"Karma Hotel," Does it Measure Up?
MJ
> with the lowest recognition factor among the general population.
I thought it was the other way around...
Matt
A to the L
said:
wow - you wrote all this for one of the wackest songs I've ever
heard...
I pity your poor fingers...
PEACH
A to the L
>Spooks is probably the band held in highest regard by hip-hop fans but
>with the lowest recognition factor among the general population.
>"Karma what?" "Spooks who?" "Well, I've heard of M&M, and Ice Cube,
>and LLCoolJ!"
>
>Karma Hotel is a track on their S.I.O.S.O.S CD, not as well know as
>Things I've Seen, the all time top download at rapstation.com.
>Laurence Fishburne opened his drug double cross drama, "Once in the
>Life," with it's intro of spacey vocals followed by the haunting and
>melodic chorus, "Won't believe the things I've seen, far beyond your
>wildest dreams." What's the lesser-known Karma Hotel about and how
>does it compare.
>
>If not structurally a twin brother, it's at least a close cousin. A
>vocal intro is followed by the entry of bass and drums to provide a
>beat of metronomic regularity. The sequence of three male rapped
>verses alternates with female sung choruses until the last verse,
>where Ming Xia is given a rare opportunity to beguile us with her
>voice from the front of the stage.
>
>Each verse relates a separate vignette; the playing of a game of
>Russian Roulette, a Dorian Grey like gambling episode, and a soul sale
>to the devil by way of sex. These tight stories are clearly portrayed
>in 25 or so lines.
>
>A cloyed seeker of thrill and zest finds a barrel at his dome.
>"Fourth time I clicked and popped BOOM! Money shot!" You can only
>pull the trigger so many times.
>
>Next, we "peep the gambling scene," where a great winning streak
>causes "green growing like chia pets." "Fans flock" to this intense
>episode, but rapture transforms to stiff, wooden unreality for player
>and crowd alike. "Years have passed in one night," and he winds up an
>old man with cash who "never lived life."
>
>The last verse warrants the most attention. Students of the Book of
>Revelations understand the disguised symbolism in "triple nines on
>nails danglin' off the door." "Macristo," the name a satanic
>variation of "Christ," makes an overt play for "Eve" with an offer of
>the apples equivalence.
>
>Succinctly and with poetic facility, the mechanics of the transaction
>is recounted. "Transform lust to thrust" relays intention becoming
>the act. Being won over: "ooh, invitation accepted, too good to
>reject it. So I join in unprotected" also graces the listener with a
>triple rhyme. Four more in three lines adorn an interchange showing a
>lack of self-regard, "expected one life to live don't respect it."
>"Respect what?" "Ooh you poor child you've been neglected." Eve
>delineates the unusual twist to the transaction, "Why do I feel so
>cold? It's like each time I climax you take a piece of my soul."
>Four bars of lively jazz guitar melody leads out the song.
>
>The first verse allegorizes a bold and dangerous venture; more
>specifically, perhaps, the gamble on drug bliss. More sober persons
>found his body the next day "with a needle stickin' out of" his arm.
>Also implied is the phantasmic loss of insight that drugs cause; the
>perceived excitement, pleasure and energy of a poison induced
>delusion.
>
>The casino episode can paradoxically depict a grindstone life that
>isn't lived or an intense desire for an objective whose attainment
>reveals the absence of it's worth.
>
>The title term karma, while encountered frequently, often is used
>poorly. It's a Sanskrit word that comes to us from the Hindu
>religion; literally it's a deed or an act. It describes the concept
>that present time thoughts and actions have consequences in the
>future. And not just later in the day after lunch, often pretty far
>into the future, such as after one dies and is reborn! This and other
>eastern terms often are used to call up deep significance.
>
>But the term really isn't used well. Even when considering only the
>time frame, verses one and three pass in an hour. While karma might
>be seen to manifest thus as a result of thoughts and actions in the
>past, nothing of this sort was revealed to the listener. Verse two
>appears to take place over most of an adult lifetime and it's more
>realistic to consider a decision to completely throw in with a
>gambling plan could produce this type of adverse outcome.
>
>Overall, the lyrics are sharp and colloquially lively, fit for verse
>with their clear descriptions and incidents of real life
>believability. An apparent description in verse three of erotic
>statuary; "the way they're entwined so good it's a crime." Many
>mid-sentence rhymes are added gifts to the listener as are the choice
>of expressive verbs. Some of the nice word play: "Peep the drama
>another sad story at the karma," "rambled the fiends," mannequin
>matched with panickin' and "beat (not meet) the friends and family."
