.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
K**N
Great stuff, but not quite his best.
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.
J**N
Five Stars
different
D**S
Dark vibes and ill rhymes
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!!!
S**L
DJ Krush - Meiso
For MEISO, DJ Krush invites some vocalists to augment his trip-hop. A hint of shakuhachi creeps onto "Only the Strong Survive," though C.L. Smooth takes center stage. The title track and "Ground" offer a slightly more raw take on the vocals, but Krush's mellow groove keeps things under control. While the vocals aren't in and of themselves bad, it feels like too much of a concession to American hip-hop. But once we get to the instrumentals, the woozy bass of "Anticipation" shows what DJ Krush can really do: "What's Behind Darkness?" gets back to a slow, creeping darkness, while "3rd Eye" is more meditative. "Oce 9504" has a child-like joy that's not present on the vocal tracks, and his collaboration with DJ Shadow, "Duality," switches personality halfway through, going from a atmospheric ambiance to a more rigorous beat, while still retaining the dreaminess. This is Krush at his best.
J**A
Music for Cave Dwellers
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.
M**F
The man...
Dont listen to part of the review 2 slots down...Dj shadow while a great producer doesnt even come close to the pure genious that is Krush.While many try everything possible to make their music unique, Dj krush makes it all too easy, Meiso is a trip-hop/hip-hop masterpiece.If you want to own the 10 most essential albums in this style this is one of the 10 to get, Meiso is riddled by beautifull urban vibes. Similar to some music that comes from the oldschool NYC hiphop scene or some of the more headwise London scene.Make no mistake this album has DJ Krush written on every song, yet the mood is very familiar to everyone who has listened to real hiphop.Always innovating, yet never making his older albums obsolete, Dj Krush is truly a master...
D**N
Beautifully subtle
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.
V**E
"DJ Krush from Japan and no more need to discuss"
I went into this cold turkey, only knowing the names Black Thought and DJ Shadow as guests. Some other reviewers say that the rappers only get in the way of the beats, but I think while beats on their own is great, it's also great to give them a face/voice to work symbiotically. This is HIP-HOP, not chill out, techno trance garbage. DJ and MC work together to make art. Overall, brilliant. Beats are always on point, except one track with an odd baby noise that occasionally gets annoying. Black Thought drops some of the best rhymes of his career, and the other MCs do a damn good job themselves.
A**N
du culte
Krush... Que dire de plus! Un album posé entre HIP HOP et electro. Un bel opus de plus, je recommande cet album old scholl
F**B
今聞いても素晴らしいです
今聞いても1995年という過去の作品という古さは感じません。ブレイクビーツの深い質感は、雰囲気があって、これからも大切にしたい作品です。
