Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Relaxed, deep, a great thoughtful album., 19 Sep 2003
This is the album most Common fans, and fans of hip-hop in general, remember him for, and thats the way it should stay. This is an excellent display of lyrical mastery, uplifting choruses and great guest appearances.As is often the case with Common, jazzy beats and samples are used a lot, with 'Coldblooded' being a good example. 'The Light' and 'The 6th Sense' are the tracks you will have heard and these are brilliant. Other standout tracks are 'Funky For You', featuring an excellent chorus sung by Jill Scott, 'Thelonius' and 'A Song for Assata'. But, the best track on this album is easily track 7, 'The Questions'. The beat is flowing with a beautiful jazz feel that I will never tire of, and the lyrics are both thought-evoking and humourous. Overall, I would recommend this album for any true fan of hip-hop, and urge them to check his other work, which is also great. Its an easy decision to give this 5 stars.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A funky, spiritual, sublimely produced hip hop masterpiece, 10 May 2000
By A Customer
Common (formerly Common Sense) has been around for some time now, having brought out a number of original, if slightly flawed albums that showed his immense lyrical skills and his unique ability to create soulful hip hop and still maintain a hard edge. He is among that small band of emcees out there including Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Black Thought that are trying to push hip hop forward and save it from the sample-heavy, immature, 'cash-money', 'bling bling' rap that floods the mainstream today.'Like water for chocolate' is the first true classic album of this century. This is the first album from Common that doesn't drop off at any point. Every track is a blend of intelligent, conscious lyrics with tight and incredibly funky beats. This album features some of the best producers in the business so it is not surprising that sonically, it is possibly the most accomplished album you'll ever hear. The producers include ?uestlove of The Roots, Jay Dee and the unstoppable DJ Premier of Gangstarr. It is Primo's joint 'The 6th Sense' that is the immediate stand out track and unsurprisingly it was the first single. It is straight hip hop. My favourite track is 'The Light' in which Common raps about love in his unrivalled voice with great feeling. This album is full of clever lyrical twists and it is this that will keep 'Like Water For Chocolate' fresh long after you would have got bored of any other album. Other great tracks include 'Doin it' where Common has a disguised attack at the likes of Puffy. 'Geto Heaven' too, featuring the immensely talented D'Angelo is a classic. Common shows his social awareness, often lacking in most of hip hop today, on 'A song for Assata', dedicated to a political prisoner. Simply put, anyone remotely into hip hop or anyone interested in just good music MUST obtain this album. It would not be overstating it to say that this is one of the best albums of the last ten years. Support a rare talent and buy 'Like Water For Choclate' and Reflection Eternal's LP later in the year and fill the pockets of someone other than the likes of Jay-Z, DMX etc. This is real hip hop.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ace, intelligent, articulate hip hop., 3 Feb 2001
The man formerly known as Common Sense continues to assert his position as hip hop's most intelligent, articulate and humanitarian voice with his fourth album, named after the segregation era practice of providing separate drinking fountains for 'whites' and 'coloureds'. Common's vocal and lyrical dexterity and insight are still perhaps the most astonishing things about his music, but his increasingly funky, complex and tuneful backing is catching up fast. His choice of collaborators and co-producers, as ever, is first-rate, with D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Femi Kuti, The Roots and Mos Def all bringing something to the party, amongst others. 'Heat' is insistent and refreshingly honest, 'The Light' gorgeous and heart-felt, 'Time Travellin' (A Tribute To Fela)' is funky and touched with wonderful, live, jazz-inflected brass, while 'The 6th Sense' is blissful, positive and intelligent. There's little of the self-aggrandisement that so much hip hop trades on here, Common instead choosing to deal with humanity and self-improvement. That's not to say that he's without humour though, as 'A Film Called (Pimp)' cleverly pokes fun at his own reputation whilst firmly putting misogynists in their right place. A resoundingly good album from a resoundingly good guy.
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