Big Gemini History in the Making(Big Gun/Upstairs Records) Hip-hopA
What a magnificent breeze of moving, affective material. Dallas' own Big Gemini has created an album filled with exactly what hip-hop used to be and should be again - raw, precise lyrics married to excellent, fitting tracks that elicit genuine reactions from the listeners.
Right from the soulful "Intro" Gemini fires an opening salvo that informs this is a collection of songs that will be loved universally.
"Time to Stack a Million" is general Texas hip-hop where fly whips and "screwed up" hooks are the norm.
That said, it is still a banger, while "Hypnotized" is the kind of song that has a chance to run to the top of the charts. "Amazing" is a laid-back track that conjures up thoughts of Tupac's "To Live and Die in LA."
"My Shawty" is a beautiful ode to love, complete with acoustic guitar and R&B chorus. "Blow Me Away" is another song for the ladies, although it's made for the club hook-up and not so much a picnic in the park.
"Dallas" is one of those hometown anthems that you'll want to bump as if you were born and reared in "Big D."
At a time when lyricism seems to be optional, Gemini displays a style that obviously has been practiced and perfected for years. He manages to take control of every beat he flows over, and each and every beat on this album is nothing short of impressive.
Even the hidden tracks are amazing. He reworks the classic "If Loving You Is Wrong" into a powerful work detailing his hunger and hustle.
If you are more than just a fan of rap music, if you are a true lover of hip-hop, it's work like this that reminds you why you feel so stronglyabout the music. Despite the fact that he may have a difficult time finding a musical home (some say he's too black for Latin radio and he's too Latin for black radio) History in the Making will excite hip-hop heads.
- SHON MCPEACESteve Winwood Nine Lives(Columbia) RockB
Earlier this year Steve Winwood, the English blues-rock singer-guitarist, teamed up with his old Blind Faith bandmate Eric Clapton for three shows at New York's Madison Square Garden, their first full concerts together in decades. The spirit of that reunion hangs over Nine Lives, Winwood's new solo disc, on which he eschews the blue-eyed soul with which he found pop-radio success in themid-'80s (remember "Higher Love"?) for the sort of rawboned roots music savored by people who subscribe to guitar magazines.
Well, mostly eschews: There are a couple of mushy soft-rock concessions here, most ignominiously "Fly," where he nearly succumbs to a lethal overdose of saccharine sopranosax. But strong cuts such as opener "I'm Not Drowning"; the groovy, African-influenced "Hungry Man";
and "Dirty City," which features an appearance by Clapton, suggest that Winwood's mojo hasn't dried up yet.
- MIKAEL WOODThe Plaid Jackets The Plaid Jackets EP(self-released) RockB-
Like the name suggests, The Plaid Jackets, a Fayetteville-based duo, makes music reminiscent of a bygone era of stringy hair, tattered jeans and cheap cigarettes. Their sound features hints of Nirvana, Filter, and retro Kinks-like garage rock.
On the opener "Out of My Head" vocalist Brandon D. Adkins delivers a mumbled lament on obsession before erupting in a chorus of "get out of my head." The Italian tinged "Nameless Lullaby" mixes Tom Waits and the Silver Jews. The arena-ready stomp of "Letter" would make great intro music for a heavyweight champ.
The Plaid Jackets shows promise. The band hasn't quite found its sound yet; however, the two definitely seem to be on the right track. It shouldn't take long.
- KODY FORD
Style, Pages 67 on 05/18/2008