Ironman (Ghostface Killah album): Difference between revisions
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*"Turn the Beat Around" by [[Vicki Sue Robinson]], |
*"Turn the Beat Around" by [[Vicki Sue Robinson]], |
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*"Crab Apple" by Idris Muhammed, |
*"Crab Apple" by Idris Muhammed, |
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*"Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" by |
*"Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" by Wu-Tang Clan (vocal sample by Ol' Dirty Bastard) |
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*"Incarcerated Scarfaces" & "Ice Water" by Raekwon |
*"Incarcerated Scarfaces" & "Ice Water" by Raekwon |
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|4:40 |
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Revision as of 16:58, 1 April 2010
- For other albums of the same name (Eric Dolphy, Pete Townshend,...), see Iron Man (disambiguation)
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Ironman is the solo debut album by American Hip-hop artist and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah. The LP is slightly different to other first generation solo albums released by Wu-Tang members, owing much of its thematic scope, mythology and samples from classic 1960s and 1970s blaxploitation as well as a wider range of Soul samples. It is also notable for being considerably more open in its references to the Nation of Gods and Earths and the Clan's beliefs.
Background
Though a solo, the album is filled with Wu-Tang collaborations and only two tracks ("Wildflower" and "Poisonous Darts") feature Ghostface on his own. The two most prominently featured artists are Raekwon and Cappadonna, who accompany Ghost and have their names featured on the album's cover. Raekwon appears on 13 of the 17 tracks, with "The Faster Blade" featuring him performing solo, and Cappadonna is featured on 5 of the 17 tracks.
Contrary to the earlier Wu-Tang solo albums, in which the performers involved were believed to be infallible, Ghostface is ironically very "human" and quite vulnerable on a large majority of Ironman. This is perhaps best illustrated in the album's second single, "All That I Got Is You", essentially a song Ghostface wrote as a tribute to his mother. The rest of the album, however, contains many street oriented, and mafioso topics, similar to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.... The album features more of Ghost's highly praised unique uptempo, stream-of-consciousness rhyming style, which he would go on to utilize on his highly acclaimed sophomore album Supreme Clientele. The album also utilizes a substantial amount of story-telling rap, such as the song "260." Producer RZA combines his dark keyboard tones and early-1970s soul samples, heavily used on Liquid Swords and Only Built for Cuban Linx... respectively, to engender a soulful and melodic yet dark and harsh feel that later influenced many other Wu-Tang releases, such as Wu-Tang Forever and Uncontrolled Substance, as well as numerous other East Coast artists.
In his book The Tao of Wu, producer RZA points out that Ghostface's voice sounds noticeably different on Ironman than previous Wu-Tang releases. This is because Ironman was released following a 1994 flood that destroyed the basement studio in which those recordings were made. RZA had set up individual microphone preamps and compressors for each member, which were destroyed in the flood. Thus, the vocals on Ironman had to be recorded in a different studio with different equipment and settings, slightly altering their sound. [1]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| A.V. Club | (favorable)[3] |
| Robert Christgau | (A)[4] |
| Entertainment Weekly | (B+)[5] |
| New York Times | (favorable)[6] |
| Rhapsody | (favourable)[7] |
| Rolling Stone |  [8] |
| The Source | [9] |
| Spin | (7/10) [10] |
| Vibe | (favorable)[11] |
The album found considerably large success within the mainstream, enough to enter the pop charts' number two position upon release. Ironman has since been certified Platinum in the United States.
Rolling Stone (12/12/96, p.82) - "After defining the music's rhythm in his dusted, offbeat, signature style, RZA emphasizes simple, precise percussion and bass thuds that are augmented by moody traces of lush strings, baroque riffs and samples from ’60s soul records."
Spin (2/97, p.90) - "Ghostface raps a more explosive variant of the chippy, Wu-Tang rhyme combinations....This guy just sounds mean—brutal, skilled, and unpredictable. As usual, RZA provides awesomely dark and eccentric backdrops for the MC’s dark maneuvers."
