Tricky - Juxtapose
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Free Music Notes for Juxtapose
Free Music Review: Short but to the point
Hit: 4 Stars
Tricky, who has always admitted to hating the term trip-hop, has tried to etch out his own musical niche ever since leaving the groundbreaking band Massive Attack. On Juxtapose, Tricky does not completely distance himself from that musical philosophy (lo-fi trip-hop?), but he does offer his own take on it. Tricky eschews some conventions and embraces others; the result is a record that feels as though it has a focus -- yet refuses to be in a hurry to find it. In typical fashion, Tricky weaves an assortment of lyrical styles ranging from jungle to rap to R&B. He doesn't forge much new ground lyrically, though, especially when touching upon well-worn ideas such as "keepin' it real" on " For Real" or women's sexual availability on " I Like Girls." Fortunately, he does avoid many rap/jungle axioms such as call-and-response, violence and (for the most part) boastfulness, as well as rap's straightforward, beat-oriented musical approach. Tricky effectively arranges vocals to supply the album's ebb and flow, whether rhyming/speaking with his own undiluted sexual growl of a voice or highlighting English junglist Mad Dog and female singers DNA and Kioka. The backbone of the record, however, is supplied through highly crafted yet uncomplicated pieces of music. Though Juxtapose lacks the experimental heart of DJ Spooky or Dr. Octagon, it is still compelling if not risky. By fusing atypical sounds from inconspicuous electric and acoustic guitars, strings, pianos and real drums with programmed, minimalist trip-hop beats, Tricky punctuates the overall organic texture of the record. On three of the final four tracks, Tricky slows things down and imparts a prevailing feeling of vulnerability and sincerity as he distances himself even further from archetypical rap posturing and the candid sexuality experienced earlier on the record. By utilizing DNA and Kioka's exquisite vocals on " Call on Me" and "Wash Away," respectively, as well as unobtrusive strings united with lingering beats, Tricky offers a surprising subtlety that many artists tend to either miss altogether or, worse, turn into muddled musical sentiment. This mood is punctuated by the finale, "Luv," with a melodious piano and a discussion of love as something more than a false substitute for sex.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this record, strangely enough, is its brevity; it comes in at a scant 37 minutes (too many of those minutes are devoted to an unnecessary remix of "Hot Like a Sauna [Metal Mix]"). Juxtapose has a decidedly muted quality throughout its short life, a somewhat unexpected quality considering that DJ Muggs from Cypress Hill (a band known for big beats) is among the five producers of the record and is a co-writer for most of its more subdued second half. Overall, Tricky works hard to deftly create a low-key mood throughout the record and, by doing so, enters the next millennium with the quietest big bang possible.
Free Music Review: I act like Jeffery Dahmer...
Hit: 4 Stars
Tricky was apparently trying to make a more straightforward hip-hop album with Juxtapose than his usual "trip hop" output. The only problem is, he'd already made a straightforward hip-hop album three years before, and that one was much better. It was called Grassroots, and Amazon apparently doesn't offer it. I believe it might be out of print. But anyway, Grassroots was an EP that showed Tricky at his hip-hop best. It even had a different version of Pre-Milennium Tension's "Tricky Kid" and also Tricky's BEST ever straight-up hip hop song, "Heaven & Hell." The reviewer below who says "Bom Bom Diggy" is a great hip hop song needs to check out "Heaven & Hell." But anyway, I thought Juxtapose was great when it came out, but now that I've digested it for a while I think it sounds slightly rushed and inconsistent. It doesn't offer all that it could. I read somewhere that Tricky himself doesn't like Juxtapose that much. It isn't a bad album, it's just that it doesn't jolt you like Pre-Milennium and Maxinquaye did. And I also have a problem with Mad Dogg. The guy has skills, for sure, but I get sick of hearing his hundred-words-a-second flow on almost each and every song. He sounds to me like one of those early-'90s party-rap guys from down South, just with a British accent. I think what most annoys me is that he's apparently the replacement for Martina. In the old days Tricky himself would use his unique voice to rap some verses and then Martina would lay down the chorus; you can hear the perfect example of this in my still-favorite Tricky song "Christiansands." Now we get Tricky doing the verses and then Mad Dogg jumps out of nowhere and raps his head off. It just doesn't fit with the languid sound Tricky has perfected on record. Live, I'm sure it works, because Tricky is another type of performer entirely live. He's manic and energized, and Mad Dogg works fine in that environment - in fact, I saw Mad Dogg in concert with Tricky a year ago and it all went together perfectly. But anyway, Juxtapose has a few gems, such as "Bom Bom Diggy," "Hot Like a Sauna," "Call Me," and "Wash My Soul." But I know Tricky is capable of better. Hopefully that will be reflected in his upcoming album.Free Music Review: Another good Tricky album
