Average Rating: 4.50 Rating Variance: 0.16 Objectivity Score: 35% (Poorly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicWu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)4.5 superbBehold... The Arctopus Skullgrid4.0 excellentWu-Tang Clan The WI find this album to be grossly underrated. Sonically, it's a huge improvement on Wu-Tang Forever, with a lot more depth and diversity to the overall sound. The lyrics aren't quite as dense or heavy on the metaphors, they're simply tight and well-delivered battle raps - perhaps a concious step away from the bloated, over-the-top approach on Forever. The production on this album is fantastic. Ranging from low-key, soulful jams ("Hollow Bones", "Jah World") to uptempo bangers ("Redbull", "Do You Really") to outright bizarre and oppressive assaults ("Careful", "Let My Niggas Live"), The W effectively covers the full spectrum of what the RZA is capable of behind the boards. The album jumps all over the place stylistically, and is somewhat disorienting upon early listens - I think a big reason why a lot of people weren't feeling this record is because of it's scattered, schitzophrenic vibe. Skits pop up out of nowhere, songs end or fade out abruptly, beats change multiple times a track, and seperate freestyles are tucked in between the official numbers. There's a *** of a lot going on for a mere hour of listening time. Lyrically, Masta Killa and Ghostface steal the show - the former tearing it up solo on "One Blood Under W" and adding a distinctively measured, threatening delivery to the other tracks, the latter pushing his emotional histronics to the next level, particularly on the Issac Hayes assisted "I Can't Go to Sleep". RZA's verse on this track is also noteworthy - ranting about the assassinations of prominent political figures, bawling his eyes out, threatening the outside world with a sawed-off, all in the span of a few seconds. Overall, a thick, overwhelming listen that bangs hard while still effectively experimenting. Ignore the haters and cop it.
Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
