Icp - Riddle Box
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.19 You Save: $2.76 (31%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.85 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Riddle Box
Free Music Review: Three more cards, and the skies will be falling.
Hit: 5 Stars
Immediately after death, the spirit will enter a dark chamber and turn the twisted handle of a bizarre box. As a sharp melody echos off the walls, building into a climactic terror, the box's lid suddenly pops open. What lies inside it depends on the deeds performed in one's life. If the soul becomes awash in God's golden light, he/she will be awarded a ticket to Shangri-La. However, if that same spirit gave in to the temptations of greed and vanity, then a venomous fog will leak from the box. From there, the evil perpetrator plummets into the pit of Hell, forever lost among its shadowy creatures. What will be in store for you is a mystery, as every day passes in the blink of an eye. But for now, you still have time to change the fate that awaits inside the Riddle Box.Released in 1995, "The Riddle Box" is juvenile in nature. While diving into the childhood chest of toys and games, the tracks' lyrics mix prank calls and carnival rides with psychotic killers and bodily dismemberment. In addition, the sound of ICP has expanded from that of the last two Joker Cards, incorporating hardcore rap with a xylophone, faint violin strings, and piano keys. Finally, after 1994's "The Ringmaster" instilled a gripping terror in the minds of Juggalos, this next album was intended to provide comic relief through the duo's clever narratives.
This CD has a deliciously deadly slew of highlights. In "Toy Box," a bullied 6-year-old boy turns wind-up soldiers and dolls into weapons of mass destruction (only to be chopped apart by his own creations). "Cemetary Girl" concerns an morbidly obsessed Juggalo who unearths the rotting, blue corpse of his girlfriend. "3 Rings" is the ultimate freakshow attraction. Deformed and demented, Violent J and Shaggy proudly declare themselves as social outcasts. In "Headless Boogie," J is chased through a graveyard, falls six feet under, and enters an exclusive rave party packed with dancing zombies. "The Joker's Wild" is a gory game show that addresses America's obsession with televised violence. In this song, three unwanted contestants (a cop, a judge, and a hillbilly) are maimed and butchered in front of a live audience. "Dead Body Man" is another Dark Carnival attraction. He's a neighborhood corpse collector who lets the sickening odor of flesh permeate his van. The raunchy "Lil Somthin' Somthin'" can best be described as a sequel to "Love Song." "Ol' Evil Eye," which borrows several quotes from Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," is a spine-tingling film projected in a theater. The suspense of this track is provided by crashing thunder and the introduction of the gaunt Old Man Willy. "12" is a grisly revenge story about a convict who, after being sent to the electric chair by the justice system, rises from his tomb to tear apart the jury members who condemned him. Finally, "The Killing Fields" is a grusome and surreal description of Hell itself. As the bell tolls, J and Shaggy unveil an unholy world where wild pigs feed off the undead, storms rain rivers of blood and kidneys, and the sun's heat will scorch and overcook the brain.
If you are ready to hear these tales of terror, then buy "The Riddle Box" when you can. Not only does it continue the Dark Carnival's lurid legend, but it also sets the stage for the coming of "The Great Milenko," the master of Necromancy. Turn the crank and see where your soul is headed!
Free Music Review: Still their best.
Hit: 5 Stars
This is still the bet from ICP. It combines dark and funny lyrics with dark and funny beats, sometimes vice vers. It was the first album I got from ICP, and the best, but Wraith and Ringmaster are also good. Don't bother with Jeckel Brothers, though. Here is my outlook on the tracks:Intro (10/10): This is probably the coolest intro I've ever heard. It starts with the members of ICP watching one of their music videos and turns into a man that approaches the riddle box. Very entertaining and long, for an introduction.
The Riddle Box (11/11): Wow. I love the voice in the beginning with that little speach. Violent J is awesome in this song. The beats are pretty wicked. It sort of gets the album into shape, and prepares the listener(s) for what is ahead. The beats are cool, very dark carnival-ish.
The Show Must Go On (11/10): Very awesome song. I love the parts when the man talks about the "evil clowns." The skit at the end is downright hilarious. Although I don't listen to this song that often, it is just plain awesome. Nuff said.
Chicken Huntin' [Slaughter House Mix] (11/10): This is half the reason I bought the album. The lyrics are just awesome ("To hunt a chicken, triggers clickin'. Blow off his head, but his feet still kickin'") and funny. It has guitar, just two chords, though. This is good, because I like rock more than rap.
Interview (10/10): This is really funny. Just a prank interview.
