I just got this album just now and its friggin awesome!! ^O^
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I just got this album just now and its friggin awesome!! ^O^
and yet another extremely positve review of FISHSCALE from VIBE
from www.vibe.com
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (Def Jam)
4/5
By: Ben Detrick
March 22, 2006
Despite the waning interest in New York–centric rap, Ghostface Killah’s eccentric street appeal still manages to grab the attention of rap fans. On Fishscale, his fifth solo offering, the Wally Champ sticks to the script, breathing life into vivid narratives of girls, guns, coke, and crime.
If the Pete Rock–furnished horn stabs of “Be Easy” are representative of Fishscale’s golden-era aesthetic, “Back Like That,” which fuses an interpolation from Jay-Z’s, “Song Cry” into Ne-Yo’s soulfully crooned hook, is an intentional radio-ready endeavor. But even when he compromises, Ghost wins: “I should just bark on you...’cause I’m too much man to leave a mark on you.”
Appearances from Wu-Tang cronies on tracks such as “9 Milli Bros.” largely appeal to nostalgia, but the chemistry between Raek- won and Tony Starks remains intact, as evidenced by the jubilant drug ode “Kilo” and the visual “R.a.g.u.” With the exception of a Just Blaze adrenaline rush on “The Champ,” Ghostface mostly snubs big name producers for indie icons MF Doom, J Dilla, and Madlib. The sample-heavy results are cohesive yet diverse, a proper canvas for Ghost’s finest effort since Supreme Clientele.
from www.vibe.com
dis a fukin siiikkk album! best of 06!
could av gone with a better front cover tho:yes:
I agree about the cover^^^. But ultimately it doesnt matter. Just found this thread and decided to re-post my review in case some one gives a shit.
1. Intro-funny, still trying to figure out what exactly is being said.
2. Shakey Dog-10/10 This song set it off for me. I went and bought the CD and was sitting in my car looking at the cover art and shit as the intro was playing. Then as soon as I pull out to leave Shakey Dog comes and he said “buckle up…fasten your seatbelts” as I was putting on my seat belt to drive out of there. The synchronicity was perfect and right then I knew this album was going to do me right. This one had a real Theodore Unit feel for me which I liked.
3. Kilo-9/10 The only reason I give it a 9 I think is because I’m not into coke or whatever. Love the wa-wa guitar and girls singing “Kilo is 1000 grams, easy to remember”. The lyrics are sick and the girls singing kind of remind me of something off sesame street or something, but in a good way. Then the colors listed, “gold tops, green tops..” also reminds me of something kidish. Like the learn your ABC’s for the powder game, if that makes any sense. Good song.
4. The Champ-10/10 I love the guitar on this song and the samples of the guy coaching the champ. Great changes too. This song really makes me want to move my head. One of my favorites for sure. Ladies and gentlemen this song is the champ.
5. Major Operation Skit is effective.
6. 9 Milli Bros-9/10 This is an official Wu-Tang head banger. Enough said.
7. Beauty Jackson-9/10 Not my most favorite song, but I give it a 9 cause Im not usually into the slower/love type songs but I really like the visuals the lyrics give me. Sexy song and I like the fact that it wasn’t drawn out. In and out….works for me.
8. Heart Street Directions Skit-funny. I can picture him just fucking around recording this and deciding to put it on the album cause it was entertaining.
9.Columbus Exchange/Crack Spot-10/10. Crack Spot is a good one. I love the beat and the changes, the fills with the bongo type sounding drums. Cant find anything I don’t like about it.
10. R.A.G.U.-10/10 Definitely one of the better songs on this album. I love the beat, the orchestra type sample in the background, the way the beat cuts out to add to the dynamics of the song. Rae rips it up.
11. Bad Mouth Kid Skit-shit cracks me up, I wonder who’s kid that is saying all that.
12. Whip You With A Strap- 10/10. I love the sample on this…Is that a man singing “when I was bad”? It notes Luther Ingram as the sample but it sounds like a lady to me. The lyrics and idea of this song really hit me for many reasons. This one is a favorite of mine as well.
