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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ghostface Killah may have the most consistent career ever, December 17, 2004
Ghostface just doesn't make bad albums, you should know that by now. If you like Ghostface's style of rap (mile-a-minuet jargon or intricately detailed story telling) then you're be ready for another great installment to his career. If you don't like his style, which is not for everyone, that's fine: The Pretty Toney Album is probably not for you.
The thing that takes this album to the next level is the sampling style and production. The majority of the songs are heavy in soul samples, straddling the line between creativity and blatant jacking. Somehow, to Ghost's credit it just works. Although Ghost uses a host of producers, it flows really well together and the styles don't seem that different from each other.
The intro sets the stage for Pretty Toney, Ghost makes this music for the art and himself... not to please everyone. So either get behind him or step back. "Biscuits" sets things off nicely with True Master production using an uncredited sample. [...] is a quick typical dark RZA track.
"Beat The Clock" is the first incredible track. Minnesota provides the fast paced beat, which sends Ghost literally racing. "Metal Lungies" is another outstanding track, which uses some nice deep horns over a dark beat provided by No I.D. Sheek & Styles only add to this track, which has a Wu-Tang feel to it. "It's Over" uses an almost identical piano loop from Biggie's "Who Shot Ya?", although it's not noticeable at all, since the track takes a completely different direction. Ghost goes into his story-telling mode on this one, he's been one of the most consistent at doing this for the past decade.
"Holla" & "Save Me Dear" do something I'm not sure I've heard before. They both have Ghost rapping not just over soul samples, but the entire original song. I'll admit it was a weird experience hearing The Delfonics "La-La (Means I Love You)" in entirety easily recognizable in the background of "Holla". After I got over the initial shock, I realized the way Ghost's lyrics match up with the original song make this truly exceptional. "Be This Way" is also heavy with this soul sample of Billy Stewart, ghost flips it into a dark depressing track. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album; Nottz's production is just incredible.
"Run" could be in the running for Ghost's best track ever. RZA just brings a sick beat, that's got that ominous Wu-Tang song yet creates a sense of urgency. Police and sirens in the background only help out. The whole song really pulls together on the concept of being on the run from the police, plus Jadakiss and Ghostface rhymes are both clever and well paced. Defiantly the best track on the album.
"Tush" has some great production and is sure to have some people loving the track. As many that like it will hate it because of Missy's spot or the "single" quality of it. I can see people's opinion either way, but it doesn't cause a problem on this album even if you want to skip it. "Love" is a pretty solid introspective song, yet it lacks the production and emotion that Ghost's previous tracks like this have had (see "All That I Got Is You").
Two skits are actually short songs, rapped like short stories: "Keisha's House" & "Last Night." The latter especially will have you questioning why it was cut so short. The other skits don't take away from the album and are typical Ghostface skits (lots of yelling, mostly incoherent dialogue. Ghost fans should be used to this.)
There are some missteps on this album. "Ghostface" has a really weak beat, wack chorus, and has nothing to bring to the table. "Tooken Back" is just really silly and Jackie-O simply is not welcome.
As a quick note, it's worth mentioning that Def Jam should have paid up for the samples and allowed Ghost to release the album as it was originally presented, it is a classic. The tracks left off would seriously take this album to untouchable status.
At the end of the album, the big thing that makes you look past the missteps is the fact that you can listen to the other tracks over and over again. I've had this album since it came out and I can honestly say, while it's not the best I've bought this past year, it's easily one that I listen to the most. There's just something about it that makes multiple listens not just easy, but something that you want. You know an album is really good when you just keep finding it going back into your system after a long period of time. It might not be the best album of the year, and it might not even be the best of Ghostface Killah's catalogue, but The Pretty Toney Album is certainly going to have you listening to it as if it was.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good Album, But average from Ghostface., December 17, 2004
Pretty Toney Album is Ghostface's first album since dropping the "Killah." It is appropriate that he did so, because his lyrics and sound are slightly less murderous. Fans of classic Ghostface Killah, such as myself, might find this album a little too mainstreamy for their taste. Songs like "Tush" w/ Missy Elliot, and "Ghostface," are strictly clubbin' songs with bland lyrics. The Pretty Toney Album does have its gems, though. "Be This Way," which Ghostface describes as "real gangsta shxt," is the strongest, most classic song on the album. "Metal Lungies" w/ Styles P. and Sheek Louch is another standout track. Sheek Louch and Ghostface both rip rap a new one. Fans of Ghostface Killah buy all of his albums, and they should. Ghostface has one of the most "pretty toney" sounds in the rap game, but don't expect a "Supreme Clientelle"
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
all around niceness..., February 11, 2005
I'm down with the rest on this one--as far as Wu-Tang fans are concerned, this CD would be lacking--it lacks the hard beats, the grimey-type lyrics, etc--so don't go looking for that here. Instead, what we have is a clean slate approach from Ghostface--if he is (like they say) holding up the Wu through the early 2000's, then this release is a solid foundation. It's a fresh sound LACED with old school R&B loops. Not annoying Kanye-type high pitched crap neither--this is soulful. Like the soundtrack of your life had you grown up in Ghostface's era. Through the years, Ghost has always held it down. He's more or less always steadily released albums though not receiving his fair share of spotlight. This album is good--it has a wholesome feeling that you could never find listening to Eminem or Jay-Z or P-Unit. Cop it, it's worth it...
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