"Gladiator Music (The Oliver Reed EP)", Saint Sinna digital EP review

*Brief annotation
I will always differentiate between digital and physical reviews. I'm going to begin specifying whether it's physical or digital in the title, before the type of album it is (Ex. Physical EP, digital album, etcetera). On top of that, I won't include a graphics section for anything digital.*
*UPDATE 5/18/14* There are in fact CDs for this release, and they can be purchased at (http://kunaki.com/MSales.asp?PublisherId=115750&PP=1) for $5.00.
     Yo ninjas. It's kind of been a rough week, so I wasn't really feeling up to reviewing too too much this time. I'm droppin' an EP review on you guys this time.
     I was fishing around; looking for some old information on Mission: Infect and I came across their bandcamp. There was a bunch of music there - most of it free. I was going to start voraciously downloading, when the DL link for this EP refused to work. It annoyed me, but I was curious as to what this EP sounded like, so I clicked the play button next to "Hell Fire".
     I was captured. The scratching, the production, the lyricism, and the sampling grabbed me. They captured me so much that I wanted to listen to the rest of the EP even though the DL link was broken. After a long day of doing other things, I came back to this album and listened to it in full. More on that in a second.
     The EP was released back in 2008, but I'm not sure what else to talk about. I know very little about Saint Sinna, so I'm not sure how this EP fits into his career. I can't find any physical copies of the EP, and it was being released for free on M:I's bandcamp so I am assuming that it was an entirely free piece of work. But the DL link is broken, so if you want to listen to it in full you're going to have to leave the page open and listen to it with your browser. It's an eight-track long EP.

     Content:
     Right from the intro Saint hooks you with a grabbing beat, and a humorous beginning to his EP. Some chick starts by dissing Saint Sinna and talking up a storm of shit. This is interrupted as Saint takes the mic and announces his return, with more humor throughout the track as we progress through. "Hell Fire" is undoubtedly one of the best tracks on the EP, and is the second song. I recommend checking it out regardless if you're interested of checking out the whole EP or not. The Oliver Reed EP was looking good. So then the question moving forward became the actual consistency of the EP.
     The quality fluctuates a bit. None of the tracks are bad necessarily, but some songs definitely outshine others. I'd even say that out of the eight tracks on this album, about half of them are actually good. The rest are mostly not worthy of note, mediocre, unspectacular. Which is a shame, because it is for that reason that The Oliver Reed EP is ultimately a forgettable experience.
     The Oliver Reed EP suffers from a lack of attention and is a piece of work that seemed rushed out of production. While there are some strong entries here, it seems like a couple songs were given more attention to others, which creates the effect of a few shiny rocks in a pile of drab mud. The production is never awful, but is unimpressive for a good chunk of the EP. One thing that perks the album up a bit are the features, though only they can do so much to do the album justice. Even with the variety that this CD has, it manages to fall flat past all its potential.
     Between the fact that some of these songs are moved over from past work, and the fact that there are only a few noteworthy songs here, this EP isn't worth your money. But since you can just listen to it for free, you might as well peep the link below if you want to get familiar with Saint Sinna.

Final grade: "Gladiator Music (The Oliver Reed EP)" by Saint Sinna recieves a: 2.9/5

Strong points:
- A couple strong tracks
- A variety of sounds, from W-Hop beats to tracks that even sound a bit southern. It makes the EP a more unique experience.

Weak points:
- The themes can be stale at times, which wouldn't as much of a problem if the production made up for it. But it doesn't.
- Shitty download link/bad access

Link to listen to this album (Free of charge!): http://infect.bandcamp.com/album/gladiator-music-the-oliver-reed-ep 

"Medicine Bag", Anybody Killa album review

     Here it is ninjas, a full review of Anybody Killa's "Medicine Bag".
     Medicine Bag was released in 2010, and besides that I can't recall much significant history to this album other than that it was ABK's first time releasing a variant album. It comes in three colors: Blue, Green, and Red. Each album has the same track listing, but the only difference is that they each have two different bonus tracks at the end. They have different color themes too, but those are the only differences. I will be speaking on the blue version.

