Here are some customer reviews of
Electric Circus
: Electric Circus is a rare beast in hip hop - a complete, cohesive album with zero filler, an audio orgasm full of beats and trippy production that shouldn't work, but do. Albums like Aquemini and Stankonia may come to mind at first listen, but the overall product is more ambitious and focused than any of Outkasts admittedly great records. Two things stand out: first, Common himself. Simply put, he hasn't been this consistently masterful on the mic since Resurrection. His flow is always on point, especially considering the second thing that stands out on EC: the production! The Soulquarians (James Poyser, Jay Dee and ?uestlove) prove themselves the most soulful, innovative producers in black music with their work on here. From the 1930's duke ellington trip 'I Am Music' to the shifting psychadelica of 'New Wave', the interludes and instrumentation.. praises cannot be heaped high enough. It all culminates in the 10 1/2 minute epic 'Heaven Somewhere,' which to me embodies what soul music is today in the 21st century. Make no mistake by looking at the guest artists in the tracklist; this is no neo-soul album. Nor is it plainly a hip hop album.. It's just great, envelope-pushing music that in a perfect world, would change the face of hip hop forever. I've been touched and blown away by this record - a modern classic, and one of the best of the year. ...
OutKast. The Roots. De La Soul. Cee-lo. Common. The artists named all have something very much in common: they all believe in the theory of evolution. The process of change from lesser, simpler to more, complex. Common's latest addition, "The Electric Circus," shows that Common's influences have developed and expanded since his debut "Can I Borrow A Dollar?" back in the 1990's. I thought that he would never do better than the immaculate "Resurrection." Like OutKast's "Aquemini," Cee-lo's solo debut, and The Roots "Phrenology," Common has infused his album with a certain retro vibe. The music oozes from a time that is forgotten to most of the rap community. I dare to say that the album is...soul rap. Common continues to provide a casual, conversational flow that makes you feel like you are sitting in his basement with him circa 1970's, playing the newest vinyl through wood panelled speakers. You get a genuine sense of love and commitment off "Come Close," the album's first single. Nothing on this album suffers from the typical sound of 2002 production; that is it's main strength. "Jimi Was a Rock Star," an ode to guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, sounds like the soul of Jimi was summoned to accompany Com and Erykah Badu. The beat is very sythesized with a heavy bassline and crashing drums and cymbals; this is lost Jimi Hendrix experience. Other highlights include "I Am Music," a quick jazzy bassline, laced with a dark piano, accented with swing era horns, and Jill Scott stepping out of herself and into Count Basie's shadow; "Between Me, You, and Liberation," more spoken than rapped and featuring Cee-lo, singing slowly and sadly matching Common's melancholy lyrics about emotional and physical deterioration giving way to liberation of the soul; and the 10 minute album closer, "Heaven Somewhere" featuring an all star cast: Jill Scott, Bilal, Mary J Blige, Cee-lo, Erykah Badu, Omar Lyefook, and Lonnie Lynn). This album ends similar to all the others except "Can I Borrow A Dollar?" with Lonnie Lynn, Common's father, speaking to the world offering wisdom and love. We have seen Common reinvent himself and gradually progress to the artist we meet on "Electric Circus." And what a artist he has become.
Those used to Common's lyrical abilities won't be disappointed. Common rhymes over smooth funk laced beats and he includes a cast of confidants including everyone's friend Pharrell Williams. The synths, chorus, guitar riffs, and beat somehow all come together to form a new, fresh sounding hip-hop.
After I saw the video to Come Close I ran out and bought the CD, popped it in my changer and haven't stopped listening to it since. Common's eclectic collage of 70's funk, soul, rock, jazz swing and hip hop is brillant. Truely a refreshing change in an industry dominated by bling-bling, booty shakin' women, and mind numbingly vapid lyrics. For those of you who want to be enlightened on love, human issues and music experimentation use your "common sense" and BUY THIS CD! Peace.
I just wanted to go on the record here. I just bought Electric Circus, and it is beyond words. However, you must let go of all preconceptions of what you think Hip-Hop should sound like to appreciate this great work of art. You must also let go of all previous Common LPs. To me, Electric Circus instantly wins a spot on the top ten of all time Hip-Hop LPs. I predict that many people will end up hating or simply ignoring this CD, but if by some insane miracle it is actually understood and embraced, then it has the power and all of the hallmarks of a landmark recording along the lines of the Beatles' Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Marvin's What's Going On, PE's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, De La's Three Feet High and Rising, Dre's The Chronic Album, and Outkast's ATLiens. I'm not saying that I like Electric Circus more than these other recordings I mentioned, but Electric Circus has the potential of spawning a whole new style and direction (and unfortunately dozens of mediocre copycats). This is a very different and important CD in the history of Hip-Hop music which obliterates all that has been bland and unimaginitive in the commercial and underground spheres over the past few years. Overall, it sounds like Common joined the Dungeon Family: kinda weird, but very daring and beautiful...like Outkast's ATLiens and Aquemeni. It also reminds me of Pep Love's Ascension: Heavy spiritual vibe. At the end of the cd I wondered what I had just heard, and I wanted to hear it again.
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