Hollywood Undead American Tragedy Review (A Different View)

Artist: Hollywood Undead
Album: American Tragedy
Track by Track Review by Ryan

Track 1: Been To Hell
Decent vocals from Danny (and I won't being saying that to often), J3Ts 'rapping' is cringe worthy, both delivery and lyric wise. Charlie easily had the best verse. Production/Instrumental was actually pretty nice. All together slightly above average, lyric wise on a technical side (flow, rhymes, ect.) are better than most of Swan Songs (some nice multis from Charlie) although substance is lacking.

Track 2: Apologize
At opening I do not like the production/instrumental and Danny is very annoying here. First verse is sad and its obvious that the rapping is stitched together every couple bars. Another nice Charlie verse, one of his best flows and technical lyrics I've heard from Hollywood Undead, Johnny and Danny ruin this song for me however.

Track 3: Comin In Hot
Party track, not a bad hook from Danny & Funnyman. First verse is so stitched together it really sounds bad and the puns and punchlines are horrible..."Drinking so much goose we turn to geese" Wow Recovery had better punchlines than that...and Recovery, "Im nuts...call me the ballsack." The Beastie Boys pass the mic style verse here almost works for them, but the lines didn't flow together well enough. Production/instrumental here is disappointing, a more rock infused beat would've probably sounded sick on this track.

Track 4: My Town
Right of the bat, Danny annoying, first verse is cringe-worthy. Production/instrumental is extremely average. Hook makes it sound like a very poppy version of Young Jeezy's "Put On". Charlie's verse was average. Not much really to say here.

Track 5: I Don't Wanna Die
Danny sounds whiny, but it works here. Hook is annoying and long. First verse is way above average of a HU track, lyrics and content wise. Second verse is content lacking and flow is almost non-existent, there almost sounded like their could be some emotion, but he cut it off and made the verse sound like it ended before it was supposed to. Bridge is cheesy. This also sounds like a diss to Deuce. Instrumental/Production is nice for a hip-hop beat, I would actually like to have this one.

Track 6: Hear Me Now
Lead single of the album. First verse would've been pretty good, if it wasn't for the obvious stitching together. This whole track comes of as a Deuce diss. Danny is annoying here and the hook sounds like it was written in about 5 minutes. J3T's verse had potential, but it sounds like he has zero emotion in it, although it is probably the best flow I've heard from him.

Track 7: Gangsta Sexy
Laughed when I first saw this on the track list honestly, an all white, Rock/Rap group with a track titled Gangsta Sexy. The minimal Danny on the hook is a plus and Charlie has some nice multis and flow in his verse. Hearing Danny calling himself a gangsta is really laughable. Funny man had a pretty nice verse, albeit short. Rapping wise on the technical side, most consistent (in a good way) track yet. Instrumental/Production is average.

Track 8: Glory
Strong (presence wise) opening verse. Strong production/instrumental. Hook lyrics are weak, but the vocals from Danny aren't to bad here. The rapping has quite a bit of obvious stitching, but J3T sounds pretty good on this kind of beat. Danny sounds whiny in the bridge.

Track 9: Lights Out
Deuce diss track if I've ever seen one. Production/Instrumental is weak. Hook is pretty good, including Danny's vocals. First verse is average, technically decent with alright similes. Charlie's verse is impressive, given he sounds like a little kid with lyrics like "Imma cut you up". Having Danny on the bridge and chorus must be like a big middle finger to Deuce, although Deuce's diss tracks were miles better.

Track 10: Coming Back Down
Here's where you hear the Danny that's a "Fucking americal idol reject, that fucking faggot" (Truth in When We Ride) the hook sounds emotional, but weak. Charlie's verse sounds emotionless, although the lyrics are good, same with J3T's verse. Average production/instrumental. Quite brave of HU to release a song like this, considering their fan base.

Track 11: Bullet
First thought, WTF. Reminds me of when Nelly experimented in country...or the Snoop Dogg/Willie Nelson collaboration. First verse is good. Hook sounds way to happy to match the lyrics "Slit my wrist again...put a bullet in my head" Second verse doesn't work with the beat at all. Production/Instrumental seems way to poppy/country for HU, it really just doesn't work. And WTF with the kid(s) at the end, random and annoying.

Track 12: Levitate
Strong opening, whole first verse was probably the best so far on the album. Hook as well other than the le-le-levitate. Other than the stitching together J3T's verse is not bad either. Production/Instrumental, although repetitive and simple is actually quite good. Wouldn't mind having this one as well. Probably second best track on album to me so far.

