• About

d1esel6

~ 80's baby with a 60's brain.

d1esel6

Tag Archives: Crystal Method Divided by Night Review

>Album Reviews: Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Phoenix, The Crystal Method, The Living Things

18 Monday May 2009

Posted by d1esel6 in Album Review, Busta Rhymes, Eminem, Phoenix, The Crystal Method, The Living Things

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Album Review, Back on My B.S., Back on My B.S. Review, Busta Rhymes, Busta Rhymes Back on My B.S., Busta Rhymes Back on My B.S. Review, Busta Rhymes Review, Crystal Method, Crystal Method Divided by Night, Crystal Method Divided by Night Review, Crystal Method Review, Divided by Night, Divided by Night Review, Eminem, Eminem Relapse, Eminem Relapse Review, Eminem Review, Habeas Corpus, Habeas Corpus Review, Living Things, Living Things Habeas Corpus, Living Things Habeas Corpus Review, Living Things Review, Phoenix, Phoenix Review, Phoenix Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Review, Relapse, Relapse Review, The Crystal Method, The Crystal Method Divided by Night, The Crystal Method Divided by Night Review, The Crystal Method Review, The Living Thing Habeas Corpus, The Living Things, The Living Things Habeas Corpus Review, The Living Things Review, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Review

>


“Guess Who’s Back, Back Again. Shady’s Back, Tell a Friend” Yes, just when no one was wondering where he was or when he was going to come back (if at all), Eminem releases his first album in almost 6 years “Relapse” (released officially today). He left us with the 2003 release “Encore”, which was pretty much officially dubbed his Worst album by fans and critics alike. Even though it really wasn’t all that bad. Shortly thereafter in 2005 he somewhat announced his retirement coinciding with the release of his first Greatest Hits album “Curtain Call”, though he did manage to make a few collabo’s where he “murdered” fellow rappers “on their own shit” (see “Touchdown” by T.I., or the “Lean Back remix” by Fat Joe). I guess the hardcore Em “Stans” have been anticipating this release for a while now. Me? Not so much. And having listened to “Relapse” (the rappers 6th studio album) I realize why. In 2000, “The Marshall Mathers LP” really impressed me. The genius lyricism and delivery of “Stan”, the intensity of “Kim”, the fun of “The Real Slim Shady”. It was pretty much a perfect album that truly displayed what made him so popular with his debut album. The 2002 follow up “The Eminem Show” was also a bonafied Hip Hop Classic and actually had Em being a little more creative. The problem with 2003’s “Encore” and now “Relapse”, is there is really no evolution with his music. There’s really nothing on this new album that truly stood out because it feels like we’ve heard it all before. From the albums intro I thought this might be a pretty interesting concept album, about a former addict trying to Avoid a relapse. Unfortunately what we get is Eminem talking about Pop celebrities, drugs, and his mom AGAIN. He hasn’t lost any of his skills in delivery or flow, which actually helps to save the album along with the Dr. Dre production, but I’m a little disappointed because I did expect more from him with this album. Again, this isn’t a bad album… I’d say “Hello” “Crack a Bottle” “Beautiful” and “Medicine Ball” are a few of the memorable tracks. He’s supposed to be releasing “Relapse 2” sometime next year, maybe he’ll dig deeper with that one.

A little less disappointing is Busta Rhymes‘ 8th album “Back on My B.S.” (set to be released May 19th). Last year with “Throw Da Water on Em” and “We Made It” on the charts, I was really amped up for Busta’s album. Not to mention the fact that 2006’s “The Big Bang” album was actually ALOT better than I expected. Unfortunatley a new album never came out last year, and those two songs are Absent from this album (“We Made It”, his collabo with Linkin Park, is going to be available on iTunes as a iTunes bonus track). Fortunatley he has great stuff to fill the voids. This album by no means is his best, there are some obvious duds (“Hustlers Anthem” with T-Pain sounds dated, “Don’t Believe Em” featuring Akon and T.I. copies way too much from T.I.’s own “Live Your Life”, and there are a few tracks that are just missing a great hook) but there are some seriously Great Moments on this album. The current single “Respect my Conglomerate” with Jadakiss and Weezy, “Shoot for the Moon”, “We Want In” (“if 2 dollars is getting made, We want in, If a stock is getting trade, We want in” — I can relate Lol). “Kill Dem” with Pharrell is easily one of the best songs with Busta riding the dancehall beat like a pro. Busta is one of the more underrated (imo) rappers alive, and on this album he shows that he can still be relevant (check out “World Go Round” with Estelle. A perfect mash up of Dance, Electronica and Hip Hop. Flo Rida WHO?), and he can still be creative and give us the unexpected.

