Customer Reviews

Vaudeville Villain

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is definately the year of Doom. After purchasing the excellent King Ghedorah album, and the collaberation with Madlib, I promptly picked this up, to see if Metal Face could keep up the excellence. This album rocks. Personally, it my favorite hip hop album of the year BY FAR. The production (done by a bunch of cats from the SoundInk stable) is completly fresh and off the hook. The beats on this album really outshine those on any other hip hop album I have heard this year. And as for Dumile, if you can believe, he just keeps getting fresher- Definatley one of the top lyrically dogs in the game at the moment. Also, since this came out in close proximity to the King Ghedorah lp ('Take Me To Your Leader'), I have heard lots of critics trying to compare the two- Don't bother, the are both completly different & dope. I actually prefer this album to that one quite abit. For one, Doom rhymes on every track (actually he is the only MC on most tracks). And being a beat-head, I find the production on this CD to be far superior. The beats on are are by turns creepy, sinister, futuristic, and ill- all head nodders. I did like the production on 'Take Me To Your Leader', but the production on this lp was much fresher- it hits the speakers better, and is WAY more futuristic. If you are have not picked up this gem yet, do so now- I promise you won't be disapointed, also pick up the hot collabo with MadLid (it's called 'Madvillian'), and 'Take Me To Your Leader' while you're at. Amazingly, Dumile is gracing us with ANOTHER full length this year- A brand new MF Doom album. You already now that's going to rock. If there was any justice at all, Dumile would multi-platinum, and runaway choice for MC of the year. Peace...

My first exposure to MF (Metal Face) Doom, was from his collaboration with Madlib, "Madvillain". I was very impressed with the album, but it left me wanting more of Dumile's engrossing mush-mouthed rhyme style. At my first impression, I thought Doom's flow was very old-school. Well, upon further research, I wasn't too surprised that he was first featured on the 3rd Bass single, "The Gas Face" (1989), under the alias Zev Love X (born Daniel Dumile). Zev made his debut with K.M.D. a couple of years later. So yes, there's a lot of history to the man behind the iron mask. Fast-forward to 2003, and you'll find the veteran MC in arguably, his finest form yet. And here he is under another alias, Viktor Vaughn (Victor Von Doom is Dr. Doom's real name in the Marvel comic books.) Doom's story-rhymes are very compelling and very gripping. In fact, the production brought forth by RJD2, King Honey, Heat Sensor, and Max Bill, is just as captivating as Doom's intriguing flow.

"Vaudeville Villain" paints vivid pictures of dark twisted city folklore, which is very reminiscent of Marvel comic book tales. The production sounds futuristic, yet classic. It's never overbearing, and always enjoyable. It's interesting, yet minimal, which keeps the spotlight where it should be, on Doom himself. It may take a few spins to fully digest Doom's unique flow; but it's a journey worth taking. There are actually very few collaborations with other emcees here (a plus). The ones that are included hold up very strong. The exquisite "Let Me Watch" featuring Apani B Fly stands out nicely. "Open Mic Nite, Pt. 1" doesn't feature Doom at all; but instead features the mad talent of Dr Moreau and Louis Logic's incredible battle rhymes. Doom steps it up on "Open Mic Nite, Pt. 2" where he takes down AJ Ready Wright and Creature. The record is filled with twists and turns that are sure to shock a few listeners, to say the very least. My favorites have got to be "Saliva," "Never Dead," the title track, and "Lickupon".

There really isn't a dull moment on "Vaudeville Villain". It's packed with great ideas, an innovative approach, ill production, and a enthralling old-school accessible feel. MF Doom has been a very busy man in the past few years, and experiencing the magic of this masterpiece makes me that much happier to know he is finally getting the respect he deserves.

