CD Review: The Classix “Live What You Love EP”

Lauren Hedges

Last Saturday The Classix celebrated the release of their new EP Live What You Love at The Blind Dog with The Greatest Invention and We Can Be Heroes. The CD itself hold 20 minutes and 6 songs of a pop-punk/rap/rock nature.

It starts off with “Girl Like You,” a feel-good track that gets you pumped up – the sort of song you’d play while getting ready for a night out. The chorus is catchy, but not as much as the “na na na na na’s” that have been stuck in my head all day. The vocals themselves have a very Beastie Boys flavour that you can’t help but like, and the These Kids Wear Crowns-esque loops that pop up don’t spoil the mood either. I’m also pretty into the wailing guitars that keep showing up.

“Be Somebody” goes from stripped, rapped verses to a chorus that is full, soaring, and would fit perfectly into the previous song. The sound of the snare – make that the entire kit – is pretty awesome. Full and beefy without being too huge for the feel of the song. Great tambourine use, too. I love tambourine. With this track it’s not the vocals that lodge themselves in my brain, but a lovely guitar riff  that my mind decides to put on repeat.

A far calmer song than anything to show up yet, “Peace of Mind” waits until more than halfway through to pick up, and even then it’s not a full on kick, more just a gradual increase. Seemingly very 90’s inspired, this song really grooves, and although the sound of the entire EP I find to be very like SR-71, I think this song demonstrates this the most strongly. And it has a few bits of wonderfully placed reversed reverb; very enjoyable.

As soon as “Young and Reckless” starts it’s obvious that the party’s back on. Unlike some of the other tracks found on the EP, it has little else to say aside from “I like to party” – but there’s nothing wrong with that. For this track it’s the bass line and it’s tone that really catches my ear, bouncing along all nice and funky, a nice addition of low end without being too deep.

Song number five, “Nothin To Lose” is unlike everything else on the disc so far. It sounds far more ska, without quite being ska. It’s lighter and sweeter, and figures there’s no point in being depressed or stopping the partying, because there’s nothing to lose anyhow. A sentiment I can agree with. It also displays some great reverb on the chorus vocals.

If this album was an experiment in song writing and arrangements for the band, it’s easy to see how the closing and title track “Live What You Love”  is a culmination of everything. It combines the ska-y sweetnes of “Nothin To Lose” with the heavier party-ness of “Girl Like You.” It opens with some classic-rock style  riffs in a pop-punk tone that I quite like. This one also displayed my favourite vocals, putting more diversity into them throughout the song, even if my tastes were hoping for something a bit more raw here and there. Still a great jam, though.

Overall I did enjoy this album, it’s nice and fun, for when you’re not in the mood to take life too serious. It keeps on with traditional The Classix music, back from the days of “Dizzy”, (when they were The Afterparty) but you can hear that they’re starting to mature a bit, both musically and just in their lives. It will be interesting to watch this band progress further.

Sat. Feb. 12: MicLordz & Sauce Funky DVD shoot at U. of W. CAW Centre

Several years ago, MicLordz were a straight up hip-hop duo. Their shows did moderately well in a hip hop scene that has long been overlooked (and sometimes grossly misbooked or promoted) and even became one of the first acts to cross over into venues traditionally “non-hip hop” (such as the famed and never forgotten Avalon Front). But despite the limited success of their CD, Family Tree, there was something missing. Enter funk jam band Sauce Funky and the rest is musical history. Since the combos united and became simply MicLordz & Sauce Funky, the sky has been the limit for this explosive live act. At times combining the energy and excitement of bands like House of Pain and Rage Against The Machine, MLSF almost sound like a permanent hip-hop/funk metal hybrid, as if they were constantly creating their own Judgment Night soundtrack. Musically, it’s got more guts and gusto than Kid Rock, and MC’s Boots and AlerG spit barbs back and forth more like a Super Hero duo than enemies. This is a tight knit group of guys who are putting it all on the line – the heart and soul, their careers, their own money – to make it.

So far they’re doing just that.

They’ve toured throughout the entire country of Canada and much of the United States, either fueled on their own ambition (and I’m sure a few credit cards) or as part of a tour, most recently as the support for Psychopathic Records recording artists Twiztid. This offered them a great deal of North American exposure to a rabid fan base of Juggalos across the nation. Working inside a cult following will create a great base for them to jump off of and it seems like it has already provided that leap. After this small home stand, they’re packing up and hitting the road again, this time in support of Sen Dog, the legendary hip hip MC from one of the rap/rock creators Cypress Hill.

But before they head off into the sunset with their ammunition, the boys are returning to the scene of many of their crimes to record their first ever live performance DVD. The University of Windsor’s CAW Centre (on campus) will provide the back drop this Saturday as MLSF return the good will that U. of Windsor crowds have been showing the past few years in helping these guys achieve their dreams of making it in this fickle music industry.

Tickets for the show are $10 and are available at  the UWSA offices or via the various band members. Doors are at 7:30pm, with the show to start shortly thereafter.

Opening the show will be the pop-punk sounds of The Classix, the metal/rap hybrid of Central Slang, as well as local hip hop artist Jay Braaks.

MicLordz & Sauce Funky DVD Shoot Party with special guests The Classix, Central Slang and Jay Braaks, University of Windor CAW Student Centre, Saturday February 12th, 7:30pm, $10, Licensed/All-Ages Event