Now on to something completely different, The Crystal Method released their latest “Divided by Night” this month. Basically there’s Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx, Armand Van Helden than the Prodigy or the Chemical Brothers, maybe Paul Oakenfold or Fatboy Slim… bottom line, The Crystal Method were never close to being my favourite electronic group. But, with all those other guys out of commission lately (although Basement Jaxx WILL be releasing a new album this year. YES!) I turned to this album to fill the Electronica void. And, now I know why these guys aren’t my favourite. This album is only 12 tracks and it’s a bit of a task to get through it all. A lot of the songs like the title track or “Slipstream” just seem to go on and on and on, with nothing really exciting enough to keep your attention. A good majority of it sounds like old Daft Punk, especially the title track which (imo) does a terribly uninspired job of copying “Robot Rock”. There are a few high points, “Falling Hard” with Meiko being one of the best. Also the single “Drown in the Now” featuring Matisyahu, “Blunts and Robots” featuring Peter Hook or “Black Rainbows” with Stefanie King Warfield. Still the overall feel for the album to me was “Been there. Done that. No need to listen again”

The same can be said for rock group The Living Things‘ album “Habeas Corpus“. When I heard “Let it Rain” on VH1, I was really excited to hear their full album. That track is actually one of the best produced, written and vocally performed songs I’ve heard in a while. At the very least of the year. On top of that it’s catchy enough to rival some of the Pop songs out. Actually, this album sounds more like a Pop album than Rock or Alternative. It’s like harder edged Max Martin productions, but I won’t take points away for that. What I will say is the album starts off with a huge bang in “Brass Knuckles” and keeps that momentum going through to a great potential chart topper “Oxygen”. However it hits a rough patch halfway through and the album kind of dies out after that. “Island in Your Heart” is a terrible attempt at hybridizing Rock and Country music, “Post Millennium Extinction” tries hard to Rock but just lacks something in the verses. The saving grace on the bottom half of the album is another potential hit “Shake Your Shimmy”, which has an insanely addictive hook. All in all, I do think this album has enough to justify repeated listens. Who knows, It might just grow on me.

Lastly is my biggest surprise of the week. The new album from a French Pop/Rock group Phoenix entitled “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix“ (the album hits stores in the US on May 26th, but is already available on iTunes). Now this shows how LATE I am. I’m listening to the album and loving it. Literally every minute of it, and I’m thinking I’m listening to a New group. I look on iTunes and this is the groups 4th album since 2000. I will have to listen to their prior albums to get some perspective on their music. For now, this is my favourite album of 2009. The production on this album is the main sell, this group is a weird mix of Electronica, Rock and Pop. And the backing music seems to combine the three sounds into a perfect harmony. The mostly instrumental “Love like a Sunset” is the albums peak. And it really is the best way to describe the style of the album. It’s almost as if Daft Punk remixed The Beatles mid-60’s “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” era music, with a little inspiration vocally and lyrically from The Killers. Other insta-classics are “Lasso” “Girlfriend” and “Fences”. Every song here is great though, and with only 10 tracks this album will easily get repeated plays.

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • July 2019
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • July 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009

