Brand New

I had heard all the Brand New I could possibly stand before this album even came out. When my roommate brought in his burned copy and told me Brand New had a new CD out I prepared to be subjected to the same re-written wimpy emo, confused prepubescent teenager songs over and over. But instead, what I heard was somewhat decent and interesting material, but not enough for me to ever forgive a horrible band like Brand New and for me to seek out the rest of their album. I never got to hear the full album, only the first three songs.

Two years later, I had a chance to listen through the whole thing, so I figured why not see what's left to discover. And once you listen to it all from start to finish, it feels like you've endured that battle right there with them. The singer really expresses some strong feelings, like he's simply tired of having the Devil and God rage inside him.

The fact that Brand New can come out of the rut of horrible pop music and put something like this out has me stoked to see what they do next. The lead singer has actually been through my town before to do a little solo gig at one of the bars. A friend of mine got a chance to talk to him too. (I have no idea why he was here, according to Wiki, they recorded the album here, but that's conflicting with what the CD says, so I doubt it.) But I only hope he'll make another pass through here some day so I can meet him and not praise him, not beg for his autograph, not ask him when the next CD is coming out, but simply tell him "thank you" for putting out a work of music like that.

Who cares what the old fans with their one star reviews think. Albums like those are a dime a dozen. This CD is solid gold.

Please do not be misled by the product reviews. This is not the Brand New you know and love. This is garbage. This album is largerly forgetable. Do you like hooks? I understand this is not meant to be pop, but there are no hooks at all in this albun. Certainly a disapointment for this long-awaied album. Buy something else.

This is a great album, but buyer beware, it is a bit different from earlier albums and has an even darker tone then previous albums. There isn't so much upbeat punky tracks like "Jude Law" but very deep songs with dark subject matter (think Sic Transit Gloria, but even darker)...the boys are definitely developing as artists, and this is an amazing album. Best of the bunch: "Limousine" and "Jesus"

It's one of the greatest albums to come out in the past decade, simply put.

The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me is not an ordinary album. The songs do not have hooks like conventional music, and you won't find yourself listening to the same song over and over like you will on pop albums. If you get into this intelligent and mature album, you will be listening to it for a long time. Brand New is really stunning in it's transformation from an emo band into... well, Brand New defies genres. The music is incredibly powerful and is so evocative of the somber tone they aim for. Jesse Lacey essentially uses his voice as an instrument, and the music blends with him rather than being merely a device to get across his hook.

This album is really unlike anything I've ever heard before, and the only band similar to this incredible style is As Tall As Lions, another Long Island band. Although much softer, ATAL has the same sophisticated sound that lacks conventional hooks you'd hear on MTV. If you want to listen to an album that is truly the most unique and original of rock music this decade, buy The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. This isn't just a refinement of Brand New's style, this is an evolution, of the band and of the rock genre.

This is one of my favorite cd's of all time. First time I heard, meh it was okay. But, after I heard "Sic transit gloria..Glory fades" a few times, I was hooked. Then I noticed how well the songs flowed together and how awesome they were.
It may have to grow on you, but it rocks. I come back to listen to this cd alot.
I would say tracks 2 thru 7 is what makes this cd so great. You don't have to skip any tracks.

I like emo punk rock and hadn't heard of Brand New until recently. I bought this based on a recommendation from a friend. I like listening to it. It is unique but easy to get in to. This group is more lyrical than I expected from a young band which adds to the CD. Many groups like this can play and scream but the lyrics are weak. Brand New has that element of being clever writers as well. I would recommend this if you like Jack's Mannequin, New Found Glory, Angels & Airwaves, etc.

I bought the album when it was first released and it continues to be one of my favorite albums ever even in 2008. Whether you're happy, sad or just drunk this album is fun to sing your lungs out to. Every song is a punch in the face.

I've had this album for over a year now, and it still feels fresh. The vocals by Jesse are amazingly soothing and is good for all moods.

