Search - Cex :: Being Ridden

Cex should not rhyme

qualitycafe | 08/06/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I have had great respect for Cex's ability to create amazingly complex and emotional beats. However, this latest effort, with his attempts to rhyme on nearly every track, is ridiculously amateur. I greatly enjoy intelligent and underground hip hop, and this is neither, but is trying unsucessfully to bridge the gap between electo and hip hop. Granted, there are a lot of emotions Cex needs to get out, and he has every right, but I wish I'd never bought this album. My advice to him would be "Try a song or two out before you go all out and do an entire album in a new style like this." I bought this album blindly at a record store, expecting much from this young, talented man. I was terribly disappointed with Being Ridden, and will now have to second guess and heavily research anything I'm considering from him now. Yes, I am a jaded downtempo aficianado..."

Boundaries down the toilet

Andrew Foster | Ft. Worth, TX | 05/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's a sad thing that this record will not make it to the top ten lists of the bajillions of critics out there. It's a sad thing that the people that really need this record will never get to hear it. It is not a sad thing, though, that I own it. I've seen this cat live twice, and each time he worked the crowd like it was a reunion show. He puts on the best live show I've ever seen, and even that can't do justice to the subtle nuances of the record. Every voice crack, every nervous whisper, every sign of weakness is planned and careful, almost as if to lull the pop world into a false sense of security, but don't be fooled. Watch out, this record is taking over your ears soon, and if you don't let it then you've made a huge mistake. Warning in advance, though: you will not like it the first time through. You won't like it until you pay attention. This is not Tall, Dark, and Handcuffed. This is the hangover from it."

Brilliant

qualitycafe | Florida | 07/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""tall dark and handcuffed" was a pretty good album, but it didnt really hold my attention they way cex's earlier stuff had. it seemed almost as if he were putting the instrumentation on the back burner, neglecting it in favor of his lyrics, which were clever in and of themselves.on "being ridden", however, both the vocals and the music are much stronger. i got the instrumental version first, and was instantly impressed. this is definately the same rjyan who made "role model" and "oops i did it again". except, "being ridden" sounds fuller somehow. more fleshed out...it doesnt sound like someone on a laptop. the accoustic guitar really sounds good on this record.over on the vocal version, it's hard not to be impressed. obviously cex has grown a lot as a singer/MC since "handcuffed". he definately seems to know his own strenghts and weaknesses."being ridden" (either version, but especially the vocal one) is the best album cex has ever done. he's got scary talent, and i can only imagine how good his next LP will be. ."