Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan
1993

I've said before that I rarely listen to lyrics. So something that is all words is not my ideal kind of music. My normal osmotic listening approach (have it on in the background, try to absorb it) doesn't work with rap and hip-hop because it's so word-heavy. And anyway, I haven't listened to nearly enough hip-hop to understand the nuances.

This is twenty years old and in hip-hop terms is probably like early fifties rock 'n' roll to someone who is properly immersed in it: influential at the time but now hopelessly primitive and outdated. As someone who knows very little of it, and who isn't listening in the right way anyway, I'm a little unsure what to make of it. What I can decipher of lyrics is of no interest to me - I can't relate to it, even as a fantasy - while the musical aspects are appealing, but very, very repetitive. It's got a good beat which I do enjoy tapping along with but harmonically it is neolithic. And it goes on for aaaaaages. Back on the shelf it goes. Next!