Graphics:
     The album art is below, nothing really too telling or spectacular. Note that there are different color themes for each of the three different CDs (Red, blue, green).
     On the back you've got your track listing. Sixteen tracks tall. Anybody Killa's name is at the bottom, along with the name of the album, "Medicine Bag". There's also a color theme which is different depending on the version of the album that you have.
     On the inside, you've got Anybody Killa's logo on the CD along with his name. Another color theme, again depending on the version you have. The CD art doubles as a fold-out, when fully extended there are production credits on one panel, the CD art and back of the booklet on another two, and a drawing of Anybody Killa on the fourth panel. On the other side, there's a little collector's game going on. On the glossy, well-produced paper, there are two Anybody Killas posing. Lightning crackles in the background, and judging by the dark bordered corners up top I can safely assume this is the top piece of the puzzle. The other two albums, green and red, would bring the whole thing together. I think when it's complete, it reveals something about Anybody Killa, like maybe cryptic details about another album. I don't fucking know, but it's another one of those games that is supposed to make you want to collect all three. But anyway, that covers it for the graphics.

Content:
     Anybody Killa. Sometimes he's great, sometimes...he's not. Medicine Bag is a testament to this fact. Its jumpy production and tracklist don't do much for the album, and neither do the sparsely situated features. While the content of this CD is at times good, it is never more than that. Medicine Bag is a flat entry that, while graced with generally good production, is doomed to mediocrity. But one thing that I appreciate is the positivity on this disc. There is a lot less of the stereotypical murda murda bullshit and more of a positive message. He talks a lot about people, and life...what he's done to be successful, and how people hate him for it. There's a lot here that I could listen to and say, "Yeah, I feel that."
     Anybody Killa might not keep you interested the entire time, and this album might not even be his best work. But regardless of that fact, there is something to be appreciated about Medicine Bag. The uplifting tone of this album and the fact that this CD is at many times a portrayal of real life is a very positive thing, which is good in this case. The features help add to the atmosphere of the album as well, but it should be emphasized that the release itself isn't too far up the ladder.

Blue Bag bonus tracks:
     Blue bag has two bonus tracks: Hey Girl, and Mental Evaluation.
     They are both good tracks that probably could have been added to the actual CD, but are stuck on as bonus tracks. Musically they are both stellar, and add a little something to the CD. Nothing too incredible, and they don't especially mess up the flow of the album either. Note that a video was shot for Hey Girl after the release of this album and put up on YouTube.

"Medicine Bag" by Anybody Killa receives a: 2.4/5

Strong points:
- Few memorable pieces here: "Last Chance", "That's Enough 4 Me", etcetera, kind of depends on your disposition how good some tracks are compared to others
- Okay entry, even if it isn't really big or anything like that
- This album has a lot of positive messages on it, instead of being soaked in blood and violence. It brings a nice variety that I think a lot of artists need to dabble in just a bit more.

Weak points:
- Medicine Bag is not a notable entry in Anybody Killa's career
- If you wanna hear that hardcore shit, please look elsewhere

Blue bag cover

"Lets Get Violent", Lo Key album review

     This piece isn't that old at all; it's a 2013 album (June specifically), so in my eyes it's pretty damn new. I bought this a while ago, once I saw the art for the "Chainsaw edition" I was immediately smitten.
     Since there are three versions of this album, I think that ANY prospective buyer should definitely know about them before buying more than one of these CDs. I'm so used to variant albums having different track listings that I forgot to check whether this album adhered to that rule or not. When I got them in the mail, I was quite surprised to discover they didn't. On top of that, this album is only nine tracks long.
     If you're thinking about buying it, you should consider some of the these things beforehand. With that, I'm going to go ahead with the rest of the review.

