When I first heard this album, I was rather underwhelmed. It's slow, it's low-key, it's pretty sombre. I sort of expected this, given that Dirty is no longer with us, but this seemed a bit extreme.
Also, the lead-off single The Heart Gently Weeps struck me as being totally arse. Sampling and covering The Beatles rarely works, Paul's Boutique notwithstanding.
The only song that leapt out at me was Wolves, which is the only really danceable song on the whole album.
But the more I listen to it - and it does keep pulling me back - the more I find myself being drawn in. I'm almost enjoying it now. It's a million miles away from 36 Chambers, but most of the MCs are on top form (though there isn't enough Ghostface - and he seems pissed that he was left off the ODB tribute) and Rawkwon in particular shines despite his impassioned criticism of RZA's direction for the album.
This is probably the last gasp for the Wu. RZA is pulling into more and more experimental areas and some of the Clan aren't down with that. They're apparently making an album without him to "teach him a lesson".
In better, though odder, news I hear that the theme to Walk Hard: the Dewey Cox Story is a collaboration between Ghostface, Jackson Browne, Jewel, and Lyle Lovett. Bloody hell.
Posted by pearce at February 19, 2008 7:45 PM