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GOSPEL GANGSTAS
"GANG AFFILIATED"
MYX Records
The Original Gospel Gangstas is the full name of this group of ex-bangers. Finally, some authentic "gangsta rap" in the Christian market. There are only a couple of these out so far. What we have here is a fairly well produced rap album with good doses of BASS!! Just a little more BASS!! and it would be perfect. The first minute or so of the tape we hear a bunch of guys beating on someone among shouts of "Beat his brains" and "Bash the sucka," along with some less understandable phrases that let us onto who they are beating. Finally, we hear, "What you got to say now, Jesus?" The reply is, "It is finished." Then it fades into another scene with sirens and sounds of the inner city. After, we are treated to the first song, "Before Redemption," a song about the life of a gang-banger, written from personal experience. My favorite thing about the Ganstas is the sincerity and honesty of the lyrics. Most of these songs are very personal, such as "Testimony" and the emotional "Y Cain't Da Homiez Hear Me?" which is a heartfelt cry about how their old banger homies won't give their lives to Jesus and then die without knowing Him. "One Time" is a song about police brutality and prejudice. "Tears Of A Black Man" is a typical song about how the black man is oppressed by the white man. One song on this tape is one that will gain the O.G.G. some criticism for "not being original and creative." That's "Gospel Gangsta Voyage," which uses samples from that old song "Fantastic Voyage." I know everyone will say that they copied the mainstream artist Coolio, who also used "Fantastic Voyage." I already know a lot of kids who have no idea that Coolio's "Fantastic Voyage" is not an original. In reality, the Gangstas probably recorded their version at the same time Coolio did. I just wish the timing was different. It's really a cool song. Overall, this is a really good rap album. There are some cheesy parts, such as the two mini-interviews and "Da Gangsta's Prayer," but then I've seen a lot of things in mainstream rap that I would consider cheesy but are cool in the rap scene. D.J. Dove did a good job of producing this. Now all the Gangstas need to do is not let D.J. Dove try to rap on their next release. If you enjoy good rap music or know someone who does, trot down to your local Christian Bookstore and get it. It can also be found at Camelot music, where I bought my copy.
by Owlman.
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"DEMOLITION II"
VARIOUS ARTISTS
R.E.X. RECORDS
This CD starts off with Mr. Bishops Fist and the song "Confuted System," which is about the religious systems and denominations trying to enslave and control their people. This is a stompin' song that needs attention. Next we have Crucifix, which is pretty heavy. "Like a Crown" is the name of the song. It's kind of a moshy, power-metal, punky thing with a couple of samples. Pretty enjoyable.
Next up is the much celebrated Argyle Park with "Misanthrope 5:33." It's produced by Scott Albert of Circle of dust. This is the next band that needs to be signed along with the new wave of industrial/techno bands. Check it out.
Neocelt is next with "Irish Apocalypse," which is kind of different. It has an industrial flavor, but also a Celtic/Irish feel, which is really appropriate to the song. And with names like O'Doole and McMackey, what else can we expect? It's a cool song.
Slide is next with The Black and The Blue. This is a commercial rock band with a pretty good song here--heavy on the bass and sparing with the guitar.
Thorn Crown is next with "World Gone Black". This is some authentic grunge that reminds me a lot of Pearl Jam or Temple of the Dog. My only problem with it is that it sounds a bit too much like the Seattle bands out.
Nina Llopis, formerly of The Lead, is back with Nina & Out of Egypt. The song is called "In My Life". This is some soft alternative music that doesn't lull the listener to sleep, thank God. Nina has a beautiful voice and she writes some good music.
Leader Dogs For The Blind are up next and it seems they are "Numb," at least their song title is. These guys are original. We start off with heavy mosh riffs and then we get a funky, undistorted thing, then some heavy, bluesy stuff, then some moshy stuff and funky undistorted stuff at the same time. Lots of samples. This is probably the most diverse stuff on the CD.
Rivot is next with more industrial music in the song "Never." You guessed it--Scott Albert was in on this one also. He wrote the song. Its as good quality as anything else Scott Albert puts out. You be the judge. I like it.
Klank is next--more of Scott Albert's friends. "Animosity" is a heavy industrial song worthy of listening. Growling vocals fill out the heaviness.
Scapegoat follows with "The System," a song with a groove so deep I fell in. Its a bluesy-riff song with more of a funk bass line. Good vocals. In the middle of the song we have a bass solo complete with a wah pedal on the bass. I've not heard that before.
Velocipede is last with "Never Never Never." With a name like Velocipede, I was expecting it to clock in at just over a million beats per minute. Nope. These guys are a pop/commercial metal band. They are pretty good at what they do and I liked it even though it was less than a thousand beats per minute.
See ya.
by Owlman
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MY LITTLE DOG CHINA
" THE VELVIS CARNIVAL"
ALARMA RECORDS
My Little Dog China is one of those bands that comes out every now and then that actually sounds different from all the other Christian bands out at the time. Being from Columbia, Missouri, they play in Kansas City sometimes. The first time I saw these guys play, I didn't really like them. I didn't take a good listen, though, so when I saw them at Cornerstone, I was surprised. These guys are really good. When folding out the lyric sheet, you'd think the lyrics weren't included. The lyric sheet just looks like the scribbling of a schizophrenic. Actually most of the lyrics are included, you just have to read them along while listening and you have to concentrate on it very hard to decipher it. Pretty weird. The music is really raw, pretty much simple, and NOIZY!! Feedback, studio banter, and noisy distortion are all over this thing. Musically, I can only describe this as noisy, heavy alternative music. At times you can hear hints of Smashing Pumpkins influences, but overall, MLDC's music is more hyper. Vocalist/guitarist Kevin Clay reminds me a bit of a young Terry Taylor, but not too much. Someone described him as sounding "like a man in detox." That's probably the only way to describe him. He sings the songs with loads of passion and pain. "See the Man Fall" and "Eggshells" are the semi-ballads on this CD. In "Eggshells," Clay proclaims "and this world is crazy enough without my input." Both ballads seem to be very honest "cries from the heart" of the average feeble man trusting in God. "Salvadori" seems to be a song about sexual abuse from the victim's perspective. If you're into distortion, feedback, and really cool basic riffs, you need "The Velvis Carnival" in your collection. by Owlman
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