13. Back Like That-7.5/10. Not the best in my opinion. I just don’t feel this one for some reason. I don’t think I really care for the Ne-Yo guy on it, he is not bad, just not for me. I pretty much skip past this one to be honest.
14. Be Easy-10/10 Hella good song. I love the circus like sample or whatever it is and the build up into the song and in the middle. Trife is hitting homeruns in my opinion.
15. Clipse of Doom-10/10 This one is a home run as well. I love the gritty guitar samples and the beat, rolls and dynamics of this song. Gotta love Trife. I don’t know how everyone has been feeling about this one but if it hasn’t been getting love than I would call you all crazy. An absolute classic in my opinion.
16. Jellyfish- 8/10 I don’t know why this one doesn’t hit me real hard. Maybe cause its kind of a love type song. The beat is really good but there is something I cant really put my finger on that I don’t like about it. Still good though.
17. Dogs of War-9/10 Like the 70’s feel of it and the over all flow of the song. Good lyrics too but there is something a little unexciting about it for some reason (sorry for not elaborating more).
18. Barbershop-10/10 A classic. Funny intro, great build up into the beginning. I love the beat and rolls. Probably one of the most interesting songs on the album as far as the beat goes. Great awkward hits on certain spots on the high hat sound, chops it up nicely. Got nothing but good things to say about this song.
19.Ms. Sweetwater was no where to be found. Hee hee.
20. Big Girl-10/10 Every woman should have this song in her car, home stereo or what not. This one has been comforting to me with some personal shit I’ve been going through. Makes me feel capable and hopeful, no cheez. Great song.
21. Underwater 9/10 Like the imagery this song brings up. The weird flute sample type thing is effective and sounds dream like too. Ghost did a great job of making you feel under water. I felt like I had heard this song before for some reason. Like it was bringing up old dreams I’ve had or something.
22 & 23. Ironman for president….Momma-7/10 Just don’t feel this one. It is maybe growing on me a little but all in all it’s a toss up between this and Back Like That as my least favorite songs. That Megan Rochell has a great voice but nothing about this song excites me.
24. bonus track Three Bricks- 10/10 A lot of times I listen to this one first and then listen to the rest of the album so I can hear it twice. Glad they chose this to be on the album as a bonus. The beat is fucking incredible! This would be a hard one for me to reproduce and I respect that greatly. Not predictable at all. The dynamics are killer and of course it is great to hear The Notorious B.I.G. and Raekwon tearing the shit up. I find it hard to believe that anyone could find anything negative to say about this song. Fantastic.
got it today. needs a few more listens i feel. the verses on "shakey dog" are insane and "dogs of war" is crazy.
most of this album is good, except all those freakin' skits, including the kinda 'skit-songs' (Beauty Jackson, Barbershop). Were they really necessary? Also "Back Like That" is crap, I hate that guy Ne-Yo. Other songs are fine tough, they remember often of other Ghosts albums:
Shakey Dog, The Champ, Clipse of Doom, Underwater: Supreme Clientele
Kilo, R.A.G.U., 9 Milli Brothers: Ironman
Whip You With A Strap, Be Easy, Momma, Dogs of War: Pretty Toney
Back Like That, Jellyfish: Bulletproof Wallets
Three Bricks: ?
I give it 4.5 mics.
Re-post from 1st page
Ghostface Killah going soft on us? My stinkin ass! Tony Starks re-
enlightens any darknes that hung over the once prominent Wu-Tang Clan. Fishscale hits the shelves with power, finesse, and soul.
The Return Of Clyde Smith-I think we are all fans of Clyde Smith. In Supreme Clientele, he gave specific words to 50 Cent, calling him a, "fake faggot ass nigger." Good to start out with Clyde
Shakey Dog-4/5- First thing that struck me about the song was the beat. Is that a good thing? Well, no. Seemed pretty simplistic to me, with horns popping in and out and your usual voice sample. The great part of the song is Ghostface's verses, no arguments needed. You want to hear all the great dynamics of Tony, here's a good track to hear.
