Customer Reviews

Stacked Up

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

 

 

Boy is THIS gonna be an easy review to write!

How many rap/metal bands are out there? Correct answer: too many.
Of all of them, only one has ever flirted with greatness on their own terms, and that's Senser. First, the band cooks: riffs that kill and kill again & a rhythm section that never takes their collective foot off the pedal. Secondly, the rapping here is a lot more than percussive grunting; it's uniformly intelligent and energetic and delivered with the staccato elegance of a submachine gun. Thirdly, all the detail work -the chanting vocals, the eclectic well of influences (from Krautrock to triphop to prog), the Eastern vibe that glides under and over and through the tracks, the painstaking craftsmanship evident in each song - is just brilliant. There's a reason the Ozric Tentacles get namechecked here, folks: this is not a Limp Bizkit record we're talking about.

Hey, I cringe at rap-metal as much or more than the next jamoke, but this Senser cd is utterly and completely sui generis, its own category. Wonderful record. If you don't own this, you're missing out on something special.

This band.... over a decade now, have been making people less stupid. Not only have they rocked musically, but their anti-establishment / philosophical / spiritual / intensely angry / positive-vibe / motivational lyrics have just blown people away, destroyed their stupidity and got them out of their la-z-boys and out doing something constructive and meaningful.

That's just lyrically. Now let's get on to the music.

Senser blow away every weak rap-metal band out there, especially Limp Bizkit. They make Rage Against The Machine look like middle-schoolers, musically and lyrically. These songs, are soooooooooo unique, so mind-blowing, it's sick, how good this CD is. The only band that rivals them lyrically is probably LA-based Downset. and Sweden's FISTFUNK, two bands which never got the respect they deserved.

EVERYONE I show Senser's "Stacked Up" to.... even if they HATE rap mixed with metal and electronics and turntables (Senser did it first and BEST!), absolutely LOVES this album. Even people who only listen to top 40. THEY LOVE THIS ALBUM. That says a lot. A LOT. I am so glad this album exists at all, because it needs to. Especially in a world where music is so disposable and weak.

Senser had a slight member modification in 1996 and 1997 (the original rapper left, as did half the band), but, their second record Asylum is just as good... Kerstin (the female in the group) took over lead vocals and rapped, growled, screamed her way into our subconscious.

Then, in 2003 I believe, Senser reformed-- the original seven. Their second album with Heitham Al-Sayed is called Schematic.... and it sounds a lot like Stacked Up, but WAY more gritty, way more intense, and way more pissed-off, lyrically. I still think Stacked Up is their masterpiece (and boy, when I say MASTERPIECE I mean it.... it is truly deserving of the title).... but Schematic is damn good and you should pick it up just for the sole basis of supporting this amazing, politically-charged band. They are a force to be reckoned with, let me tell you.

I would love, LOVE to see them blow up in America. OUR COUNTRY NEEDS A BAND LIKE SENSER to destroy all the disposable phony metal over here, plaguing the radio.

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Thanks for reading. Now go buy this! Take a look at that used price. Can you pass up a masterpiece album for less than $2? I think not. Or buy it new! It's still much cheaper than most CDs these days. Worth EVERY penny and then some.

When I first heard Senser, I was in a party Drunk as hell with a bunch of military friends. I heard Age Of Panic and immidiately knew that Senser was not what I was used to hearing I asked what it was and where I could score my own copy Finally picked it up and didnt want to put it down. Their collection of Ambience and Rock Rap is unsurpassed I have not YET heard musical greatness like Senser Stacked Up. Phony Bologna Limp Bzkit and there Contradictions will never Stack up against Stacked Up. Senser will get ahold of you and Mess with your senses

Stacked Up is as the title suggests socially conscious and anti-establishment (less nukes more humanity!) but the techno digital sounds rival Rage Against the Machine with alternating rap and ambient lyrics on a versatile 12 track cd. (13 in Europe) Groovy sounds and rhythyms change up with hard-hitting lyrics and guitar grunge Limp Biscuit fans will dig. The lyrics may be too smart for their own good! The heaviest hitter that will sneak up on you is the slow jam Stubborn. You paramilitary techno psychos out there will love it! Ignore the house beat tracks. The solid tracks on this CD are well worth overlooking them.