1. Tautou 8/10. A quiet intro where you can hear Jesse saying 'I'm sinking like a hole in the sea.' Very eerie and a great intro.

2. Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades 10/10. A great bassline and starts off very calm but then sound explodes in the chorus with Jesse shouting 'Die young and save yourself!!!' The first song I heard by Brand new and by far the best.

3. I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light 8/10. Jesse pours his heart out on the accoustic verses and then the sound yet again explodes in the chorus. This one may take a few listens to like.

4. Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't 9/10. Jesse sounds ignorant but honest and like the last song it explodes on the chorus. But the melody is better on this song.

5. The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows 10/10. In the verses Jesse sings like someone has died, but in the chorus he explodes in such emotion it is overpowering. One of the best.

6. The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot 8/10. A calm accoustic number. No explosion but still has heaps of emption.

7. Jaws Theme Swimming 9/10. Interesting guitar riff, simple and effective with the usual quiet-verse-but-explode-in-the-chorus structure.

8. Me Vs. Maradona Vs. Elvis 9/10. Starts off like an accoustic number with Jesse singing very quietly. Near the end they explode again but it was very well executed.

9. Guernica 10/10. Do I like this song because it is more intense? Yes. The vocals are very good going from whispers to screams in less than a second. Melody munchers may not feel satisfied though.

10. Good To Know That If I Ever Need Attention All I Have To Do Is Die 9/10. Calm song that explodes in the chorus. Although it's samey it hasn't tired yet.

11. Play Crack The Sky 8/10. It's okay I just feel that this song drags on a little. Accoustic number.

This album took me about five listens to appreciate the music properly. So give this album a chance and it will creep into your mind (try listening to it while going to sleep)

Yes, I'm old. I admit that. I have been in the music biz for 43 years. I've worked with the best-just to name a few-Dylan, Harrison, Lennon, McCartney, Humble Pie, Hendrix, Santana, The Crusaders, Satriani, Pink Floyd, Clapton, Vince Gill, Loggins and Messina, Jeff Beck, Sonny Landreth, Johnny Winter, The Allman Bros., Sheryl Crow, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Doyle Bramhall II, Stevie Winwood, Pete Frampton, Elvis (yes the Elvis), Todd Rundgren, Gladys Knight, Judy Collins, Steve Vai, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Willie, Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top, Los Lobos, and most recently the Police reunion.....the list goes on and on-even amazes me. Not bragging just stating my credentials.

Sorry kids, but after listening to this album, always looking for new talent, I could only think how musically deprived (or depraved) so many folks are today. Yes, my parents hated Hendrix, but Jimi could play.. These cats are just way too depressed. I could teach a 12 year old these chords and how to 'puke-sing' these dark and dreary lyrics in about an hour. Is talent not important anymore? Being a loser and downer doesn't mean "deep" by the way. I'm not a shrink, but I think if I were listening to this garbage day in and day out I would be depressed, looking for a way out of my body like so many do (or looking to hurt and kill others-something that was rare in our day.)

If my good friend George Harrison were around to hear this dribble he would just grin and tell me how he planned to release an album recorded by a chimpanzee with all the latest studio crap to help the untalented appear talented. He really believed he could produce a "sellable" record that way. Then when the unthinking masses ran out and bought it, divulge how it was produced. He loved crafting his music but came to distrust and even hate the music biz. With George it was hard to tell if he was serious. Point is he was very concerned about the direction of music, and he's been gone now for six years. This sound by Brand New is merely a symptom. You don't have to settle musically for junk.

Kids, go back a few years and listen to what your padres grew up on. It will raise your musical IQ. Then get into some great classical, old style country, and jazz. Listen to Sgt. Pepper with headphones on and with an attitude of anticipation. Please don't just settle for the lowest common denominator. You're here on this Earth to grow and develop. Life is great man! Give your spirit something to be happy about. Let the depressed and lost like Brand New sit and wallow in their musical excrement and all the $$ they make off lemmings like you. As for me, I'll keep teaching and producing sounds that lift.

