November 15, 2020

Method Man "Tical" (November 15, 1994)


On Tical, his much-anticipated solo album, Method Man takes the listener on a brilliant journey through the broken boulevards of his existence. He growls like a werewolf, and then, on the next song, his lungs sound like they're overflowing with smoke. The title track is an ode to blunts, but Method's bleak visions take you beyond the herbal clouds. "Bring the Pain (Is It Really Reel)" is one of the most complex ghetto anthems to emerge from the underground since since KRS-One's "Criminal Minded." His style's gotta ride on something. Ever since the release of Wu-Tang's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) -- crazy addictive beats, demonic textures -- fans have been waiting to return to hell with producer Prince Rakeem. The Prince has studied hip hop as an art form and rejected the rules. Tical is best when listened to through headphones -- beats creep, sounds crash, and soul hooks transform and transform, taking on lives of their own. On "Sub Crazy" the sounds of urban warfare are scary enough to put you in search of a bomb shelter. Without blasting a single real shot, Tical is a perfect document of the anger that many young African-American men have. The production wizardry and vocal complexity build with each listen. - Vibe (11/94). Revisit it below...



Taken from the Month of the Man promotional ad...