I couldn't agree more with the other comments here. This is one of my most favourite albums of all time. The best tracks in my opinion are "What's Going On" and "No Comply". The second album is completely different to this, it's a much darker CD with jungle/D&B overtones, Still a good listen though.

I picked up my copy of "Stacked Up" from a friend who worked for a CD shop. "Take it," he said. "It's garbage." I thought it was worth a listen--after all, any CD with a picture of a wrecked car on the cover can't be all bad, right?

Indeed. Unlike Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and seemingly every other white kid who attempts to fuse heavy metal with hip hop, Sensor manages to combine heavy guitar chords with rhythmic beats and an "international" flavor that I couldn't quite put my finger on (I'm guessing Middle Eastern). There is an attitude here that isn't annoyingly overbearing (again, I'm referring to the current crop of lame macho-aggressive rock/rap), and--perish the thought--a message not unlike that of Rage Against the Machine. The only difference between the theme of Senser and RATM is that you can actually take Senser seriously. Somebody should tell the RATM boys that it's awfully easy to be a communist when you've got plenty of money from multiple platinum albums to give away. The rest of us have to work for a living. Senser is pushing the left-wing boundary, too, but they don't forget that their audience is comprised of blue-collar kids longing for white-collar life in a world that seems intent on growing the divide between rich and poor and limiting opportunity. "Age of Panic?" Absolutely.

This album has all the makings of a hit, But the radio's yet again don't play them. Wake up! 1. States Of Mind - 100% -This song is rappy but cetchy2. Key, The - 85% -Not the Key Song but nice none the less3. Switch - 100% -Great Track! 4. Age Of Panic - 95% -Rappy with a cold choris thing by there female band member which would later take lead singer in band on there secod effort "Asylum".5. Peanut Head - 90% -Mostly Rap but has some interesting things to say6. One Touch One Bounce - 70% -Not my fav.7. Stubborn - 75% - I believe they leftthis song off i other coutrys and I really didn't care for it either.8. What's Going On- 90% - Great track! What's Is Going On! 9. Peace - 95% - Sex track sang by Kerstin Haigh. 10. Eject - 100% - The Best track on this Album! Need to hear it!11. No Comply - 85% -Ok track. A lot more Rocky sound. 12. Worth - 80% - Ok track.I would Suggest buying there Second effort if you like this one. It's an Import but worth it! The name of the Album is "Asylum". It's not so Rappy but more morbed sounding. The male songer left and the female vocalist took over.

After reading Amazon reviews I decided to by this CD, Expecting something that would make Rage Against The Machine look like middle-schoolers. What I got was a CD that is 97% rap and 3% rock at best. Only 4 of tracks even feature guitar riffs.The song Whats going on is basicly a flute sequenced track. The song Peace is soft rap / rock. One song is just noise behind a slow drum beat. Eject has some heavy guitar work but is more like dokken or Led Zeppelin heavy, that's as heavy as it gets. Blow away Limp Bizkit? only if it's a soft rock rap contest!!! People like myself from the school of Metallica and Megadeth will find this CD to be a rap CD nothing more. Rockers from the School of Limp Bizkit will find this CD a little on the mellow side. If you like soft / hard Rap with lyrics that tell you to do your own thing then you should love Stacked Up.

From the moment the riff kicks in, you know this one is gonna be something a bit special.
Senser mix an impressive array of conflicting styles without compromising any of them.
Crunchy metal guitars give way to spacy ambient keys, female vocals, funky drums, samples and scratches.
The male vocal is intelligent, wordy rap which beats any nu-metal mcs hands down and helps to tie Sensers bases together.
Although recorded in 94 (before Lame Biscuit and the like)this album sounds as ground breaking today.
If you want something to satisfy that metal urge but also provide peaceful and experimental passages with a top production- this is definately for you.
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After seeing this South London band opening up and blowing away Moby at one of his shows in Detroit in about 1996.I had a hard time finding this release.This band has more intensity and passion than any American rappers than and now.Where are these guys and lady now?