Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly Solid., July 17, 2007
With their third album in a two year period, one would expect (hed)p.e., a band who arguably got left behind when rap-rock died, to sound dire and weak by this point. But the truth is, with "Insomnia," their sixth album, they are actually starting to sound better and fresher than they have in years. Despite the fact that some of Jared's lyrics still bask in cheesiness and today's band just can't live up to the musicianship of previous line-ups of the band's past, at least it doesn't sound like it was recorded in a basement ("Back To Base X") or try to justify it's existence by spewing as many swear words as possible ("Only In Amerika"). That means that "Insomnia" is at least the best release (hed)p.e. have come up with since becoming a semi-indie band.
Make no mistake, if you weren't a (hed)p.e. fan before, this isn't going to change your mind. And if you are expecting the band to expand their sound and grow, you might as well turn around and walk away. If anything, "Insomnia" does a nice job of combining all elements of (hed)'s music, both past and present. "Walk On By" is hands down the best (hed)p.e. song since the days of "Broke," while "Habeus" and "Suffa" improve upon the down and dirty, lo-fi style of the past two albums. There are plenty of political undertones carried through the album, with various soundbites popping up between songs to keep up the concept and beat the message over the listener's head. Although the band who penned "Crazy Legs" isn't the type you want, nor expect to get political, songs like "Tienanmen Squared" and "Atlantis A.D." are actually quite interesting and give the album a little more weight and substance than the rest of the band's career. Also of note is "Children," which spins Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" on it's head, and also becomes one of the most satisfying tracks on the album.
All compliments aside, there are moments where this album reaches into the realm of the embarassing, which seems to be a modern (hed)p.e. curse. "Come Ova 2 Nite" is as cheesy as it gets, and "Game Over" brings back bad memories of "Only In Amerika." Even still, "Insomnia" is a great album that should please the majority of the fanbase. Granted, it's not the most tasteful or original piece of music out there, but if there ever was a band towards the end of the millennium who made rap-rock fun and credible, it was (hed)p.e., and it's a legacy that they don't appear to be letting go anytime soon.
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing effort from the underground, July 19, 2007
As a long time fan of Hed pe's music from there first album "Church of Realities," and from seeing them live for the first time in 1998 opening for Soulfly in Chicago,this band has never gotten the credit or recognition they deserve. Their latest album "Insomnia" blew me away the first time I listened to it. This band continues to reinvent themselves in a way that they stay true to their fan base as well as keepin it real from when they formed in the early to mid 90's. From all the cross-over rap/rock/hop-hop/metal, this band has been the most unique from the start. It is rare these days to find a band such as Hed pe that continues to fuse different styles of music into one entity and can actually pull it off. Most people do not know that Hed pe paved the way for a lot of the corporate MTV B.S bands.
From heavy guitar riffs of the song "Walk on By" to the punk rock sound of "Habeus" to the Tu-Pac-esque vibe of the hip-hop sound on "comeova2nite" any open minded musician or fan of different styles of music from metal to punk to hip-hop to reggae should appreciate the latest effort of Hed pe's Insomnia. Go out and pick up a cd today.
-Keith
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, But Not Great, July 18, 2007
Now I may be in the minority here, but i thought the past two releases by (hed) pe were great albums, possibly the best of their careers. and i was hoping on having it continue on this way with their new release "Insomnia." were my hopes fulfilled? Both yes and no. there are some great songs on here, but there are others that are just completely disappointing.
With the good parts: Walk on By is a killer song, no doubt about it. Possibly one of the best of their careers. Game Over is also a great one, more remniscent of an "Only In Amerika" song than anything else found on here. Suffa is good, although maybe not the best choice for a lead single. it reminds me of Get Ready off "Back 2 Base X", a good song but not the best choice to hear what HED is really about. Comeova2nite is the straightforward rap song on the cd, and Jahred lays it down smoothly. RTO is a pretty satisfying listen. good lyrics, and a good appearance by Big B accompany it very well. I love Children, i find it to be a great cover of the Buffalo Springfield Classic. Tienanman Squared is another good one, and Don't Let Me Down would fit perfectly aside anything from "Back 2 Base X".
Now the not so good: Not a big fan of Habeus. His singing in this song, not his screaming, is what ruins it for me. Just doesn't sound like him, like he's trying too hard to sing. C2GU is decent, just nothing truly memorable. Same thing Goes For Atlantis A.D. One song i'm just confused about is Mirrorballin. It's an interesting listen, it's just too stupid to actually be a good song. And the biggest disappointment of the whole cd was Wind Me Up. I'm a big fan of KMK and (hed) pe, but the two together didn't work well whatsoever. Tech N9ne didn't do anything for me on the song either.
So Summary: good cd, mostly good songs on it, with a few stinkers. (hed) pe should stick with what they do best, and leave the guests on the backburner.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by A.P.E. 
