Rev Run - Distortion: Album Review

Rev Run, Distortion (Def Jam, 2005)
Remember that time Weezer came out with an album that was 28 minutes long? This is actually shorter than that. Seriously. I had to check and make sure I had the real thing and not some sampler.

I USED TO THINK I WAS RUN

This first track is actually the only one on here to crack the three minute mark, and let's not forget there are only ten tracks on here. Run hasn't progressed much as an MC since 1986, but he does manage to stretch a bit lyrically here throughout.

HOME SWEET HOME

Sampling "Sweet Home Alabama" might have actually been a cool idea, but they end up using way too much of it. Also, I wonder what this song actually has to do with the state of Alabama. Run is from Queens, right?

BOOM DITTY

The beat on this is real raw, not unlike the classic "Here We Go." The rappin' is also very 1984, which, for the most part, actually comes off as quaint.

BREAKTIME

Not as much going on here, really. But then it's really short, even compared to the rest of this.

HIGH AND MIGHTY JOE

Think "Mary Mary," only with a slightly different sample. The chorus is hilarious in a good way.

THE WAY

A song about how well he preaches. Seriously. No, thank you, Rev.

DON'T STOP Y'ALL

The production on this, with the weird synthesizers and the '80s-style chorus, is crazy.

MIND ON THE ROAD

You've heard this. It's on MTV and VH1 more often than songs that are actually popular, and it's even being played on the angry young cracka station here in STL - though not on any black stations, amusingly enough.

TAKE A TOUR

Not unlike "Home Sweet Home," I'm not so crazy about how they flipped Blondie on the chorus, but otherwise this is pretty jammin'. It's different from the stuff Run-DMC was doing 20 years ago, but it's got a definite early '80s feel anyway.

DISTORTION

The guitar solo on this might have been rethought, but I like Run's amped delivery, even though the rhymes here might be bit on the preachy side.

COMMENTS: This is so short I don't know that I could recommend anyone actually pay full price for it. Otherwise though, I'm actually feeling this. Whoever it was that produced this is a fucking genius, seriously, and should be put on the phone with the Beastie Boys forthwith.

BEST TRACKS: "High and Mighty Joe" "Don't Stop Y'all" "Take a Tour"