Yes...this is me talkin' smack about Common. Not really Common the MC, but this new album that he presents to the masses today, the former "Invincible Summer" is now "Universal Mind Control".
Now here's the deal, usually since BE came out, I have been excited about a Common release, album, song, show, don't matter...however, when I learned he was doing an entire album with the Neptunes (or Pharrell)...the first thought on my mind, was that I looked at Pharrell, like I was Janet, circa the 80s..."WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY???"
Mostly, cause I ain't been excited about a Neptunes production, since Hell Hath No Fury (Clipse) . Been a while...and after the Common/N.E.R.D. show in my hometown of Milwaukee...I was a bit skeptical of these new songs, looking at people like, "what the fuck did Pharrell do to him?" and unsurprisingly, this question became reality on this album.
First time hearing the title track as well as "Announcement", I'm thinking to myself that I am not hype to these tracks, like I would normally be towards Common singles. But I digress...
It's obvious that Common is directing his music towards the nightlife and uses this approach to make some experimental, electronica-tinged, feel-good music, but what it comes off as bland Neptune-produced, lazily rhymed, uncomfortable music.
The only track I got excited for was "Inhale" (No. 8 off the album), but if this was XXL (as to how I normally rate albums now) it would get an XL and nothing more than that. Come to think, 7 out of the 10 tracks only got an L....not good.
I don't think it is fair to say that Hollywood changed Common, or he was sipping the Neptune-made Kool-Aid, or Kanye had channeled Auto-Tune, whispered in his ear, and told him "YOU MUST DO THIS"...But honestly, Universal Mind Control makes Electric Circus look like Resurrection.
Common- Universal Mind Control (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCCC9ivMUa8
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1 comment:
awesome linup
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