In my book, Brand New continued taking things out of the equation that made me like them. This album has great harmonies and is pop punk at its finest. PLUS, it's got them singing in rounds (like row, row, row your boat) Come on, people...good stuff. Catchy things abound but buyer beware: this is the kind of album that seemed a bit new in 2001 but now...maybe not.

First of all, I am a huge Brand New fan. They've shown some of the best growth from album to album than almost any other band currently around. Your Favorite Weapon was their first CD and it's a pretty solid effort, but nothing compared to what they have done since.

1. The Shower Scene: 4/5-Great intro for the album, good lyrics, hard-hitting beat. It does feel like it drags past its short 2:24 running time though.

2. Jude Law and a Semester Abroad: 4/5-The first Brand New song I ever heard a long, long time ago. Great choice for a first single, catchy chorus but it grows tiresome after a while.

3. Sudden Death in Carolina: 3/5-Good lyrics almost ruined by boring poppy beat. It's a good song the first few times, but like many tracks on this CD it gets old quick.

4. Mix Tape: 3/5-Pretty much the opposite as Sudden Death. It starts off slow and slowly goes uphill and gets faster and leads to a sick guitar part at the end. The downside though are the dumb, repetitive lyrics. Jesse can write far better than this.

5. Failure by Design: 5/5-One of my favorite tracks on the album. It's undeniably catchy and in my opinion would have been a great single.

6. Last Chance to Lose Your Keys: 2/5-Probably the most forgettable track on the album. Sounds like something that a band would record right when they're starting off, not album material really. It is slightly catchy though.

7. Logan to Government Center: 3/5-Another pretty forgettable song, though doesn't sound as repetitive and cliche as some other songs on the album. I also do like The Cure "Close to Me" lyrics they stuck in there.

8. The No Seatbelt Song: 5/5-Probably the most haunting and beautiful song on the album. This is what most of the album should have been. This track really displays Brand New's writing ability and remains a favorite of mine.

9. Seventy Times 7: 3/5-One of the most overrated songs on the album in my opinion. A lot of people seem to love it but I just can't get in to it really. It sounds like something any band could do, but has good lyrics.

10. Secondary: 2/5-It's ironic that I keep saying this but this track is repetitive, cliche, and not very solid. Like most songs on the album though it has pretty decent lyrics hidden within the annoyingly poppy beat.

11. Magazines: 3/5-Interesting song to say the least. It quickly falls in to the tiresome pop territory half of the songs on this album do.

12. Soco Amaretto Lime: 5/5-Luckily the album closes on a high note. Another fantastic acoustic song that shows Brand News extraordinary potential that they later discovered and then some.

Your Favorite Weapon is not the best debut album I've ever heard, not even close. It has many great tracks on it, but is weighed down by all the repetitive, poppy tunes. It's incredible to think that this is the same band who later released the masterpieces that are Deja Entendu and The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me.

This CD is so amazing.Your favourite weapon i belive is my second favourite CD of all time behind TAYF by Taking Back Sunday.This CD is pure genius.
Pick It Up!

and it took me awhile to like that album. but when i finally did, i loved it, so i decided to explore brand new's old album, "your favorite weapon".

the only song that was remotely close to their sophmore album was "soco amaretto lime". everything else sounds very immature compared to what i heard in deja. but that was what i LOVED about it! i'm a big fan of taking back sunday, matchbook romance (first album), green day, blink 182 and stuff like that. "your favorite weapon" basically combined the best stuff of all of them. it's upbeat, angry lyrics that sport a young attitude, yet are skillfully crafted so the angst and fun of it comes out. the hooks are totally catchy. but the best thing i liked about this album was the way it made me feel. i'm 22 and i'm listening to this the first time and it made me feel young and reckless again (in a good way !)