Track 13: Pour Me
First song on this album that sounds like it has real emotion in it. Danny's voice is annoying here, but the rapping sounds perfect on the beat, which is very good and fitting here. Best J3T verses I've heard. I don't even mind the soft-ness of the track. Danny's bridge is annoying however. Definitely one of the best tracks on the album, actually has substance, good lyrics, although I wouldn't mind a Charlie Scene verse one here.

Track 14: Tendencies
I like the opening, sounds like older Linkin Park sound. Johnny is annoying here. Danny is average here. Second verse is slightly above average, if it wasn't for the stitching the flow would be really nice. I really like the production/instrumental here. Danny's bridge is alright here.

Track 15: Mother Murder
First verse is good, exceptionally good. Hook is fitting, and not annoying, albeit a bit longer than needed. Charlie's verse has quite a bit of stitching, his lyrics are dope, delivery and technically. Bridge is unneeded here, a guitar solo would've worked here very well.

Track 16: Lump Your Head
Opening sounds like some old cartoon superhero theme music, and that follows into the hook. The production/instrumental keeps the cartoon superhero sounds all the way through. Verses are very average, nothing standout. The whole track sounds like a drunk experiment (wouldn't be surprised if it was honestly) full of bad metaphors like "My name ain't dick so keep it outta your mouth"

Track 17: Le Deux
Danny's opening sounds haunting, a bit of screaming in the background would've sounded good. Funnyman's verse was average. Hook is lacking, and Charlie's verse is lacking because this sounds like his older verses, and now we know he's capable of more at this point. Nothing really stand out in this track. Production/instrumental is annoying.

Track 18: S.C.A.V.A.
Danny sounds really whiny here. First verse sounds good, flow fits the instrumental, the lyrics are good and emotion is shown through the mic presence, although it seems cut short. The start/stop flow doesn't quite work all the way through in the second verse me, the emotion is nice however. The bridge sounds unnecessary.

Track 19: Street Dreams
First verse is very good, lyrically and technically. Hook is average here, but not annoying, so it's listenable. Second verse sounds average and bored, although I like the last 2 bars. Third verse sounds cut short. Decent track, don't really like the instrumental/production however.

All-in-all American Tragedy cannot hold a candle to Swan Songs. Without Deuce being here for their sophomore album you can easily see the influence and impact he had on the band. While they are in no way terrible they sound like they are quickly heading down the Linkin Park route, and if you listen to A Thousand Suns you'll see why that is bad.

Small Rant: WWII Games

Why are there so many of them? Why aren't there any other real life war games besides WWII and modern ones? I used to think that a Civil War game would be really cool, but then I realized that it would raise a SHIT LOAD of controversy. I think this article from cracked.com said it best- "The average gamer has killed more Nazis than the entire Russian army. Where the hell are the World War I games?"

I honestly want to know. I would love a WWI game. Or ANY other war besides something from the future, present, or WWII. I DEMAND SOMETHING ORIGINAL.

New Tab: Video Game of the Week

So I now have my own tab. It's up there ^^^^^^^. Its the one that's obviously titled. I have information about it in the tab itself.

New Tab of the site: Underground Artist Spotlight

If you haven't noticed I've added a new tab to the site titled Underground Artist Spotlight. Exactly as it sounds it is where I will be spotlighting a talented underground/lesser known and usually unsigned artist every couple of weeks including contact information & websites, possible exclusive songs and interviews. This week I am spotlighting Junny Jatz, a talented producer and rapper. You can see the spotlight including 2 exclusive songs and the interview in the Underground Artist Spotlight tab

Quick Reviews (Feat. Hopsin, Lupe Fiasco, Pusha-T, Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg & Travis Barker)

Okay, so I've been slacking on album/mixtape reviews so here's some of the major releases in the last couple weeks/months

Hopsin: Raw
(Highly Recommended)


Hopsin is an amazing artist, and this ablum exemplifies that. Different style tracks show off how versatile he is and the minimum features allows him to shine.

• Favorite Tracks: Sag My Pants, I Am Raw, Nocturnal Rainbows, Heather Nicole & I'm Not Crazy (Feat. Cryptic Wisdom & SwizZz)
• Cons: SwizZz's voice can get annoying, but his features are spaced out so it's bearable, plus his lyrics are pretty dope as well.

Lupe Fiasco: Lasers
(Highly Recommended)


Lupe Fiasco is another amazing artist. This album may have been forced just to please his record label, because they were pressuring him to make a "popular record" Lasers still delivers.

