Idlewild Soundtrack: My Review
Yessuh
Let me dig into your brain, folks fallin like rain
Property got me sellin thangs, guess I'm gon' explain
Jane is rolled up, no gangs be throwed up
But still Andre got action, they Sweat like Keith, all on my teeth
---Andre Benjamin
The above is the beginning to my fav song on the 1994 classicSouthernplayalisticadillacmuzik album entitled "Crumblin' Erb". ( Editor's Note: I really wanted to give you the verse to "Git up Get Out Get Somethin'" but I don't want to lose you...after all this is an album review for Idlewild right? But man I miss the 93 thru 98 models of Andre Benjamin)
Progressively through the years Outkast became more
strange yet more better...until Stankonia that's at least when they officially lost me. Little did I know they were setting me (us) up for the ultimate change in direction, at the same time a pure stroke of genius...SPEAKERBOXX/The Love Below a double album where 1 album is a balance of funk/and new age hip hop. The other is a result when you combine the DNA of Prince, 1973 Stevie Wonder, Elton John, John Coltrane and Andre 3000 himself (remember when he was just simply "Dre") similar to that of how Cobra created Serpentor (peace to my 1980s G.I. Joe fans) and made an album...to quote the tagline of my wife's favorite commercial "BRILLIANT"
Being a career-long OutKast fan ( Editor's Note: peace to the 1993 Youth Group at First Baptist Chesterfield (then Pastor Robert F. Loggins) when we tried to get the "Youth ministers" to let us sing "Player's Ball" for our Christmas Play), I enjoyed their previous albums but like many other longtime fans felt slightly alienated by crossover attempts like "Hey Ya!", "Roses", and "The Way You Move". By now though, I have kind of accepted that my 2nd favorite hip hop group (next to The Roots...BTW The Roots' 8th studio album entitled Game Theory is coming out 8/29...at least give it an ear check) will never again produce Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, ATLiens or Aquemini type of music. I have also learned to only expect the unexpected from an OutKast album
Many would say that Idlewild is the most anticipated music album, probably since Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. . Idlewild is really not the logical next step following their breakthrough double album. It really is simply the soundtrack to their movie of the same name. I have not yet seen the movie, so I'm sure the album will be much more enjoyable once I have seen it. The movie takes place in the depression era, so the Idlewild soundtrack contains music influenced by ragtime, blues, and big band styles. Lyrically, it's closer to The Love Below than anything else, a lot of random and headscratching verses, so some longtime fans will be disappointed. However, a lot of it (from what I imagine) narrates the movie. From this soundtrack I take away that the movie contains a high profile divorce, a contemplative period, and characters named Percival and Rooster.
The only issue with it I really have is that Dre and Big Boi only appear together on three tracks. Dre still is trying to do his singing thing, and Big Boi instead brings in his Purple Ribbon All Stars to fill the guest spots. At times it seems like Idlewild picks up right where Speakerboxxx/The Love Below left off, but make no mistake. Idlewild is not Stankonia, it is not Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, and it is certainly not ATLiens or "Aquemini" and definately not Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik . Idlewild is a soundtrack that I believe would supplement the movie, not an album supplemented by a movie.
The Songs
Following the intro, the soundtrack begins with the single "Mighty O". This track is a very strong song, it would not have sounded out of place on Stankonia. In between Dre's inescapable choruses and an excellent backing, Dre and Big Boi drop excellent verses, representing their duo and all they have been through, it's a definite highlight. Big Boi's talented singing protégés Scar and Sleepy Brown appear on "Peaches", a song about a decaying relationship and baggage along with it. It's got a smooth guitar backing and a good chorus. Andre sings "Idlewild Blue (Don'tchu Worry `Bout Me)" ( Editor's Note: I love this video! ), a genuine sounding blues track. It has a blues guitar and wailing harmonica, and he sings simple and happy lyrics. It's kind of catchy "..and it has a nice beat...and I can dance to it". I was happy to see Khujo Goodie in a guest spot on "N2U"; he and Big Boi make a pimp anthem, I liked it.
