Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
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Free Music Notes for 8 Diagrams
Free Music Review: Times change man!!!!!
Hit: 4 Stars
I'm gonna keep it short and sweet. Times change and sound changes. Granted it's not the sound that Wu fans are use to but think of this... If it was something that sounded like 36 Chambers and Wu Tang forever than you would be complaining that it sounded like something from the 90's and is an old sound. Appreciate the classics for what they are... classics. You want something like Wu Tang forever (Which is my favorite) listen to Wu Tang forever. You want straight up left field beats google "MFDOOM".
I do admit thought that when I first heard it I didn't give it a chance either but it was more because I just got finished listening to Big Doe Rehab and was expecting something somewhat similiar. I actually had to listen to this a couple of times before I opened up and realized that most things that I expected out of the Wu is there. It's just in a more universal "grown-up" broader scale. It sounds good on my PC and even better in my Jeep and I enjoyed listening to this more than anything else that came out in 2007. All that commercial crap that comes out... This was a breath of fresh air. Most Wu fans are in there 30's now and I know its hard to teach an old dog new tricks but this is on another level. Listen to some of these songs and some of the instruments and the samples and the trademark kung-fu samples and it's there. You can't digest it all at once man. Some of these dudes are pushing 40 man with there own families. They don't have that fire like a young hungry 18-20 year old. They are more humbled by life and experience.
What does disappoint me is that you don't feel that the clan member mesh together like they use to. I understand that you get older and you have your families and things change and you're not as close as you use to be and everybody has their own labels with there own idea how production should sound but it would have been nice to know that they came together all with the same vision for the direction of this album. Knowing everthing behind the scenes gets clouded in your mind while listening to the album and I know I'm not the only one, but like RZZ said, they are all brothers and brothers go through disagreements and are not always going to see eye-to-eye. Keep in mind though that this is still Wu and when it still comes down to it they will still have each others back no matter what.
I'm just as big of a Wu-Tang fan as the next man and I feel all your reviews and an album that is not like "what it used to be" is going to cause mixed reviews but RZA is a pioneer and to be honest with you this album, although not the sound that you are not accustomed to, sounds worlds away from what you hear on the radio. Keep listening man, it's still there, close your eyes and open up your ears. And like my man U-God said on Masta Killa's "Made in Brooklyn" on the song "Iron God Chamber"... "All that beef sh** we going through does not concern you".
Free Music Review: Time for a change?
Hit: 3 Stars
******NOT A KID*******
I picked up "Enter the 36 chamber" back in like 93 after hearing "Method Man" on Yo MTV Raps. I had a coupon and didn't see anything else out that I wanted, so I figured I'd give it a listen. Hip-Hop was never the same since then. I then bought every CD endorsed by Wu-Tang. The solo albums, the Wu-Fam albums, even the greatest hits albums for some reason when I already had all the songs. I even got the hard to find albums like Poppa Wu, La the Darkman, etc. As everyone knows, the music started to lag, the CDs weren't up to par, "The W" came out and it seemed like all hope was lost. Sure there were a few good songs here and there, some decent songs released hear and there from the Clan to keep my hopes up for better days, but the days of me practically worshiping the Clan were over. I heard there was a new album coming out this year and I was hesitant. My friend bought it and told me it was amazing, one of the best CDs he had heard in awhile. He asked if I had bought it and I said no, I wasn't interested and he said it's a sad day when I didn't want a new Wu album. After reading all the reveiws, I figured I'd check it out and pick it up. So after all the hype, is the Wu-Tang really back? No. The Wu will never come back. You can probably say that the Wu died with Ol' Dirty. If they released this CD under a different name, called themselves a different group, then it would be a good album, but it is not a great Wu-Tang album. It does not meet the hype. Yes the RZA is going off on a different path in his production, but different isn't always a bad thing. The album is dark, but remember ODB has died and it's not like 36 Chambers is a "happy" cheerful album. Is it RZA's best production, no. Is it his worst, far from it. This doesn't feel like a Wu album (except for the Kung-Fu samples). Most of the MCs are into it and deliver nice verses, but Ghostface (who was working on his own album) barely appears on the album and has publicly denounced this album. There are too many R&B singers on the hooks, it was better in the days when RZA simply sampled old R&B singers instead of getting new ones to sing his hooks, even when they had Tekitha or Blue Raspberry signing hooks, they were more soulful and fit into their sound better. When I hear "New Wu-Tang", I expect another 36 Chambers, Only built 4 Cuban Linx (which I'm sure part 2 will be disappointing), or Liquid Swords. Ghostface's albums are good because we are expecting a Ghostface album, not a Wu-Tang album. Had this not been a Wu-Tang album, I probably would've given it 4 stars, but seeing as how I expect so much out of the Wu and expect to hear a certain sound, I only give it 3. A solid effort from them, but doesn't make me want to get my Wu-Wear out of a box in the bottom of my closet.
