Kottonmouth Kings - Cloud Nine - Import CD

Credits:

Kottonmouth Kings

Description:

What differentiates the Kottonmouth Kings' Cloud Nine from the rest of their huge discography isn't the subject matter -- it's still weed, rebellion, weed, and weed -- but the general feeling that about a quarter of the songs here are more influenced by the Cali alt-rock of Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth than ICP, even though the evil clowns do show up for the "blaze your own trails" anthem "Think 4 Yourself." There are still those punk numbers that sound like the Beastie Boys if they never grew up and some good, hard-hitting hip-hop, like when guest Tech N9ne shines all over "City 2 City," but "One Day" is a surprisingly bright and dreamy number that perfectly suits a bunch of punkish stoners growing old. The reggae light of "Pass It Around" would play fine at any all-inclusive resort, and the laid-back "Proud to Be a Stoner" sounds like it was found stuck between the seats of a 1972 hippie van. If there's any reason to worry about this mellowing, it's that sometimes the production sounds too button-up for the punk and rock-rap numbers, although "Loadies" gets it just right thanks to some gutsy fuzz guitar. A few fans might fall off, a few fans might jump on because of the group's ever-growing love of chillin' and sunshine, but this otherwise straight-up-the-middle Kings album won't surprise or sway most. ~ David Jeffries

Tracklisting:

1.Controlled Substance
2.Livin' Proof
3.Marijuana
4.Think 4 Yourself
5.No Escape
6.Litas
7.One Day
8.City 2 City
9.Pass It Around
10.Ridin' High
11.PTB
12.Riddled (Interlude)
13.Drunk With Power
14.It Ain't Easy
15.Loadies
16.Don't Make Me Beg
17.Everyday Thang
18.All or Nothin'
19.Dark Side
20.Free Willy
21.Time to Get High
22.Proud to Be a Stoner