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BookPrices.net - Universal Mind Control
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List Price: $13.98
Our Price: $7.99
Your Save: $ 5.99 ( 43% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0602517836914
Format: Explicit Lyrics
Label: Geffen Records
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Geffen Records
Release Date: 2008-12-09
Studio: Geffen Records
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: my thoughts about universal mind control...
Comment: The main reason I did not like Finding Forever, Common's last album is because I thought it lacked focus. This time around that is not the case, even with the considerable drop off in let's say lyrical heaviness. That does not mean Common isn't in top form. He's still one of the best lyricists word for word and he glides over this mostly Neptunes produced LP with ease. What makes this different is that he checked classicist instincts at the door and made an album in between film projects that is both effective and enjoyable. The productions aren't throwaways either. The Neptunes generally pay attention to detail and that is in place here even with the speed at which the LP was recorded.
People that want to hear the Common of 10 years prior should go out and buy one of those albums because the Common of 2008 was working with a different vibe. In fact he sounds more like a late 80's Big Daddy Kane than previous versions of himself, and that's fine. I will admit that I wasn't sure how to approach an album where Common essentially talks about nothing for the most part. But it works because as light as Universal Mind Control is, it shows how nimble Common can be and that's an underrated quality.
Diversity in a rapper's catalog is rare and this along with Aquarius and Be shows that he can approach and make an album that is different than anything that came before it. These songs may not give listeners something new to think about but that was not their intention. What they do is pull together and add up to something very solid and complete. He achieved exactly what he wanted to here.
Surprisingly good. Recommended.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Expect the unexpected.
Comment: Needless to say, I enjoy every common album. I don't bother going out of my way to compare previous albums to current, because it is always about changing it up. Something fresh to to my aural cavities. If you aren't sure, just listen to clips, youtube the tracks, whatever you do, just be sure to give it a few listens before you make up your own mind.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not typical Common, but not bad, 3 1/2 stars
Comment: Whether you like this CD will be determined by what you're looking for. If you want "Be" or "Finding Forever," you're going to be disappointed. If you like the Neptunes and you're OK with hearing some good dance tunes, even if it's a change for Common, you'll like this.
This CD is not totally void of the socially conscious tracks that made Common who he is. "Changes" would fit in on other albums, and so would "Inhale," which is my favorite song on the CD. And Common nails it with two of his other songs -- "Announcement" and "Punch Drunk Love." They're the kind of songs you'd expect from someone else, but Common's ability to rhyme and flow is still on display.
There are other decent songs, like "Make My Day" and "What a World." I really dislike "Universal Mind Control" and "Sex 4 Suga," but all in all, this is a pretty good CD.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Caught Between Two Worlds...(Rating: 7 out of 10- -3.5 stars)
Comment: I guess you cannot knock Common for trying something new in rap. From the days when he "Used To Love H.E.R." to the moment he just wants to "Be", he's done it all. I've been a fan of his music since I was 14 when he dropped Like Water for Chocolate back in 2000, and has copped all of his albums that he has made throughout his career. One thing I've noticed was that he has attracted a new fan base of alternative rap listeners (those who say they don't listen to rap except Mos Def, Talib, Common, etc...you know, those "real" hip hop artists) when he madeFinding Forever. Since then, I sort of thought he has alienated his original fan base (including myself) from that album on. When he came out with this, it was real hard for me to buy this album, because I kind of know what to expect. One thing I've noticed with this, as well as his last two albums, the replay value has gotten less and less. Also his albums have gotten shorter and shorter.
Universal Mind Control is a short album, only 10 tracks long, with each song averaging around 3 1/2 minutes. Some of the songs I really dug. My favorite one is "Inhale" because that is Common at his best here. The problem is that it is a short track, so I had to keep it on repeat to get the full enjoyment out of it. "Make My Day" with Cee-Lo is another common colab between the two that goes hand and hand here. His lyrics are in full force on "Changes" featuring Muhsinah with high upbeat production.
Songs that I think that don't work are pretty easy to spot. "Universal Mind Control" is one of them (I don't give a DAMN who it was inspired by! It doesn't work!) "Sex 4 Suga" and "What A World" are also forgettable. The rest of the songs not mentioned are neither bad or good, but are not worth mentioning.
The overall work is solid. Many old fans will have to stomach his new style of work. Expect something further beyond Electric Circus with this album here. New fans of his music will like this here because its sort of party type. Older fans, like me, have two options: love it or leave it (as blunt as it sounds). Peace.
Lyrics: B
Production: B-
Guest Appearances: C+
Musical Vibes: C+
Top 5 Tracks:
1. Inhale
2. Make My Day (featuring Cee-Lo)
3. Gladiator
4. Everywhere (featuring Martina Topley-Bird)
5. Announcement (featuring Pharrell)
Customer Rating:
Summary: horrible
Comment: this is trash i thought after the last album him getting with kanye it was a new beginning BOY WAS I WRONG
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Editorial Reviews:
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Explicit Version. Grammy Award winning artist Common returns with his unique brand of cutting edge Hip Hop on his 8th album Universal Mind Control. The 2008 album on the G.O.O.D. Music /Geffen label is executive produced by multi-platinum producers The Neptunes & Kanye West and features the Neptunes on the bulk of the production. The lead single, 'Universal Mind Control' is a club hit and a radio add for Urban & Rhythmic Crossover. Common has been an actor on the big screen for the last two years in critically acclaimned films, Wanted, American Gangster & Smoking Aces, plus a co-starring role in the 2009 blockbuster Terminator 4.
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