"Morris Brown" is an obvious single, beginning with a marching band cadence and continuing with strong horns throughout the song. Sleepy Brown sings a nice chorus, but Scar is the real star on this song, singing a memorable verse multiple times through about music. Andre sings a plain weird song on "Chronomentrophobia". I wasn't really diggin' it but if you really loved "The Love Below" chances are you would like this a lot too. I thought it was just okay, his rap verse is actually pretty damn good. "The Train" is the next big highlight for me. The opening reminded me of "Humble Mumble" from the Stankonia album, with the train theme. Big Boi chronicles his life, Scar and Sleepy deliver nice vocals and the horns and bass make a nice instrumental. It's a great song, encouraging and enjoyable. I also really liked "Life is Like a Musical". Andre sings to a partner, telling him "Don't let `em change us!" This theme carries over to the next song, "Hollywood Divorce" (probably the best song on the album as of 8/25/06). The song is about a high profile relationship gone sour, it has familiar seeming production, but Dre sings very well and both Dre and Antwan have great verses, along with a very surprisingly good guest spot by Lil Wayne (Yes I still believe he is benefiting from a ghost writer) Snoop could've came stronger...but by the time you hear Snoop you almost forgive him; as the track is that nice.
Purple Ribbon All Star Janelle Monae sings well on "Call the Law", but she basically anchors the whole song. She's a great singer but I guess I'd rather hear Dre or Big Boi on an OutKast album. Big Boi makes a nice solo cut out of "Buggface", it kind of reminds me of "The Rooster" from his previous album. I found "Makes No Sense At All" unnecessary, but maybe it makes sense in the context of the movie.(Editor's note: as B. Holcomb just typed that, he realizes the comical irony in his last statement and begins to give the OutKast duo even more props ). The Purple Ribbon cut "In Your Dreams" is nice, The Kid named Killer Mike is slowly growing on me, and brings heat on this one! Sleepy and Janelle sing well, it's more of the ragtime influenced stuff. "PJ & Rooster" is a well produced, upbeat swing song. "Mutron Angel" feels kind of sluggish, and "The Greatest Show on Earth" is strange unlike anything they've done before. Macy Gray ( RED FLAG ) sings about leaving to join the circus. "When I Look In Your Eyes" executes the ragtime vibe better than any other song on the disc, very well done. "Dyin' to Live" is a very heartfelt song, it makes me want to see the movie on its own. The album ends with "A Bad Note", a lethargic 9 minute outro that's not worth listening to more than once. (damn, placement of this track was pretty genius also)
Similar to Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Idlewild contains original, mainstream-friendly quirky music devoid of a definable genre. There are not really any jaw dropping, relevant and conscious rap verses here, but there is catchy music, great production, and simply some good songs. Like any other longtime fan, I long for the days of their first three albums, but I see that the duo is on to different styles and I guess I have to respect that. Idlewild is certainly an enjoyable album. The ragtime theme is very original and executed well, it's unlike anything I've ever heard. Once again, Big Boi and Andre seem more like a syndicate than a duo, making albums together without necessarily making music together. Once again though, the focus seems to be movie first, album second as far as I can see. I recommend it to OutKast fans, because part of what we have always loved about OutKast is their blazing creativity, and fans that jumped aboard the bandwagon in 2000 will certainly like this too. I just hope that before bashing it or saying it's bad, people accept and enjoy Idlewild for what it is: good music to a movie, not an album with a movie.
Overall grade: 3 1/2 Mics
B. Holcomb
P.S. Ever notice how since 94, Outkast dropped an album every 2 years until Stankonia ....then the gap became every 3 years?? I"m just sayin
PPS Peace 2 AG...While I plan on viewing Idlewild this upcoming weekend, I promise I'm gonna view Syrianna within the next week and give you my take!
Last Post Script Peace to Quia Querisma and "The Court" for providing me the lyrics to the hook of the 1992 EPMD classic "The Crossover":
Whatever you want (oh-oh)
Whatever you need (yea-yeah)
I'll do it for you!!!! (THE CROSSOVER!)
Next Blog Entry: Superheroes RETREAT!!! Peace to: Tim Dennard, Dawn Davis and J. Moore for the inspiration of this upcoming blog entry
posted by B. Holcomb @ 7:28 PM
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