Categories

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Adobe Premiere Pro CC
  • Beyonce Blow
  • Beyonce Blow Video
  • Creative Writing
    • #FictionFriday
    • Car Conversations
    • Friday Night Rain
    • HiPSTER
    • OUT with Arcadius
  • FILMS
    • ACTORS
      • Alec Baldwin
      • Amy Adams
      • Andy Serkis
      • Angela Bassett
      • Brandon T. Bell
      • Catherine O'Hara
      • Chevy Chase
      • Chloe Grace Moretz
      • Chris Evans
      • Chris Hemsworth
      • Chris Pine
      • Christoph Waltz
      • Christopher Walken
      • Daniel Day-Lewis
      • Danny Devito
      • Eddie Murphy
      • Ellen Burstyn
      • F. Murray Abraham
      • Geena Davis
      • Glenn Shadix
      • Halle Berry
      • Heath Ledger
      • Hugo Weaver
      • Jack Nicholson
      • James McAvoy
      • Jason Segel
      • Jessica Chastain
      • Joan Cusack
      • Josh Brolin
      • Kristen Wiig
      • Kurt Russell
      • Laurence Fishburne
      • Liza Minnelli
      • Marlon Brando
      • Megan Fox
      • Melanie Griffith
      • Melanie Laurent
      • Melissa McCarthy
      • Michael Fassbender
      • Michael Keaton
      • Michael York
      • Michelle Pfieffer
      • Natalie Portman
      • Octavia Spencer
      • Paul Dano
      • Robert Downey Jr.
      • Sigourney Weaver
      • Susan Sarandon
      • Tessa Thompson
      • Thomas Jane
      • Tom Hiddleston
      • Tom Hulce
      • Tommy Lee Jones
      • Tyler James Williams
      • Tyonah Parris
      • Winona Ryder
      • Zach Galifianakis
      • Zachary Quinto
    • DIRECTORS/ WRITERS/ PRODUCERS
      • Alan Taylor
      • Alfonso Cuaron
      • Bob Fosse
      • Christopher Nolan
      • J.J. Abrams
      • Jerome Robbins
      • Joel Schumacher
      • Joss Whedon
      • Justin Simien
      • Milos Forman
      • Paul Thomas Anderson
      • Peter Jackson
      • Peter Shaffer
      • Richard Donner
      • Sam Raimi
      • Spike Lee
      • Steven Speilberg
      • Tim Burton
      • William Friedkin
    • Movie Review
    • MOVIES
      • Airplane
      • Amadeus
      • Bad Teacher
      • Batman
      • Batman and Robin
      • Batman Forever
      • Batman Returns
      • Beetlejuice
      • Bridesmaids
      • Cabaret
      • Captain America: The First Avenger
      • Cars 2
      • Catwoman
      • Chicago
      • Crazy Stupid Love
      • Daredevil
      • Dear White People
      • Death Proof
      • Do The Right Thing
      • Fast Five
      • Gravity
      • Green Lantern
      • Grindhouse
      • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II
      • Horrible Bosses
      • Inglourious Basterds
      • Interstellar
      • Iron Man
      • Iron Man 2
      • Jaws
      • Jonah Hex
      • Kick Ass
      • National Lampoon's Vacation
      • Planet Terror
      • Poltergeist
      • Pulp Fiction
      • Purple Rain
      • Reservoir Dogs
      • Rise of the Planet of the Apes
      • Scream 4
      • Spawn
      • Spiderman 3
      • Star Trek
      • Super 8
      • Superman
      • The Avengers
      • The Dark Knight
      • The Exorcist
      • The Hangover
      • The Hangover Part II
      • The Help
      • The Incredible Hulk
      • The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring
      • The Lord of the Rings : The Return of the King
      • The Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers
      • The Muppets
      • The Punisher
      • Thelma & Louise
      • There Will Be Blood
      • Thor
      • Thor The Dark World
      • Transformers: Dark of the Moon
      • Tron: Legacy
      • West Side Story
      • What's Love Got To Do With It
      • Working Girl
      • X-Men: First Class
      • X2
    • Movies I Love!
    • Oscars
  • IMO
    • Career Advice
    • Love/Hate
  • Janet Day
  • Janet Jackson 20 YO Review
  • Janet Jackson All For You Review
  • Janet Jackson Career Advice
  • Janet Jackson Damita Jo Review
  • Janet Jackson Discipline Review
  • Janet Jackson Discography Review
  • MMART
  • MULTIMEDIA ARTS
