Release Date: September 23, 2003

Speakerboxxx Record Label: La Face

 

1. Intro (1:29) 

2. Ghetto Musick (3:56) Produced by Andre 3000 

Here is easily a very good song to listen to. It has a nice beat with some nice lyrics to go with it. The song fits just right in with this album. Even though it is not the best on the album, it is one of the better ones. 9/10

3. Unhappy (3:19) Produced by Mr. DJ 

Yet again another hot hit. “Unhappy” starts off a little slow, with little sound. By 0:09, the beat starts which automatically grabs your attention. Once again not the best, but still a very nice song. 8.5/10

4. Bowtie (3:56) feat. Sleepy Brown and Jazze Pha Produced by Mr. DJ 

At first, “Bowtie” starts off a little, well, blues-ish. To no surprise, it gets a lot better, “Outkast” style. It is a good song, but not the best thing that happened to the world. “Bowtie” is one of the songs I don’t enjoy listening to 3+ times a week. 6.5/10

5. The Way You Move (3:53) feat. Sleepy Brown Produced by Carl Mo. Co-Produced by Big Boi 

Now comes the most-heard-about track off of the “Speakerboxxx” album, “The Way You Move.” This song is definately in the running for the best track on the album. Very nice song. 10/10

6. The Rooster (3:57) Produced by Carl Mo. Co-Produced by Big Boi

“The Rooster” is just another one of them “regular” songs, like “Bowtie”, not the ones you hear much about because there are better ones. I do not enjoy listening to it I do like it better than “Bowtie.” 7/10

7. Bust (3:08) feat. Killer Mike Produced by Big Boi 

“Bust” is definately interesting. Kind of has that rock/rap effect on it. Everyone knows not every song can be awesome, right? 6.5/10

8. War (2:43) Produced by Mr. DJ 

I like “War”, well, somewhat. I love the lyrics, flow just my type, but the beat, I honestly don’t like. The lyrics keep this track something I would listen to frequently. 8/10

9. Church (3:27) Produced by Andre 3000 

The first time I heard “Church” was while I was waiting for Madden NFL 2004 to load. I liked it then, and like it now. It’s definately a good track, not the best though. 9/10

10. Bamboo (Interlude) (2:09) 

11. Tomb of the Boom (4:46) feat. Konkrete, Big Gipp, and Ludacris. Produced by Big Boi 

Here is another very good track, but yet one you don’t hear much about. It features Ludacris, which I like. “Tomb of the Boom” is a definate Top Five for “Speakerboxxx”. 8.5/10

12. E-Mac (Interlude) (0:24) 

13. Knowing (3:32) Produced by Mr. DJ 

The more I listen to “Knowing”, I like it even more. It is a good track but definate not the Top Five, maybe the Top Ten, a pretty big maybe though. 7.5/10

14. Flip Flop Rock (4:35) feat. Killer Mike and Jay Z Produced by Big Boi. Co-Produced by Mr. DJ 

Here is a very good song that has Jay Z in it. It’s not the best, but it will do. 8.5/10

15. Interlude (1:15) 

16. Reset (4:35) feat. Khujo Goodie and Cee-Lo Produced by Big Boi 

I really like this song, definate a good one. I enjoy listening to it and it’s right up there on my list for the best song of the album. 9/10

17. D-Boi (Interlude) (0:40) 

18. Last Call (3:57) feat. Slimm Calhoun, Lil’ Jon, Eastside Boyz, and Mello Produced by Andre 3000 

One of the few that I don’t like at all on this album. Definately not that good, but yet it has a good beat, just no lyrics. Not the way to go out on a CD, with a bad song. 6/10

19. Bowtie (Postlude) (0:34) 

Speakerboxxxx Final Points: 113/140
Speakerboxxxx Final Grade: 81% (C)
Speakerboxxxx Final Notes: Speakerboxxx has its good
points and it’s bad points. We’ll have to see what “The Love Below” gets to finally judge it. There is way too many interludes in Speakerboxxx.

