Cannibal Ox - Cold Vein
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CD Details
Artist: Cannibal OxEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2001-05-15
Music Label: Definitive Jux
Soundtracks:
- Iron Galaxy
- Ox Out the Cage
- Atom (with Alaska & Cryptic Of Atoms)
- A B-Boys Alpha
- Raspberry Fields
- Straight Off The D.I.C.
- Vein
- The F-Word
- Stress Rap
- Battle For Asgard (with L.I.F.E. Long & C-Rayz Walz Of Stronghold)
- Real Earth
- Ridiculoid (with el-P)
- Painkillers
- Pigeon
Music reviews of Cold Vein
Music Review: I hated it at first too.
Rating: 5 Stars
I've been into hip-hop for about 15 years and picked up "The Cold Vein" after having it recommended by a friend whose judgment could usually be trusted (on hip-hop matters that is). Upon the initial listening, his credibility went down the toilet like so many flushed turds. Production-wise I thought it ranked amongst the worst albums I had ever heard--aural tripe. Each track sounded not unlike the destruction of a space-station (albeit with rhythm). As far as the MC's were concerned, Vast Aire was clever enough, but his flow wasn't super impressive and his rhyme-structuring definitely left something to be desired. Vordul, although possessing an exquisite flow, was not nearly as clever or poetic as Vast Aire. However, for some reason, after a couple of days, I came back to it and started to warm up to the Cold Vein. Eventually, after a few more subsequent listens, the CD began to grow on me until it eventually garnered the coveted "Slot 1" in my CD changer, becoming the envy of disks 2-6. "The Cold Vein" quickly became my favorite album of 2001 and currently ranks somewhere in my top 10 of all time.
I, to this day, can't really put my finger on precisely what it is that makes this album so fantastic. Both MC's are dope; but neither of them unbelievable. Each track is lyrically strong, but I'm not sure I would describe any particular verse as groundbreaking. And El-P's beats have a sound to them that ranges somewhere between malfunctioning machinery and robots in agonizing pain. But for some reason it works. It works exponentially, so that the sum is clearly greater than the individual parts--and it seems that the removal of any particular part would result in the in the destruction of this complex hip-hop mechanism that exists in a state of brilliance only by maintaining the most delicate of balances. I remember having read a review somewhere which described the album as having an "intangible dopeness". This is precisely right. I'm not completely sure what it is about this album that makes it so great; and that's precisely what makes it so great. As soon as the greatness of something becomes tangible, understandable, it seems to vanish into thin air. It's like discovering how a magic trick works. As soon as the secret is revealed, the mystery and sense of awe, instantly disappear. Thankfully, the greatness of the album is definitely there, but wrapped in a thick layer of secrecy which has thus far, for me, been impenetrable.
My advice to anyone who's heard the snippets and feels it's not for them is to come back a couple of days later and try again. And then, after another day or so, come back yet another time. Continue to do so several times; each time trying to approach the music with a more open mind than before, dissolving any prejudices that may have arisen during previous listens. If, after a few times, you still don't like it, I guess it's not for you. But, if it steadily becomes more and more appealing, realize that you are well on your way to falling in love with one of the greatest and most unique hip-hop albums of all time.
Description of Cold Vein
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