This cd is great. Brand New is an awesome band. Your Favorite Weapon is probably one of my top 5 cd's in my collection.
Great Songs and Great variety.
The Shower Scene - 8/10 A good opener, but not one of my favorites.

Jude Law and a Semester Abroad - 10/10 This song got me into Brand New. It's one of the best on the album.

Sudden Death in Carolina - 9/10 Also a great song. i love the opeing riff.

Mix Tape - 9/10 This one starts off slow but gets better and the ending is great.

Failure By Design - 8.5/10 This song is pretty good, but gets old.

Last Chance To Lose Your Keys - 8.5/10 See above song

Logan To Government Center - 9/10 I really like this song. It starts out kind of mellow which is different but great. I love the lyrics too.

The No Seatbelt Song - 7/10 This song is an acoustic song and in my opinion very forgettable. I usually skip this one.

Seventy Times 7 - 10/10 Great Song! Awesome solo in the beginning, great lyrics, awesome music. A toss-up with track 2 for the best on the album

Secondary - 9/10 another great song

Magazines - 9.5/10 I love this one too. Not quite the caliber of Seventy Times Seven but still awesome.

Soco Armaretto Line - 9/10 This is another acoustic but much better than The No Seatbelt Song. One of my favorite acoustic songs of any band.

This is quite a beutiful album with exciting tunes that thrills one everytime one hears them.

The Brand New Heavies show you what has been missing on R & B radio stations in America. Wonderful sounding non rap music. All of the songs are great. Sex God has the best beat, but this is the first album in a long time where all of the songs are great. Pick it up

I couldn't tell if this was a good CD or not from the sample tracks. But man was I surprised when I cranked this up on a 300 mile drive to New York last week! The range and genre changes (raggie,disco,jazz/r&b) is amazing. My favorite is "Sex God". It's a real "come-and-get-me" song that N'Dea Davenport pulls off at her sultry best! Got to see them at the Capitol Jazz festival in June. TBNH turned the joint out and in the rain no less!

boy, i don't get some of these reviews at all. this cd is amazing! every track is a mini-masterpiece, and n'dea has never sounded better. i am particularly enamored with the track, "I've Been Touched," which starts out sweetly low-key but steadily builds into a good old jam. if you've ever been a fan of The Brand New Heavies, you can't go wrong with this disc.

Like one of the previous reviewers added: this is a real group playing real instruments. This CD is a wholesome change from whats out there now musically. They bring back that natural funk flavor. Out of the 12 songs 9 are really solid (1,2,3,6,7,8,9,11,12). My favorites were "Get used to it" no.3 & "We won't stop" no.6. The 8th joint takes a thinly veiled shot at the techno enhanced music of the day. On the 7th cut they actually mention how they were attempting to bring funk back into music. N'dea returned with superb vocals after a long hiatus. She put icing on the cake, and she's still as seductive as ever.

I'm compelled to write a review because I realized that since this came out I've had it on a casette and it has never been out rotation in my car stereo. This is a real band with a beautiful style.

I like all kinds of music. I chased the Grateful Dead around in high school and college, caught many Allman Bros shows, have jammed out with "newer" jam bands like Phish and Widespread Panic, seen one of the best concerts I've been to at a Beastie Boys concert, grooved at good reggae concerts like Toots and the Maytals, and enjoyed some great live bluegrass shows with bands like Seldom Scene. My point, I love all genres of music and this album is one of my all-time favorites. It is one of those albums that, if I could only take 10 CDs with me to live on a deserted island - I would take Brother Sister. Song for song, it is one of my favorite albums.

This album does a great job of mixing up the sound so that you get variations from a great studio jam band - I love their horns and the vocals are great. This is one of the albums that you play in your car, loud, and just smile and enjoy!

BNH really broke loose with this one, an intoxicating mix of jazz ("Snake Hips"), funk ("Fake"), and soul ("Spend Some Time").

If I were trapped on a desert island with a cd player and I could choose one CD, this would be it. Brother Sister is flawless, plain and simple.

Wow, only 11 reviews for one of the better releases of the early 90's? Well, I just had to add my 2 cents worth of love for this disc. I fell in love with the single, DREAM ON DREAMER, which got heavy play on both the radio & video channels I watched back in the day.

The funny thing about a group like BNH which produces high quality music and is a somewhat self-contained band is that their music definitely stands the test of time. For those who get it in 2006 or after, they'll probably be very surprised to note that this disc was released in 1994! The group specializes in r&b funk and features one of the unique voices in r&b, N'Dea Davenport - while also producing terrific instrumental songs.

To this day, my favorite tracks are: DREAM ON DREAMER, DAYBREAK, SPEND SOME TIME, BROTHER SISTER, TEN TON TAKE, FOREVER & SNAKE HIPS.

If you don't have this disc in your collection and you like funkdified neo-soul, then you will love this disc!

I was first turned on to the BNH in Amsterdam, circa 1996, in a coffee shop. That album was Brother, Sister, which is great.

Great, funky, catchy modern R&B.

I've followed them since then, and picked up Shelter in 2007. It's their best album, by far. AMAZING songwriting, arrangements, & musicianship!

Yeah, I love N'Dea's vocals, but I actually think Siedah Garrett's just as good, and she's a better songwriter. She co-wrote a lot of the songs on this album. There's not a stinker in the bunch!

The title-track, "Shelter", "Sometimes You Gotta Do Right", "Stay Gone", and "Feels Like Right" are some of the best tunes I've heard in my life.

Buy it.

And check out their tour schedule (available on MySpace), and GO SEE THEM!

Peace!

Like many others I was absolutely devastated when N'Dea left BNH. But being a fan of this band I bought Shelter and I think I listened to it all of 2 times and didn't care for it.

I tore Siedah Garrett to shreds and basically felt "how dare she try and replace N'Dea" cuz to me it was nowhere near the same. And I don't agree with the first reviewer here. N'Dea is what made that band and she will always be what made them. She was the gas to their engine. Anyway I was real disappointed in Siedah's voice because you cannot even compare the two.

Fast forward about 8 years and I was browsing for music and saw it sitting there and thought I should give it another chance. And I guess I just needed some time to get over N'Deas departure because he voice is nowhere near as bad as I remembered in my head. Actually quite the contrary, it was good.

And the songwriting on this album is among the strongest that they have ever done. I would put this as a classic among the first 2. BNH kinda fell downhill after that but I am such a fan of this band that I think I'd buy an album of farts set to their music : )

Smooth old school grooves, neo-funk, eclectic and classical jazz, and R & B all wrapped up in one. What is there to say except that this group's musical genius brilliantly and beautifully brings all these genres off into a wonderful blend of extraordinary musical melodies that moves the soul, the mind, and gives the listener a higher plane of listening pleasure to their senses. The Brand New Heavies is truly a group that could be mused as "The Underdog", "Musical Sleeper", and even "Under-Marketed" and truly needs props for their much deserved fame.

True musical genius is hard to find in this day and time in the Musical Entertainment World with everything digitized, and singers who sound as if your ears deserved some sort of punishment for enduring their unearthly sounds which we classify as "singing" these days; whereas these artists are racking up undeserved fame that breeds that unending question mark in one's sane musical mind of "How?"

Not so with the BNH's. I rarely have the opportunity to say anymore that I have bought a CD in which I can pop in and truly like and enjoy every song. And with my vast like of musical genres and a strong background in music, I believe I can say I know and hear true talent. The eclectic smooth groove of "Sometimes" and "Highest High" really moved me deep with not only the music composition and positive lyrics, but makes me zoom through my days faster with a more positive mood to boot. But the question is which song on this CD doesn't have its own magic?

I recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys musical tastes in R & B, most forms of jazz, and a touch of old-school soul and Pop. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

I must disagree with critics and some fans-I much prefer Siedah Garret's singing over N'Dea-Garret has far more experience and doesn't try so hard to be convincing.And this being their third proper studio album The Brand New Heavies have grown a great deal as songwriters and have learned that crucial,unnamable ingrediant that made the funk of the 70's what it was.And it wasn't just real instruments either.By far the best song here is "You Are The Universe",an upbeat song with a genuinely positive message for people to keep control and revel in their given freedom.Not to mention th wonderful "I Like It","Highest High",well for that matter everything else here not only showcases musical professionalism and instrumentation but that songwriting has taken a priority over grooves and jamming,which to my ears is very much a saving grace.So if you are like me and believe that you can jam,groove AND write great songs too with your funk 'Shelter' will be the Brand New Heavies' album for you.

this CD is one of the best. whether or not you want to jam or chill out and dream, this is the CD for you...it's jazz with all the right emotion.

A double shot of pianist-siren Amos steals the show in what was a marketable mix of (mostly) boring rap, bland R&B, and serviceable rock with a few other worthwhile contributions (Outkast circa Atliens and Rage before Evil Empire dropped to name the obvious ones) made this album enticing when it was released.

I read all 13 reviews and I did not even see the work Outkast. This is by far one of the highlights of the album. The whole thing is good but if you are an Outkast fan this is a must have just for the one song by them.

As one other reviewer said, this soundtrack (as well as the film that spawned it) was way ahead of its time and many of the topics covered in these songs are still relevant today!

The style of this film was also ahead of its time. It isn't pure R & B, rap, rock or any other style of music. Its all of these things. In truth, this soundtrack kind of represents what American means.....a melting pot. That's what makes this soundtrack so unique.

My favorites are "Higher" by Ice Cube and "All I Ask Of You" by Raphael Saddiq but nearly all of the tracks are worth a listen. Much like New Jack City, this soundtrack was spreading a message that is still just as relevant in 2007 as it was in 1995. Highly recommended.

i mean seriously it really is.a soundtrack this diverse was unheard of during the 90's.Though ironically this represents the diversity of that awesome decade verry well.theirs something here for everybody.ZHANE,ice cube,liz phair,rage against the machine,brand new heavies.you would be hard pressed to find a more diverse soundtrack from this era.

as far as the songs themselves their actualy good,and i have nothing really bad to say about them.though i must admit tori amous isn't for me.and i belive people had the same problem with this album.it was probably TOO diverse for its own good,but nevertheless a good album.

I have been looking for this CD for the longest. Im so glad I found it. My favorite song is "Soul Searchin" by Me'Shell NdegeOcello.

I agree with trevnyc, I don't see the point of this album. It sounds like a live session which is great if you want that sound, but it's a studio album so I'm confused at what this album contributes other than the instrumentals at the end which is the only contribution to me. The main album is much more polished. I guess it's like vinyl versus digital which is arguable.

I do like the remixes of the "Get Used to It" album, but I totally disagree with the other reviewer that this is a better album and the songs on the original album are "muddled". Although the remixes are good on here they are stripped down to the point that they don't even sound like they were recorded at the same time, they lose almost all of the "funkiness" and energy that is heard throughout the original album. The songs now sound very industrial, almost robotic on this remix album, the saving grace is N'dea Davenport's glorious vocals and the superior instrumentals of the rest of the band. The overall beat of this album seems to be alot slower than the original album as well, which makes some of the songs labor whereas they have a great groove and danceable beat on the original album. Tom Moulton even strips alot of N'dea's beautiful backing vocals and ad-libs off the songs, further robbing it of it's R&B, Hip-Hop and Acid Jazz power. The Brand New Heavies pride themselves on being one of the best live bands in the business, and their albums prove it. This is a good, not great remix album that in my opinion has too much going on because everything is stripped and replayed as if it were all recorded seperately, it loses alot in the process. It's worth listening to, I downloaded it off Rhapsody, actually glad I didn't purchase it.

Nearly two years after it's initial release, "Get used to it" gets overhauled by legendary mixologist Tom Moulton.
The result is nothing less than spectacular!!!

While the original mixes sounded muddy, muffled, and somewhat flat, Tom's mixes are sparkling, crystaline, alive, and warm.
Considering the fact that the Heavies are basically a throwback to 70's funk and soul, this is a match made in heaven, as Tom's work in this decade has become synonymous with CLASSIC dance music.
In addition to the mixing, Tom's extending and isolating of the best musical elements contained within these songs really push them over the edge.
For example, just have a listen to "Let's do it again", particularly the outro vamp/groove, and you will see why Tom Moulton defined the remix (and the mix, for that matter)
Tom's use of reverb is second to none. Giving these songs the spaceousness barely hinted at in the original mixes.....

The songs are all very solid, and now being mixed to perfection, fans can all agree that "Get used to it" ranks among the band's best work.

Reeno
[...]

Not too often, we hear bands colab with many hip hop artists. On albums like Heavy Rhyme Experience, we get a blend of instuments with some astounding vocals to come together on to one album. Brand New Heavies, I've only heard of them once which was on a song with The Main Source, which appears on this album. To be honest, I really don't know too much about this group, except N'Dea Davenport (ATL baby!) was in the group, and later left, and then rejoined. But outside of that information, that's all I know about the group.

Here on this album, Brand New Heavies, bring in some popular artists that were peaking around 1991/1992. Artists like Guru, Black Sheep, Masta Ace, and others bring their A game to this album. "Bonafied Funk" with The Main Source, already appears on their Breaking Atoms if you have any of the reissues. Guru from Gangstarr drops in for the solid "It's Getting Hectic". Grand Puba colabs for the nice "Who Makes The Loot" which appears on his Reel to Reel. My most favorited track is the next one, Masta Ace's colab "Wake Me When I'm Dead", about artists crossing over in hip hop. The next track, "Jump 'n' Move" with Jamalski, has a reggae bouncy touch which sounds okay. Another standout would be the colab with Kool G. Rap with "Death Threat" which is amazing. The Black Sheep colab track "State Of Yo" is another banger that is highly enjoyable. Ed O.G. drops in for the solid "Do What I Gotta Do" track. The next track is the Tiger colab with "Whatgabouthat" which it depends on what mood I'm in on where I like that song or not. The final track is The Pharcyde colab "Soul Flower" with is good, but doesn't match the remix which appears on Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde.

Overall a great album. Most of the colabs I'm feeling with the live sounding instruments. This is one of those albums that you can vibe to real easily. With only 10 tracks, clocking at 35 minutes, this album may feel a little short sounding, but it does quickly get to the point. Fans of live sounding music will like this one. It does have a little crossover appeal to it, but it still keeps it place in the acid jazz and hip hop areas. This is one I recommend you check out, especially if you're a fan of anyone who appears on this album.

Lyrics: A-
Production: A+
Guest Appearances: B
Musical Vibes: A-

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Wake Me When I'm Dead (with Masta Ace)
2. Death Threat (with Kool G. Rap)
3. Who Makes The Loot (with Grand Puba)
4. State Of Yo (with Black Sheep)
5. It's Getting Hectic (with Guru)

man, i tell you what, i was just reminded about how lovely this album is to listen to. i had the tape, but i lost the tape. right after i ordered it on here, i find the cotton pickin' think hiding in a doggone bag!!!! nevertheless, this is wonder fusion of funk and hip hop. why it did not get more attention than it did, i do not know. it was a breath of fresh air for '91/'92. you just do not hear that type of thang anymore. if they did it today, they would probably be club bangahs in the form of jazz. shameful!!!!!

