Common Album: “Electric Circus [Clean]”

This Album breaks the barrier of mixing Hiphop with Jazz, Funk, Soul, and acid rock elements. Common has outdone himself on this one. I picked this up and when I played it i did not expect this one bit. Songs like I am Music take you back to the early harlem jazz scene with the trumpet and piano playing. Come Close is just the best, anyone who will listen to this will sit back and think about the lyrics. I would recommend this to anyone who is into real music and really into Jazz/hiphop fusion.

I think this album angered a lot of Common fans, espeically since he showed his experimental side of himself on this LP. Also since this is between

and

, two of his softer and more soulful LPs. This album has so many influences and contributions (see the front cover) that people may believe that Common stepped out of his range. I personally find it to be an excellent album.

The Roots' ?uestlove produced some of the tracks. "Between Me, You, & Liberation" is one fine track, especially with the drum pattern that he made. "Come Close" was the lead single featuring Mary J. Blige, that was excellent. The creativity shows when the song "Electric Wire Hustle Flower" plays and features Sonny of P.O.D. Say what you want, but I like that song. The sex song "*69 (P.S. With Love)" is another softer sounding beat and features Bilal. The last 30 seconds of the track has a nice mellow beat that is worth waiting for.

There are a few rough spots on this album though. "I Got A Right Ta" featuring Pharrell is one rough song that I really didn't have the mood for. "Soul Power" I was thinking the beat was going to drop, but never came. And the final two tracks are great, but could have been shortened since they are 8+ minutes. Other than that, this album is excellent.

Don't hate on this LP. It is very creative and experimental. Many people have gotten settled with the soulful type Common, so this did kind of come from left field. I didn't think this album was going to get bad reviews until I saw this album received 4 mics in The Source, so I thought it was dope. If you listen to this without thinking about his other albums, you will find that this album is very underrated. Peace.

If you don't know alrady, the tracklisting is incorrect. Here is the correct track listing:

1. Ferris Wheel

2. Soul Power

3. Aquarius

4. Electric Wire Hustler Flower

5. The Hustle

6. Come Close

7. New Wave

8. Star *69

9. I Got A Right Ta

10. Between Me, You & Liberation

11. I Am Music

12. Jimi Was A Rock Star

13. Heaven Somewhere

Lyrics: B+

Production: B

Guest Appearances: A-

Musical Vibes: A-

Top 5 Tracks:

1. Between Me, You, & Liberation (featuring Cee-Lo)

2. *69 (P.S. With Love) (featuring Bilal)

3. Come Close (featuring Mary J. Blige)

4. Electric Wire Hustler Flower (featuring Sunny of P.O.D.)

5. Ferris Wheel (featuring Vinia Mojica & Marie Daulne of Zap Mama)

Honorable Mention:

1. Jimi Was A Rock Star (featuring Erykah Badu)

2. Heaven Somewhere (featuring Omar Lyefook, Bilal, Cee-Lo, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu & Lonnie "Pops" Lynn)

Electric Circus from Common is one of the must eccentric Hip Hop CD's that I have ever heard. As I was skimming through it my first impressing was "What in the world is this?" It was like Hip Hop was on an acid trip. Most of the beats had elements from the "seventies funk era." However I gave the CD another hear around, and listened to the lyrics and concept of the disc. Lyrically Common is very profound with expressing his stories, of Human Issues (Between Me, You & Liberation) & Love (Come Close). Out of 13 songs I enjoyed 8 (which is normal for me from a Common CD). The other 5 songs were okay, but either the production or lyrics got shuffled in the "Matrix", and lost my personal interest. I truly enjoyed this "collaged" of his interpretation of An "Electric Circus". It was something different and unique.

Lyrically Common is one of the "Ringleaders" in this Hip Hop madness. If you enjoy a "Mc Clown" who likes to brag about the people they killed, people they are sleeping with, and items they own then this CD is not for you. Only listeners with ability to enjoy "True Hip Hop" and doesn't settle for the regular "mode" of music could truly enjoy the message that the "Electric Circus" delivers. (I enjoyed this CD so much I also have the explicit version, but I perfer the clean one)

My picks from this CD.

Song that will get you hyped and Jumping

Soul Power

Electric Wire Hustler

New Wave

Songs that will make your head swing (Mellow Madness)

Come Close (My Favorite)

I Am Music (Love The Beat and Jill Scott a is plus)

Aquarius (Hot)

Songs with a very deep message

Heaven (Long but food for thought)

Between Me, You & Liberation (Very Deep)

Common has done an exceptional job delivering high-quality music and moving the traditional boundaries of Hip Hop. I put this album selection among, Mos Def - "Black on Both Sides", The Roots - "Things Fall Apart" and other true Hip Hop classics.