  • MUSIC
    • Album Review
    • ARTISTS
      • 311
      • 50 Cent
      • A Great Big World
      • Aaliyah
      • Active Child
      • Adam Lambert
      • Adele
      • Aerosmith
      • Akon
      • Al Green
      • Alanis Morissette
      • Alicia Keys
      • Alt-J
      • Amerie
      • Amy Winehouse
      • Animal Collective
      • Anthony Hamilton
      • Arcade Fire
      • Aretha Franklin
      • Ashanti
      • Ashford & Simpson
      • Atlas Genius
      • B.o.B.
      • Babyface
      • Barrington Levy
      • Basement Jaxx
      • Baths
      • Beach Fossils
      • Beach House
      • Beyoncé
      • Big Boi
      • Big Rube
      • Big Sean
      • Billy Idol
      • Black Eyed Peas
      • Blind Melon
      • Bob Marley
      • Brandon Flowers
      • Brandy
      • Brian Eno
      • Britney Spears
      • Broken Bells
      • Bruce Springsteen
      • Bruno Mars
      • Buju Banton
      • Busta Rhymes
      • Cage The Elephant
      • Calvin Harris
      • Capital Cities
      • Cassie
      • Cee-Lo Green
      • Chaka Demus & Pliers
      • Charles Hamilton
      • Charlie XCX
      • Cher
      • Chester French
      • Chris Brown
      • Chris Cornell
      • Christian Falk
      • Christina Aguilera
      • Ciara
      • Clipse
      • Colbie Caillat
      • Cold War Kids
      • Coldplay
      • Com Truise
      • Common
      • Daft Punk
      • Dan Black
      • Danity Kane
      • Dave Matthews Band
      • David Bowie
      • David Byrne
      • David Guetta
      • Dawn Richard
      • Day26
      • Depeche Mode
      • Destiny's Child
      • Devo
      • Diddy
      • Dilated Peoples
      • Dirty Projectors
      • Donna Summer
      • Dr. Dre
      • Drake
      • Duke Dumont
      • Ed Sheeran
      • Electrik Red
      • Elton John
      • Eminem
      • En Vogue
      • Erykah Badu
      • Esperanza Spalding
      • Estelle
      • Fall Out Boy
      • Fantasia
      • Far East Movement
      • Fergie
      • Fitz and the Tantrums
      • Fleet Foxes
      • Florence & The Machine
      • FloRida
      • Foo Fighters
      • Foster The People
      • Frank Ocean
      • fun.
      • Ginuwine
      • Gladys Knight
      • Gnarls Barkley
      • Gorillaz
      • Gotye
      • Green Day
      • Grizzly Bear
      • Gucci Mane
      • Guns N Roses
      • Gwen Stefani
      • Hot Chip
      • How To Dress Well
      • Ikona Pop
      • Ini Kamoze
      • J Cole
      • J. Holiday
      • Jack White
      • Jackson 5
      • James Blake
      • Jamie Foxx
      • Jamie xx
      • Jamiroquai
      • Janelle Monáe
      • Janet Jackson
      • Janis Joplin
      • Jason Aldean
      • Jason Mraz
      • Jay-Z
      • Jazmine Sullivan
      • Jennifer Hudson
      • Jennifer Lopez
      • Jeremih
      • Jessie J
      • Jhene Aiko
      • Jill Scott
      • Jimi Hendrix
      • John Legend
      • Jordin Sparks
      • Justin Bieber
      • Justin Timberlake
      • K Michelle
      • Kanye West
      • Kardinal Offishall
      • Katy Perry
      • Ke$ha
      • Kelis
      • Kelly Clarkson
      • Kelly Rowland
      • Kendrick Lamar
      • Keri Hilson
      • Kevin Rudolf
      • Keyshia Cole
      • Kid Cudi
      • Kings of Leon
      • Korn
      • Lady Antebellum
      • Lady Gaga
      • Lauryn Hill
      • LCD Soundsystem
      • Leon Russell
      • Leona Lewis
      • LeToya Luckett
      • Lil Kim
      • Lil Wayne
      • LL Cool J
      • LMFAO
      • Local Natives
      • Lorde
      • Ludacris
      • M.I.A.
      • M83
      • Madonna
      • Major Lazer
      • Marc Anthony
      • Mariah Carey
      • Mario
      • Maroon 5
      • Marvin Gaye
      • Mary J. Blige
      • Mashonda
      • Maxwell
      • Meatloaf
      • Melanie Fiona
      • Metric
      • MGMT
      • Michael Buble
      • Michael Jackson
      • Mick Jagger
      • Miguel
      • Miley Cyrus
      • MillionYoung
      • Miranda Lambert
      • Missy Elliott
      • Monica
      • Mos Def
      • Mr Hudson
      • Mstrkrft
      • Mumford and Sons