Free Music Review: Comparing this with current hip hop, not past Wu albums, really 4 1/2 stars
Hit: 5 Stars
First I have to say that I waited quite some time before putting out my review on the album. I have listened to the album in its entirety at least 25 times. I have to say that this is an album that you appreciate after the 10th listen. At the same time I can agree with most reviewers and hardcore Wu fans that this album is definitely something that comes as a surprise. I would most like to say that it isnt so much the beats that do this album in for the Rza but I feel like the chorus and to much singing made the beats look off. At the same time when I compare this to 50, Kanye, Soulja boy and others I still have to give this album 4 1/2 stars. To be honest you can not compare this to 36 chambers of Wu Tang 4ever for many reasons. Firstly, Wu members are now near 40, they are no longer in their early to mid twenties. You can not expect them to have the same hunger or expect them to view life the same way. These grown men/soldiers are now fathers, family supporters. Secondly, hip hop as a whole has changed, people dont care as much for lyrics anymore. They buy this commercial sound now. Lastly, the motivation to create an amazing sound is not there anymore, the record industry as a whole is down heavy because people no longer buy and support their artists. People download, when you make a good album and it does not sell you lose the motivation to continue to do so. A good example of this is Fishscale. That album was fire, and it didnt even go Gold I believe. Ghost clearly lost some of his thunder afterwards. I was not nearly as happy with the Big Doe Rehab. It was an ok album but I expected much more. At the same time, I have 36 chambers, I have Wu Tang 4ever. If I want to listen to these albums I will simply pop them in and rock on. I do not expect them to make a similar album because of the above reasons. Please keep in mind that these guys have done, rapped, said it all. They have done R&B, ODB has done opera, they have done pure mcing. What more can you expect from them. Always keep in mind that many of the Solo projects featured tons of Wu members. When you keep this in mind you see that Wu Tang Clan is a real legacy regardless of the latter albums. So when rating this and all I put all things into consideration. If I compare this to 36 chambers or Wu tang 4ever this album does not hold a light to them. At the same time I look at those albums as some of the best in Hip Hop history. Not much compares to those. If this album came out by another group and we all heard it I think we would agree that this is a 4 to 4 1/2 star album. The problem is we all expect so much more from the mighty Wu Tang Clan.
This album to me is as good as Iron Flag and better then "The W". Some of the amazing tracks include Campfire, Take it back, Rushing Elephants, Heart Gently Weeps, Wolves, Windmill and my favorite WEAK SPOT!! I feel if the album had less singing/chorus with this singing and a few more quick beats that people would have embraced this album much more. They should definitely come out with a video which will help sales. This video should be "Take it back" or "Weak Spot" in my opinion.
I am looking forward to the album that Raekwon is talking about with hard punch you in the face beats. I sure hope its better then the Big Doe Rehab which Ghost boasts as an amazing album.
Free Music Review: Solid, different direction
Hit: 4 Stars
for the guys in Wu-Tang Clan. It might very well displease some fans and it took me by surprise at first. I was expecting some hard hitting, in your face rhymes and beats from the Wu camp. Those songs are there but 8 Diagrams is on a different tip this time with songs featuring George Clinton and Erykah Badu on "The Heart Gently Weeps" with a clever Beatles sample wrapped in this song amidst Badu kicking her vocals like she always does. It turns out to be a far different result but still very satisfying. "Wolves" is one of those hard hitting in your face songs i was talking about earlier. One of my favorites is the end song dedicated to ODB always and forever Wu affliated and will be missed. You can hear the sorrow and angst from Wu Tang throughout this song.
It's still Wu Tang Clan, but 8 Diagrams goes a different route and with a mostly satisfying conclusion.
Free Music Review: Not great but decent
Hit: 4 Stars
Overall, I would have to say that 8 Diagrams is a pretty decent release from the Wu. It doesn't have the gritty, hardcore edged beats that 36 Chambers and Wu-Tang Forever had but it still is worth owning especially if you are a hardcore Wu-Tang fan. As for the lyrics, there are moments when they shine and moments when they are just laid back. I think that if you compare this album to 36 Chambers and Wu-Tang Forever you will be dissappointed but if you think of it as its own entity then you will be able to appreciate it for what it is. The Rza uses a completely different production style on this album. A couple songs have the classic hard rugged Wu sound but most of them are dreamy and surreal sounding. This album may dissappoint traditional Wu-Tang fans but if you really give it a chance you may enjoy it.