Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
No, it's not like the old stuff... But it's not bad., March 21, 2007
I'm going to start this by quoting one of the reviewers below (dklotusjuggalo... whose original review apparently got deleted), who hit the nail right on the head with this comment... "Of course, not everything has to be wicked, but after "Shangri-La" AND "The Calm" AND "The People," I think the Juggalos are ready to go back to the Wicked Shxt, not J singing over a piano." Right on brother. And that's exactly what I was thinking before even purchasing this album. I've been a juggalo since 1997 and I still consider Riddlebox and Milenko my favorite ICP albums. They were not only the pinnacle of the wicked shxt, but also contained originality, great story telling, and production that was right on par with the carnival/horror theme.
Since then, there has been lots of material that I have still liked from ICP, but nothing that I would consider to be as good as the time frame from Ringmaster to Milenko. The Amazing Jeckle Brothers was a very good album... Bizaar/Bizzar was mediocre, but still had some redeeming qualities... Shangri-La was the first time that I felt ICP really let me down with an album... Hells Pit was an improvement, but still nowhere near the quality of the old stuff... and The Calm had a few good tracks, but it seemed like something that should be given away for free on the Internet rather than being justified as an actual release.
That being said, obviously my expectations weren't through the roof for The Tempest. I realize that ICP will never be like they were back in the day and I also don't want to be one of these juggalos that just complains that the music "doesn't sound like it used to," because I realize that artists are always going to branch into new territory and experiment with new sounds... plus nobody wants a carbon-copy of their old material anyway. So I went into The Tempest with an open mind and I'd have to say that this is favorite ICP record since Jeckle Brothers. Do some songs suck? Yes. Did they abandon the happy/friendly garbage (a-la "Homies")? No... but they also didn't make a whole album with tracks like that either. This is definitely an experimental album and about 2/3rds of the songs work. Here is my track-by-track breakdown:
1. The Sky is Falling - Just an intro, not worth rating.
2. Ride the Tempest - (A) - This reminds me of the old school. When I heard this it gave me that "yes, they're back" feeling and it has the perfect carnival beat to get you pumped up for the album. Can't wait for them to open with this song on the Tempest tour!
3. Alley Rat - (C) - OK, so this song starts off good and I actually like the verses and production. But as soon as the chorus hits, the song is just ruined. I personally wish they would never rap about being "scrubby"... lame. On a side note, that guitar/banjo noise in here sounds like something out of "Desperado" or another movie from the Rodriguez/Tarantino collection... definitely my favorite part of the song.
4. Haunted Bumps - (B) - The key word in the song is "bumps"... listen to this one in a good system and you won't be disappointed because the beat bangs! The chorus is kind of catchy too, even though it does sound a little lazy. Only J raps on this one and he basically does a good job... pretty good track overall.
5. Growing Again - (A-) - Listen to this one a few times before passing judgment because it definitely gets better after a couple spins. For me, this is an example of good "happy" ICP music. The beat is solid and the song just has a nice feel to it, even if the subject matter is a little cheesy. The chorus will grow on you like herpes.
6. Hum Drum Boogie - (D-) - This is the first track that falls completely flat. As the ninja below stated, Violent J should NOT sing... if he does, it should be in moderation on a darker song. Everything about this one just sucks.
7. I Do This - (D+) - When I heard this as the first single, I got very worried. It's "Homies" all over again with an equally "non-heterosexual" chorus. Songs like this are not why I listen to ICP. If Shangri-La is your favorite ICP album, you will probably love it though.
8. What About Now - (A+) - I love this song, straight up. The message is about how music used to mean something, but nowadays it just sucks. Great raps, great beat, great chorus. Not really classic ICP, but a great new sound.
9. Watch My Ride - (A+) - Another great tune. The first time I listened to this I thought to myself, "Who actually asks somebody to watch their ride?". But then I just suspended reality for a few minutes and enjoyed this song for what it was. Great beat, classic Psy chorus, and funny raps. Makes me think about Corey Haim in "License to Drive" for some odd reason.
10. News at 6 O'Clock - (A) - I like this one a lot too and the subject matter is perfect for J and Shaggy to work with. Extremely catchy chorus and it does have an old school feel to it. Shaggy outshines J on this song.
11. The Tower - (C+) - Many people seem to like to verses more than the chorus here, but for me it is the other way around. The chorus actually has a wicked feeling to it, where as the raps sound rushed and don't have a polished sound. Just my opinion, but either way it's not one of the album's best.
12. The Party - (A-) - I love the scratching by DJ Clay and Shaggy and the production on this track is fantastic. It seems like Shaggy's solo tracks w/o J are always awesome.
13. Bxtch I Lied - (B) - This is a standard funny ICP song. Overall I like it... pretty creative chorus too.
14. Play My Song - (A-) - Here is another great track that grows on you after a few listens. The verses in this song are the closest thing to the old school wicked shxt on the whole album... but the chorus is far from it. If the chorus was a little bit better, this had potential to be the best song on the album.
15. Mexico City - (C+) - Where do I start? If you're looking for something different, look no further. I don't even really know what to say about this one because this just doesn't seem like a sound or topic that ICP would ever touch. Rather than tell you what I don't like, I'll just say that it is original and keep it at that.
16. If I Was a Serial Killer - (C-) - This is worst "juggalo anthem" song that ICP has ever made. Once again, J should not sing... especially like this. If you manage to make it through the first three minutes or so, the song does pick up some steam. Remember when ICP ended albums with classic songs like "Pass Me By" and "I'm Comin' Home"? You won't find anything like that here. A disappointing ending to an album that should have gone out with a bang. And I can't imagine they would even attempt to perform this song live... we'll see!