Entertainment Weekly (11/08/96, p.69) - "The latest from the Wu-Tang Clan member finds Ghostface talking vehemently about sex, politics, and sexual politics...."
Q (6/00, p.123) - "More about lyrical finesse than anything else. 'Daytona 500' is a magnificent, fast-paced testing of skills with Raekwon and Cappadonna...everything is delivered with tongue-twisting Wu-Tang virtuosity that untangles with every listen."
The Wire (10/01, p.46) - "A masterpiece...Raekwon and Ghost raise the slang bar quickly, analogizing various mysterious practices to various foods."
Vibe (12/96, p.186) - "Ghostface bangs out sarcastic, street-camouflaged wildness...If Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...had you open, prepare for another gaping wound."
The Source (12/96, p.124) - "Introspective lyrics, haunting melodies and intense emotional moments...The RZA does another masterful job, topping himself in terms of sonic diversity..."
Rap Pages (1/97, p.25) - "Yet another tangled web of expectations-bashing yarns; an exhilarating listen...with moments to inspire both cardiopulmonary palpitations and contemplative nods...Ironman is the Wu banger to challenge your demands and ultimately win you over..."
NME (12/21-28/96, pp.66-67) - Ranked #29 in NME's 1996 critics' poll.
Track listing
- "The Soul Controller" was removed from later pressings of the album, due to sample rights not being cleared.
| # | Title | Performer(s) | Producer | Sample(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Iron Maiden" |
|
RZA |
|
4:46 |
| 2 | "Wildflower" |
|
RZA |
|
3:26 |
| 3 | "The Faster Blade" |
|
RZA | 2:27 | |
| 4 | "260" |
|
RZA |
|
2:46 |
| 5 | "Assassination Day" |
|
RZA |
|
4:18 |
| 6 | "Poisonous Darts" |
|
RZA |
|
2:15 |
| 7 | "Winter Warz" |
|
RZA | 4:40 | |
| 8 | "Box In Hand" |
|
RZA |
|
3:14 |
| 9 | "Fish" |
|
True Master |
|
3:50 |
| 10 | "Camay" |
|
RZA |
|
4:34 |
| 11 | "Daytona 500" |
|
RZA |
|
4:40 |
| 12 | "Motherless Child" |
|
RZA |
|
3:45 |
| 13 | "Black Jesus" |
|
RZA |
|
4:37 |
| 14 | "After The Smoke Is Clear" |
|
RZA | 3:17 | |
| 15 | "All That I Got Is You" |
|
RZA |
|
5:21 |
| 16 | "The Soul Controller" |
|
RZA |
|
6:50 |
| 17 | "Marvel" |
|
RZA | 5:10 |
Charts
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200[12] | 2 |
| Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[13] | 1 |
References
- ^ RZA, The (2009). The Tao of Wu. New York, NY: The Penguin Group. ISBN 1594488851.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Erlewine, Stephen. Review: Ironman. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-12-20.
- ^ Thompson, Stephen. Review: Ironman. A.V. Club. Retrieved on 2009-12-20.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. Review: Ironman. Robert Christgau. Retrieved on 2009-12-20.
- ^ Tucker, Ken. Review: Ironman. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-12-20.
- ^ Pareles, Jon. Review: Ironman. New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-20.
- ^ Winning, Brolin. Review: Ironman. Rhapsody. Retrieved on 2009-12-20.
- ^ Hoard, Christian. "Review: Ironman". Rolling Stone: 330. Retrieved on 2010-01-20.
- ^ Columnist. Review: Ironman. The Source: 124. December 1996.
- ^ Noris, Chris. Review: Ironman. Spin. Retrieved on 2010-02-24.
- ^ Berman, Eric. Review: Ironman. Vibe. Retrieved on 2009-12-20.
- ^ Ironman Chart Positions. Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-02-24
- ^ Ironman Chart Positions. Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-02-24