• Fav. Tracks: Words I Never Said (Feat. Skylar Grey), Beautiful Lasers (Feat. MDMA), All Black Everything & Shining Down (Feat. Mathew Santos)

• Cons: Many features, doesn't really take away from the record however. Some songs seem rushed, ie. "State Run Radio" & "Out Of My Head"

Pusha-T: Fear Of God
(Recommended)


Pusha-T, recent signee to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music record label, and member of group Clipse. Pusha-T is talented lyrically, although theme-wise can be repetitive. Instrumental/Beats are impressive for the mixtape. All in all a solid mixtape, plus it's free.

• Fav. Tracks: My God, Open Your Eyes, Raid (Feat. 50 Cent & Pharell Williams) & Touch It (Feat. Kanye West)

• Cons: Repetitive themes, no real "standout" tracks, short mixtape

Britney Spears: Femme Fatale
(Your Call)

Ah, what can be said for Britney Spear's 2011 release, Femme Fatale? There is a bit of experimentation instrumental wise, other than that, it's just another Britney Album.

• Fav. Tracks: Hold It Against Me, Drop Dead Beautiful (Feat. Sabi), Seal It With a Kiss & He About To Lose Me

• Cons: VERY Repetitive other than "He About To Lose Me". Vocals are processed heavily. Lack of features here make the album just run together (no other real stand out tracks).

Snoop Dogg: Doggumentary
(Depends on your taste)

Snoop Dogg, he's kept his signature chilled out flow without much change or evolution, which can also be said about his topics he's comfortable rapping about. There are some oddball standout tracks such as the Willie Nelson & Gorillaz collaborations.

• Fav. Tracks: My Fucn House (Feat. Young Jeezy & E-40), I Don't Need No Bitch (Feat. Devin The Dude & Kobe Honeycutt), Boom (Feat. T-Pain), Superman (Feat. Willie Nelson) & Eyez Closed (Feat. John Legend & Kanye West)

• Cons: Pretty average Snoop Dogg record, no songs are huge and classic but none are really disappointing either (other than Wet).

Travis Barker: Give A Drummer Some
(Highly Recommended)

Travis Barker, drummer for Blink-182, Sum 44 & The Transplants. He decided to take his hand at a mostly hip-hop record, both executive producing and drumming for the record. Hip-Hop and rock songs, as well as cross-over tracks can be found in this album.

• Fav. Tracks: If You Want To (Feat. Pharell & Lupe Fiasco), Knockin (Feat. Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, E-40 & Dev), Devils Got A Hold Of Me (Feat. Slaughterhouse), Let's Go (Feat. Busta Rhymes, Twista, Yelawolf & Lil Jon), Raw Shit (Feat. Tech N9ne & Bun B), Just Chill (Feat. Beanie Sigel, Bun B & Kobe), On My Own (Feat. Corey Taylor), City Of Dreams (Feat. Clipse & Kobe) & Misfits (Feat. Steve Aoki)

• Cons: None really, for what the album is I'm content with it and think it's a success

American Tragedy Review

So I'm pretty sure you know about how Deuce was kicked out of HU, and was replaced with Danny. This is Hollywood Undead's new album. I got the deluxe version. Instead of reviewing the Album as a whole, I'm going to review each individual song. I'm going to say now though, you have to get used to not hearing Deuce. The first few songs I listened to I didn't really like because I was so used to hearing Deuce. After your psyche realizes that you won't hear Deuce in these songs, they're all pretty good.

Been to Hell

This one I really like. It utilizes Danny's yelling, which is what was used in Hear Me Now. I'm going to classify songs into three categories: party songs (ex: Everywhere I Go), and serious songs (ex: Young) and angry songs (ex: Sell Your Soul). This is an angry song.

Apologize

Party song. I don't like it as much as Been to Hell, but it's ok.

Comin' In Hot

Party song. I like this one. It has a feat., but it doesn't say who. I think it may have been Nate Dogg before he died (R.I.P.). One complaint about this song is the chorus.

I'm gonna chase this whiskey with Patron

I wanna girl in my lap with a Jagerbomb
I'm comin' in hot, ya heard me
And Ima make it rain on the girl who serves me

I drink a fifth of vodka til it's gone
And if it feels so good then it can't be wrong
I'm comin' in hot, ya heard me
We keep takin' shots, and if not, you nerdy

A complaint I have is that where it says "girl" the second time, it should say "bitch". Just sayin.

Also, I learned that it wasn't Nate Dogg... It was Funnyman... But if you listen to it, it sounds like Nate Dogg... Maybe... I'm seeing mixed sources.

My Town

I think this may be the anthem for the album. It was featured as the choice song for an NHL finals game, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFN48tYIG5Q&feature=player_embedded so yeah. I guess its a serious song.

