"For whatever reason, this seems to be the Cypress album that everyone is negative about. Not really sure why, b/c everybody loved skull and bones, which had the rock and rap thing going on as well. With stoned raiders, you get a good deal of both styles; the new metal stuff (trouble) as well as the hardcore rap (southland killers). B Real and Sen sound as tight as ever and of course Muggs is always on point. People seem to hate b/c Cypress is trying out some newer styles. Truth is, these guys couldn't make a bad record if they wanted to...
"
Stoned Raiders Is THE Definitive Cypress Hill
Bill | CA | 12/05/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Man...what to say. I just got done with my third listen, and I am still in disbelief. This is such a masterful accomplishment on so many levels. Cypress Hill has not only outdone itself, but literally has set itself to be the album for all others to be judged upon. You think I'm full of it, or just a fanboy, listen to this album, and you tell me me I'm wrong. Now, when I say on so many levels, I mean this. On a lyrical level, B is being so real, honest , and retrospective. Track 3, where he's taking a look back at his last 10 years, is so f'n interesting on its own. Thats just an example. This whole album is Cypress coming full circle, literally taking from the past (This is something you can't understand retrospective, which is the last track), literally takes the past and fuses with state of art hooks and beats. Speaking now of the music. I would never use this word normally, but its beautiful. Skulls and Bones last year started the whole Hip Hop meets Rock for the Hill. But this album so seemlessly blends the two. Its just great music on its own. There is no filler tracks on Stoned Raiders. In fact, this album is so meant to be heard from start to finish. I would even go so far as to say that this is one of the best concept albums of all time.
I have always been a Cypress Hill fan, and I am so digging this album its scary. I really can't express to you people enough how great this album is. Muggs has so perfected the game. What once Dre held, Muggs has eclipsed. It is so rare that a group from way back can so outdo any of these newbies. Cypress has set the stage. Get this album now!"
Different sound, same Cypress Hill
Jennifer P. Rose | Atlanta, GA USA | 04/15/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This cd everybody is ragging on. Everyone wants TOB or Black Sunday, so then just go listen to that cd. They are expirementing with new styles and integrating sounds which for the most part is done very well. Of course it's not like their old stuff, because that would just be lame redoing old beats and lyrics. All and all, this really is a good cd for any CYPRESS HILL fan, not just a TOB fan."
Best cypress album yet
Jennifer P. Rose | 04/11/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Cypress Hill dropped their first record over 10 years ago, and the year is now 2002 and they are still making tight music. Stone Raiders is the best Hill record of them all; they have developed such a dope style over the years, and this is so apparent in the songs on this cd. CH has always been about the hardcore style, and they have added the rock element to the mix in recent years. However, the production is still hip hop as is B Real's flow, and that to me is keeping it real but adding another phat element to the package. These guys just can't make a bad song.The whole album flows from one track to the next...not something you can say about many groups out there. Usually 2 good songs and ther rest of the disc is garbage. Not so with Cypress Hill.I love Southland Killers as well as the song with Red and Meth. Yo, go get this..."
Looks like the old stoner days are gone.
Jennifer P. Rose | 01/23/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I'm fully aware that bands need to grow as musicians, but this is getting pretty bad. After "skull and bones" I was worried about what this album would sound like. The metal sound of cypress hill was good when it was a novelty and was rarely heard, but putting it all over an album is getting tired. I listen to metal and hardcore (not limp bizkit, or linkin park, but real metal like slayer, chimaira, VOD) as well as rap to a great extent, so a song like "trouble" is cringe worthy to me to say the least. However, that's not the problem with this album, the problem is that although cypress maintains the trippy stoner image, the music doesn't. "Temple of boom" and "IV", were the perfect blend of good rap and "chillin" stoner beats, but on Stoned Raiders and Skull and Bones, Cypress has opted for more commercial west coast rythems, which is fine because i enjoy lots of rap, but the persona cypress once had is fading. "Bitter" is as close as you'll get folks. Regardless, the album is still quality and will please rap fans no doubt and even fake metal fans. If you like the old school sound, you wont be too impressed but if your open in musical tastes, then by all means, give it a go."
