Fast Crew - Set the Record Straight

YOURZ

My first reaction when the pointy stick touched down on this New Zealand posse's 2004 debut was 'oh, no, here we go' because it's another of those albums I bought when I started doing production for a local hip hop MC.  Fast Crew and my band had a similar line-up and were using much the same techniques to create our beats.

On the first listen through (it had been a while), I thought there were some great catchy tracks highlighting the machine-gun raps of Kid Deft and, despite myself, I was actually enjoying it.  But listening to the album through for a second time, there was no doubt it has dated and on top of this, the synth bass lines just started to aggravate me.  The production is polished, it also comes out sounding fairly bland.  And while I don't doubt his chops, I was struck by the obvious Eminem influence in the Kid's raps. 

Fast Crew lived up to their name, rising up pretty quickly and disappearing just as quick.  I think if they'd made some different choices for singles, as some of the album tracks (such as Don't Speak My Name) are much stronger, they might have lasted longer.  And while the big hit single I Got is a great party track (as is Oops My Bad) and Suburban Streets has a nice summery feel about it, the rest is, well, pretty average.

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN

MINE

I was steeling myself for someone shouting at me and it didn't happen.  In fact, I Got is going on the gym workout playlist.  There are a bunch of tracks on there that are really great, although some got a bit same-y.  Whoever told them to open with Set the Record Straight (I know it's the title track)  has rocks in their head (YourZ sez: oh, yeah, I agree completely).  You gotta open with the killer on your debut album, right?

Anyway, these guys are fun, their raps are fast and smart, they're well worth a listen.  This is going to annoy YourZ but when I was listenng to it I thought - this is what he could have done his band if they'd had some more cash for studio time.  They were doing the same thing at the same time, using the same dreamy girl voice to lighten the rap, getting the rapper to sing... all of this, honey, YOU did.  But they got a gold record (OK, in New Zealand, whoopee) and you guys didn't.  What happened?  Did you guys overthink it?  Maybe you should have just marketed yourselves as the Aussie Fast Crew and got while the getting was good...  (YourZ sez: While I could probably point out that we weren't sycophantic or cool enough for the local hip hop community, which is true, I think it was probably more a case of losing a great, committed vocalist and musician and then having all sorts of trouble finding a replacement).

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://www.myspace.com/fastcrew

Katalyst Presents Dusted - Essential

YOURZ


Welcome to our first compilation review.  In our introductory note way back at the start of this month, we said we'd pick one out of our extensive collection of compilations and review it for your reading pleasure.  For both of us, there was no argument about which compilation we'd pick first.  Katalyst Presents Dusted won hands down. 

So, if you could put together a collection of songs guaranteed to keep a party rockin', who would you put on it?  I think someone must have asked this question of Ashley Anderson, otherwise known as Katalyst, because he has put together quite possibly one of the greatest collections of tracks known to man, deftly mixed together on two discs of pure listening pleasure.  But Dusted is more than a compilation or a mixed tape. Katalyst has seamlessly blended old school, new school and rare grooves into a listing transcending the very idea.

Oh sure, it doesn't have anything approximating hard rock or even medium rock, for that matter, but he does have the original track Eminem sampled to use for My Name Is..., Labi Siffre's I Got The... and some of the world's biggest hip hop luminaries in acts such as A Tribe Called Quest (Check The Rhime), Public Enemy (Burn Hollywood Burn), Wu-Tang Clan (Uzi (Pinky Ring) ) and Run DMC (Down With The King) as well as some classic old school acts like Fred Wesley, The JBs, Roy Ayers, Nina Simone and The Meters.

It's surprising how well this blend of old and new works and this album never fails to inspire and delight.  But it's in his own tracks he really shines, highlighting both his love of hip hop (Let The Music Talk) and funky grooves (Uprock This).  Both are instant classics.

If you've not heard this collection before and you want something 100 percent guaranteed to kick start your party, even if the party is of one, you won't find anything better.  It even makes me wanna dance, something very few recordings can do.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP hit repeat and let 'em dance all night

MINE

Party party party party - this 2-CD album is an essential for an "all back to mine" event.  We saw him - erm "live" - a couple of years ago and he was a-ma-ZING!

As a collection of songs, it works beautifully - from the first strains of California Soul to Run-DMC's Down With the King on CD 2.  My personal favourites are the funky tunes (have I mentioned I like to dance?) especially Cherrystones and I Changed My Mind.

But the rappier and rockier songs work too - showing he's well worth all the gongs he's garnered as a music producer and DJ.  This is the second copy of this album we've owned after the first one walked - and I'm voting for it as one of the CDs I'd buy first if the whole collection vanished tomorrow.  Nothing else to say but...

VERDICT: TURN IT UP (invite your best mates over and get the cocktail shaker out)

For more information: http://www.katalystmusic.com.au/

In our collection we also have What's Happening

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

MINE

I wouldn't have bought it. Despite being fond enough of Eminem, mainly for his danceability and the way he actually brings musical and production skills to his rap, I'm just not keen enough on the genre to fork out money for it. Unlike YourZ, who has more rap than Christmas paper.

I do like this album, especially Stan and The Real Slim Shady, although his homophobic rants do make me wince. There's no doubting his talent and at least he's not always going on about doing his hos doggie-style or getting his knob sucked, which other rap artists seem to be obsessed with. And I can understand him - he's not using some obscure gangsta slang which goes right over my head.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

YOURZ

Marshall Mathers aka Slim Shady or Eminem, is a rarity in the world of rap.

First of all, to state the obvious, he's white.

Secondly, his lyrics, for the most part, display humour, intelligence and a level of self-deprecation not often seen in a genre more noted for its gangsta bragging and playa culture.

Thirdly, and this one I probably admire the most about him, he's done this despite the hype, despite the criticism and while going pretty much against the whole ‘cult of celebrity’ thing.

This album, much like his previous album, The Slim Shady LP, sees him firing verbal shots at just about everyone: celebrities, fans, critics, family and even himself. But it's the almost-sensitive Stan, with the hauntingly beautiful Dido sample, that elevates this record way above everything else in the genre. The story and the delivery border on genius, a word I don't think has much place in modern music but I truly believe it's deserved here.

Personally, I like Eminem. I like how he takes the piss, how he stirs the pot and how he keeps things interesting for himself. He might cop a fair amount from critics and moral groups but it only serves to show just how senseless these groups can be. Ground-breaking artists always invite controversy and Eminem is no exception.

As far as a lot of other rap goes, I can take it or leave it (mostly leave it). In Eminem's case, though, I'm glad I took it.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP, MOFO

For more information: http://www.eminem.com/

In our collection, we also have Curtain Call