Listening to Viktor Vaughn: Vaudville Villain, MF Doom's latest classic, it's hard not to wonder how one MC can be so creative, so many light years ahead of the competition and still be unknown by so many supposed hip-hop heads. If you are one of the unlucky ones who've never heard his work, the time is now. Vocally, Doom sounds somewhere between Kool G. Rap and Erick Sermon with his thick tongued lisp and laid-back, conversational flow. Lyrically, it's a different story. Doom spits dizzying, subtle jewels and punchlines that reveal themselves with each repeated listen. Just a word of advice: if you're a fan of radio (c)rap, there's no sped-up R&B vocal samples, or even a chorus anywhere on here - just raw, original, kind-of electronica inspired beats (but still straight up hip-hop) and lyrics that will have you open-mouthed in awe. Underground, intelligent, and hardcore, but still accessable to less open-minded hip-hop fans, this is a CRUCIAL disk for you to own.

Too many quotables here, but just to get you motivated to cop it, here's a tiny sample:

"There's four sides to every story/ If these walls could talk, they'd prob'ly still ignore me/ Contemplate war over a cup of warm coffee/ it's really gettin' gory/ Tell your problems to Maury" (Lickupon)

"Don't let the drama get ya/ in the only form of music where the fans shoot the messenger/ Bi-ch n-----s talk behind your back like a catcher/Either MYOB or BYO stretcher ," (The Drop)

"Had enough of your mularkey/ For one, don't mark me/ and who you callin darkey?" (A Dead Mouse)

"Soup's on/ and I got a coupon/ Chinese restaurant askin' for the Grey Poupon/ He said, "No - duck sause, soy sauce/ and this ain't no Burger King/ so you don't get no toy, boss/...You ain't nicer than the lunatic sheister/ AKA the Vikster/ or the Vikmeister" (Rae Dawn)

"Why you starin'/Run your chain like an errand/and your girls earings/ and what y'all wearin" (Modern Day Mugging)

I can't do this any justice. Get this and enjoy for yourselves. All other MCs, pack it up...it's a wrap.

MF Doom's best solo album yet, even though Operation Doomsday was a masterpiece.

He has already surpassed Kool Keith as the king of the concept album and alter ego.

His rhymes and his beats are spectacular. The Metal Face villain has struck again.

And the last track with the 3:00 rain storm before the song is really eerie, I just wished that song would have kept the same beats throughout the song.

My favorite tracks on this album are:
"Vaudeville Villain"
"Drop"
and "Saliva"

My favorite verses from the album:
"V Vaughn the traveling Vaudeville villain, who doesn't give a give a flyin' f#*k who ain't not feeling him."

"Viktor the director flip a script like Rob Reiner, the way a lot of dudes rhyme their name should be knob-shiner. For a buck they likely dance the jig or the huckle buck to Vik it's no big deal they're just a bunch of knuckle f#*ks."

"Write a rhyme like a book report. Sell it to a rookie -- you can tell by the hook he bought. You ain't know he sells hooks and choruses. They couldn't bang the slang if they looked in thesauruses."

This is MF DOOM as Viktor Vaughn in Vaudeville Villain that is worth it for your MF DOOM collection... heck any collection. Everyone listens to MF DOOM after a bit of hip-hop, and Vaudeville Villain is like some sort of a freakstyle DOOM with live sections recorded at various gigs mixed in with some of the most original hip-hop heard this 21st century. Not only can DOOM rap with some awesome lyrics but his backbeat mixes is like he has hijacked the brain of Aphex Twin and plugged it into his beat box and pumped it through some DTS and then ripped everything up a number of notches with Dolby Digital 5:1 while MCing with some serious grooves that make you think you are in downtown neo-Tokyo. It is all very far out spacey wisdom.

MF DOOM is one of my favorite cats in the game, whether he's going under the alias of Zev Luv X, MF DOOM, Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah, or one of his dozen other masks, he always brings purely dope music. This is one of, if not his best release, and is only exceeded in a few areas by the classic Operation: Doomsday. However, this album as a whole is more well-rounded than that classic, and would be the perfect place for anyone new to DOOM to start.

