Spectrum

Quannum | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 27, 1999)
• Original Release Date: July 6, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Quannum Projects
• ASIN: B00000JMIV
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #248,253 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More for the stubborn pro-indy Hip Hop lovers..., September 13, 2000

By 

"1bigkid" (Sherman Oaks, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spectrum (Audio CD)

For the average hip hop listener, this will seem more experimental, but for those that are far into the experimental hip hop arena, this will seem to disappoint. While there are definitely a few tracks that are no less than gems on this album, much of what the original Solesides (prior to Quannum) group has achieved is hardly touched on this album. What will be found on this album are highlights by those stronger Quannum artists (Lyrics Born, Lateef, Blackalicious) followed my more mainstream, albeit mediocre, artists with freestyles that are interesting but nowhere near the original style or concept that Quannum had sought to create or that we have come to expect. The sudden influx of new artists to the Quannum label, to me, seems to taint their original image, as some of the new blood just isn't up to par with the original group members.

Furthermore, while this album serves as a nod to Quannum's original beginnings, the skits with Mack B Dog presenting the album as a late night radio show only cheapen what could have been a really solid album that spoke for itself. Instead of creating a strong, simple, yet elegant album, the production was chosen to follow the mainstream production of its time and put a myriad of little excerpts in between songs.

A strong lineup of cameos is done on this album, sadly, as a non-J5 listener, I would have to say that on tracks like this, Quannum picks up the least becoming characteristic of J5, which is simply to make up simplistic rhymes and recite them all in chorus, which pervades almost every one of their songs. However, tracks like "The Storm" amd "I Change My Mind" fight to make this album hard not to purchase. The lyrical tapestry and vivid metaphors by Lyrics Born will be difficult to match by few in such a style that only LB can seem to conceive.

While not one of my most favorite picks of its year in production, it is a strong contender, and in all fairness for pro-independent release lovers, this is a must to pick up.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What were(n't) they thinking?, May 9, 2000

By 

Sam Feldman (Oberlin College) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spectrum (Audio CD)

My reactions to this album ranged from 'the tightest track I've ever heard,' to 'HUH? ' Of course this is "experimental" hip-hop though, so you gotta give it some slack. The 3 stars are only because Quannum can do much better than this. See, for example, Latyrx (comprised of Lateef and Lyrics Born), and Blackalicious (both the new one, Nia and the old one, Melodica). Getting back to Spectrum though, TRACK 3 IS SOOOOO DOPE! That's my anthem, yo. I have seen all members of Quannum live, so trust me when I say this - Spectrum could be much better, but some of these individual tracks are near to perfection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the dopest albums of the year, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Spectrum (Audio CD)

I love this joint, it reminds me of what it's like to see these kids live. To those that feel it isn't Shadow at his best, it's because this album wasn't meant to be. This album is about hiphop not glowsticks. El-P and Latyrx rock the house together and probably the dopest, pump your fist, and suckers catch beat downs song would have to be Bombonyall. That joint is straight ill'in. If you buy one album buy this one, every song is worth it, even the ones that aren't considered hiphop. Quannum is always pushing hiphop forward and this is a true testemant of their abilities to do so.