Hit: 4 Stars
I am the first person to review 'Juxtapose' in 2002 and I hope the readers appreciate it. Especially those who haven't purchased 'Juxtapose' yet. As much as I like it, I wouldn't recommend it to people who are new to Tricky. Of course some rap lovers might say it's a great rap album, but then it'd be a damn wrong impression of who Tricky is.For Tricky fans,though, it's a must-buy. Every Tricky album has something special in it, so does Juxtapose. The songs where Tricky's rapping alone are a beautiful experience and the Maddog collaborations only completes it. 'Scrappy Love', 'For Real', 'She Said' and 'Contradictive' are songs I like the best because they calm me down. You simply can't deny Tricky's brilliance and believe me, it's not absent on Juxtapose. The Maddog part in 'Bom Bom Diggy' makes the song even better. I don't mind if you don't like 'I Like The Girls' but 'Hot Like a Sauna' is just as good as 'Bom Bom Diggy'. The female singer spoils the song a bit and there's the weakest part in 'Juxtapose'. After listening to 'Blowback' I'd say Tricky hasn't found the appropriate descendant for Martina. I would recommend Nelly Furtado, she's got an impressive voice asking for perfect arrangements that Tricky has to offer. Listen to their collaboration 'The Harder They Come' on Paul Oakenfold's album Bunkka and you certainly won't disagree with me.
As a conclusion, Juxtapose is maybe not Tricky's finest album, but I still recommend it. I don't think Tricky is able to disappoint his true fans. And finally a question to those 'fans' who miss Tricky's trip-hop tunes and hate Juxtapose: Is that right that you're Tricky fans and not trip-hop's (a style that doesn't even exist)?
Free Music Review: Often overlooked, But some of Tricky Best songs (4.5 stars)
Hit: 4 Stars
Having previously been unsuccessful, in his attempts to break into the Lucrative american market, teamed up with "Cypress Hill's"..."D.j. Muggs" (with the help of rapper "DMX's" producer "Grease"), to create a "Hip-hop" themed version of his Distinctive style of Brooding Electronica he's so famous for. Right off the bat...the down right Breathtaking "For Real" (a Scathing look at wannabe gangsters how watch "Too many gangster films", & people obsessed with "Record deals")...Tricky growlingly snarls "How Do you expect to become a Crime Family???...Your Profile's too Big!!!". This track stands out for being easily as good (if not better than any individual track Tricky has produced), and yet that isn't the whole of this consistently bleak album as "Contradictive" sees Tricky move into altogether more accessible songs with a male Vocal supplanting this kind of track that is usually reserved for his female vocalists, and against all the odds, ends up being some of Tricky's most distinguished work. But regardless of the praise heaped by me on this album, those new to Tricky (or only possessing one album) should probably steer clear...because as with "Angels with Dirty Faces" this is a tough, Difficult and initially unrewarding listen. But those that have most of Tricky's catalogue of Albums, will be entering into this with their eyes open, and expect the dramatic shifts from Downtempo, Trip-hop, Rap, Alternative Rock....and for these people, it'll take a while....but the brilliance of this album will unearth under (admittedly a fair few) listens.Free Music Review: It's a "Collaboration"
Hit: 4 Stars
Like many of Tricky's albums, the songs on this album are results of collaborations with various artists, so it was no surprise that this has a more "street" feel to it, as opposed to Pre-Millennium Tension, which was surreal and dirty. Despite this, I think the album still bears Tricky's indelible stamp: His menace and growls still permeate the album and are used to great effect on songs like "For Real" and "Wash My Soul." Fans of PMT will enjoy songs like "Call Me" and "Scrappy Love" which have a more visceral and gutteral feel than the other songs. "Bom Bom Diggy" foreshadows the type of riffing that would appear on his next album "Blowback." It's got a great groove and rapping courtesy of Muggs, but it's more restrained than say "Girls" (from Blowback).Overall, I'd say this is a great "rock" record in that Tricky succeeds in taking the styles of Muggs/Grease and blending them with his own mutant approach to music-making. That's what it is: a mutation. Fans of Maxinquaye and PMT may not enjoy Juxtapose, as it's not entirely innovative or groundbreaking, but it does offer good variations of the mutant rock that Tricky helped invent.