Rising Tied, The (Parental Advisory/+DVD) [PA] - Fort Minor > Reviews > Remember The Name

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Originality
Disadvantages:	not sure as yet

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This is just a test review for the moment, I need to become more familiar with the album before I can become more in-depth.

Fort Minor is the solo project of Linkin Park emcee Mike Shinoda. In a break from his nu-metal background with Linkin Park, Mike takes to the hip-hop scene with producer Jay-Z. He brings his enormous talent and flair for originality along with him.
Featuring acts such as Common, Black Thought, Styles of Beyond and Kenna. Mike stresses that being a solo act doesn't necessarily mean being alone.
Some of the most notable songs on the album are:

Remember The Name

Mike kicks off his solo career with a bang, with live cello players providing the accompaniment. Any cello players out there who would wish to emulate the intro to this song would find it impossible, as Mike needed to hire four of them, and record them. They themselves should be commended for their split second timing. The song then goes on to describe how Mike was part of every process involved in the creation of this brilliant album ("he writes every note, he writes every line") and how this side project isn't just a call for attention ("He doesn't need his name up in lights, he just wants to be heard, whether it's the beat or the mic").

This is 10% luck
20% skill
15% concentrated power of will
5% pleasure
50% pain
and 100% reason to remember the name

Petrified

Petrified is more attitude than song, really. Mike pulls it off with lots of style, though, and this song is testament to the fact that he's not always dead serious. Set against what is probably the most arm-waving, head-banging beat since Eminem's Lose Yourself (except Petrified's is more varied and melodic), Petrified would make a great alarm tone for my phone.

Why's everybody so petrified (what)
Petrified (what)
Step aside and just drop that (come on)
Drop that (come on)
Drop that (come on)
Drop that (come on)

Where'd You Go

Mike shows a more emotional side in what I would recommend as his next release. It shows the thoughts of somebody who is left behind, while the partner is away working. It was inspired by his wife, and when Mike plays her the song, she always cries. A lot of people will cry if Mike releases this. If you're wondering why, think of the way people reacted to hearing Stan (Eminem).

Where'd you go
I miss you so
Seems like it's been forever
Since you've been gone
Where'd you go
I miss you so
Seems like it's been forever
Since you've been gone
Please come back home

Kenji

Featuring interviews with Mike's father and aunt, Kenji is a song about the experience of Mike's family in World War 2. It accurately logs how Kenji (Mike's grandfather, I think) was forced to leave town to go to an American internment camp. It pulls at the heart strings, while educating people about the hell the Japanese had to endure at the hands of American soldiers. There is no chorus so I can't type one below.

Right Now

Featuring the vocal talents of Styles of Beyond and Black Thought, Right Now is basically a snapshot of the lives of people outside the haven of a hotel room.

As I mentioned before, I will need to gain more familiarity with the album before I add any more. Hopefully, the four songs I have reviewed will be enough until I update.