Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
3 blind mice, deepest fear. Welcome to the House of Mirrors!, February 24, 2004
As foretold by the Tarot cards of a mechanical gypsy, society's criminals will be visited by a circus of pain and anguish. This traveling mass of evil will leave behind a rotting trail of corpses while judging the fate of every departed soul. And the leader of this Dark Carnival is none other than the Ringmaster, a wicked manifestation of mankind's greed and avarice. Step right up as the Ringmaster takes you on the ride of your life. For with the wave of his magic wand, he will send the ICP's Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope to swing their battleaxes and split squirming carcasses in half.
Released three years after "Carnival of Carnage," this album is undoubtedly the most sinister of all six Joker Cards. The punishing rap beats and scratches are mixed with a spooky calliope and backward masking. In addition, ICP's lyrics are wildly obscene. Dementedly brilliant, the tracks are greatly influenced by horror movie gore while encrusted with the grime of the ghetto zone. Obviously, "The Ringmaster" is not suitable for sensitive women, small children, or anyone with a bad heart condition. Does anybody want a chicken neck sandwich?
"Murder Go Round" is basically a gang war in which gun violence occurs on all sides. Supported by a bass, this song will shoot down any hoodlum who dares to enter ICP's terror turf. "Chicken Huntin'" is a grisly underground classic that pulls the trigger on the American South. Like fresh poultry in a butcher shop, hillbilly farmers are chopped and trimmed of their drumsticks, necks, gizzards, and eyeballs. The chilling "Mr. Johnson's Head" concerns a quiet high school nerd who decapitates a teacher and leaves his body in the hallway. "Southwest Song," which samples an awareness speech by Mister Rogers (RIP), addresses the hopelessness that infects Detroit's working-class neighborhoods. "Who Asked You" is a foul funfair track that roughly blends necrophilia, cheap motel rooms, lollipops, and Wayne Newton. Perhaps the creepiest song ever to be made by ICP is "The Dead One." Fueled by a powwow drum, a grieving flute, and a heavy metal guitar, this dirge reveals how a thug is killed in a brawl and then faces the gripping fear of becoming a festering zombie. "My Fun House" rides spoiled bullies through a death spectacular. The torturous thrills of this gorefest are provided by a creeking door and kindergarden screeches. The moonlit saxophone of "Wagon Wagon" invites Juggalos to ride in a ghost car loaded with cadavers. In "The Loons," Violent J plays a demented serial killer who prepares to slash the throat of his next victim. Both "Love Song" and "Bugs on my Nutz" are unbelievably raunchy. Together, they are packed with veneral disease, prostitution, and potty-mouth pillow talk. Finally, the eerie "House of Mirrors" forces ignorant spectators to see a reflection of their evil selves. Featuring a surprise appearance by Capitol E, this song punishes anyone who refuses to show compassion and respect for others.
If you seek an audio masterpiece of scares, "The Ringmaster" is what I recommend. It will whet your bloodthirsty appetite for the following Joker Cards, "Riddlebox" and "The Great Milenko." Who's next in line for the Murder Go Round?
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The one known only as.....The Ringmaster, May 12, 2005
The day has come, the time of reckoning. Who will perish in dreaded hell and who's soul will be content within the pleasures of heaven? Looking past the words spoken with a wicked tongue and looking past the evil deeds done in one's life, but instead looking into the conscious of man.
What is the real evil that seems to plague mankind? Who are the real demons that walk this earth? Is it those whose minds have become devious because of a lifetime spent inside of a caged hell, or is it those who invented this caged hell years ago and done nothing to help destroy it yet? Who's guilty, Frankenstein or the doctor that created him? The sword, or the man who has slain with it? Which is the real evil, the man who kills another for food or the man who does not share his food to avoid the killing? While you sit in judgement of a criminal, you may very well be the one who's guilty. Guilty of greed, deception and hate.
Those who are rejected at the gates of heaven, shall be dragged off into the pits of hell. Viciously torn from this life by the non-living, the phantoms of the dead. These beasts take the form of a demented carnival, that of a wicked, dark, circus, led by one. One who was created by your own evil ways. One who will judge your very fate. The one known only as... The Ringmaster.
This is by far the darkest and best icp album/Joker's Card ever. I love all of them but this is just incredible, I have been listening to this cd for years and still have it in my walkman on a regular basis. (I mean, you can't say this about alot of cds) I mean, the beat on " My Fun house" is a creaking door and it sounds great, not mnay bands could make that work. This was the first icp cd with just Violent J and Shaggy 2 dope ( Shagg's brother John "kickjazz" Ustler was in the band up until Carnival of Carnage and Greez-E was on the Beverly Kills ep.) If you love icp and for some odd demented reason don't own this cd yet, buy it right now. You will not regret it. I would give a personal run down of all the tracks but i don't think I would have the room so i will just list my personal favorites from this cd. Mr. Johnson's Head (Greatest icp song ever, I must have listened to this song 25 times the day I bought it) Murder-Go-Round. My Funhouse, Wagon Wagon, The Loons. I can not recommend this cd more. I hope this review helped, enjoy.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a mother's story, January 16, 2005
My son, Christopher Colt Kelley, was murdered on December 21, 2001. He was 15 years old and he was a real Juggalo. He used to try and get me to play ICP cd's all the time whenever we were riding in the car together and I wouldn't listen to them. When he was murdered I took the time to sit and listen to what he was in to. I haven't stopped listening to ICP yet. I met Violent J once before Shangri-La came out and I told him all about my son. He held my hand and told me in these words that I will never forget, "You should not be sad that he is gone, you should always look at it like this, whenever it rains, that's him Raining Diamonds down on you." Then Shangri-La dropped and I heard It Rains Diamonds...and I could not stop crying. Now I am a 37 year old Juggalette and I'll be that way 'til I'm dead in the ground. My son was buried with an ICP shirt on and a Hatchetman round his neck. And I plan on going the same way. Everyone has their own thoughts about ICP and the Dark Carnival...but if you're not a true Juggalo....you'll never get it. MCL and R.I.P. Colt....we miss you.
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