Daily Staff Writer

KnoW.O.N.D.E.R

KnoW.O.N.D.E.R.

Kno Words Offering Needed Dialect Encouraging Revolution, or KnoW.O.N.D.E.R. as the band is commonly known, is making the newest attempt to put the Midwest on the hip-hop map with its first release, KnoW.O.N.D.E.R.

KnoW.O.N.D.E.R. consists of Pandemonium and D.J. Blend. Both are ISU alumni who have been working on music since their undergrad years.

Let me be the first to say these brothers got skilllz! Those who have seen their performances at the M-Shop know of what I speak.

All that can be said about this CD is that it is dope. The tracks are tight, the beats are phat and the rhymes leave nothing to be desired.

Pandemonium has a great voice and is complemented well by Blend’s beats. Although these two young M.C.s are new to the music business, you wouldn’t know by listening to the music.

Let’s put it this way. When they went to lay the music down and put it on the CD, the engineers didn’t change any of the levels. It went right from DAT to CD and that was it.

Now if that ain’t skills I don’t know what is.

KnoW.O.N.D.E.R. delivers on every cut, particularly on “Gabriel’s Groove,” with its fresh original delivery and rhythm. “Its On Tonight” enters with a 70’s feel but it’s all 90’s.

The disc also includes guest rhymes by Malik Shabazz and Alahhm the Insomniac, both ISU undergraduates, on the definite head bouncer “Set it Off.”

KnoW.O.N.D.E.R is purely underground, and I advise all hip-hop-heads to check it out.

— Rhaason Mitchell

4 stars

Wack-Ass Tuba Riff

Fulflej

If you like “punk-alternative” and you like the Smashing Pumpkins, you might be interested in Fulflej. The band’s lead singer amazingly resembles Billy Corgan, which could have something to do with the fact that Pumpkins D’Arcy and James Ihaa released the record on their new label, Scratchie Records.

One thing is still different. Fulflej is no Smashing Pumpkins.

In an effort to straddle the punk rock and alternative rock fence, Fulflej has fallen and hit its head and now suffers from a split personality. This dysfunction is evident in most songs, but shows up clearly in the song “Worms To Dogs.” At times, Fulflej even flirts with a hard rock sound.

The attempt to dabble in various styles is reminiscent of the food service casseroles made from last week’s lasagna and chicken cordon bleu days…they both suck. The song “Work In This Universe,” has aired on the radio in small circuits, but the band is otherwise unknown and should be.

Unless Fulflej makes a commitment to one style of music, the band could be destined to live and die by “cult” type following.

— Brandon Belisle

2 stars

Ghostface Killah-Ironman

Wu-Tang Productions, Inc.

Wu-Tang has done it again. They’re no longer just rapping, now they have their own production company, Wu-Tang Productions, Inc.

Ghostface Killah-Ironman, the first release by the clan, has a nice mix of beats and lyrics from the old school to the new school. The disc features Raekwon and Cappadonna and guest appearances by Method Man, Mary J. Blige, The Force MD’s, The Delphonics and U-God.

The rugged beats start from the beginning with “Iron Maiden.” Unlike some songs that have featured performers, Ghostface and Wu-Tang Productions do a good job of mixing the featured rappers and singers into the songs. For instance, Blige doesn’t stand out in the song like she’s a guest, but like she’s part of the song.

Many may know of Ghostface by the popular single “Motherless Child,” but it’s not the only good song on the CD. On Ghostface Killah-Ironman, all the songs are distinctively different.

“All That I Got Is You” is a mellower mix that features Blige. It still has the hard-edged beats but is softened by Blige and music from the Jackson Five tune “Maybe Tomorrow.”

At a time when rappers seem to be starting record companies everyday, guys like Dr. Dre better watch out, because Wu-Tang Productions, Inc. is on hit.

— Tara Deering

3 1/2 stars

Rock And Roll Circus

The Rolling Stones

Welcome to the Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus where Mick Jagger sums up everything best during his introduction when he states, “We’ve got sights and sounds and marvels to delight your eyes and ears.”

A historical event occurs when The Dirty Mac perform. The Dirty Mac is a super-group with John Lennon (vocal/guitar), Eric Clapton (guitar), Keith Richards (bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums). Their version of “Yer Blues” features great howling from Lennon, pulsing drums and excellent guitar dueling between Clapton and Richards. The Who present its mini-opera, “A Quick One While She’s Away.” The song is pretty good, especially the drumming of Keith Moon, but a far cry from the characteristic tempestuous sound of most Who concerts.

But things don’t really get hopping until the Rolling Stones start to play.

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” presents the Stones at its finest. Jagger delivers riveting vocals with a sensational voice; Jones, Richards and Bill Wyman all accentuate every guitar chord.

Almost 30 years later, after the deaths of Jones, Hopkins, Lennon and Moon, the music sounds as poignant as ever, leaving us behind a glimpse of why these artists will always be great, and the songs phenomenal.

— Ben Jones

4 1/2 stars

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All rating are based on a scale of zero to five stars, with five being “phat like dat” and zero being “not down wit it.”