Soundbites

Wednesday, March 4, 1998

Soundbites

MUSIC:

Young Bleed, " ‘All I Have In This World, Are …’ My Balls and
My Word" (No Limit/Priority) Remember when everybody and their mama
was doin’ commercials for St. Ides? The beats and rhymes were so
tight, but the commercials were so short that they literally had
you thirsting for more. Such snippets of excellence come to mind
when hearing "An Offer U Can’t Refuse," a minute-long teaser on the
new album "My Balls and My Word" by Young Bleed.

Young Bleed? Who? Or better yet, what? But, don’t let the name
fool you. "My Balls and My Word" is a 14-track opus that starts off
slammin’ and only gets better! Hailing from Baton Rouge, LA, Young
Bleed is the latest member from Master P’s No Limit posse to show
and prove that the "Dirty South" is most definitely "Bout it, Bout
it."

Young Bleed’s flow is so mellow that he’ll make your head nod
even a capella. He weaves stories of hustling in the streets;
unlike other so-called "gangsta rappers" he does so sans the
gratuitous violence and with virtually no misogyny. Young Bleed
poignantly spins tales about the frustration growing up poor in the
ghetto and the challenges and "opportunities" this reality
presents.

The beats on "My Balls and My Word" are reminiscent of some
southernplayeristic Cadillac funk, complete with heavy basslines
and bluesy guitar rifts. At times the beats sound sinister, but
that eeriness is awfully seductive. While the beats aren’t really
"shake ya booty" type of beats, they are funky enough to boogie to
just a little. Regardless of what flavor of hip-hop you prefer, if
you like tight beats and phat rhymes "My Balls and My Word" is
where its at. J. Jioni Palmer B+

Sneaker Pimps, "Becoming Remixed" (Virgin) The Sneaker Pimps,
named quite cool-ly after a Beastie Boys reference, caused quite a
stir with their debut album, "Becoming X," which sold a few hundred
thousand records or so. Thanks to their from-KROQ-to-Star-98.7 hit,
"6 Underground" and a remixed version of "Spin Spin Sugar," the
Sneaker Pimps’ hypnotic sounds have reached a big audience, bigger
than more stylish trip-hop acts like Portishead and Tricky.

So, maybe "Becoming Remixed" was inevitable. Pressed in limited
numbers, this 10-track disc features all the remixes for the
Sneaker Pimps’ best songs. As a matter of fact, on occasion there
is more than one remix for certain songs.

"6 Underground" is represented twice, both ending up quite
marginal. "Spin Spin Sugar" also has two manifestations on the
album, with "Armand’s Dark Garage Mix" being a little too much on
the disco/house tip and "Armand’s Bonus Dub" sounding slightly the
same but more repetitive. This is disappointing also because
neither version is like the remix KROQ and other alt-radio stations
played. There are also three editions of "Post-Modern Sleaze,"
including one remixed by Reprazent (of Roni Size fame).

Sadly, the only true standout is the "Americruser Mix" of "Tesko
Suicide," an aggressive and percussion-heavy remix. Remix albums by
nature aren’t usually that great, and "Becoming Remixed" is no
exception, especially when compared to the laid-back magic of the
Sneaker Pimps’ regular trip-hop form. Unless you’re a diehard
Sneaker Pimps fan (and hurry, because there’s a limited amount of
"Becoming Remixed" discs being made), maybe it’s wise to stick to
the originals. Mike Prevatt B-

Miles Davis, "Panthalassa: The Music of Miles Davis 1969-1974"
(Columbia) Trippy jazz extraordinaire Miles Davis blows minds all
over again with his funky release, "Panthalassa." The album, which
includes newly restored material and previously unheard extended
themes, comes as the brainchild of producer Bill Laswell in the
form of a modern mix translation. However, the electric, early ’70s
jam sessions play as pure as any Davis recordings already
available. The piece includes Indian-influenced bongo drum
meanderings as well as Davis’s reverberating trumpet work, creating
a multi-textural style unique to the world of Davis’s own head.

The pieces tend to flow spiritually through a series of
jazz-inspired solos that bridge the ’70s world of guitar-heavy,
wide sounding radio rock with the more introspective realm of fine
lounge music. Yet, the continually warping melodies never seem
directionless or unmotivated, always managing to reel the listener
into the current thematic galaxy being explored. The crispness of
the versions included on the remixed compact disc far surpass that
of worn-out records containing earlier Davis conceptualizations. If
nothing else, "Panthalassa" recalls the days when the creation of
music was as much of an art form as the music itself. One can
practically feel the energy which went into the recording of the
musical efforts, though the sounds stem from an era just recently
terminated. Vanessa VanderZanden. A

Gov’t Mule, "Dose" (Capricorn) The hard-rock scene remains
pretty well hidden in a genre full of alternative mainstream, but
bands like Gov’t Mule manage to keep dishing out exciting
compilations of old and new favorites. In their new album, "Dose,"
Gov’t Mule (a band with Allman Brothers blood in it) combines blues
and Southern-style rock with riveting guitar chords and powerful
drives.

The album is a great mix of soulful vocals, frenzied guitar
solos and thoughtful instrumentals. Each song stands unique from
the others. The Butthole Surfers-type vocals of "Blind Man in the
Dark" stand out as incomprehensible electronic static while those
from the cover of Son House classic "John the Revelator" remain
both inspirational and melodic. Undertones in "Raven Black Night"
cast intriguing quirks of guitar and bass while in contrast the
deep, hearty southern style of "I Shall Return" remains simple and
straightforward.

The whole album provides the workings of a hit for those tired
of immature rhythms. Interestingly enough, the songs are the result
of complex composing. A song will start off as a careful jazzy mix
of guitar picking and mellow bass. In an instant, however, the
songs turns into a rampage of mixed scratchy guitar chords and wild
drum beats. Gov’t Mule pulls off interesting covers (listen to
their unique take on the Beatles’ "She Said, She Said") and great
hard-rockin’ hits. Michelle Zubiate A-

No Limit Records

YOUNG BLEED

" ‘All I Have In This World, Are …’ My Balls and My Word"