In conclusion, if you're a juggalo you are going to buy this anyway, so who cares what I think. This is just one opinion from a long-time juggalo. No matter what ICP puts out on CD, I'll always love them for their older material and concerts anyway... not to mention the creation of the wicked underground! Can't wait for the Tempest tour with Twiztid!!
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ICP for a new era, a new time... and it Rocks!, March 27, 2007
I'm gonna start by saying ICP is growing... Growing older, growing mature, reaching and experimenting with new tunes and effects, yet still keeping a bit of their horrorfying acts and diabolical and mischevious humour along with it. But along the years, their serious lyrics and emotional vibes on everyday life, the world around us, and relating to each and every one of us has been intensified since the early jokers cards. It defineteley shows their becoming more developed and realistic in their approach, and can carry out their humor and dark comic in a broader, attention-grabbing way.
Anymore, I'm seeing more and more of juggalos nowadays, ranging from the typical scuffed up street punks, to ghetto thugs, to people right out of the farmlands, suburbia, and even everyday teenagers and adults who hold respectable jobs. And I think they're doing a damn fine job opening up the carnival doors and creating a unity between people who typically wouldn't have anything in common... in an almost near "Let's Go All The Way" feeling.
And while I feel "The Calm" may have not been their best album, it defineteley was much better than alot of music I hear out there... and it was defineteley a gateway into a promising future. I mean seriously, think about Beverly Kills, Dog Beats, and even Carnival of Carnage... good alblums, but it wasn't until Ring Master, Riddle Box, Milenko, and Jeckel brothers that the music really did take on a unbeleivably gripping and compelling tone and story. So I can see something forming here, and quickly.... another series of masterpieces. For a new era and time.
You have to give them credit for doing it on their own... and what it's done so far, it's done well.
With the post-Joker card generation and era, I think the new alblums still retain enough old, but really do a great job of travelling into a rather unknow future... There's no goal this time... no 6'th card to reach... any CD released now doesn't have to follow a beaten path, and yet, while its interesting to see it pan out, its definetely going somewhere and thats why Juggalos and newcomers continue to listen... it's inspiring, and even off track, it still feels like it's a whole if you want it to... very well balanced.
Mike E Clark is back, and you can even tell his style has changed for the new age, into a more serious approach, yet when you really sit down and listen to it, you know its still Mike E Clark, and it makes you feel right at home... theres still enough old to fill the loathing inside for all the new.
It's unbeleivable that this group has outlasted all who have put them down, and have grown even better throughout the years, gaining not only strong bonds with other great artists, but the ability to stay strong and honest to the long time juggalos, but reach out to everyone who's willing to listen on many other musical levels.
"The Tempest" may take a couple minutes to get adjusted to the first time hearing it, but a couple tracks in and your hooked.. You know its defineteley worth the wait and contains all the pumped-up and epic'isms that you've come to know and want from ICP, while still kickin' humour, and dark hate against the evil and greedy. It's worth each and every of the 5 stars that amazon will let me rate it, plus a whole many more.
I was fairly sure that the "The Tempest" was never actually going to be the name of the so-called "Storm" that was directly after "The Calm", rather a piece of the what I beleive to be the "storm" series as accordingly it passes over the lands leaving deadly yet majestic devices from the pure and relentess power of the storm which cahnnels its energy into these constructions, officially as of now appears to consist of 3 "known" alblums (you find out about the alblum titled "Eye of the Storm" if you purchase this one, a smaller EP due out in June of this year), and will indefinetely be many more than 3 in its entirety. I knew that this mammoth storm would produce something sinister and mysterious on its way, such as this ride, and if you listen closely, you can see it fits the tale perfectley... in light of the storm, things arise... deadly, but amusing contraptions that mortals just HAVE to play with, out of our own curiousity of the unknown... and each who rides or interacts with anything that has come from the passing of this mighty storm will likely be doomed. And there in lies the the true devistation... curiosity of thrill, fear and the fact that most are wreckless, careless and thoughtless about anything that may happen to them will eventually consume or kill you.
That's been my theory on how it will follow out, and as I've mentioned, the "Storm" is still happening, more deadly and disturbing rides and vices will rise as the storm rips through the lands, and that only those who can face their own fears and respect the dangerous realities of life will survive, just like those who are smart enough to get out of town before the hurricane hits. It's human interest in deadly things, and the all-to-soon fate that may follow if you snooze and abuse.
It's fresh, its f'ed up, it's inspiring, it's here... "The Tempest", and its awesome.
Do yourself a favor, don't listen to anyone dissing it... They're either fad juggalos, trolls, or haters that have allways had something against ICP. Listen, and listen hard, and you won't be disappointed... it's ALL still there homies.
MCL!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still The Best!, March 26, 2007
I know ICP has been gettin dissed a bit for this one, but I love it. I love music, all kinds of music, but the psychopathic family tops it all. Some people are saying a few of the tracks are too slow, but I dont think so. Sometimes it just makes them funnier. ICP doing a rock ballad (If I Was A Serial Killer)? Hilarious. I always liked that they could do all types of music and do it well.
I like News At 6'Oclock because its true, Alley Rat cause the bumps are great and its how I feel, Hum Drum Boogie cause I'm a perv, and What About Now? because the beat is just wonderful. I will agree it in not their wickedest, but I've been down with the clowns since Ringmaster dropped, and there has never been a CD I didn't love.
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