Graphics:
 Okay ninjas, there's quite a bit to say here since I have all three albums
Chainsaw edition:
      I posted the art below, but I'll say that it's the main reason I wanted to buy the CD.
      On the back of the case, you've got your track listing. In the lower corner, you see Lo Key scrutinizing a fractured skull in his left hand. In his other, he's holding a bloodied combat knife. Right next to him is another Lo Key logo.
     The cover art is just a single sheet. On the back of it there are credits for the production of the album, guest appearances, and the album art. This specific art was done by Jacob Cook - who's done a very fucking fine job, I might add. The CD art is slightly different for each version as well - this one has Lo Key's iconic mask on it in the form of a messy blood spatter.
Slave edition:
     I posted the art below. I'd say that this one is the most violent of the three.
     On the back there are several severed body parts. Two legs, two arms. They hang in chained fashion, with a heart dangling over a circular centerpiece that hangs the limbs below it in shorter chains.
     Again, the CD cover art is just one sheet with acknowledgements on the back. The artwork for Slave edition was done by Corpse Phucker. On the CD is one of the woman's bloodied corpses, with the Lo Key logo and LETS GET VIOLENT written on it.
Monster edition:
     This art is the simplest out of the three, and I've posted it below.
     On the back of the CD case is another view of the monster pictured on the front of the CD. It is then revealed that it wasn't crawling by choice, rather its body from the waist down is severed. Its entrails are spilled out in a bloody pool of crimson, and its spine, as well as some of its ribcage, are exposed to the open air.
     This artwork was done by Lilah Deane, and the monster's face from the cover make a reappearance on the CD art.
UPDATE (4/2/14)
Special Donator's edition:
     This is one of those weird situations that also make me sad I've been sleeping on the CD game for so long. I've done a bit of digging around, and originally it was just hints and whispers that there was another version of this album that wasn't one of the three I knew existed. Then I was digging through THEFNSPOT and I was looking for any work done by Lo Key. I thought it might be faster to just add in "Lokey" to the URL and maybe it would just automatically bring me to Lo Key's artist page so I could download some of his tunes. I was wrong, but what I did see shocked and surprised me.
http://thefnspot.com/lokey/
     Ain't that some shit? A special edition of the album - with new material, too? I'm surprised that this link still exists, seeing as how this whole escapade has since blown over and Lo Key's obviously acquired the resources to produce his album. But it's still up, kind of like a tiny piece of history that has clung to the deep intestines of the web.
     Anyway, the whole point is that this page confirmed any suspicion I previously had about there being another version of the album. It's been referred to as the "Special Donator's edition", so that's what I'm going to call it by. The Special Donator's edition came with a different cover (I think, but I haven't been able to find it anywhere. I know what it looks like, but I haven't been able to find a copy of it digitally - the only place I've seen it was on a YouTube video of the bonus track that came with this version of the album. I'mma take this moment to say:
IF ANY NINJA HAS A DIGITAL COPY OF THE ART FOR THIS VERSION OF THE ALBUM - HIT ME THE FUCK UP!!!
     For those of you who want to listen to the bonus track, you can probably find it on YouTube seeing as this version of the album will probably never see itself printed again. Either that or you can go hunting the globe for a ninja that is gonna sell the album to you - won't be easy or cheap, but audiophiles are crazy cats I'll tell ya.
     Anyways, that's it for that. I think Lo Key has other albums kind of like this that he's sold in special editions, so this isn't the first.
UPDATE (5/4/14): It's been got, ninjas!
     I found the album cover - finally, which totally confirms any previous doubt about its existence.  While I don't own this album, it was far from just a Bing search to find this piece of art. I'll just say that I had to enter a lot of back doors to find this art, and I busted my ass. But now I have it digitally, and I can show it to all of you!
This version has Lo Key's signature on it, and looking at the rarity of this piece, as well as the exclusiveness, I don't know why anyone would get it and not want Lo Key's signature on it. Plus, it was included in the donation package to have it signed, so you'd have to request it specifically if you didn't want it signed. But in any case, it's here now, in its (mostly) full glory. Hoorah!

Content:
     There is a lot of good on this album. It's self-produced by Lo Key himself, and is mostly Lo Key the whole way through, except for the occasional feature here-and-there. The content and production on this album is really stellar, and exemplary of the horrorcore genre - almost stereotypically. If I were to think about one CD to describe the horrorcore genre, this is the most to-the-point and forcefully expressive disc I could think of to introduce someone to the genre.
     This album is very varied too, while some tracks are more melodic, other tracks are straight up grimy and thumping. A lot of the tracks have a heavy electronica sound to them that sounds experimental, considering the genre. That sound (bass-heavy, electronic) is present throughout the entire album, but is welcome in favor of a slower and more shuffling sound other horrorcore entries often have. This style is something I haven't seen too many underground artists try to tackle before, really.
     The guest appearances are all awesome, and they help to amplify the variety of content on this album. This album will be remembered for a long time as it's home to popular tracks such as, "Lets Get Violent" and "King of Horrorcore", that hold legacy in their simple, stupidly violent nature. The amount of topics and scenarios Lo Key was able to cover within this nine track album is impressive, and I'd easily recommend this album to any horrorcore fan.

