The What 4

2008 LP Say It Straight

Reviewed by Dobbie Glasson

24 July 2008

Experimental rock band The What 4 has delivered their debut full-length album Say It Straight. With such diverse sounds on the one release, it's no wonder they have been busy playing and getting some air time on Three D Radio. The What 4 are Jo Herbert on guitar and vocals, Frank Usmiani on bass, Wil Martin on drums and Paul Handley on synthesizers. Say It Straight is full of mind blowing sounds and effects, coming together nicely to produce a very stable record.

Rolling bass starts 'Science Fiction' which kicks the album into gear, and already it's into blazing synth and a guitar lick that tops this song off nicely. In 'Highbrow' the build up is worth the wait for the swelling, throbbing heart of the song. It's here you get the first taste of Herbert's womanly vocals and they are matured and somewhat sultry.

'D Construct' and 'Robotic Chaotic' give off a huge wall of sound; a surreal canvas of music filled wi

It’s not rare that when an artist of a group or collective attempts to release a solo effort it usually ends up being something you find sticking out from under the lid of a recycling bin. Although “recycling” may be the right word to use, Layzie Bone’s Thugz Nation does have a good chunk to offer hardcore Bone Thugs fans, especially Layzie fans. Though the style is the same, it somehow doesn’t seem to get old. For more of this review please check out: http://www.planeturban.com.au/album_reviews/album_layzie_bone_thugz_nation

Acceptance, followed by the resulting loyalty, is not easy to come by in the field of being a recording artist these days. Rejecting the notion of jumping on board with whatever sound is hot, blue collar rapper Tyrone clearly prefers to grind hard, drawing inspiration from his musical heroes while also digging down into his own personality and life experiences to deliver Heavy Labor, No Breaks. For More of this review please check out: http://www.planeturban.com.au/album_reviews/album_tyrone_heavy_labor_no_breaks

One thing most Hip Hop reviewers probably never get sick of is writing Bone Thugs reviews, and if there comes a point when they do, then they should perhaps just stick to writing reviews on gimmick-reliant pedestrian rappers, because the review game doesn’t want them. That is why I take great pleasure in writing on Still Creepin’ On Ah Come Up, their fifteen-year-awaited somewhat sequel to their classic Creepin’ On Ah Come Up. Well, they done came up, so no need for creepin’, but the ‘still’ part they hold very well. For more of this review please check out: http://www.planeturban.com.au/album_reviews/album_bone_thugs_n_harmony_still_creepin_on_ah_come_up

Not many producers manage to hold their own as lyricists, and if they do, it only seems to be for one or two tracks. Take the example of Pharrell Williams – possibly the only good verse he’s ever dropped was on Drop It Like It’s Hot…which he himself produced so it pretty much goes without saying, most producers should stay away from the mic.For the rest of this review check out: http://www.planeturban.com.au/album_reviews/album_jr_writer_writers_block_5

Video codes to display this video on your website!

http://www.livevideo.com