Meiso

Amazon.com
DJs like Krush don't make it easy for MCs to keep rap music primarily a tapestry for vocalists, as it's often perceived. DJ Krush doesn't write lyrics, he doesn't rap, he doesn't even understand English. But this renowned Japanese turntable maestro creates richly detailed and expansive tracks that, vocal or not, ooze hip-hop.

Perhaps to gel with American notions of what constitutes hip-hop, Meiso, his third album, features guest appearances by well-known rappers like C.L. Smooth, Guru, and the Roots on four of the album's fourteen, otherwise instrumental cuts. Though the MCs perform admirably and provide welcome human contact, the raps seem mostly like an afterthought, even a hindrance to the music's ebb and flow. There's never any doubt the star of Meiso is Krush, who imbues his electronic collages with mystical soul. --Roni Sarig

Tracks:

Only The Strong Survive - DJ Krush With C.L. Smooth
Anticipation
What's Behind Darkness?
Meiso - DJ Krush with Black Thought and Malik B.
Bypath 1
Blank
Ground - DJ Krush with Deflon Sallahr
Bypath 2
Most Wanted Man - DJ Krush With Guru And Big Shug
Bypath 3
3rd Eye
Oce 9504
Duality
Bypath-Would You Take It?

Amazon.com

DJs like Krush don't make it easy for MCs to keep rap music primarily a tapestry for vocalists, as it's often perceived. DJ Krush doesn't write lyrics, he doesn't rap, he doesn't even understand English. But this renowned Japanese turntable maestro creates richly detailed and expansive tracks that, vocal or not, ooze hip-hop.

Perhaps to gel with American notions of what constitutes hip-hop, Meiso, his third album, features guest appearances by well-known rappers like C.L. Smooth, Guru, and the Roots on four of the album's fourteen, otherwise instrumental cuts. Though the MCs perform admirably and provide welcome human contact, the raps seem mostly like an afterthought, even a hindrance to the music's ebb and flow. There's never any doubt the star of Meiso is Krush, who imbues his electronic collages with mystical soul. --Roni Sarig

Customer Reviews:

there's a fine line between subtle and dull.......2007-02-16

I hate to rain on this parade, because Krush is a talented dude and I was really excited when I got this album. And it does have a few moments. "Only the Strong Survive" is a chill number. "Duality" with DJ Shadow is amazing, but the amazing part is mostly the second half, which sounds a lot more like Shadow than like Krush.

A lot of the rest of the album is, literally, beats. The paths are literally drumloops for 45 seconds or so, reminiscent of one of those demo records that DJs mine for breaks, samples, and general turntablism madness. Whereas other records by DJs that I have (I'll mention Shadow again) are able to take bits and pieces of samples and craft emotional masterpieces, this one is just soulful grooves with sparse, denuded arrangements. There's just not that much there.

So if you get this record, get it on vinyl, where it may come to more use. There is no point to having this on CD.

Music for Cave Dwellers.......2007-02-03

This album is probably in my top 5 downtempo joints of all-time. It's murky, dusty, and mystical grooves set a very distinct introspective groove. Maybe a TAD repetitive, thus i'll give it 4 stars instead of 5, but certainly a must-own for any downtempo/underground hip-hop head. The title track with Black Thought and Malik B is worth the price of admission by itself. Some of the fiercest, dream-tinged lyrics I've heard from the Roots Crew. Cop this one.

Great stuff, but not quite his best........2007-01-23

This CD is a mix between ambient/music-only tracks and rap/hip-hop - and it all sounds good, or is at least interesting. The beats are good, the lyrics are as well, but it is just lacking something that some of his other CD's have - dare I say this album sounds a bit mainstream and generic (in comparison to his other works).

No matter - compared to the piles of trash released in the music world, this album deserves your listen and is a mandatory part of a Krush collection. If you are more a fan or rap or hip-hop, you will definitely like many of the tracks here, and even if you are not a fan of this sort of music, it is done very well and there is a variety of sounds to enjoy.

Not DJ Krush's best, but compared to whats out there, it is great. I gave it 4 stars because some of his other works are better. Buy without hesitation.

Beautifully subtle.......2006-12-08

DJ Krush is a master of the super downtempo, where all the action takes place in a murky area beneath the beats. The majority of this album is chill beats over quiet instrumental samples. Some of this CD is rap - good bare homegrown-style rap. At first it seems to interrupt the theme, but then you get it and it flows great as an album. You can't listen to half these tracks in the car, because the road will drown out all the good stuff, but that's a small price to pay for great music.
The best tracks to check out are "what's behind darkness?", "most wanted man," "bypath 3" and "duality," which I consider an epic masterpiece. If you like this type of music, also check out DJ Cam's album Mad Blunted Jazz, Coldcut's Back in the Bass, and DJ Vadim's stuff.

Dark vibes and ill rhymes.......2006-06-08

This was my introduction to DJ Krush, DJ Shadow, Mo Wax, intrumental hip-hop and electronica all wrapped up into one. Meiso is a beautifuly dark LP that blurs generes as it paints from beginning to end. The kind of album you listen to late at night with the lights dim... a soundtrack... a soundtrack for the insomniac's soul.

Despite hearing DJ Shadow's work on Blackalicious' Melodica EP, this was the 1st time I heard his work as an instrumentalist. His portion on "Duality" by far outshined Krush and gave me a small taste into what his potential was.

Blessed with guests such as The Roots, Big Shug, Guru and C.L. Smooth, Krush's production wove a tapestry of smokey beats and ill vibes.

This LP is my favorite of Krush's 1st three LPs, which I'd say are his best works to date. This is music for insomniacs, so don't sleep!!!

Average customer rating:

Meiso (Remixes)
DJ Krush
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000J4F8KO

Product Description

Track Listing: Meiso (Original Mix by DJ Krush) (4:04) | Meiso (Klub Mix by DJ Shadow) (4:29) | Meiso (Instrumental Mix by DJ Shadow) (4:29) | Meiso (Vocal Mix by 4 Hero) (4:42) | Meiso (The4 Luscious Mix by 4 Hero) (4:41) | Meiso (Drug Deal Vocal Mix by DJ Crystl) (5:15) | Meiso (Drug Deal Instrumental Mix by DJ Crystl) (5:11). Released 1996.