"Lets Get Violent" by Lo Key receives a: 3.8/5!

Strong points:
- Strong production and lyricism
- Sick cover art
- Unique, but telling production
- Really exciting and fun to listen to
- Belligerent as hell
- Awesome guest appearances

Weak points:
- The length of the album (Nine tracks) makes the album feel short, and even subject to the classification of being an EP rather than an album

Again, any ninja with a digital copy of the art for the Special Donator's edition: HIT A MOTHERFUCKA UP!!! As of 5/4/14, this problem has been solved, so I don't need anyone to hit me up with the image.

My favorite out the three. I put up the art according to my liking of them, from 1st to 3rd.

"Heartbroken & Homicidal", Twiztid album review

     Hey ninjas. Been a little while, hasn't it? I've been meaning to do some work, but shit just kept coming up and it was hard to sit hear and listen to music for an hour. But then I declared, "This weekend, it goes the fuck down!" so here I am on Saturday afternoon, writing this for all my lovely fams. Today I'll be reviewing "Heartbroken & Homicidal" by Twiztid.
     If you're a ninja and you like Twiztid, you can probably say you at least know about this album existing. It's not that old, 2010 release. Something to note is that this album was primarily produced by Monoxide, which is interesting given how much a rock sound it has to it.

Graphics:
     I knew for a while this had a little booklet activity in it, but it never really appealed or interested me. It kind of seemed kiddy, like something they threw in their for the teenagers among us. I mean - that's me, but still. I just never felt like it was necessary to have there, kind of like the cut-out casket in the back of the "W.I.C.K.E.D." booklet. Maybe it's because I like to keep my shit in top condition, I can't help but feel like I'm desecrating the booklet when I do something like that. But hell; if you're bored and you want something to do, it's there I guess.
     The rest are basically diary entries by a maddened man that you shade in with a pencil to reveal. I hear you can also see it under a UV light, or if you can get light to sheen on it that works too. But getting to angling right and all that is just too much work for something silly, so I would recommend the UV or a pencil. But again, I didn't do it anyway. I'm sure that the entries are probably interesting, but the pencil that comes with the album...I don't know if I'm just stupid, but I can't figure how you open the case to get the "Heartbroken & Homicidal" pencil in it. I'm probably just an idiot, but what the hell? I feel like the only way to get it is to separate the CD casing, and I'm too finicky to do something so brutal just for a pencil I'm not going to use anyway. But I'm whining.
     In the middle of the booklet, there's a picture of skeletal and damaged Jamie and Monoxide that also serves as the CD art. That's dope, I guess. That's inbetween the diary entries, so it's diary entries, picture, then more entries. The back of the booklet has got some fly and spider thing going on; it's weird, but that's Twiztid for you. Huge, highly-defined fly just chilling under the CD rest, looking philosophical. The fly thing they have going on here is weird, but hey, I dig it I guess. Then of course on the back of the cover you got your track listing and credits. Your hatchetman, your websites, all that stuff. That about covers it for graphics.

Content:
     At first I was apprehensive to listen to this album, I felt like it would feel like a chore, but I was wrong. For some reason I was under the impression that this album had a lot of filler on it, kind of like the Green Book did, but I was incredibly enamored the entire album through. I can say with conviction that every single track on this album is a solid, well-and-good track, and that's a solemn belief. The song topics are varied, and you're kept waiting to hear the next track as it makes its rotation. The production is really good too; everything from the writing to the bass, it's all pretty top notch. Though the tracks are solid, it can come off that there is nothing here that's too eminent or amazing here
     To bring this to a close: This album is good. Really enjoyable to listen to, and it feels more personal than some of their other work. As though they put a lot of themselves into this album. It also isn't really horrorcore or dark like most of their work is, it's just a solid rap rock album. They changed up their sound, and it think it really shined here. But it isn't their greatest, and I'd say that while this album is really good it's not really listed among their best work for me

Final Grade: "Heartbroken & Homicidal" by Twiztid gets a: 3.8/5!