>
>The presentation of singing and speaking is excellent, as it was in
>"Things I've Seen." There's no amateurish gallop of sing song iambs
>but the professionally poetic ending of sentences and lines in
>different places. There's no rushing or dragging, no explosive over
>emphasis or insufficient projection. There's an authenticity in
>presentation such as a light touch on the consonant that ends the
>syllable, leaving the listener with more easy-on-the-ear vowel sounds.
>
>But even with these attributes and verses that relate complete
>stories, this song doesn't stand shoulder to shoulder with "Things."
>The lyrics lack the power and poetic inspiration and the choral
>melody, while pleasant enough, isn't as commendable and in fact,
>sounds derivative. There's nothing to compare to the formers summary
>line, "I've seen and experienced things that take the average to the
>edge and swan dive to death." They even spin a little out of control
>in the second verse, one eye open, watchin' his gat, back, stack, etc.
>
>"Karma Hotel" is a good song that should keep the band in the eye of
>their fans and earn them some downloads and sales, but it's not of the
>quality to catapult it to the forefront. Don't expect to see it as a
>number one all time download at any music sites.
>
>Lastly, I feel compelled to give a final message to you, Eve. I was
>moved by your concluding wail, "I'm trapped here for eternity." From
>your relation of your stunning reversal, you signed no contract with
>Macristo, who failed to inform you beforehand of the full nature of
>the arrangement. You thus were unable to give informed consent.
>
>In addition, your payment was woefully insufficient. A soul usually
>returns in compensation years, seven or more, of some combination of
>immense fame, wealth, good fortune, not a fraction of an hour of
>sexual activity, no matter how many, well, some details aren't
>currently pertinent.
>
>I believe a good legal mind could invalidate that deal you made,
>restore to you your soul and the freedom to depart the hostelry. I
>happen to have a number for Lawyer Referral Service. Since you're
>apparently unable to leave, perhaps a meeting there could be arranged.
> I have only your best interests at heart, young lady. Feel very free
>to call me!
>
>lb
>
>The lyrics to Karma Hotel can be found at:
>www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/spooks/karmahotel.html
Check the sites y'all... www.altrap.com www.raredj.com
"A to the L owns all your stankin asses. Man can rap his ass off. The rest are scrubs." - Fatboy Roberts
"...let's just say that I think that A to the L is an artist because of his ability to quantify different SHITS into words. That's art." - Alvin Smith
BSE
logu...@lycos.com (lb) wrote:
> Spooks is probably the band held in highest regard by hip-hop fans but
> with the lowest recognition factor among the general population.
MY ARSE THEY ARE!
They are blatant label creation cynical Fugees tribute band wackness. They
are worse than Big Brovaz!!!!
They are the rancid shit that sticks to a dogs arse and they never got no
love from the Hiphop scene they just went straight to Top Of The Pops and
they flopped like they diserved.
Dont post your wack press release here if its factually wrong.
and theyre still recoupin stoopid stoopid stoopid...
BSE
--
http://www.ukseen.com - There it is!
To reply remove "thepillowfromyourheadandputabookinit"
lb
> > with the lowest recognition factor among the general population.
>
>
Matt
Dont post your wack press release here if its factually wrong.
BSE
MJ, A to the L, BSE
A divergence of views; Spooks, widely regarded or distained and
forgotten.
Before writing the post, I had keyed into rec.music.hip-hop the
group's name. Most of the comments were positive, some strongly so
(there's the possibility of a commercial interest in the song) though
I noticed dissent from BSE. Reviewers generally liked them.
It could be said the posts are old and the views aren't current but
passing time shouldn't transform affinity to aversion. "Things I've
Seen" had been a past-week number three download at rapstation.com so
the favorable attitude toward the quintet was carrying across the
(two) years into the present.
I would give the group points for the meaning and the sound and rhythm
qualities of the lyrics and the voice and instrument melody and
harmony. Sharp images are created. I compare them favorably with most
of what I've seen on MTV2 and The Box and other outlets.
I'm not a hip-hop zealot but I liked Karma Hotel's pop/rock formula
structure, the regular building and release of tension throughout the
verses and pleasant background instrumentation. I especially enjoyed
Ming Xia's smooth verse vocals. "Since we're all trapped in peace
guys, see you later..." Even so, I think "Things I've Seen" and "The
Mission" are better.
I welcome pro or con comments but there's no indication that everyone
read past the first sentence. There was a vagueness to the scorn
except for BSE's direct
blatant label creation cynical Fugees tribute band.
This lack of specificity could show time in short supply, the
oft-remarked on web crawlers preference for short messages or
dissatisfaction with the ideas expressed in the original post.
lb
