Common - Universal Mind Control

Blisterman

Anyone else heard this album? It's certainly a departure for Common. Story goes, he wanted to take a break from his usual serious style, and release a party album for a change.

Well, this is it. No production from No ID, J Dilla or Kanye this time (Although the latter does make an appearance at one point). It's mostly Neptunes with a few tracks from Mr DJ (Outkast Producer). All synths and 808s. You can tell they were listening to Afrika Bambaataa, while making this.

The lyrics are also a big departure. References to bitches, blunts and hos. This is certainly not an album for those expecting intelligent street poetry. The Barack Obama tribute "Changes" is the only exception.

So, what do I make of it?
Well, taken by itself, the production is superb. The Neptunes are certainly expaning their pallete (One song even features a vocal sample. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Neptunes have never done this before). Mr DJ's production is equally as good.

The main problem with this album is the lyrics. I know Common wanted to try something different, but unlike fellow Chicagoan Kanye West, who also released an experimental album, Common's not doing anything original. Most of the lyrics are typical Hip Hop fare. Common's made his reputation by having contentious lyrics in his albums. These are virtually nowhere to be seen.

Overall, I enjoyed this album. It's not a "Common album" It could have been released by anyone, but if like me, you're more interested in production, than lyrics, it's worth checking out.

idPlease

disappointed to hear that its not in keeping with his usual lyrics as i thought the album was originally supposed to inspire feelings of the summertime (i believe the original title before it was pushed back was relative to Summer).

And yes, the neptunes have never sampled before:eek: so i'm pretty shocked to see that they sampled a voice aswell!! They've used interpolations but as you seem to know your production its not the same as a straight sample

StevieG

I like

He did a far more far out album with the Electric Circus though, a terrificly under-rated record

Boom_Bap

Havent heard the album but i found this review:

@1/2
Common, dear sweet Common. What are we going to do with you? You give us two near classics with Be and Finding Forever and then you handed us something completely different with Universal Mind Control. Could this be another Electric Circus? In a nutshell, no it’s not, but it's no Ressurrection either. So how does Universal Mind Control hold up against Com's stellar catalog?
There must be something in the water out there in Chicago, first Kanye goes off into left field and makes a good - not great - album with 808’s and Heartbreak and now this writer's favorite emcee, Common heads over to la-la land and goes the abstract route as well. The album starts appropriately with title track "Universal Mind Control”, the track was originally released in early summer - and flopped - but now thanks to the help of Zune and Afrika Bambatta, MTV opened their ears and made this one a hit. A good song, but a far cry from Common’s hip-hop fan base.
The album is produced solely by The Neptunes and Mr. DJ. Having an album like this is a gift and a curse, on one hand you have The Neptunes who are known as being innovative with N.E.R.D., and Mr. DJ, a renowned producer for Outkast, but on the other hand The Neptunes and Mr. DJ have went off the deep end on more than one occasion. An album with one sound tends to get boring sooner than later, which is the issue with Universal Mind Control. After the energy is raised with the title track, it drops lyrically and by tempo with the Kanye assisted “Punch Drunk Love”. “Sex 4 Suga” is a sad attempt at club music and more Common driffle ensues. The Neptunes' production becomes repetitive and boring, but thankfully those are the worst of the bad.
There are some tracks that truly stand out, and Common redeems himself on the mic. “Announcement” is an outstanding track using a Neptunes replayed version of the sample Biggie used for “Dreams” and Common speaking on his love of hip-hop. “Gladiator” shows that Pharrell and company can make a banging straight hip-hop classic, and “Inhale” is also impressive. Mr. DJ contributes only 2 percent of the album, but both tracks are synth drenched soul. Usually this critic doesn’t use synth and soul in the same sentence, but Mr. DJ knows how to keep soul in his production while making it sound like it was made this decade. “Changes” featuring Muhsinah has the southern bounce of Outkast with the Chicago flavor of Common. On the flip side “Everywhere” featuring Martina Topley-Bird sounds like nothing Common has ever rhymed on, spaced out and up tempo for the club.
Common rarely disappoints, and one big issue with this album is that it is only 10 tracks. With an album this experimental, it almost would have been nicer if it was a more meaty release, like Electric Circus, rather than a sparse ten tracks shipped on a disc. Universal Mind Control bounces back and forth in tempos and in content, making it hard to absorb Common’s new found style. The hardcore Common fans may be a bit disappointed, but if Common is trying to find that pop audience, he may be well be on his way. - DG

I've bolded 2 things that stand out from the review.

I'm no maths wiz but it says Mr. DJ handled 2% of production and in the same scentence, 2 tracks....does this mean that there are 100 songs on the album :eek: Or he could have worked it out on total running time, but i doubt it would still add up

The other bolded section: Nice to see Martina Topley Bird getting exposed to more a broader listenership. For you that dont know, she is the singer that worked with Tricky on his early albums and has a few records of her own. Look up Quixotic if you get the chance, the production is excellent along with MT-B's vocals.

Besides that, i'd like to give this Common album a listen. He has never been one to settle for the same sound (ever hear his song called Watermellon!) so it would be interesting to hear what he's done this time around.

TheLoc

I have most of his albums. Be and Finding forever are 2 of my favourite albms of all time. I didn't like Universal mind control or Electric circus. they're just way to messy and all over the place for me. Finding forever is excellent and if you don't have it, get it.

Out of universal mind control the only 2 songs I liked were inhale and announcement.

0854603

what about Resurrection?

Surely nobody can debate it's Commons best album.

0854603

TheLoc wrote: »

Out of universal mind control the only 2 songs I liked were inhale and announcement.

My favourite on that album was Gladiator.

You cant say puch drunk love is a bad song either, the album was a diappointment, no where near as good as 'Finding Forever.'

TheLoc

Yea Finding forever and BE are head and sholders above the rest I think. I love them.

nicklauski

Be is probably one of my favourite albums. Finding Forever wasn't bad either.
UMC took time to grow on me, but it does after a while. Its not the Common that weve gotten used to, the rhymes are more materialistic (?) and not as story telling as usual. There is a couple of bangers on the album, he wanted it to be his "club album" anyway