Strong points:
- This album is different than a lot of their work, and it has a really unique sound even though they've done rap rock music before.
- If you like rap rock, this is a really stellar example of what rap rock is.
- The production on this album is fucking stellar.

Weak points:
- Don't walk into this album expecting this to be their greatest work, because simply put it isn't. It's just a good solid rap rock album.

I dig the heart design...But what's up with all the spider and fly stuff? Pretty fresh regardless.

"Mostasteless", Twiztid album review

     Mostasteless! A review for one of my favorite albums of all time.
     Original release for this beauty was 1997, both of the presses I believe. It was too wicked for stores shelve, however, so it got pulled and re-issued in 1999, with some new tracks added and a couple from the OG press cut. The removed tracks would live on to be captured in some of the Cryptic Collections, so you can still find 'em around. There was also another version of the album, not meant for national release, and it had a fetus on the cover. I don't know what the hell the deal is with that one, if the track listing is different or anything like that. If any ninja wants to hit me up with some deets, I would be more than happy to have a brother fill me the fuck in.
     The main differences between the two (Or three, rather); and of course, there's different art for them both. To clarify, I have the re-issued version. If I ever run into a copy of the original, I might try an' grab it, but for now, here I am with the re-issued one. The third, however...I think that one's mad rare, and holds an aristocratic price tag. I hit it big one day - maybe I'll consider it. Likelihood, no; it ain't happening, and if it does - not anytime soon.

Graphics:
(Note that on the three different versions of the album, the art is different)
     On the real, these graphics are pretty fucking dope. You got these two clowns in their old-school paint, on the cover, beheadin' demons and generally looking badass. Then you open it up, you got their faces on the CD, and they're rocking out under the CD rest. Fold out the booklet, got some sweet-ass comic-book styled action going on on the back. It's not particularly coherent, but shit's messy, with lots of demons, lots of violence, bullets, and blood. It's nice.
     On the inside of the booklet you got some shout-outs from Jamie and Mono, credits for the production of the album, a painting of Jamie and Paul in paint, and some ads. The ads, oh boy. You've got an ad for Big Money Hustlas (Hot damn!) and...shit, a motherfucking ad for Tales from the Lotus Pod! This must be an old-ass print, because the only members listed are Twiz and ICP. Not even credits for Marz or Blaze Ya Dead Homie. Anyways, that's about it for the art. There's some sick heaven-and-hell shit going on on the back of the CD cover, that shit's always fresh. The graphics for this album, the version I have anyway, lemme tell ya. Fucking. Stellar.

Content:
     The track listing for the re-issue is different. It contains Spin the Bottle, Blink, and Bury Me Alive, all of which the original did not have. It lacks Smoke Break, Anotha Smoke Break, Meat Cleaver, Somebody Dissin' U, Murder, Murder, Murder, and She Ain't Afraid. Ninjas, you can find the cut tracks on Cryptic Collection CDs, so don't fret if you're trippin' on the price tag for the original. Lastly, some of the lyrics and content has been altered or censored.
On "Whatthefuck?!?!", Monoxide's verse "And I'mma be the first to tell; I gotcha family all hostage and they burnin' in hell!" has been censored. There are other minor edits on the CD, too.
     Mostasteless was very well-produced and as I understand it, is mostly produced by the two killas themselves. The beats are shuffling and wicked, heavy in a strange and morbid way. The noise almost seems to tell a tale all by itself, and there is some use of sampling throughout the CD which I appreciate very much. For being Twiztid's first CD both as a group and a Psychopathic artist, they did very well in stepping outside the box and bringing something different - but still wicked, to the table. Keep in mind that I'm speaking on the re-press and not the OG copy.
     I've said this before, and I will again. I'm not sure what way these guys were in, but they have an air of depression and anger that is filtered through this album. It's like I can feel their madness seeping off their lyrics as they spit about having nervous breakdowns, being forlorn, hating everybody and just wanting to murder them all...it's touching. It's amazing, how well they filtered their emotions into their music. That, right there, that fact, it's what keeps me coming back to the album time and time again. There is so much good to this album. Ninjas, I'm serious, this album is a must-have for all the Twiztid ninjas. It's heavy, so get your ass on it and grab a copy if you don't already have one! It'll split your wig wide-open. Whoop whoop!

