Chamber Music

This was one of the most welcome surprises in years. There was no mention of this album being made and no clue that it was in the works until "Harbor Masters" hit the net about a month before release. The second details of a Wu-Tang-meets-classic-90's-NY-rappers album fleshed out, excitement flooded me. A few more tracks leaked and it was obvious this was going to be something to reckon with.

Now that it's out, this is just what's been missing from the Wu-Tang camp for a while. The last few years have produced some albums that appeared to bring the old Wu flavor back, namely the two Masta Killa albums, GZA's Pro Tools, and moments on U-God's Dopium and Meth's 4:21... The Day After, but this has the feel of what 8 Diagrams should have been.

The features on this album are perfect. It's amazing a concept like this hasn't already come up. Masta Ace and AZ's appearances are moments of pure joy. The only time it doesn't work is when Havoc shows up on "Evil Deeds." It's a solid track for Ghostface and RZA, but it's just not what I want out of Hav. I love when he gets on his high-energy tip. That being said, it's still not a bad song or a bad appearance from Havoc, it's just the one part where expectations are not met.

RZA worked with a soul band, The Revelations, to create the music for this whole album so it brings an obvious cohesive quality. The surprise is how being created by a band brings a certain liveliness to these tracks that begs all hip-hop go in this direction. It's faithfully indebted to the the Wu-Tang boom-bap variant that RZA mastered in the mid-90's era, but it's richer without being glossier. Sonically it has the feel of one of the first round solo projects between '94 and '97.

The second big surprise here is how inspired the Clan members themselves sound. Inspectah Deck especially is attacking these beats in a way that hasn't been heard since he fought for the spotlight on Wu Tang Iron Flag. Raekwon has awoken from the slumbered-out mush-mouth flow he's drifted into at times in recent years and Ghostface, the most consistent in the entire Clan, even he sounds more lively here if you can imagine that. U-God, the most slept-on in the Clan, is continuing the show-n-prove he started on 8 Diagrams and Dopium and is here to show what's up. Even RZA stays on cadence.

Therein lies the problem with this release, though. Those are the only members of the Clan that appear here. Method Man is sorely missed. No one in the Clan rides a beat like him or brings the energy that he does. GZA has been the Clan member that's evolved the Wu-sound most successfully across his solo career and to not have him on this album which is colored with a feeling of resurgence is a shame. And when Masta Killa gets in that Chessboxin' mindset and decides to actually rhyme, there's no one more Wu than him.

This is a perfect album in regard to what's here, but it's frustrating at the same time. It screams for the whole Clan to be involved and the fact that a little more than half the tracklist is short instrumentals or RZA philosophizing is disappointing. That certainly adds character and creates an atmosphere so I'm not even suggesting they be left off, but at 35 minutes and 37 seconds, many more full tracks could be added in. Maybe if this proves to be successful we'll get a second volume and see it more fleshed out. Regardless though, the 8 full songs that are here are all exactly what any Wu-head or 90's NYC rap fan will want.

It's the WU. Need say more??

Really the highlights are the words from the RZA. Might not feel every track, but the words from the RZA are what makes it worth the purchase.

Wu fans might be surprised by how clean this album sounds. Live band provide an interesting alternative angle to the Wu-Tang sound. RZA beats are still top-class. He produced another masterpiece and set a new production standard for hip-hop yet again.

The Wu-Tang Clan is the most-prolific, most talented hip-hop collective in rap's three-decade history. Since 1993, the Clan has been swinging their lyrical swords and slaying their rap competitors. RZA, GZA, BZA, MZA, RKWN, GFK, INS, UGD, and MK have led the way in hip-hop expertise ever since their debut in `93. Now, over fifteen years later, "Chamber Music" boasts a return to the 36 Chambers.

Was this album worth the wait? Wu-Heads rejoice: "Chamber Music" is an almost-perfect blend of hard-hitting lyricism and smooth-as-silk instrumentation. The Revelations, under the direction of RZA, the Abbot, provide live-in-the-studio instrumentation for the Clan.

Along with RZA and The Revelations, rap legends Masta Ace, AZ, Cormega, Sean Price, Havoc, Tre Williams, M.O.P., Kool G Rap, and Sadat X temporarily join the Clan (albeit without the support of GZA, Method Man, and Masta Killa). Indeed, GZA, Method Man, and Masta Killa are sorely missed...but let's not dwell on the negative (after all, this is not a Clan release; this is an affiliate compilation album).

RZA offers Wu-Tang philosophy and wisdom throughout the entire album. These interludes are short and sweet, and fortunately, these do not distract from the music. Sandwiched between these interludes, we find an exposition of witty and unpredictable talent and natural game.

Surprisingly, every track is pure dynamite. "Kill Too Hard" is a wonderful opener. "Harbor Masters" is catchy. "Radiant Jewels" is easily a prelude to Only Built for Cuban Lynx, Part 2. (Raekwon is back.) "Evil Deeds" is perhaps the hardest track on the disc (and the piano is mesmerizing). "I Wish You Were Here" is both beautiful and heartbreaking. (Thank you, Tre Williams.) "Ill Figures" is laid-back and smooth...yet it cuts like a knife. "Sound the Horns" provides variety and "N.Y.C. Crack" is better than anything on the Bobby Digital albums. (Forgive me Bobby D.)

All in all, "Chamber Music" is a worthwhile collection of eight amazing, full-length tracks and nine better-than-average interludes. Sadly, this joint is too damn short! (Then again...35 minutes of Wu-Tang perfection is better than 35 years of G-Unit bulls---.) This joint, despite its short running time, is otherwise a classic hip-hop gem in the Wu-Tang crown.

If you think of the Wu-Tang debut as the Shaolin Sword in your music arsenal, consider "Chamber Music" as your Shaolin Dagger. It's short, but it's just as deadly.

Wu-Heads unite: purchase "Chamber Music" and rock this album into the future.

Wu-Tang forever.

Peace.

This is good but pales next to Legendary Weapons, the companion album. Don't get me wrong this is a really good album but it has gotta be the shortest Wu Tang album in their catalogue. Like 30 something minutes, it feels more like an EP but still a really solid EP. The Wu never really make bad albums but this is probably their weakest because it isn't long enough. The actual songs are Wu bangers and the sound sounds like RZA tapping into the old Wu Tang sound but trying to add new elements. It has kind of a gloomy atmosphere too. If you are a Wu Tang fan, this is a must own (even if it's short) but people just starting to check them out should start with "Enter the 36 Chambers" or even "Wu Tang Forever" to get an idea of how innovative the Wu Tang really are in rap music.