 Reviewed by: Drew Schiavi
This is a nearly perfect album, as far as hip-hop goes. An awesome effort of songwriting and lyrical know-how combine to become one of the best albums of the year. And to set the record straight, yes there are six members of Jurassic 5. And each of the MC's sports his own personality, and this lends a subtlety to the lyrics that is seldom found in any genre.
It evolves to the point where what's being said is just as important as who's saying it. Zaakir gives off the impression of being the most playful member of the sextet; the ladies man as it were. On the other extreme is Chali 2na, who acts as the vindication of each song, the force behind the lyrical hammer. Akil and Marc 7even fall in between the two, but the majority of the album balances between Zaakir and 2na. Their interaction is the pivotal focus, and leads to the majority of the album's flow. The subtlety here is part of what makes the effort so impressive. The lyrics never come out and slam the listener with some blatant message. Much of the important message is wrapped up in deep metaphor or reference. On the whole, the lyrics are a much needed call back to the days of Public Enemy, decrying the allure of drugs, gangs, and violence. If you listen to what's being said, you can see the inspirational hand of Chuck D in each track. In its own pious way, "Power in Numbers" is a throwback to the golden age of hip hop, bringing to mind a history that includes Grandmaster Flash, NWA, and anyone else who was somebody back before the commercial age of rap. Before I go too far, I would like to point out that the album is not perfect. Strangely enough, I find fault with the track that most reviewers seem to love, which is "Thin Line." The music is more subdued, and the pacing disrupts the momentum of the whole CD. It's not written poorly by any standards; it just doesn't fit, and the female backing vocals seem a little out of place.
But this is the weak point in what turns out to be a very strong chain. Make a note that unlike recent hip-hop acts, Jurassic 5 uses sparse instrumentation, but what it does have is extremely well orchestrated and placed. And the track where the music is most prominent, "What's Golden," is one of the finer experiences on the CD. However, on the whole, Jurassic 5 relies on the voices that make up the band to carry the rhythm of the songs. It works out very well. The first half of the CD is certainly the better half, but the back tracks aren't slouching. The track "I am Somebody," drips with so much James Brownsian funk as to make a person ask for a witness from the congregation. And it finishes strong with "Acetate Prophets," a six minute tribute to mixing and remastering. Excellent use of samples keep the whole things moving, and serve as intriguing segues. And while "What's Golden" is certainly the most famous track on this CD, keep an ear open to "Day at the Races." This is where each MC cuts loose and just appears to hurl rhymes as fast as possible. It's an impressive display of talent by each MC, as each has his own particular rhythm and style. The weak link in the song is the guest appearance by Big Daddy Kane, who leaves no doubt that he's a little past it. Overall, I applaud the effort of Jurassic 5, and recommend "Power in Numbers" to anyone who even thinks they might enjoy it. An 8 or more probably 9 out of 10. |
