Customer Reviews

Talkin' Honky Blues

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Buck 65 washes your mind of what you believe to hip hop and smashes your face with spectacur wordplay and immaculate musical twists and turns. Take a journey with the nomadic Nova Scotian.
Honestly, I'm only 5 songs in so far, but trust me it's everything you don't think you need until you hear it! I'll hit it back up upon further examination. It is unbelievably noticable that he put a year into this project as opposed to the usual two weeks. Oh Sh**, song 6 is incredible. I'll be back.
You know I'll be back. Sincerely, someone else aka myself.

What Bob Dylan was to rock in the 1960s, Buck 65 is to hip-hop---or would be, if anybody were paying attention. Buck brings a unique point of view, inventive and endlessly surprising rhymes, great themes, and a gorgeous musical backdrop to this, his best record. Revolutionary stuff that *ought* to be transforming hip hop as we speak. For the matter, it doesn't matter if you give two hoots about hip hop; this album is on a plateau of its own, and should blow away ANYONE who likes the idea of music that is every bit as sharply-observed and complex as literature. As good as it gets.

Everything about "Talkin' Honky Blues" screams originality. This could be the rebirth of alternative music, as Buck 65 has deliciously spliced together innumerable styles of music here into one great hip-hop fusion. With influences spanning from rap to country to folk to blues to rock, there is something for everybody here. Fans of hip-hop will be happy, because this is a great record for that genre. But it is the extras here that make this so amazing. Lyrical references to Johnny Cash and musical influences by the likes of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds make this album ulike any other you will hear.

This is different, that is for sure. Never has there been a fusion of country/folk and rap, but here it is. This is nothing like the tired combination of rap and metal. Buck 65 deserves the acclaim he is receiving for this disc, and he even won a Juno for best alternative album, also much decerved. Lets hope that he continues to produce material that is not mainstream, not in the normal range of what we expect from a hip-hop disc. I am a big Swollen Members fan, and always had claimed them as the best of Canadian rap, but I think they have just been unseated by Buck 65.

Since there truly is something for everybody here, I strongly reccomend this album, filled start to finish with cool, different songs.

Before I heard this album I really liked Buck 65, now I love him! No other album of his that I've heard highlights his excellent poetry, skillfull beatwork, or that drawl of his voice. I reccomend this album very highly. If you like genious music, this album is for you.

I am so thrilled to have seen Buck 65 and now to own this album- it is a shift from my usual listening scene however I am so moved by his rhythms and lyrics- he is so compelling.

Just came back from his Québec city show, and what an amazing night it was! The guy is the nicest man you'll ever meet, and his live performance is a 10/10.

I don't have any bad thing to say about Talkin Honky Blues. The lyrics are beautifully written, which surprised me a lot for a hip hop artist. I think Buck 65 has a really bright future ahead of him. Talkin Honky Blues had convinced me that he was impressive, and to see him live tonight convinced me to go and buy all of his previous albums!

So take a trip up North and come buy his cds in Canada, where they are half the price they are here. It will be worth every mile.

Just came back from a live performance by Buck 65 and what a high! I guess the album can't do justice to the greatness of this man. Goofy yet serious, the album is a thril ride from beginning to end. A must have for everyone who enjoys a right mix of rap/hip-hop, turntablist and good old fashionned rock. Reminding me of a mix between Dan the Automator and Kid Koala with a rap sensibility I can't really relate, this is another great musician that doesn't get nearly enough play time on radio on TV but that you should definitely own.

Wow. I was introduced to Buck 65 by a friend while attending the Folk Music festival in the city I currently reside in. (Calgary, good fest every year. Check it out if you get the chance) Anyway, this guy dragged me over to the stage where Buck was setting up, and we sat down and waited for the show. It took a LONG time, and, as my friends and I were sitting up by the front of the stage, Buck started chatting with the audience, and we got to talk to the guy. It turned out that his turntables weren't delivered to the stage on time, so he was contemplating doing without. He did, and it was amazing. The entire audience was keeping the beat for him, and he just went. I left the stage afterwards, and bought the first CD I could find. When Talkin' Honky Blues came out, I bought it. He'd opened with Wicked and Weird at the fest, and I'd had it stuck in my head for months. In short, one of Canada's most talented artists, of any kind, and if you're even glancing at this CD, buy it. If you get a chance to see Buck live, Do It. Don't miss out on this guy.

i love this cd buck 65 is a one of the greatest

ok this is a very kool CD. my favourite part is for sure the riverbed tracks. The reference to his trip down the river is very well done. there are lots of ways you can interpret his lyrics. He has lyrical talent comparable with Sgae Francis's Personal Journals but his style is unique from that and his instrumentals are far superior. i would have to say i favout the second half the CD better.

50 gallon drum is a mellow tune that describes a common theme in many stories today of the need for pain and work inorder for you to appreciate the good in life, however it is displayed in an anticlimatic way that shows us that he does not consider himself superior in this realization.

463 is a description of his life as a child, he compares the kids of yesterday to today. not much hits me on this track except for the quitar at the end.

Killed by a horse is an instrumental track. ive found myself looking forward for this track to coome on while im listening to the CD. Perhaps for a little break from Buck 65's voice but it has some very entertaining parts in it. for example about half way through stati appears on the track, at first i thought i got a crappy recording, but then the static started to act as an instrument itself adding to the beat. this is where i realize this was alluded to in 50 gallon drum when Buck 65 says " static fuzz hiss is just the thing sometimes" (probably misquoted). i thought it worked well whether it was intentional or not.

Tired out: a good song about his giult after cheating on his girlfriend. good however it seems thrown in at the last minute.
Craftmanship: basically he is ragging on the rap game, he is using shoe shiners who don't do the job right to do this so it could be any proffession but i think its a dis song about other rappers.

overall i really enjoy this CD there are even a couple songs you can dance to.(Wicked and Weird, 463)