Toy Box (11/10): Amazingly catchy, funny lyrics. I love the little "I'm sorry. The person you are calling is dead," in the beginning. Standout. It is about a guy who has *eeevvvviiiiillll* toys.
Cemetary Girl (How many stars can you give this?) The answer, of course, is trillions. This is the best song on the album, sort of sad if you think about it. It's about someone who's wife died and he went and took the corpse from the graveyard. I've pretty much memorized the lyrics.
Three Rings (11/10): VERY catchy. FUNNY lyrics. This SONG is one of the best on here. (Put the words written in capitals together and you get a short summary of the song.)
Headless Boogie (111/10): No, one hundred and eleven was not a typo. This is the catchiest song on the album, almost sing-along. The lyrics are semi-funny ("It's foggy, cold, and smoggy/Hear a dog, a howlin' doggie.")
The Jokers Wild (112/10): (No, that was not a typo either.) This song is disguised as a gameshow, and it is really catchy and funny (and entertaining.) This is the song that makes you go up to people and say "We just cut your face off and slap your skull" all day long.
Dead Body Man (11/10): The album's single. Really, there's nothing else to say.
Li'l Somethin' Somethin' (3/10): HOW COULD THEY DO THIS?! This doesn't sound like ICP at all, this sounds like *coughfiftycentcough.* The lyrics are odd.
Ol' Evil Eye (110/10): Being an Edgar Allan Poe fan, this song was a treat for me. It is sort of based on his story, 'The Sphinx,' about a creature with a large left eye. Pretty dark and really creepy.
12 (113/100: Like one reviewer before me said, this song could be made into a novel. It is about, well, listen to the song and you'll find out.
The Killing Fields (11/10): Great. Nothing much else to say.
I'm Comin' Home (11/10): HOME TO THE CREATURES, HOME TO THE CROOKS! HOME TO THE FOOLS READIN' WITCHCRAFT BOOKS! You get the idea.
There you have it. The greatest from ICP.
Free Music Review: This is your starting point.
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the first ICP album (or Jokers Card) that is consistantly good. It only goes down very briefly, but immediatley picks itself back up again. I used to be a hardcore Juggalo when I was about 19 (I'm 25 now) This was my favorite back in the day and when I decided to give them another listen it was like "I don't really like ICP no more but I wonder if Riddlebox is still as good as I remember it?"
After listening to it without all the Juggalo fanboy hoopla I can safely say that it's still my favorite and in my opinion the absolute apex of their musical career. I'm not saying any of the albums that followed this weren't any good. They just weren't as good as this one. But what exactly makes Riddlebox the best? First let's look at the context of the time it was released.
ICP released their first album (Carnival of Carnage) in 1992. Like any first album it serves as in introduction to the group. In a lot of cases first albums are usually never topped. Because there's something about the sound of a band finding itself that usually can't be re-created. In some cases first albums are merely a "preview of things to come" This is the case with Carnival of Carnage.
Their second album Ringmaster expands on the sounds of Carnival of Carnage with better songs, better songwriting and better production. Although I feel the album has it's ups and downs. The ups are way better then the downs.
After finding their niche with their first two albums. The upgrade in production is immediate on their third album. The opening title track (after a brief intro that sets the tone) is the best title track of their career with a great beat. 2 Dope ushers in the official opener "The Show Must Go On" and what a kick in the teeth it is. Great lyrics, awesome music and it only gets better from here as the next track is one their best and most famous. "Chicken Huntin' (Slaughterhouse Mix)" is a rare case of a remix that not only tops the original, but does so by leaps and bounds.
From then on it's pretty much non-stop. From "Toy Box" , "Cemetary Girl" , "Headless Boogie" , and "The Joker's Wild." The only time I feel it kind of goes down is "Lil Something Something" an Okay song, but the juvenile humor is kind of off putting in this case. This is immediatley forgiven with the one, two, three, four punch of the last four tracks. "O'l Evil Eye", "12" , "The Killing Fields" , and "I'm Coming Home" is the greatest sequence of songs of their career and the moment that puts Riddlebox at the very top of the heap.
It's easy to dismiss Insane Clown Posse. They are truly the most hated band in the world. I truly believe if you have an open mind and don't have an preconcieved notions of ICP. You might actually enjoy this. All the Juggalos of course already know how great it is.
Free Music Review: ICP - "Riddle Box" (5 stars)
Hit: 5 Stars
1995 was a huge year for Detroit underground rap duo Insane Clown Posse. Mainly because they released their 3rd LP entitled "Riddle Box". This album is their first to be released in stores nationwide, due to Psychopathic Records' brief distribution deal with Jive Records' short-lived phony label "Battery Records".
