A rare gem
Long time buyer, first time reviewe | 07/18/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"OK, so i've never before left a review of a product i've bought, but this album is a rare gem and i feel that people need to know about it since there's only one other review.
It's the type of album you can put on and listen to all the way through without skipping. MF's flow is superb for the most part, and extremely tight against the beats. Furthermore, there isn't a bad beat production on the album. The lyrics are interesting and keep you entertained -- they also have a conscience:
"Talkin' about jewellery, that's foolery, a hospital is needed on the block". So he says on Return to Eden, which is one of the stand-out tracks on the disc.
There's plenty of wordplay, good story telling, odes to his 'medicine', and some introspection. There aren't any corny choruses and even the rock sample is done well. You have to make sure you listen to this album on a big system, too, because it does bump hard.
The other great thing about this album is that the tracks know when to end -- you won't get prolonged choruses and whatnot -- and this keeps the album length to just 49min 17sec. As a consequence i was left wanting to hear more, which is definitely a good thing. It's not an album that makes you wish it would end quickly so you can move onto the next CD in your rotation. You could say it's short and sweet.
The other other great thing is that MF Grimm holds down the album on his own, without enlisting the help of guest rappers. This gives the album a great atmosphere as you won't get bombarded with different styles and vocal tones on each track.
With so many stand-out tracks, it's easier to list the weaker tracks, and that's only Last Days, but even that track is done quite well and i've never been tempted to skip it.
Basically, do yourself a favour and pick up this album. After your first or second listen, it will quickly become a favourite. I've had it on constant rotation for weeks and don't think i'll ever get sick of it. Even if you're not a fan of hip-hop (i am, by the way), you'll probably still love it. The illustrations on the booklet are also very well done and give you a good reason to buy the CD -- rather than download -- just so you can hold and look at it while you listen.
Overall, You Only Live Twice is a true work of art, and a must-buy, especially for the hip-hop faithful, but also for those who want to get into hip-hop but don't know where to start!"
It's Grimm, buy it.
Douglas B. Bullard | Connecticut United States | 07/12/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"MF has been my favorite rapper since he released American Hunger and I have never been disappointed by him.
I'm not going to go into a track-by-track review, but the music is up to MF's extremely high standards and any of fans of his since his ep with Doom won't be let down. His style is very consistent, similar to his old work, while still being very adventurous and creative.
I love MF because there's no pretension or fantasy (excluding hyperbole) in his rhymes, he just tells like it is. The rhymes are simple and mid-paced as always but the language is playful and honest. He's not the fastest but his timing and phrasing are probably among the best in rap. In short, he doesn't show off because he doesn't have to. His style is so strong its completely unnecessary. It also helps that his voice is extremely distinct (among the coolest in rap aside from Brotha Lynch Hung maybe), and that the beats are always creative and driving.
I don't have much to say about the graphic novel motif, there's nothing really referring to it and the cd booklet doesn't have any strips or anything inside it, but that's O.K. because the music is all I was looking for, although I love that he's found a place in that medium as well.
I was shocked that there were no reviews yet. I was surprised to even see that Grimm had a new album! To me, that is very sad for what is truly one of the greatest current hip hop artists. Please support Percy and hope he releases great albums like this one for many years to come.
"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1