METHODS OF MAYHEM
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
I'm not a big fan of this whole rap/metal thing - some
of it's pretty good but a lot of it just plain sucks - but there was an genuineness to
Tommy Lee's departure from Motley Crue to get out and make his own music that made me think that Methods of Mayhem would be a little different.
And, to a degree, I was right.
The debut CD by Methods of Mayhem is chock full of vocal hooks, music hooks, chunky guitars and
guest appearances. It's got irresistible beats and rhythms and, damn, if Tommy doesn't rap with the best
of them. It's easier on the ears than Limp Bizkit and doesn't take itself as seriously as Korn.
What's cool about Methods of Mayhem is that - despite the fact that Tommy Lee has left Motley Crue's sound behind for a unique sound of his own - you can still feel that attitude and edge that is a trademark of the Crue. It's a bad boy free-for-all that - for the most part - will have you banging your head and pumping your fist, feeling like a bad boy yourself.
A couple of the tracks get too close to pure rap for comfort (we want rap/metal not rap/rap) and too often the lyrics degenerate into that gangsta style that some critics seem to find so important but, for the most part, Methods of Mayhem just rocks. And when the lyrics are good, they're very, very good. When Lee complains about the media in "Anger Management" it's about as real and as angry as it can get. Of course, when Kid Rock boasts about how cool he is and how rich he is in "New Skin" it makes you wanna spit.
Speaking of Kid Rock, there's a ton of guest stars on the CD. Joining Tommy Lee and his co-hort Tilo are Mix Master Mike, DJ Product, Snoop Dogg, Fred Durst, Li'l Kim (whose chant during "Get Naked" - perhaps the most pornographic song to be released on a major record label in years - will speed the pulse of any red-blooded male), George Clinton, Danny Lohner, Bobby B, Ken Andrews, Filthee Immigrants, Scott Kirkland and U-God.
The CD also includes an enhanced section that contains the unedited "Get Naked" video, a screensaver, weblinks and more.
Regardless of what you think about rap/metal, it's almost impossible to resist a CD that has the following disclaimer printed on the disc itself: "Warning: This CD is nothing but worthless plastic unless played loud as fuck. So take this shit straight to your head - because after all, it's quiet when you're dead."
For more information on Methods of Mayhem, please visit http://www.methodsofmayhem.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the
cover makes you wanna hurl.
Back to roughedge.com home page
Copyright © 1999 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 20 Mar 2023 19:45:06 -0500.