When I first heard this album, I was completely blown away. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope move away from gangsta rap and focus more on horrorcore. Violent J goes deeper in the depths of his infamous "sick storytelling rap". This is also the first album he uses his "squeaky" voice which he was once known for. Shaggy 2 Dope doesn't disappoint at all. In fact, he is nearly on par with J, although he doesn't tell stories as much, Shaggy can still spit the wicked "graveyard" and sex raps.
The production here stands out as well, once again, courtesy of the legendary Mike E. Clark. His production contribution here is what made me consider him one of the best underground rap producers out there. His beat style switches from funk ("Headless Boogie") to just flat out scary beats ("12"). ICP also co-produced this, like many of their previous releases. The production gets 2 thumbs up from me.
To give you a deeper analysis on the individual tracks. Here's my track-by-track ratings.
01. "Intro" (N/A)
02. "Riddle Box" (N/A)
03. "The Show Must Go On" (A+)
04. "Chicken Huntin' (Slaughter House Mix)" (B+)
05. "Interview" (N/A)
06. "Toy Box" (C+) (least favorite)
07. "Cemetary Girl" (A+)
08. "3 Rings" (B+)
09. "Headless Boogie" (A+) (favorite)
10. "The Joker's Wild" (A+)
11. "Dead Body Man" (A+)
12. "Lil' Somthin' Somthin'" (A+)
13. "Ol' Evil Eye" (A)
14. "12" (A)
15. "The Killing Fields (ft. Legs Diamond)" (B+)
16. "I'm Coming Home" (A+)
So to answer the question; is this my favorite ICP album? Yes, well, at least on the same boat as "The Great Milenko". But, I'll get to that one later. I strongly recommend this to Juggalos, people who like funky rap and horrorcore rap fans. This album was well worth every penny. Just go ahead and give it a sample, if you like what you hear, take my word for it and purchase it, if you don't like it, that's fine. And if you're skeptical, that's actually quite an understandable feeling when looking into ICP. But that feeling should soon wear off once you hear this classic. Peace.
~Raw Hide.
Legs Diamond appears courtesy of Psychopathic Records.
Free Music Review: That's not a toy, hey! Wait a Minute!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
First off, screw you if you're judging me, I f&*cking love ICP!!!! No matter what mood I get in, I can jam to these clowns like it's no one's business! I prefer the ICP before the Wraith was released, after that "in my opinion" they lost their touch! For those not familiar with the story of ICP, they preach of what is called The Dark Carnival! The Dark Carnival, was divided in to 6 jokers cards! This one here (The Riddle Box), is the 3rd one, my favorite one! The managed to stick other albums between the Jokers cards such as The Terror Whhel, Tunnel of Love, 2 Bizaar EP's, and a few more! You will be asking yourself, what exactly is the dark carnival? And you will find out on the 6th Jokers Card, The Wraith:Shangri La ( the heavenly side of the carnival ), then there's The Wraith: Hells Pit ( the opposite ). ICP fans are known as juggalos, most "juggalos" turn there love of ICP and other psychpathic artists into a lifestyle. I couldn't do that considering the fact I only dig ICP and there buddies Twiztid. TO be honest I couldn't hang with most juggalo's because they'd pull this carp such as " If you ain't got this piece of merchandise then you ain't a juggalo ". They don't know squat! I'm getting aheAd of myself, the reason I dig this album the most, is for the certain stand out tracks! Toy Box is my fave, The show must go on, 12, Ol' Evil Eye, The Jokers Wild, Cemetary Girl, and of course Chicken Huntin' are some other stand outs! Preaching of Dead Girls, Faygo beverages, hatred towards redneck biggots and yuppies, Murder and other fascinations towards horror...it's seriously entertaining! Other Joker cards are:
CARNVAL OF CARNAGE
THE RINGMASTER
THE RIDDLE BOX ***
THE GREAT MILENKO
THE AMAZING JEKKELL BROTHERS
THE WRAITH:SHANGRI LA
THE WRAITH:HELL'S PIT
I honestly think the juggalo lifestyle is fun! Unless you become an egotistical prick about it, bragging that you're the biggest juggalo than the other average person! I didn't wanna become that so I stuck with being myslelf, jamming to this wicked S&*T, and Heavy METAL! Get into it, have fun, and most of all be loving to The Family and Be yourself. MMFCL >=O)