Kilo-4/5- Kilo, like Shakey Dog, isn't a track that grabs you and make you go "Hell yeah this is great." You have a catchy chorus going, "All around the world today, a kilo is a measure, whoever got the kilo's got the candy man," and so on. Raekwon brings the calm flow with very Cuban Linx-esque wordplay. You find yourself listening to this again and again.
The Champ-5/5- The Champ introduces Just Blaze to the album, and a little bit of Rocky, too. Any Rocky fan/Ghostface Killah fan will no doubt love this track, as both aspects are implemented here. Dominating horns and rugged drums followed with a pounding baseline equal up to one hell of a beat. This brings out the best in Ghost, as he speeds up the flow. To make a comparison, this is the best Wu solo track of the past couple years, beating out GZA's "General Principles."
Major Operation-Basically an intro to 9 Milli Bros
9 Milli Bros.-5/5- Dirt Mcgirt? Wait...Dirt Mcgirt? It seems to me that when ODB (RIP) is on a track, he likes to start it out with some words. RZA sworns everyone in; recycled from Fast Cars of "Birth of a Prince." Oddly, a track with 9 verses has a hook in it. They all spit quick, precise verses over a old-school piano loop beat, given to you by MF Doom. The first few times you hear this song, you'll have a big smile on your face, guarenteed.
Beaty Jackson-4/5- Add a new track to the list of "Songs that should have been longer," because this is one of them. If you turn this from a minute and a half track to 3 and a half minutes, it is one of the best songs on the album. The smooth, bass heavy beat done by J Dilla (RIP), was masterfully done.
Heart Street Directions-4/5- Is it dumb to rate skits? Not with ones this funny.
Columbus Exchange/ Crack Spot-3.5/5- This track is nothing special, but nonetheless, very good. Beat is fairly simple, with a couple of samples. Good verses by Ghostface once again.
R.A.G.U-5/5- You got the Ironman flavor on this track, with an old 1995 type vibe laid down by Pete Rock. Screeching violins with heavy drums add great amounts of replay value for this. I love the fact Rae and Ghost played off of each other's verses. This is a great track of the best 1,2 punch in the game.
Bad Mouth Kid- Skit. What kind of kid is this?
Whip You With A Strap-5/5- This track is the same formula on some tracks off of The Pretty Toney album, except executed much better. You have a great sample from J Dilla, and verses by Ghost relating closely to the songs' theme. Great job.
Back Like That-3/5-I am not an R&B fan, but I find myself listening to this track. Is it because I can relate to the story? That helps. Also helps that the beat is actually not bad, and it actually has good songwriting in it, unlike your modern day R&B.
Be Easy-4/5-Very, very catchy song. To me, although the beat isn't outstanding, is still well done. Pete Rock loves horns so much that this is all that the beat is. Even better is the catchy hook. Lyrically, Ghost brings a different flow and wordplay. Great track.
Clipse of Doom-2/5- With a title like this, you are expecting a very "Ironman" type beat. Ouch, the beat kind of hurts the ears. One of the few weak tracks on the album.
Jellyfish-5/5-Phew, the bad track is over. And now the great organ beat drops in! Very simple, but greater sounding the louder you play it. Ghostface was singing here and you gotta love the hook done by Trife and verse by Cappadonna. Give it up for Cappadonna because he came back to life on this album.
Dogs of War-5/5-Hey 2 bangers in a row! Solid beat with great verses from every member, including Ghostface's son, Sun God. Tough to skip this track.
Barbershop-4/5-Another track that should have been longer. The intro at the beginning was a great lead in to the verse by Ghostface. Should have been 2x as long. Still solid though.