I Don't Wanna Die

Hm... Not sure what to think about for this one. It's pretty good. I guess it's serious as well.

Gangsta Sexy

Party song. I like it.

Glory

Obvious Deuce diss... maybe... If it's not, then I wonder why they didnt save this until their last album... Serious song.

Lights Out

Deuce diss, as Ryan says. I still like it though, since I'm not really one of those people who try to understand exactly what the lyrics mean. Angry song.

Coming Back Down

This one might be a Deuce diss. Serious, but calm. I like it. It's a twist to their normal stuff. But it also might be an invite to Deuce... It almost sounds like that.

Bullet

Another calm one. Ryan says this is a diss too. It had a feat. from Mac Miller... sort of.

Levitate

Party song. I like it. Catchy.

Pour Me

So freaking sad. I was actually almost depressed after hearing this. ITS SO SAD. Its about J3T and his daughter. Most legit song on the album. A warning: Don't get this song stuck in your head like I did. You'll be miserable.

Tendencies

Angry song. Love it.

Mother Murder

Angry song. It's ok.

Lump Your Head

Love it. Serious, but with a party feel. It has someone at the beginning and I can't find out who it is, I think it's more audio files from old songs, like Comin' in Hot and Bullet.

Le Deux

Party song. I thought it was a Deuce diss at first since the title alone almost says his name, but it's not.

S.C.A.V.A.

Angry song. Love it so freaking much. It mentions J3T's daughter alot.

Sweet Dreams

The last song on the album if you don't count Hear Me Now. Great song. It's about one of two things, either hallucinating, or dreaming. I'm not sure which.

I'm giving it an 8/10. Buy it.

RANT: Stans

Okayokayokay, first off what is a "Stan".

The term stan is mainly used by rap/hip-hop fans to describe people who obsess with a certain artist and this term is derived from Eminem's song "Stan" which is about an obsessed fan who...well the lyrics speak for themselves

"Dear Slim, I wrote but you still ain't callin
I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the bottom
I sent two letters back in autumn, you must not-a got 'em
There probably was a problem at the post office or somethin
Sometimes I scribble addresses too sloppy when I jot 'em
but anyways; fuck it, what's been up? Man how's your daughter?
My girlfriend's pregnant too, I'm bout to be a father
If I have a daughter, guess what I'ma call her?
I'ma name her Bonnie"

I was on a hip-hop forum and ran across a thread titled Drake > Eminem. I like to see others' opinions, even though...I really dislike Drake... Wow that thread was filled with just nothing but Stan posts from both sides, never knew there could be so much obsession in one forum...

On Drake's side everyone kept saying, Em only sold cause he's white...Em only sold cause of Dre...Em only sold cause of shock value...Em is a faggot...

On Eminem's side it was Drake is just a younger Lil Wayne...Drake's a jewish canadian that played on Degrassi...ect.

The only true arguments I would agree with would be Drake doesn't switch up his flow and usually has 1-3 topics he's comfortable rapping/singing about and then Eminem has straight fallen off as of lately. Drake annoys the hell out of me, "It's more than just an option...HEY HEY HEY" "Last name ever, first name greatest" rancid lines...same tone throughout....barely hip-hop to me. Drake is also trying to hard to be gangster and thug...he was born into money, had fame at an early age and took advantage of that, he reads his "freestyles" off his blackberry.

On the other hand, Eminem is past his prime. Since around 8 Mile era Marshall Mathers/Slim Shady has ceased to amaze as he did before. Other than the rare amazing song like "Deja Vu" or "Session One" not one of his newer songs/verses holds a torch up to SSLP/MMLP/TES. BUT Drake's debut album, Thank Me Later, to me was HORRIBLE. It was all over the place, didn't sound like a complete album and blended together, due to his flow and topics being extremely similar.

Well that was my rant, and this isn't just to Drake/Eminem stans...this is to any stan who will claim their favorite artist is a G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) then refuse to back up with any legitimate reasons why.

Poem about the Civil War

So I had to write a poem for English, and we're in the Civil War unit. Here's the poem:

What is war?

War is a chore

War is two sides

Going for one goal

But it never ends

And both sides take a toll

What is a gun?

A gun is something that can be fun.

But in this case, it becomes

Something that turns into trouble

And the people with that burden

Fighting in this war are turning this country to rubble

What is the Union?

The Union is the blue.

The Union fights for freedom

Lincoln they fight for

A man who has great power

And defends the poor

What is the Confederacy?

They are a bit crazy

They fight for slavery

And for their leader,

President Jefferson Davis,

Who is even weirder

Bang