision, structure and ambition that hasn't been seen in hip-hop since, oh, I dunno, De La Soul? Whatever, but it moves from an old school reunion (take a bow, Sir Whipper Whip: your track is a stand-out moment) to inventive new stuff, folding in down-tempo DJ Shadow-style re-workings ("3rd Gear"), nu-metal ("Walking Dead") and even crusty old Chuck D yelling about George Bush.

It's a pretty breath-taking span to attempt, and Z-Trip mostly pulls it off. Z-Trip also proves he has a pretty tidy sense of melody, creating a hip-hop ballad in "Everything Changes" with a lifting end section that really creates a mood beautifully.

So: in short: beware. This isn't your average party record, your average rap album, your average anything. It's brave and fresh and it knows where it came from. Absolutely respectworthy.

This is Jared. And I just picked up Z-trip's "Shifting Gears"...I gotta say, what a breath of fresh air. I love old school hip hop/and turntabilism more than the crap hip hop that's out today. No dis to Kanye West, but some should just stick to producing....Anyways, the mix of rock, hip hop and electronica blends for an awesome mix. The only track I'm not thrilled about is "Take 2 copies" other than that, this album rocks. The other downside, is the album begins with old school party jams then after the funny as hell "Breakfast club" track, we get some downright awesome production. Best tracks come near the end ( Everything Changes, Walking Dead, Shock and Awe) Shock and Awe is just simply amazing hip hop/rock.... with Chuck D!!!! Bottom line....this is a breath of fresh air for all of us who long for old school blended with a little new flavor to bang out all these "bling bling" punks that are here and gone in a weeks time! Ya'll know who I'm talking about. Peace! Can't wait for more by Z trip.

Being from AZ I've seen this dude live and own some of his underground cd's. So I know how sick this guy is. This cd is good, but it's not sick. Z is very capable of making some sick sounds, but his full talent isn't really present on this cd. One of the other reviewers said that Z couldn't get a lot of his samples cleared, and I think that hurt him. This is a very solid cd, but lacks in something that doesn't make it a five star. the song with murs and super nat is my fav on the cd. If you're looking for a good "mixed tape" cd check out Prefuse 73's Surrounded by Silence, which is pure butter.

Seriously, if you want some music that not only stands out but that will stand the test of time, this is it. one listen and already i can feel how much energy went into this. this album is exactly what i wanted. Buy this now and you will not regret it

Peace

Z-Trip's album finally came out. After waiting for a few years (since Z's last paragon of mixing perfection w/ DJ P, Uneasy Listening Vol. 1), I'm not dissappointed at all. The album combines some great MCs from new-school (Soup from Jurassic 5, L.A. locals Busdriver and Supernatural) to the old-school masters (Chuck D and Whipper Whip, among others). And the beats? Don't get me started. Z-Trip still drops any good record he can put his hands on. Even if the album isn't as sample-oriented as his past endeavors, it still rocks (almost as well as Z's famous live shows). From the party-rockin' "The Get Down" and the jazzy meditation of "Third Gear" to the lovely (ballad-like?) "Everything Changes" and the extremely technical drum scratches of "About Face," the album just does not stop.

Give it a shot, you'll dig it most definately, even if your main attraction was "Walking Dead." :)

Oh and for ya indie kids, the keyboardist from The Mars Volta plays keys on "Third Gear." It's quite awesome.

In this CD, Z-Trip's music makes you feel every sense of your being. This CD defintely ROCKS!!!

Z-trip's new album shifting gears has very rythmic beats that you could easily listen to and sway your head. The song everything changes featuring aceyalone and mystic is one of the best songs on the album. The soothing voice of Mystic and the dope flow of aceyalone and z-trip together. The turntablist style so unique it sounds alot like old school hip-hop like when people first began learning what you could do with a mixer a record player getting beats from you 8-track recorder. Comming up with funky beats and dope words to flow with it . Just a reminderthat there are stilol good musicians out there in our world that hypes up the worst albums. The song breakfast club with Murs is a funny yet fun song to listen to when bored becuase you could eaily relate to the lyrics.I hope whoever read this finds it helpful

"Breakfast Club" track steals the show. Uneasy Listening album is still one of his best. If you haven't seen him live. Do it. Do it.

Having followed Mr Z since about 98, he finally releases a mainstream CD, which is something of a departure, believe me, trying to get hold of anything from this elusive DJ is a result. So has he sold out ?? No, he definitely has not, although this is not Uneasy Listening Vol 2, its not a mix CD, although all tracks blend into each other effortlessly. The tracks are so diverse, you never know what to expect next, soul, funk, rock, hip hop and that is Z-Trip`s trade mark, never a dull moment throughout. Some purists might persist that this is a confused CD, trust me he has hit the mark, when listening to this CD you're feelings are taken for a journey of bends, you just cant see what's coming !! Drill Sergeants, Breakfast Cereal's, ambient wave sounds lapping on a beach, yes really !! Suffice to say at the prices I have seen this CD for, you really cant go wrong, the only catch being that you will want more and more of this maestro of the decks, and as you will soon find out, that is not such an easy journey :>)

On a personal note, the outstanding track for me is "Shock and Awe" such power and emotion from a song, listen to the lyric's, Z-Trip and Chuck D it really doesn't get deeper or nastier !!

the album that was slated for a '04 release, that got pushed back a year and half, has finally arrived.
this album is very diverse, and it will catch you off-guard.
if you are expecting to hear another UneasyListening, you wont.
you will hear Z-Trip represent his production style.
he was going to make a much more sample heavy album, but that fell through half way in production when he couldnt clear a very large amount of samples.
at which point he started completely from scratch,

"with a little help from my friends" =)

dont get me wrong though.
this is Z-Trip.
you will definitely get the feeling when you listen to tracks like

take 2 copies &
STR

those 2 tracks stand out the most and retain that classic "Z" sound.
You will enjoy them

he has come a long way, and deserves all the love he can grab.
17 years is a LONG TIME to be doing something.
some folks are just now hearing about him, and thats a shame.
hopefully with this much exposure as "shifting gears" is getting, we will hear more about Z, and the contributions he has made to his people