The New Era flagship store in downtown Toronto hosted listening sessions for the new Wu -Tang Clan album, The 8 Diagrams, as well as the new Ghostface Killah album The Big Doe Rehab.
A listening session is not the best way to get the feel for an album, primarily because you only hear it once amongst a crowd of people and personally speaking I like to take a couple of listens by myself before I review something.
Regardless, the listening session can get the reviewers’ ear acclimated with the general sound and feel of the album and it gets the word out on the street before the release date.
In general, The 8 Diagrams has a dark feel to the first half of the album and overall the album seemed to pick up steam as it progresses.
Track six, “The Heart Gently Weeps” is a variation of George Harrison’s “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and features impressive vocals from Erykah Badu and also features George Harrison’s son Dhani as well as acclaimed guitarist John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers).
From my initial run through, the album seemed very good and featured sounds that borrowed from all previous Wu albums as well as some new ones.
It will have most fans satisfied.
As for Ghost, once again he will have both critics and fans appeased with The Big Doe Rehab.
The album is rugged, outlandish and catchy, a formula Ghost has perfected and there is little doubt this album will be one of this year’s favourites.
Stay in touch with TheCyberKrib.com for full reviews of these albums in the near future.
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