Review Summary: The Rapcore genre has significantly lost its edge, and Crazy Town is no exception, however, their debut album "The Gift of Game" has much to offer, but definitely isn't for everyone.
Ok, so you like rap you say?
Oh, and you like hardcore?
...well do I have a recommendation for you then...
Step right up, keep the line in check; I'll give you the inside info on a once popular rapcore band that, although currently flustering in the music market, will satisfy those who enjoy both genres -- especially if you're looking for a quick combination of both.
Now is about the time you're thinking, "..what the hell kind of start to this review is that?"
Well, I guess it's my attempt to be artistic, eclectic...maybe even aesthetic; hardly what Crazy Town is...at least, not completely.
The Gift of Game was released in 2002, perhaps when Rapcore was on the rise, or maybe the decline (it depends on who you ask) -- although it never really hit the mainstream with that much flare anyways. The Crazy Town debut album offers a huge variety of music for listeners looking for a quick fix.
Perhaps it was "Butterfly" that sent Crazy Town flying to the top of the charts and then mainstream glory, well, actually it was "Butterfly" -- which, for the record, is hardly the sound of this album -- it is a clear deviation, arguably inserted into this album so that Crazy Town could sell some records. Nevertheless, their rise to fame saw them release five singles: "Toxic", "Darkside", "Butterfly", "Revolving Door" and "Lollipop Porn". All are solid rapcore songs, and unfortunately for Crazy Town, these are about the only enjoyable songs on the album; they do capture the essence of how the entire album should have sounded: catchy and hard, or slow and rhythmic.
Basically, "Butterfly" is completely misleading to the first-time listener; that is, assuming "Butterfly" is the first song you hear from them. Granted, it's an incredibly addicting song, but who said that was a good thing anyways? Many of the songs on this album feel more like "Toxic", however slightly less catchy and alluring, not to mention that the whole formula gets repetitive, leaving you wishing that you invested $5 buying each of the singles separately from I-tunes. However, Crazy Town does come at you hard from the very beginning of the album; you’ll be absolutely floored with the amount of hardcore in this album assuming you expected very little.
The lyrics are well written, although hardly inspiring. Conversely, the performance of their lyrics is where Crazy Town rises above their few known competitors. The overlapping voices, transitions, mixtures and tones all seem to flow very well, at least, in some of their songs. It’s rather catchy, but only for a short time; you can only listen to so many songs about one night stands. Additionally, the musical touches are usually dominated by hard guitar, blasting drums and some x-factor; bells, effects, even extra voices. The wah-wah is "Revolving Door" is a nice touch.
Either way, Crazy Town is not for everyone. You like rap? You like hardcore? That doesn't automatically entail that Crazy Town is going to become your new favorite band, although, there is a good chance they will find their way into your album player more often than you think; many stints housing a spot in one of the six slots available for a CD. However, there will be some who invest the cash in their album only to get a $4.50 return from their local pawnshop.
But don't let this scare you away. Crazy Town does have much to offer, but this only really applies to their five, very diverse singles. The entire presentation and production of their singles are completely first rate, but they are incredibly short lived; you should have no problem zooming through these five songs in under 18 minutes, and let's face it, if that's all the album truly has to offer, then the hefty $25 asking price may not be worth it.
"The Gift of Game" leaves even the most dedicated of listeners with much to be desired. It's not impossible for listeners and fans alike to find something to enjoy in the other many songs on the album, but there definitely isn't a hidden gem on this album that never made it to MTV or your local radio station; you'll be wishing there was more density to this album.
3/5
You can hear some samples at http://www.crazytown.info/Music/