Final Grade: "Mostasteless" by Twiztid recieves a: 5/5!!!
This album is mad dope ninjas, like I said, it's one of my favorite albums of all time. Check it the fuck out!

Strong points:
- Great production that can tell a story on its own
- Great lyricism
- Dope-ass art
- An ad for Tales From?!?! What is this?!?!
- Great track listing
- A unique entry for the hatchet
- This is that real wicked shit; that real madness

Ninjas, there it is! Second album to ever get a perfect score...Whoop whoop!

This is the re-release, and the one I have. Mad dope!

This is the original, "too wicked for store shelves" version.

The weird, rare version

"Duk Da Fuk Down!" album review

     Hello hello hello ninjas! A LOT of exciting shit is going down right now! Blaze is hosting a mixtape, Twiztid's dropping 4 The Fam EP Volume 2, and there are speculations, even, that the Lotus is now officially in bloom! That's fuckin' sick, ninjas! On top of that, it's motherfucking Juggalo Day!! 25% off on Hatchetgear, so go and support the wicked shit! Great fucking day to you all.
     Slappin' y'all with another one: Duk Da Fuk Down!
This album was originally released in 2007, so it's a bit old. Lil' Shank, Bullet, Full Clip, Cell Block, Yung Dirt, and Foe Foe are the Rydas featured on this CD (Jamie Madrox, Violent J, Shaggy 2 Dope, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Boondox, and Monoxide Child, respectively). I'mma jump right to it.

Graphics:
     Belligerent thugs stare at you from the cover of the CD. Open up past their pointed barrels, and you see 'em on the other side. "Duk Da Fuk Down!" is written in big letter on both sides, and they're posing on the back of the two-sided paper. Not a foldout or anything. The CD has a nice bandana-print on it, with Duk Da Fuk Down! written again in big letters.

Content:
     Duk Da Fuk Down! is not hard to digest; the name implies the nature of the CD. When purchasing this, you should already know what the content is going to consist of: OG gangsta shit. Drugs. Money. Murder. Women. That sort of thing. But even though you can consistently expect the same kind of music from the Psychopathic Rydas, every CD is different. Duk Da Fuk Down! is an older CD and selects some heavier, more shuffling instrumentals, but expect a nice variety of sound on this CD. It has a nice and crisp sound to it, and the variety of lyrical themes and beat selection from track-to-track makes it a very solid tracklist.
     Duk Da Fuk Down! is also the lead single for this album, and the only official video ever shot for the Psychopathic Rydas (Featured on the Psychopathic Videos DVD). It's also one of their more popular releases overall, despite being an older CD. And while the general message of the CD is understood, expect to be occasionally surprised. One of my favorite songs on the CD, "Lil Rydas", is a rap about little tykes running around thugging it up, with a part of the chorus being "And when they grow they gon' ride like us!". Duk Da Fuk Down! brings the thug shit in a fresh and original way that only Psychopathic could truly do, which is why it's so much fun to listen to. I definitely recommend this to any Juggalo, but it should also have appeal to a broader audience as well. If you like that OG gangsta shit, definitely check it out. You'll dig it for sure.

Final Grade: JRH gives "Duk Da Fuk Down by the Psychopathic Rydas a: 4/5!
(Muffled cheering and clapping)

Strong Points:
- Smash, once again
- Variety of lyrical themes and beat selections add a fresh and original take to a genre that is so often victim to monotony
- Great track listing, really
- Ryda lyricism is great

Weak Points:
- No foldout :(
- There are definitely one or two tracks don't add much to the album and feel a bit like filler

Look at them! Don't they just look happy to see you?

