Reviews by magusjackal

I found the first couple tracks hard to get through, but then, I got to "Don't Shoot Guns Out." It was as relevant yesterday (August 6th, 2025) as it was during 2020, when we had the senseless murder of George Floyd and the subsequent summer of protests that came from it. We = The American public

Guns out - Don't Shoot. That was a slogan used by protestors at the time, to talk about police brutality.

If you don't see the parallels between an album like this and Fela Kuti's "Zombie," which I got the day before, you're not picking up on what's being put down. You're not seeing the shit that's happening in the US government, with their military, with their police forces.

The same shit that happened in Nigeria is happening here, too.

"Black is beautiful. Black is excellent - too." The album has a good mix of vocals, rhythms, call & response, synth, and African grooves - all things that I've come to appreciate since starting this project. I don't think this is a "daily driver" album for me, but, instead, something to come back to after I've had time to digest.

Standout tracks: "Wildfires," "Why We Cry We Die", "Black", "Us" into "Eternal Life". "Monsters" brought to mind some of the work Childish Gambino did in their albums "Awaken, My Love" and "Atavista."

...okay, music review is done. That's the first one I've done in a while.

I wish things changed for the better between 2020 and 2025. Things are looking pretty bleak outside my window.

But the 1001 Album project goes on. I leave this review behind as something for future listeners to find.

Going to continue not supporting Nazis and fascists.

The original link for this is missing tracks, at least on Spotify. Listen to the 30th Anniversary Celebration album instead.

Beautiful a capella!

The album doesn't sound the same like it did when I was in middle school. Loud and angry, with all the hallmarks of edgy pop from the 2000's.

Easy "A" for me. My parents had this album on vinyl, so I have listened to it many, many times. It's got that 70s sound!

This is a knockout album, as far as I'm concerned with rap/hip-hop. Not all the tracks resonated with me - probably because I'm agnostic - but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying the album as a work of art.

I was just starting high school in 2003, so this album made me feel like I was going to a school reunion. Mixed memories made for an okay listening experience.

It's a fine rock album, not my taste anymore, but fine.

Really good samples, but it was a lot of shouting for a Beastie Boys album. That said, it's grungy, "We don't give a shit and we got good rhymes" hip-hop.

If you like it, you like it.