Ms. Sweetwater-Leads in to Big Girl
Big Girl-5/5-With this song, you have a very busy beat with Ghostface speaking on life's troubles, basically. Love the soulful beat, remind me of Holla off the Pretty Toney album (also a fantastic track.) This song fits in none at all to tracks like Clips of Doom, Jellygish, or Dogs of War, so it may feel a bit out of place.
Underwater-5/5-Fantastic! A wonderful beat by MF Doom. This song screams creativity, unlike any other song you've heard. Ghostface is underwater and describes, in detail only Pretty Toney can use, what is going on above him. Excellent track.
The Ironman Takeover-Skit
Momma-2.5/5- Boring track to me. Beat isn't very nice at all. A shame, because Ghostface had good stories here as well.
Three Bricks-2/5- Very poor beat, with a West Coast feel to it. This type of beat does not belong, especially with 3 East Coast Rappers. BIG doesn't impress me as he never really has made my jaw drop. Ghost and Rae I can't really speak about because i've only listened to the song once. A poor way to end the album.
To conclude, I'll say that this is the 3rd best effort from Dennis Coles. The production is tickling at times and disappointing in about 3 tracks. To me, without Three Bricks, Clips of Doom, and Momma, I am labeling this thing damn near classic. With these 3 tracks I bring the rating down. Any Wu fan will enjoy or love this CD. Go buy it now!
8.5/10
Hello, I'm french, I Love the Hip-Hop and especially Wu-Tang.
I bought Fishscale yesterday and this album is very good. My favourite tracks are Shakey Dog, 9 Milli Bros (Good Prod by Metal Fingers), R.A.G.U, Be Easy & Barbershop. But all the album is sick, only one regret, too much skits because I don't understand all he say. Peace
Hahaha a Rap2k's boyQuote:
Originally Posted by bg357
Welcome, bienvenue!
Hello Jérémy :hooray:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy94
ca m'étonne pas de te voir ici
01. The Return Of Clyde Smith (Skit)
02. Shakey Dog 10/10
03. Kilo (Feat. Raekwon) 08/10
04. The Champ 10/10
05. Major Operation (Skit)
06. 9 Milli Bros. (Feat. Wu-Tang Clan) 09/10
07. Beauty Jackson 10/10
08. Heart Street Directions (Skit)
09. Columbus Exchange (Skit)/Crack Spot 10/10
10. R.A.G.U. (Feat. Raekwon) 10/10
11. Bad Mouth Kid (Skit)
12. Whip You With A Strap 10/10
13. Back Like That (Feat. Ne-Yo) 5/10
14. Be Easy (Feat. Trife) 2/10
15. Clipse Of Doom (Feat. Trife) 8/10
16. Jellyfish (Feat. Cappadonna, Shawn Wigs & Trife) 8/10
17. Dogs Of War (Feat. Raekwon, Trife, Cappadonna & Sun God) 10/10
18. Barbershop 10/10
19. Ms. Sweetwater (Skit)
20. Big Girl 10/10
21. Underwater 10/10
22. The Ironman Takeover (Skit)
23. Momma (Feat. Megan Rochell) 2/10
24. Three Bricks (Feat. Notorious B.I.G. & Raekwon)
(Bonus Track) n/a
A couple of songs I don't like but otherwise a great album by Ghost - 8.5/10
Well,I'm can't wait for that album, as I loved "supreme clientele",and as your reviews rae talking good abt it... But Im gonnaa download it, I think, cause it's not gonna arive in France before a while, and I got no money at all.. fuck that.
What about the track with ol'dirty,is he as good as he has always been? I love that man, Ol' dirty you stay number one for me. and WU is still bustin "ANY MUTHAFUCKIN'CONTENDER!!!"
peace
hey bg357!!! French connection around the world by the Clan... That's tight. T 2 Paris? Moi je suis sur Nantes.Il é sorti kan en France le Ghostface?Anyway,g pa les thunes du tt,dc...
good album, must be platinum
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