Chronic Future are hard to label when it comes to genre. Most would say that they fall under the category of rap/rock. I guess that's what I would lean t'words as well. What can I say, I downloaded this album [legally of course ;)] and it took me a while to muster up the will power to listen to it all. Considering I had only heard the single and a few demo songs, I didn't really have much to go by.
Let me start this paragraph by telling you that this album changed my life, but more on that later. Yeah, it's rap. Probably the only rap that doesn't talk about "mackin' fine azz bi
tches". The subject matter on this album is cleaner than a sterile hospital. As a matter of fact, not only are the songs squeaky clean, but they have meaning. Meaning is something that a lot of music lacks now-a-days. If you've read my other reviews, then you'd know that the thing I look for most in music are good lyrics. That doesn't meant that I don't recognize the instruments, the lyics are just my favorite.
Now to explain how this album changed my life as I knew it. A hurricane came in and swept most of what was my life. My community. My town. Everything I had ever known as a kid is gone. That shady oak tree that I would sit under and go fishing with neighborhood friends, got destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. Imagine all those things you ever knew, just gone. When I heard this album in completion for the first time, I was shocked. It helped me get through the chaos, that is my city. The songs would make me amped, sad, and thought-provoked all at the same time. Music rarley does this to me. I call it 'Adrenaline Music'. Anyway, on to the album.
The one song I had to go by was
Time and Time Again, it begins the album. This is the one song I had to go by when I had first heard of the band. I guess you could call this the 'MTV' track. It's pretty much just rapping in front of bass. This is probably one of the weakest tracks on the album IMO. It lacks the substance that the rest of the tracks have. Yeah it's really catchy, but it's not the best image of the band. I feel it was a poorly chosen single.
The second track on the album called
The World Keeps Spinning (A Chronic Future) is similar the the opening track. It's just too much rap. But I must say, the acoustic guitar riff throughout the song is extremely good. But this song is too simple for it's own good. It's just generic verses and chrouses in that order. After this track finished, I lost all hope in this album...
Standout Tracks
Until the next track began. This is the best song to describe the image of the band.
Shellshocked. That's one of the only songs that can bring me to tears because I love it so much. Here's an excerpt from the song...
I'll say it again because
Who are you
To say to me
That I'm not all right
You don't know what it's like
I'm shellshocked
And ripped apart inside
No I'm not all right
You don't know what it's like
That's bit of the bridge of the song. Shellshocked is my favorite song on the album. It's just, the emotion it bleeds. But don't forget about the next track
Stop Pretending. This is one of the poppier tracks on the album. It's still a great song none-the-less. It opens up with pretty sappy lyrics, "If for just one night / We could stop pretending / That we're never ending / Cause soon I'll have to go!" But other than the opening, it's worthy of being one of the best tracks on the album.
Another song that took me by the throat was
Apology For The Non-Symmetry. The rap is the main part of the chorus, but the guitar takes over midway through. This is another very emotional song for me. Here's another few lyrics from the song...
Cause it feels like I'm gonna try this time
We got a different way of seeing what the day can bring
And I know that I'm stepping up to the line
Now I'm man enough to understand it
So come on navigate while I drive
We got a different way of seeing what the day can bring
Cause it feels like I'm gonna try tonight
That was the chorus. You may think that the song ends after the second chorus. But it's not over at all. You hear a man, hardly talking in a whisper next to the ocean. I've never had a clearer image in my head from any song ever. These we're the standout tracks from the album. Not that the others aren't good, just not as good.
Almost, But Not Quite
The first song to take this portion of the album is definitley
New York, New York. From the getgo you know that it's another love song. It's pretty boring on the way through but picks up pace in the bridge. Another track fit for this section would have to be
Thank You. 'Thank You' is one of those songs that has a lot of meaning to it, but the band just doesn't pull it off as well as they could have. It talks about life in general and some of the help offered along the way.
The rest of the tracks other than one pesky little beast belongs in this area of the review. I just don't want to spoil the rest of the album for those of you readers that will actually get some of this.
The Ugly
Wicked Games is just one of those songs that I can't stand. It's the point in the album when the band tries to make a heavy song and it just doesn't come off the right way. It kind of hurts the albums score, because the hot streak that the listener would be on would be destroyed by this track. Other than this song, I have absolutley no problem with them album at all.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this album deserves a listen from just about anyone who can take a little bit of rap. In a way, the rapping sounds a bit like Zack De La Rocha. So, it's not that bad. Anyway, 'Lines In My Face', one of my favorite albums of all time.
If the band decides to make another album, I feel that Chronic Future show some really good potential for future releases. Too bad they are considered a one-hit wonder. That just hurts my soul.
Recommended Tracks
Shellshocked
Apology For The Non-Symmetry
Stop Pretending
New York, New York
*** If you neg me because of the rating I gave this album, then I will write you a letter about how angry I am. -BTBP :smoke:
