If volume one wasn't good enough...
Tibi Neagu | Bucharest, Romania | 01/05/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When CunninLynguists released "Strange Journey, vol 1", I felt they had succeeded in obtaining their most complex sound yet, combining all the sounds they had previously dealt with on "Southernunderground", "A Piece of Strange" and "Dirty Acres". All the right ingredients were there, including the extremely funny skits that also spiced "Will Rap For Food". Now close your eyes, and imagine something just as good or even better, but in a completely new register.
I just finished my first listen of "Strange Journey, vol 2", and I am just infused with a new energy that the 'Lynguists seem to be emanating on this album. Everything sounds completely new, yet completely familiar, and for a first listen, it was an extremely pleasant shock.
Billy Joe is brought back in the intro, as we embark on the sequel to the Strange Journey. Immediately, the rough, almost 'gangsta' beat of "Imperial" gets you well under way and into the right mood to properly experience the rest of the album.
Another key moment is the fast paced "Heart", sounding almost like marching song, enlightened by Kno's well placed samples musically enhancing the verses and providing a memorable hook.
Immediately after this, we change the pace with "To Be For Real", an excellent slower track, reminiscent of beloved tracks on "Southernunderground" and continued in the same tone by mellow tracks like "Still With Me" and "Close Your Eyes", featuring the well known high pitched vocal samples trademark of Kno.
What breaks this apparent calm is the one track on the album which no one would bet that it's a CL track based on the first 30 seconds. "Cocaine" is a very energetic and well put together piece, that showcases the Cunninlynguists' versatility and powerful lyrics. In fact, it is one of the tracks that may impact you quite strongly.
The follow-up is another powerful track, "Running Wild", in a sound that you might think you've heard in the starting tracks of "Sloppy Seconds, vol. 1" (and you would be right).
Great remixes and live versions of classic tracks, with appearances by QN5 all-stars Extended Famm and Substantial, Cashmere the Pro and of course, Club Dub, make this an invaluable addition to you CunninLynguists collection, or the ideal first-buy to get you started on the underground phenomenon that these guys represent.
To keep the symmetry with its sibling, volume two ends with an outro that will leave you wanting for more of the same. Or more of the new. With Kno, you never really kno!"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1