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ALBUM REVIEW
 Artist: Wu-Tang
Album: Soundtracks From The Shaolin Temple
Exec. Producer: RZA
Label:
Release Date: October 7, 2008
For a long time I've been patiently waiting for a new Wu-Tang release so much so that it felt like I was waiting for the writers strike to end. I almost didn't get a chance to review this album, for some ungodly reason but thank god I ran into my boy and he was able to flip me a copy so I could cop a listen. I think also it was due to my fervor and my adoration for such a group like the Clan he decided to let me cop the review. After all they are one of my biggest influences especially some of the things they say that pertain to the 5%'s.
The thing that most intrigued me was the intro "Darkness" never in my life I would've though that I would critique an albums intro/interlude. For the most part they're usually whack and you can thank the artists that are currently f*¢%ing up the game for that. It's taken from a classic kung-fu film and young student and a seasoned master meeting for the first time. The master is blind and proceeds to ask the student to strike him and of course he's not able to. He then continues to ask him (the student) to close his eyes and tell what he can hear. "The water, the birds" and so forth, the master then asks him can he hear his heartbeat and the grasshopper at his feet. The young student responds:
"Old man how is that you can hear these things?"
"Young Man how is that you do not?"
That was the deepest exchange of wisdom that I've ever heard.
Many of the Wu's affiliates, (not to mention the members from the actual clan) make appearances. Mic rockers such as Bronze Nazareth, Ras Kass, Jedi Mind Tricks, and even the legendary MF DOOM, (who makes an appearance on "Biochemical Equation"). There are too many MCs to name, this album is like the coming together of all of our beloved underground MC heroes.
"On the Eve of War" is a sick track that combines the likes of Jedi Mind Tricks (FNF Lupe's version of Grand Hustle) and GZA. This tracks features sick lyricism combined with an orchestra that sounds like it was conducted by the one and only Old Nick himself (If you don't know who Old Nick is then you better ask somebody). GZA plays his chill laid-back role to the T, at the end of his rampage you'd think you'd got slice up with a Chinese Broadsword. (Remember Yungsung? Soul Calibur?)
"My Piano" is one of the most on point tracks on this entire album, featuring a big three consisting of Hi-Tek (Sick album by the way), Pretty Toney, and Lex Diamonds. Only the truest of the truest Wu-Tang-Clan fans would know who I'm talking about when I refer to Ghostface Killah and Lex Diamonds by their other stage names. An example of what words are flipped would be this:
"Is it the love for the money/Or is it the love for the game/is it the love for the honeys/ or the love for the change/Cuz most of these lil' n!&&@$ is wack/ Or because the game is yelling "bring that real shit back"
I know that I was one of the many that have been yelling that for a long time to come, you probably have been too.
The Ultimate highlight of this entire album or any album for that matter is whenever MF DOOM (Remember ALL CAPS when you spell the man's name) comes out the lab to make an appearance. He does just that when he spits his supervillain nastiness on "Biochemical Equation" alongside the equally seasoned veteran RZA. They commit mass murder on a beat that could've been made by either RZA or the Metal Fingered Villain, either way I'm good!
"Josephine" is one of my favorite tracks as well. Not just the chill back drums courtesy of Hi-Tek but the tale that is told, by GFK and Trife Dawg, which speaks of a woman who is caught in the snare of street life and drugs and ends up paying the fatal price. Along with a haunting chorus that's imprinted on my brain as if GFK himself tattooed it on the inside of my cranium.
"Josephine/ the times are getting tough/ the rain won't wash away your sins you'll be here to do them all over again"
It's like that yo.
"The Obituary" another track that deserves honorable mention for being one of the dope highlights of such a luminous album. Two close friends of the clan that ended up being fallen soldiers. (Notice the E.B.G.G. initials) that's for Eric Bodrick and Glen Grooms.
Other highlights of this dope album would be "Deep Space" produced by RZA featuring Lord Jamar. "Original Man" which features a sick intro, a sick beat, and once again sick MCs Lord Jamar, Raekwon, and Kasim Allah. That track is a direct nod to the 5 percenter nation.
I forgot to mention "Animal" which features Icewater a duo I've never even heard of. But you know what? I can see why they call themselves that. I got chills listening to those dudes flex all over a track that was just so grimey and raw that I felt like hitting the person within 1 meter of me. Luckily my boy wasn't around cuz we would've been throwin' bows or something of the like. Other tracks like "Still Grimey", "The Ocean" and "Street Corners" deserve nods as well. They would've gotten the critique treatment as well but I think you get the idea or how insanely sick this album is.
I think you know what I'm going to give this album. What more can I say?
S3kshun8SonicAmp Rating: 10/10 |
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