"Tales from the Lotus Pod", Dark Lotus album review

This album is from back in the day. Originally released in 2001, it was re-released in 2002 because of a dispute that Psychopathic Records was having with Marz, who is featured on the album. On the 2002 re-release, they replaced Marz verses with verses from Anybody Killa, who was then new to the label. The re-released version of this album is more recent than the OG print and is probably in better circulation, but they're both OoP (Out-of-print) so finding either one on physical will be a bit of legwork.
     There was a bunch of shit going on during the production of the album, and to sum it up this entire album is a trial-run for the Dark Lotus. The fact of that is pretty clear when you listen to it. Half of the album was produced by Mike E. Clark, and I don't truthfully know what they did to make the rest of the album work. But that bit doesn't stand out as much. It isn't terrible or underproduced, but it exudes a vibe that makes you feel like it was rushed out of production or something like that. It's off-putting...

Graphics:
     The graphics are pretty nice. The CD is just a pyramid design with some words on it - the album title, I think. The front has the cross-design pictured below and the packet that displays the album cover is a fold-out. When fully extended it displays some hieroglyphics and on the other side are some pyramids in different states of condition. There's some instructions for raising the dead written underneath the CD rest, which is nice. The cool thing I want to note is that there's no CD track listing anywhere to be found within the case or on the CD. Just nothing. Juggalos created a tracklist, which seems to differ a bit depending on the print you're looking at. Depending on your disposition, you could say that it adds to the fact that the CD feels like it was rushed out of production. But to me, it adds more of a cryptic nature to the CD and adds a bit of a haze over the CD that makes you entertain existential thoughts on the nature of a CD. I approve. Graphics are great.

Content:
     But let me delve. Tales from the Lotus Pod is mediocre. And while it does have a few gems on it that catch the eye, beyond those few gems there is nothing but uncomfortable and awkward music. You could get a list of the good tracks on this album, you could go find and listen to them, and you wouldn't really need to listen to the rest of the album. That's because the rest of the album is filler, just reiterations of the same messages. "I Hurt Myself", "Gimme Dat Blood", "Swarm". Okay: you don't like other people or yourself, but I'd rather not hear six songs about it. On top of that, the songs themselves aren't especially executed well at all.
     The production is uncomfortably dark, with shuffling beats and lyricism that is very archetypal of the Lotus: Fucking dead bitches, being possessed by demons, wanting to die, etcetera. While some of the music is well-executed, it really brings you down. It doesn't bestow anything positive on you, doesn't make you think about or question your own morals. TftLP is morbid for the sake of being morbid and nothing more. Whether it's Violent J slamming a fragment of skull into his brain or Jamie Madrox vomiting due to excess meds, you can't help but shiver at some of the verses. While it's possible to appreciate the pure shock value of the CD, it mostly just makes you uncomfortable.
     Yes, this is a part of the Dark Lotus's history. It won't be forgotten. I like this album because now I know more about the Lotus's history, and I own a piece of it. I also have access to those few gems that rise above the rest of the funk on this album.
     You don't really need this. Unless you're like me and you want to own that piece of history, this album really isn't amazing and you can find a lot of the good tracks elsewhere. Look into the other works by Lotus, because they have better CDs out there. The whole deal with the two versions of the album - it doesn't even matter. Just get whatever you can get.
     Even Violent J has said that he doesn't like the album, so that right there should make you balk just a bit. If you wanna cop this, look into it, but don't just throw your money at it.

Final Grade: "Tales from the Lotus Pod" by Dark Lotus receives a: 2.5/5
(Awwwww!)

Weak Points:
- TftLP feels like it was rushed out of production; it could have used more time
- The fact that there are two versions of the album. It adds to the feeling of it being rushed out of production, like they released the album without having a definite vision of what they wanted it to be.
- Lots of stuff that feels like filler.

Strong Points:
- There are some gems on this CD
- Bad or not, this album is still a piece of the Lotus's history that should be remembered.
- There is some really good production on some of the tracks. Not all, but some.

Album cover for the re-release. Pretty and simple, huh? I like it. Usually I'd post both the original and re-issue, but in this case the two albums aren't really that different so I'm not even going to bother. You could find it easily if you were interested.