      • Muse
      • Musiq Soulchild
      • N.E.R.D.
      • Nas
      • Ne-Yo
      • Neil Young
      • Neon Indian
      • Neon Trees
      • Neptunes
      • New Boyz
      • New Kids on the Block
      • Nicki Minaj
      • Nine Inch Nails
      • Nirvana
      • No Doubt
      • Norah Jones
      • Odd Future
      • OutKast
      • Owl City
      • Panda Bear
      • Panic at the Disco
      • Paramore
      • Paul McCartney
      • Pearl Jam
      • Pet Shop Boys
      • Peter Gabriel
      • Pharrell Williams
      • Phoenix
      • Pink
      • Pitbull
      • Pleasure P
      • Prince
      • Q-Tip
      • R. Kelly
      • R.E.M.
      • Radiohead
      • Raphael Saadiq
      • Ray Lamontagne
      • Red Hot Chili Peppers
      • Rick Ross
      • Rihanna
      • Robin Thicke
      • Robyn
      • Rock City
      • Royksopp
      • Rusko
      • Sade
      • Santana
      • Santigold
      • Sara Bareilles
      • Scarface
      • Shabba Ranks
      • Shakira
      • Silversun Pickups
      • Skee-Lo
      • Sleigh Bells
      • Snoop Dogg
      • Snoop Lion
      • Soulja Boy
      • Soundgarden
      • Sparklehorse
      • St. Vincent
      • Steel Pulse
      • Stevie Wonder
      • Surfer Blood
      • Swizz Beatz
      • SWV
      • T-Pain
      • T.I.
      • Taio Cruz
      • Talib Kweli
      • Talking Heads
      • Tamar Braxton
      • Tame Impala
      • Tamia
      • Taylor Swift
      • Teams vs. Star Slinger
      • The Beatles
      • The Black Keys
      • The Crystal Method
      • The Doors
        • Jim Morrison
      • The Drums
      • The Game
      • The Jonas Brothers
        • Joe Jonas
      • The Killers
      • The Living Things
      • The Lonely Island
      • The Morning Benders
      • The Neighbourhood
      • The Notorious B.I.G.
      • The O'Jays
      • The Partysquad
      • The Police
      • The Prodigy
      • The Pussycat Dolls
      • The Rolling Stones
      • The Roots
      • The Strokes
      • The Temper Trap
      • The Ting Tings
      • The Verve
      • The Wailers
      • The Weeknd
      • The White Stripes
      • The-Dream
      • Tiffany Evans
      • Tina Turner
      • TLC
      • Toni Braxton
      • Tony Toni Toné
      • Toro y Moi
      • Train
      • Trey Songz
      • tUnE-YaRdS
      • Tyler the Creator
      • U2
      • Usher
      • Vampire Weekend
      • Violent Femmes
      • Wale
      • Walk Off The Earth
      • Weezer
      • Whitney Houston
      • Wild Nothing
      • Will.I.Am
      • Yeah Yeah Yeah's
      • Young Jeezy
      • Young Money
      • Yuck
      • Zac Brown Band
      • Zoot Woman
    • Award Show Review
    • BET Awards
    • Classic Album Review
    • Concert Review
    • Discography Review
    • Flashback Video
    • Grammys
    • Mixtape Review
    • MTV Awards
    • Music Video of the Week
    • Music Video Review
    • OverDue Revue
    • PRODUCERS
      • Calvin Harris
      • Chad Hugo
      • Danger Mouse
      • Diplo
      • Dr. Luke
      • Mark Ronson
      • RedOne
      • The Neptunes
      • The Smeezingtons
      • Timbaland
    • Single Review
    • Song of the Week
    • THEPLAYLIST
    • Year In Music
    • Year in Music 2009
    • Year In Music 2010
    • Year In Music 2011
  • MYFAVORITES
    • Top 10 Songs of the Week
    • Top 25 All-Time Favourite Artists
    • Top10Thursday
    • Top25Tuesday
  • Photoshop
  • T.V.
    • SHOWS
      • American Idol
      • Beavis and Butt-Head
      • black-ish
      • Empire
      • Entourage
      • GIRLS
      • Glee
      • How to Get Away with Murder
      • Looking
      • Lost
      • Louie
      • Silicon Valley
      • So You Think You Can Dance
      • South Park
      • Treme
      • True Blood
      • Wilfred
    • TV Review
  • Theater Review
    • Hair
    • Race
    • You Can Call Me Eve
  • Uncategorized
  • Video Editing
  • WEBSERIES
    • Awkward Black Girl
    • Black Actress
    • The Guild
    • The Outs
    • Webseries Review

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy