TRUTHS, TRIPS, REVELATIONS by ALPHAMAMA ALBUM REVIEW

ALPHAMAMA
TRUTHS, TRIPS & REVELATIONS

Staying true to her word here, AlphamMama really shows her versatility in her debut instalment "TRUTHS, TRIPS & REVELATIONS". There is no boxing this girl into one genre or particular sound. 

The AlphaMama not only has the gift of a supremely diverse vocal, she is also talented enough to combine a variation of musical genre's with her "CRAZY, SEXY, COOL" lyrics to deliver her story.

As soon as you press play, the first track on Truths, Trips & Revelations gets your head bopping and your body grooving. As the story goes on, the music mellows out. It is almost as if the AlphamMama was experiencing some sh#$%t in her life at the time and goes through the motions and emotions, expresses what she feels and learns the lessons.

The title, Truths, Trips & Revelations summarises the lyrical content of the album.  Although, it might be somewhat of a tongue twister, it does give you an idea of what you will hear.  The album is a small part of the AlphaMama's life journey, it’s the truth, she has experiences, she trips but gets up and keeps going “You don’t have to worry, no don’t say you’re sorry, don’t you worry about me” and at the end she has a revelation, perhaps realising that "LIFE IS IMPORTANT". 

This album in it's entirety delivers a sweet combination of Neo-Soul, Funk, Reggae, Pop, Rock, R & B, Hip Hop, the Spoken Word and smoothly produced beats mixed well with live instruments.  The AlphaMama's powerful voice and her range is showcased in each track and helps define her unique underground sound.  Vocally "She's in Control".

The production on Truths, Trips & Revelations is superior and you can tell, the producers, West Labz Sound have a great level of experience and are hella creative.  Experimenting with the use of varying samples and effects, they create a distinctive sound.

To showcase Alphamama's indivuality and diversity and give you an idea, as to what to expect, from, Truths, Trips & Revelations, I am going to review a few of the tracks with a comparison or example of an artist or song her vocal or the track might be similar too.

ALPHAMAMA ON THE KEYS

TRACK BY TRACK 

"IF Ya Gon Lie" - The groovy beat in this track gets your shoulders moving, it is a great opening hit.  This is very Erykah Badu. The tone and pronunciation of words - very Baduizm.

"She's In Control" - This joint right here is a banging Hip Hop beat with that rock element to it! It's almost head banging.  It features one of my favourite local MC's Kween G from the Killa Queenz! All I feel when I hear this track is POWERFUL

"Crazy, Sexy, Cool" - On the Reggae tip this track not my favourite and then it just ends.

"Leave the Lights On" - This song is catchy, it sounds a little pop.

"MooDjack" - This track starts off a little Pop, then becomes Neo Soul, perhaps it can be compared to Angie Stone, great harmonies and arrangements in this track

"Treat You Right" - This track is very soulful, very Corinne Bailey Rae, I love the spoken word in this track.

"Obsession" - This joint is very neo soul, although there is a electric guitar thrown in the mix.  Her vocal sounds very Jill Scott, I'm feeling the spoken word and the breakdown is very Janet Jackson.

"Alabama Attack" - I am not sure why this song is called "Alabama Attack", because all I hear are the words "You don't have to worry". A little bit Reggae, a power vocal, 

"The Unknown" - This is a very dark song

"Bad Appel" - This track featuring another amazing and underrated local Sydney artist Ngaire is my favourite on the album.  I think both lyrically & musically this song on point.  It has that Reggae back beat, with a soulful vocal. Great track, catchy chorus, and delivering a great story.

The breakdown rocks my world. Lookout for NGAIRE she is something special.

Check out the hot video:  

"Wonder Woman" -  This vocal in this track is very Lisa Stansfield. Loving the inclusion of the brass section in this track. 

"Dawning" - This song sounds very 90's, Alphamama sounds like the girls from Xscape.

"Life is Important" - The revelation.  I am loving the music in this track. You can dance to it, you can do some kinda 2 step dance. It builds to a high. The lyrics have meaning. 

OVERALL

ALPHAMAMA GIVES THANKS
TRUTHS TRIPS REVELATIONS

Truths, Trips & Revelations is a good album, not only because the AlphaMama can write great songs and delivers with her vocal, but this album is what it is because she worked with some of Sydney's talented musos, producers and sound engineers to bring it together.  It is very well written. produced arranged and mixed, so props must go to all who collaborated on this album, there are too many too mention, but you can read about them in the little insert, where AlphaMama gives thanks.

My only criticism is, Alphamama should stick to singing and the spoken word, no rapping. Her voice is too beautiful for all that.  Leave the rapping to the Kween G's of the world.  

Truths, Trips & Revelations is not only unique, and catchy at the same time, it’s easy listening and it gets you grooving!  Thankfully, it still has an underground sound, it is not overly commercial, each song sounds different and it is unlike anything you will hear on the air waves right now. 

TRUTHS, TRIPS & REVELATIONS will be available on Itunes in April or you can go to a JB HI FI store or if you can't wait email info@alphamama.com. Make sure you cop it!

First EP released by Alphamama available now here.

ALPHAMAMA

@ALPHAMAMA_says

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9 Miles to Empty - Brian The Gifted - EP Review

9 Miles to Empty

Upon hearing "9 Miles to Empty" it is immediately apparent that Brian The Gifted takes his lyrics seriously and he writes from the heart. This in itself is admirable.

I will however, review this EP honestly and objectively.

The title "9 Miles to Empty" is pretty creative, I like it, it represents a man on a journey, It's Brian's journey.

Brian is a definite story teller and I am guessing this whole EP is a story about where he was in life at the time he recorded it. The lyrics in each song are real and reflect, real life experiences.

Whilst Brian The Gifted, is a good MC in terms of his ability to rap to the beat, 9 Miles to Empty might have a sounded a little more exciting if he occasionally adjusted the tone in his voice.

The beats in this EP, sound pretty standard, like they were purchased from a website, rather than worked to make a good song. I think Brian can do better by having more input into the production.

TRACK BY TRACK

"My Vision" - This joint is like an interlude, an introduction, he talks about his vision

"Out of Breath" - This beat seems familiar, this reminds me of a Dr Dre track.

"Legendary Swag" - I don't know why this track is called what it is because "Legendary Swag" is not mentioned in the song at all

"9 Miles to Empty" - This being the title track is the best track on this EP. Brian combined the beat with a live instrument, and it has a Rock element to it, this track is good. The only issue is there is no hook and "9 Miles to Empty" is not actually mentioned at all throughout the track.

"Best Thing in My Life" - The beat is smooth in this track, the rap is tight, and it is almost a catchy track. The vocals however, are weak and pitchy at times on this track especially in the harmonies, I think the vocals let him down.

"On Fire" - This song is catchy and the most uptempo on the EP.

"Stress Relief" - Another song with no hook

BRIAN THE GIFTED

OVERALL

Not a bad effort by Brian The Gifted on his first EP. I think with future records he needs to lift the mood, and add some upbeat tracks in the mix.

He's a good rapper, he's got flow and he can write, however, it would be great if he can be more creative with the music and production and alter his tone to boost the sound.

An added bonus actual structure to the songs -
VERSE-CHORUS-VERSE-CHORUS-BRIDGE-CHORUS. 

If it is Brian's intention to produce "Non-raunchy music that doesn't degrade women with minimal profanity and with lyrics that average people can relate to, not just the rich. Most importantly - real music that reflects , real situations and experiences. Not just random ego music". Then he delivered with this EP.

It seems as though this EP was created because Brian The Gifted need to get some things off his chest, he put it all on paper and added music.

I guess that is all were it begins.

9 MILES TO EMPTY is available now. Click the link.

BRIAN THE GIFTED

@BrianTheGifted

LOVERS LANE THE MIXTAPE REVIEW

LOVERS LANE THE MIXTAPE REVIEW

LOVERS LANE THE MIX TAPE

This is my very first review of a mixtape and I am excited to be reviewing this mixtape for some very talented individuals.

Lovers Lane is a very cool name for a mixtape, I'm a fan, because I am all about spreading the love.  In this case the word "LOVE" is appropriate as most of the tracks talk about it in some way.

From the get go Lovers Lane gets you in the mood with "Hey Baby" and "Music".

The message "Life Loving Music" on this mixtape is a good one and resonates throughout the mix.

The mixtape has an R & B, Soul and old Hip Hop feel to it, and all the featured artists are reputable and can actually sing and rap. It's good music, it's not too heavy and it's mixed well.

World Famous Nate Wade

THE HOST
"I spend my life loving music"

World Famous Nate Wade did a great job getting this together, it would have been a challenge considering the artists are situated all over the world.

Nate is a talent to watch out for in 2012, not only is he a good rapper, he's got the look and has continued to master his craft.

Nate's flow is very similar to one great rapper from back in the day who goes by the name of MA$E, although, over the years I have heard him develop his own style and sound.

He is an artist who has a natural ability to put words together and deliver them effortlessly. It's a gift.

His appearances in various tracks in Lovers Lane demonstrate his vocal diversity. It's good for an artist to have a distinct sound, but it's even better if they can change the tone in their voice to augment the track.

Nate has and does both, especially in "Having my Baby". Props to him.

My only qualm is he may be seen as over doing the hype on this mixtape.  It is not necessary to voice the name and message of the mixtape over every part of every song.

Other than that. Well done Nate - great effort.

MK1-John Khilla

THE MIX MASTER
"Hip Hop would be nonexistent if it wasn't for the Zulu Nation"

MK-1 AKA John Khilla would have to be one of the most underrated DJ's in Sydney.

Creatively MK-1 is a stand out in terms of his mixing ability, knowledge on the music and his dedication to HIP HOP as an overall culture.

MK-1 is heavily involved in many aspects of the urban music scene in Sydney He has a radio show (Sounds of Zulu Nation 88.0 Bondi FM), he films and edits videos of most of the R & B & HIP HOP tours and events, he is a really good DJ AND he is a teacher.

So, I recently got a brief history lesson on HIP HOP and where it began from Mr Khilla. MK-1 is the Sydney Chapter Leader of the Universale Zulu Nation. If you want to learn about HIP HOP click this link and follow MK-1, he knows his stuff.

In Lovers Lane he did as expected with the mix, he mixed it well and the order in which the tracks were placed worked. My only criticism, was the excessive noise from the Vuvuzuela. Given the overall sound of this mixtape, perhaps the trumpet would have been better.

The addition of "Siri" was innovative and very now.

Good work MK-1.

MIXTAPE STAND OUTS:

Flow:
Chase "Billboard" Baker - Definitely the stand out flow on Lovers Lane. Very smooth, very cool, a flow which takes you back to the days when HIP HOP was smooth and worked well to enhance a good R & B track. Chase Baker is all the way in the beat on his track.

D'Lo Price - Mcing comes easy to this boy, you can hear it, and he delivers in "Bea".

Mirrah - Repping the ladies, this fine example is one very talented and creative individual. You can hear the experience in her music and flow.

Bambino - It's good to hear a brother with old school flow on this mixtape, Bam keeps it real in every track he features in and is consistent.

Vocals: 
Lee Sissing - This girl can sing! Her voice is sultry and sexy and you can tell singing is no effort to this sister.

Bsyde - It's really great to hear from Mr Bsyde again, I would have liked to have heard more, but his Vin Diesel sounding gruff tone still comes through. Well I hear it, it excites me.

Mirrah - Displaying her many talents on the mixtape, rap star Mirrah, shows off her vocal ability with ease and brings through the spoken word thang, which I love.

Chenelle - I forgot how good Chenelle is vocally. It's good to hear a good female vocalist on this mixtape.

Joints:
"No Matter" - Mirrah has hit the mark with the lyrics in this record and sends a good message, it's a great tune.

"Bac2luv" - This song by Mike Champion is very smooth in true Champion style, his silky vocal makes you feel the love in this track. This song is a great example of real R & B.  The only issue is this song should have been mastered before it was added to this mixtape, we need to hear you Mike Champion.

"24/7" - I am loving this, because it is simply soulful, this is a heartfelt neo-soul song right here.

"Crazy" - J Black & Bliss delivered on the SOUL & HIP HOP tip with this number, it has an old school sound.

"Talking to You" - It's good to hear a track from Israel Cruz that is not completely AUTO TUNED, whilst it is present, it's not over done. I am rating this joint because it sounds different to everything we are hearing right now and it proves that Israel is an artist who can diversify.

"I Deserve You" - This track is the stand out joint on this mixtape, not only because it is perfectly mixed and mastered, but it is a great joint which is catchy, but not overly commercial at the same time. This track takes you back and on a journey to Brooklyn, NYC . Chase Baker has talent. I'm feeling this one!

Not so good:
"If you were mine" - This track is not too smoothly mixed, it uses an old beat and the vocals are a little off key.

"Jezebel" - This track has a fat beat and the raps are fine, but it's SADE, man, let SADE be. Remix please. That's all I'm going to say about that.

"Ways to turn you on" - I can't listen to this song.

Overall:
The Lovers Lane mixtape by World Famous Nate Wade and MK-1 gets a thumbs up. It features some impressive signed and unsigned artists. Whilst the mastering could have been a little better to bring it all on the same level, most of the tracks chosen are decent, it's good quality music.

I have listened to Lovers Lane over and over again, and find myself singing some of the tunes, I guess that's what a mixtape is all about at the end of the day, blending music to expose quality and perhaps un-recognised artists who produce good music. This mixtape does it all and more.

Check it out for yourself, I recommend you do.

Thank you for reading this mixtape review.

LOVERS LANE THE MIX TAPE