Customer Reviews

Stereo: Evolution of Hiprocksoul

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ahmad has definitely changed since "Back In The Day" (see his 1994 debut Ahmad). On this album, he evolves a step further, taking his pioneering Hiprocksoul style to a new level. If you thought Mos Def's The New Danger went too far... you ain't heard nothing yet.

Being one of only two notable Hiphop bands (the other being The Roots), 4th Avenue Jones' kind of left the "Hiphop" behind and focused more on the "band" for this release. Now signed to dc Talk's Gotee Records, Ahmad decided to go a different route. The first thing I noticed other than the obvious sound difference when compared to their previous releases, is the absence of 4th Ave. rapper Senaj the Backwordz, or Jabu, as he was also known... no explanation was given... my guess is he may not have like the whole "rock" theme and opted out... who knows.

Anyway, if you are looking for a Hiphop album and Ahmad's lyrical and original rhyme style, you may want to skip this one. There is a definitive "rock" feel to it and Ahmad does more singing than rapping, especially on the first half of the album. This is very disappointing, considering he is one of the premiere lyricists from the Westcoast. When he does rap, you can hear his trademark, even through the hard guitar riffs that shroud almost every chorus.

What this album is missing in lyricism, it does make up for in originality and melody. Ahmad is an excellent songwriter and his band is great. Although I am not a big fan of screaming guitars, every track is original, musically interesting, and... well, catchy. The single "Stereo", although it is only just barely over 2 minutes long is the introduction of the new 4th Avenue Jones' and sets the pace for the rest of the album. Other highlights include "Overloaded", "I'm Sorry", and for those who would rather hear Ahmad's lyrical side, check out "Take Me Away", "Monumental Continental" featuring their new labelmates Grits, and the bonus track, probably the only record on the album that is not blatanty 'rock'-themed, "It's Over Now".

Hopefully, for the Jones' Hiphop fans, it's not 'over now'; I would love to hear some music more reminiscent to 1999's raw and original Hiphop release No Plan B. And, please bring back Jabu.

I am always looking for new, experimental hip-hop and this is it. This is so entirely different than most of the stuff that you hear. The review above says that mixing the genres makes it weaker, not true. It only makes it that must better!! If you don't believe me, get on their website and listen.

This album is pretty great. The lyrics are really genuine and clever even on tracks like "Fabulous Dramatics" and "Rush". Lots of Timmy Shakes guitar riffs and chord patterns, adding the rock to hiprocksoul. Ahmad sings? on "Overloaded" and a couple of other tracks which may not be his strong area. Love Tena Jones. There is a bit of chemistry between her and Ahmad as on most tracks she follows up behind him with verse in response to whatever he rhymed first. Listen to "Ceasar". The interludes will either entertain you or annoy you. Other than that I'd buy it. Of course I already have and it's been well over a year and I still listen to it quite often. If you are looking for something fresh and experimental, this is a good one.

Okay, so I found these guys while looking for CDs on BMG. And I can tell you this, I've got their CD on order right now. How do I know they are so damn good? I've been listening to their website 24/7 for the past 3 days. This group is UNBELIEVABLE! Incredible lyrically and musically. If you don't have this CD you are really missing out. Just buy it! NOW!

damn them for breaking up the group... AND DAMN TINA AND THE GROUP LEADER FROM DIVORCING... this was something great!

I saw these guys open for Handsome Boy Modeling School a few months back, and immediately went home and played the teaser CD they were giving out. When I finally got to buy the full album I wasn't in the least disappointed. Interesting talent... I fully recommend checking them out.

all i can say is that this album is amazing, this guys are too talented, if u have a brain u better get this album.

I had never heard of these folks, but I was watching G4 TV one day and I saw and heard this amazing song (Stereo) and had to find out more about these folks. I went to their web site and heard many of their songs. (I stayed connected for hours listening over and over, then I bought the this CD, and I might not listen to anything else for months to come. Amazing lyrics, great beats, great singing and rapping. 'Take it away' is my favorite, but I love every single song. Just check it out at their site, and you will end up getting this disk. It is awesome.

Great, original sound. if you like mainstream hip-hop with good hooks and melodies, you'll like this cd. The only problem? Once you've heard four or five of the songs, you've pretty much exhausted this cd...which is the case with most popular hip-hop today anyway. I hope the jones's take a little more time before releasing they're next project.

every now and then, your earz become subject 2 such an eclectic mix of sonic elementz that, conventionally, have no bidness interminglin' in such a way. and when u take n2 account that a tenured syncopated performance poet like ahmad iz one of tha facez of this movement, it kinda makez 4 a moment not entirely unlike tha mouse that standz with hiz middle digitz extended and skyward az tha eagle descendz upon him with deliberate and malicious intent.

ion blame ahmad at all: interscope screwed him over royally not once, but TWICE when it came 2 supportin' hiz vizion. even after madd commercial success with "come widdit" and "back in the day", not 2 mention numerous freestylez all over cali, he waz disilluzioned with tha industry and opted 4 a change. this began hiz affinity 4 tha precipice, or edge of tha proverbial cliff. ever since then, hiz wife tena and other peepz over tha yearz have joined him in hiz quest 2 push tha so-called envelope, givin' tha average listener somethin' refreshin' yet uncompromized. enter tha "4th avenue jones'" experience: beginnin' with "no plan b" and movin' on thru tha independently-released "hiprocksoul", they revel in bein' tha mouse that standz in front of tha industry eagle on tha swoop, yet they live 2 do it time and time again az evidenced by an international fan base, major label distribution and recent re-releasez of their archived work.

havin' said that, tha cliff can only hold so much weight, and "stereo" lookz 2 b tha demize that happenz b4 they even got noticed 4 bein' there in tha first place. 4 many, this CD iz a debut, and won't b fully appreciated without checkin' out a grand deal of their previous work. i'm not generally a purveyor of negativity or a chronic naysayer, but they don't conveniently fall n2 any one genre: not hip hop, not rock, not soul. in all truth, 2day'z general record-buyin' public ain't n2 multi-genred groupz or CDz. one can't take ANY one of theze songz on their own and use it az tha face of this release - it won't work. it HAZ 2 b all or nothin' here. that kinda courage can only do one of two thingz: push 4th avenue jones' over tha edge, or make u wonder in amazement az tha smoke clearz and u find that they EXTENDED tha edge and await tha eagle'z return. i PRAY it'z tha latter. listen 4 yaself and b treated. PEACE.