DOOM himself in incredible on this release. I know a lot of heads have a difficult time adjusting to his style, and flow at first, but once you become acquainted with it, you can appreciate his true genius. The bottom-line is, while some rappers are simply droning about guns and womens in a monotone voice, and hide their obvious weaknesses as an emcee underneath their image, DOOM kicks sick verbals, with a stream-of-consciousness flow untouched by anyone else in the game. In between his wildly animated lyrics, and stunning punchlines, he drops gem after gem of knowledge, which a lot of people who look for reasons to diss DOOM often overlook.

Production on this released is handled by a handful of indy producers, who all provide dope beats for DOOM. DOOM didn't produce a single joint on this album, but despite that, the sound is still uniquely Metal Fingers. While all DOOM albums have a couple of haunting, and somber cuts, this may also be DOOM's darkest album to date, with tracks like Lickupon, Never Dead, and Let Me Watch.

If you're open minded towards music, then it's incredibly easy to get into DOOM. He isn't like any rapper in the game; underground or mainstream. No one can kick verbals like DOOM, however, if you're not familiar with him, and you ARE familiar with some of the Wu-Tang Clan, then it also shouldn't be hard to get into DOOM, since his style is similar(in vein) to ODB, only more comprehensible, and his flow is like a more animated Ghostface Killah's. Either way, this album is perfect from start to finish, and all hip-hop heads should be able to appreciate it, if not love it.

I'm going to asume that if you're even looking at this item you already know who MF Doom is and you're already going to buy this album so this review is irrelevant. I would like to say that the Viktor Vaughn project is a lot better than the King Geedorah album from earlier this summer (though I liked King Geedorah and Doom's production is always on point, listening to those other guest MC's left a lot to be desired).

As for Vaudeville Villain, it's MF Doom in prime form. The beats are all slamming, Doom's rhymes are impeccable and the album on a whole is more solid than "Operation Doomsday". Zevlove X has emerged as the Kool Keith of a new generation, the only difference is that as Keith's projects keep getting worse, Doom's keep getting better. I can't wait for the Doom/Madlib collaboration next year.

So, what are you waiting for? You know you're going to buy this album so get to it!

When I first heard this man in Gorillaz "Demon Days" I wasn't very impressed but yesterday(for some random reason)I decided to get this and I cannot believe how awesome this man is. Beats/music are awesome and his lyrics are somewhat funny and crazy, not to mention his punchlines to his lyrics are awesome too. Best tracks are "VaudeVille Villan" "Lickupon" "The Drop" "Lactose and lichten" "A Dead Mouse" "Saliva" and "Never Dead"...can't wait to get more of this mans albums in the future..

4.9/5

Of all of MF Doom's alter-egos, I would be inclined to deem Viktor Vaughn as my favorite, especially after listening to Vaudeville Villain. The darker side of Dumile's personality is the best in my opinion, filled with razor sharp rhymes, dastardly deeds, and some of his funniest songs. The music is acoustically perfect, words merely allow the music to flow more evenly, almost a calming effect compared to the eccentric and tumultous beats. Beautiful music, especially if you enjoy blowing trees. No one touches MF Doom, he's the best rapper/producer out there so check this out. Other great Doom albums: Operation Doomsday, Mm..Food?, Madvillain (Doom and Madlib, who is also killin), Venomous Villain, Take Me to Your Leader (King Geedorah, another alter ego)

Mf doom is the most interesting thing in hip hop at the moment no question. His unorthodox flow and trademark voice will have you intrigued from start to end. Orginality is something i rarely throw around, but MF like a few others out there explore whats is hidden in the dark. speaking of dark thats the ambiance created here with a girmy dirty landscape where VV is let loose to unleash.
If your new to underground hip hop or MF doom listen before you buy, although i would recommend it highly. For the ones already accustomed to the MF pick this up (i shouldn't even have to say why)