W

	WAR - The Best of War and More - 49:56 - 1987
	Forget about the "and More", and you've got one of the all time greats. I have always liked WAR since I was just a wee lad. There's about 20 people in WAR and that brings a full, rich multi-cultural sound that's truly a joy to listen to. For those in the dark, these are the "Low Rider" guys. Chances are, you've also heard 98% of the other hits on this also, but you've not heard them much this side of the 70's. WAR makes you want to hug a tree, celebrate being alive, and just sit and watch the world go round. But don't get me wrong, this ain't no hippy shit. War's "Slippin' Into Darkness" was the inspiration for Bob Marley's "Get Up Stand Up".

	White Zombie - Let Them Die Slowly - 39:54 - 1989
	Kill me now, this sucks. Someone was trying desperately to capitalize on White Zombies success by re-releasing this hunk of junk. This first full length album barely gives you a hint of what Zombie's about, and should have remained in it's grave. The production, which was actually done by Bill Lasswell, sucks. All of it sounds the same and really flat like the mics are in buckets; kind of like Hell-o by GWAR. It is a full 180 from La Sexorcisto's full digital assault. So, do yourself a favor and don't pad the pockets of whoever released this thing.

	White Zombie - La Sexorcisto...Devil Music Vol 1. - 57:41 - 1992
	I think when you are growing up, you have an idea of the image you're looking to project. Every atom that encompass White Zombie was my ideal in those later teen years. The strange thing is, it took Beavis & Butthead to kick this album into the public forum after having been out two years already. (side note: I really miss the Headbanger's Ball. That's where I first saw the video for "Black Sunshine" before they even had a tag saying who it was) But boy did it hit with a vengeance when the trailer dwellers discovered it. It's a great album, and they deserve all the belated success. Oh yeah, it's recorded in full DDDigital!

	White Zombie - Astro-Creep:2000 - 52:06 - 1995
	I had a hard time getting into this one, although it really wasn't through any fault of it's own. It's just one of those things that happens sometimes. What did the trick, for some reason, was when I saw them live. Again, yet another circumstantial anomaly, because I had seen them several times before, and wasn't too impressed. But there was something about this show that was different. Maybe it was that, for the first time they had buckets of cash to put into it, but I don't think that was it. The sound was bigger than life, and had more power. So, after having seen that particular show, I came to hear this CD in a different and more improved way. Cool samples from COPS, and Cafe Flesh!

	The Who - Who's Better, Who's Best - 65:04 - 1988
	The Who is the definitive rock band, and in some ways borderline punk. This is what greatest hits CDs should be like: more or less chronological order, more than 8 songs, and no shitty new stuff for filler. You get a nice progression from snotty, rebellious anthems, to a more sophisticated, mature ballads that still have the edge. Doing most of the work behind these songs, Pete Townsend is something of a phenomenon, he's provided us with some really provoticave lyrics at a time when it just wasn't done like that. Also, his style makes you want to be rude to people, and strike some of his trademark poses. Keith Moon's drumming is as reckless and wild as was his own life.

	Wings - Wings Greatest - 54:24 - 1978
	This collection gathers hits spanning from 71 to 78, and includes "Live and Let Die", "Uncle Albert", among others. This is good quality soft rock pop material (if such a thing exists). It's often drippy, almost bubble gummy, but it's still a Beatle (read deity). I used to like a lot of these songs when I was little and I remember always seeing the cover at my uncles house, so part of the appeal for me is a kind of nostalgia. This CD has a placid, mellow sound that's somewhat hypnotic, and is kind of like floating in space with marshmallows hitting you.

	Shirley Witherspoon - Magic & Love - 51:51 - 1999
	Occasionally, when you hold a position of such great power and magnitude (such as myself), people will often present you with tributaries so that they too may capture a mere iota of the magic that you shed at any given moment, like so many flakes of dandruff. Ok, what I mean to say is that sometimes I get free CDs to review that I don't like. However, unlike most reviewers, I don't feel justified in just slamming a CD that isn't really something I would normally be into in the first place, so as a result I usually end up writing some moderately incoherent review like this one. Then again, I can only write from one perspective, and that's mine, so here goes. Basically what you have here yet another lounge jazz singer singing songs that have long since been beat to death. The quality of sound is very good, if that counts for anything.