Let me first say that with a few exceptions like Us3, Digable Planets and the Beastie Boys from Check Your Head forward, I am certainly NOT a fan of rap. But what those artists all have in common is a decidedly funk, soul and/or jazz groove rather than a contemporary urban R&B sound. And so it is with this album, where various American old-school rap artists - this album was recorded in 1991, after all - rhyme to tracks laid down by the London-based acid-jazz/rare-groove legends The Brand New Heavies. Rather than relying on processed beats and looped samples, the Heavies provide the MCs with genuine instrumental tracks with enough funk to get all but the comatose up out of their chairs. The tempo varies from slow-and-low grind-funk as in the opening track "Bonafide Funk" featuring Main Source and "It's Getting Hectic" featuring Gang Starr to driving dance-club beats as in "Soul Flower" featuring The Pharcyde and "Jump n' Move" featuring Jamalski (recently used in a trailer for the animated penguin movie "Happy Feet"). Regardless of pace, the Heavies infuse each song with deep basslines, rump-movin' funk-syncopated rhythms and infectious guitar hooks with liberal use of the wah-wah pedal.

The album has some minor weaknesses, in particular the sped-up, repetitive and insufferably grating vocal samples laid over "Do What I Gotta Do" with Ed O.G. But any weaknesses are superficial blemishes on the otherwise flawless musical foundation beneath each track.

This album should be on every Top 100 Hip-Hop Albums of All Time list. Its lack of widespread critical recognition much less commercial success is practically a crime.

IMHO, one of the great albums of all time.

Fantastic rhymes from 10 different lyricists (many of them some of the great names in underground/not-so-underground hip-hop of the era), over the Heavies' great vintage-instrument-influenced grooves.

Hip-hop records from the mid-80s through the early-90s have an organic production quality that is generally missing from the more slicked-out productions of today (which is not to say that hip-hop today ALWAYS feels inorganic). To me, what is significant about "Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1" is that the music has that same organic feeling, but none of the music is sampled. Certainly it is influenced by James Brown, The Meters, the Mizells, etc. (who of course were the same artists being sampled in hip-hop around that time), but all the music is written and performed by the Heavies and the guest rappers. And cleverly, too! The subtleties of the compositions still knock me out 15 years later--the Heavies' understated variations on the repetitive grooves call to mind earlier hip-hop productions, but also the music of Fela Kuti and Steve Reich.

In the realm of hip-hop with a live band, "Heavy Rhyme Experience" is hard to compare to The Roots, but this record may be funkier and display more variety and diversity than any of The Roots' recordings. It's kind of a shame that the Heavies never actually made a Volume 2, exploring this direction further. This is easily their best album, though "Brother Sister" is very good.

The only complaint I have is the length, which at 30-something minutes leaves me wishing for so much more...

I spent a long time trying to re-find this album after it was originally stolen from me. It wasn't til the re-release that I was able to find it and I was amazed at all the fantastic MC's from the past that were used on this album. Everyone from Grand Puba, Guru, Jamalski, Masta Ace, the Pharcyde, Main Source and Kool G Rap drop rhymes on this album, and the funky, jazzy beats by the Brand New Heavies are just so refreshing. This is like a breath of Fresh air when it comes to hip hop, and just the names of the Mc's alone should make it worthwhile.

Admittedly, this is not really the best example of the Brand New Heavies music. In fact, it's not a good representation of them at all, except it does show the diversity of their style, and the music they make is fantastic, regardless. This version of Soulflower with the Pharcyde is just great and I liked it much better than the version used on the Bizarre Ride 2 The Pharcyde.

All The best of the Brand New Heavy's some of the songs, I didn't even know that they recorded. Davenport is at her best as always.

Valerie Whittiker

This CD is a great production from beginning to end. The highlights are "dream on dreamer", "stay this way", "brother,sister", and a sleeper hit called "try my love". It's great music and a great buy!

The CD was in excellant condition and I received it in a timely manner.