	Jah Wobble - xx - 00:00 - 1900
	Some people design their CD covers NOT to ever sell a copy, and here's an excellent example.

	Stevie Wonder - Talking Book - 43:29 - 1972
	Stevie's the man, and this is an exceptionally smooth, rich, mellow, funky, cool, soulful, jammin, well crafted disc. If you didn't already know, Stevie writes and usually plays ALL his songs! That in and of itself is almost inconceivable, but he is also a pioneer of electronics and, along with groups like ELP, pushed the envelope of the Moog synthesizer. Some of this can be heard in one of the coolest songs of all time, "Superstition". Jeff Beck plays on one track and so too Ray Parker Jr. (who ya gonna call?)

	Stevie Wonder - Innervisions - 44:10 - 1973
	I could sing the praises of Stevie all day long, or until I fill up this inch and a quarter deep box, which ever comes first. I don't think any other single artist can match Stevie's talent: he exist on entirely different plane than the rest of us. It's hard to say, but overall, I think this is my favorite disc by him. It's got it all, social commentary, funk, soul, love, .... (sometimes words don't do justice) ...it's more than all that, it's a vibe, a connection you feel. He also has a great voice, which I tend to think is something that has been lost in music since the 70's. Lyrically and musically superior, check Stevie out!

	Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale - 42:38 - 1974
	This is generally one very laid back and emotional CD, and I wouldn't recommend it to first time Stevie buyers, but once you get hooked on the great one, you will definetly want to come back and check it out. Songs like "Boogie on Reggae Woman", and a pair of break up songs; "It Ain't No Use" and "Please Don't Go", pick up the pace a bit, whereas "They Won't Go When I Go", and "Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" slow you down and make you soul search. But the piece de resestance is "You Haven't Done Nothin'". Stevie creates another funked out masterpiece that's sonically similar to "Superstition". (say that 9 times fast)

	Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life 1&2 - 107:05 - 1976
	I think this was Stevie's most commercially successful album. At least it yielded a lot of memorable hits. SitKoL was an epic 2 year undertaking that chronicles each step of life as we know it. There's a full range of great material, and just to prove that genius is not infallible, there's a really fruity song about Saturn (I can't believe it hasn't been sucked up by an ad agency). Songs like "Village Ghetto Land" and "Pastime Paradise", kick rip off artist like Coolio in the ass with true soul felt passion that stir your emotions. Only a couple of rockers on this one: the homage to music itself "Sir Duke", and power ballad (of sorts) "As". Of course there's his usual crop of socially uplifting tracks, and lots of love songs, and at least one song will touch your soul gauranteed. Herbie Hancock plays on a track.

	Stevie Wonder - The Secret Life of Plants - 107:05 - 1979
	This largely unknown 2 CD set is mostly from the movie of the same name, and is one of my favorite works by Mr. Morris. What SitKoL was for people SLoP is for our little leafy brothers. Many of the tracks are instrumentals, which are synthed out to the max with lush, enchanting, and sometimes spiritual soundscapes. The original cover was both embossed and had braille, which I thought was cool, and was recorded in digital in 79 (read: Stevie's a bad ass). It's a little hard to find, but well worth it.

	Wrecks-N-Effect - Wrecks-N-Effect - 45:08 - 1989
	Wrecks-N-Effect first showed up on the radar with their minor hit "New Jack Swing," the later would reappear with "Rumpshaker." I can basically lump this CD in with about 50 other mid to late 80's rap albums I have. Due to the low overhead, easy acceptance, and high profitability, Rap contracts were handed out like religious tracts at the airport. Each song on this CD is basically an attempt to "bite" someone else's style, (even Biz Markie) and hope one of them might stick. The only thing they don't try is taking the gangsta route, but it was still pretty early in the game at that point. There are 3 half way descent songs, the rest is just fluff.

CDjunkie.com

<_W_>_Home_Index_