The Love Below
Record Label: La Face 

1. The Love Below (Intro) (1:27) 

2. Love Hater (2:49) Produced by Andre 3000 

I’m going to come straight out to you: I do not like this song one bit. Absolutely a bad song to do as your beginning song. We’ll see what the rest of the CD brings because if the rest of the songs are like, it’s not going to be pretty. 6/10

3. God (Interlude) 

4. Happy Valentine’s Day Produced by Andre 3000 

Here’s where the first good song comes in. This song is an absolutely awesome track to listen to. 9/10

5. Spread Produced by Andre 3000 

Yet again another nice song with some good lyrics. Songs like these bring an albums rating up. 8.5/10

6. Where Are My Panties? (Interlude) (1:54) 

7. Prototype (5:26) Produced by Andre 3000

Right off the bat, you can tell this song is going to be good. A very smoothe beat and pretty good lyrics. It looks like “The Love Below” is making up for some of the mistakes of “Speakerboxxx”, right? So far it is. 9/10

8. She Lives In My Lap (4:27) feat. Rosario Dawson Produced by Andre 3000 

Okay, with the laughing and then the somewhat weird music, it makes you think this track is gonna be three letters: G-A-Y. But, it’s not. It is actually a decent track. A lot of talking rather than singing, but hey, better off to be somewhat different. 7.5/10

9. Hey Ya! (3:55) Produced by Andre 3000 

This is one of the most heard-of songs off of the whole album, “Hey Ya!”. And indeed, it is a good song. I like it a lot. This is definately in the race for the best track on the album, along with “The Way You Move”. 10/10

10. Roses (6:09) Produced by Dojo5 and Andre 3000 

Again one of the better tracks, not in the race for the best track, but still. I like this song better than most, but still, it’s not like the first time someone hears it they say they go: “WHOA!! That’s the best song I’ve heard.” No, but, it is still good, don’t underestimate it. 8.5/10

11. Good Day, Good Sir (Interlude) (1:25) 

12. Behold A Lady (4:37) Produced by Andre 3000 

Here is another one of them “regular” songs, it’s not good, it’s not bad. It’s neutral. 7/10

13. Pink & Blue (5:04) Produced by Andre 3000 

Okay, the beginning is stupid, no doubt. And surprisingly, the whole songs stays that way, it’s not good at all. For sure one of the worst on the whole album. 6/10

14. Love In War (3:25) Produced by Andre 3000 

Is this CD going downhill or is it just me? This song is another “regular” and “The Love Below” needs a couple good songs for this slump their in right now! 7.5/10

15. She’s Alive (4:06) Produced by Andre 3000 

Hmm…this one is a different one. It has it’s good points plus some bad points. More good than bad, though. A definate plus because this album needs some more points because of the last couple songs. 9/10

16. Dracula’s Wedding (2:32) Produced by Andre 3000 

Oooh, another plus. I am really feeling it, although it could be longer. The longer the song plays, the better it gets. 8.5/10

17. The Letter (Interlude) (2:38) 

18. My Favorite Things (Interlude) (5:13) 

19. Take Off Your Cool (5:11) feat. Norah Jones Produced by Andre 3000 

Pretty cool track, except for some parts. Not all songs can be awesome, though. 7.5/10

20. Vibrate (6:33) Produced by Andre 3000 

Very nice song, a definate plus to end a CD with. 8/10

 

The Love Below Final Points: 113/140 The Love Below Final Grade: 81% (C) The Love Below Final Notes: Not every album can be perfect, you know that. It is still a good CD though, The Love Below is.

Album Final Points: 226/280 Album Final Grade: 81% (C) Album Final Notes: This album is definately tight, no doubt. A very good album! but not the best album Outkast has produced.

Best Song Race: 
1. The Way You Move 2. Hey Ya! 3. Happy Valentines Day 4. Tomb of the Boom 5. Church Worst Song Race: 
1. Love Hater 2. Last Call 3. Pink and Blue 4. Bust 5. Bowtie

The Outkast is a group containing Andre Benjamin and Big Boi. Their debut album “Southernplayalistikmuzik” was slept on and their follow up album “ATLiens” had a few VERY tight cuts, but also a few below average. Therefor I’m hoping for this album to last all the way.

1. Intro

2. Return of the ”G”

Mellow beat and tight verses. A song to smoke to… just enjoy! Except the damn outro. Annoying.

3. Rosa Parks

Damn! Tight beat with a nice guitar string, tight lyrics and a catchy hook. Can it be any better than this?!? “Aahaa, what’s that buzz, everybody move to the back of the buss..” etc. Again, there’s an outro.

4. Skew it on the bar-b (feat. Raekwon)

Tight production, and a catchy hook. Raekwon’s tight on this one, and so is Dre and Big Boi.

5. Aquemini

An other mellow beat. Light it up and enjoy.

6. Synthesizer (feat. George Clinton)

I didn’t like this track at all first time I heard it, but it’s growing on me. The hook is cool, but this is not one of the best performances from George Clinton. Make sure you’re listening to the entire track, because it’s wack to start with but gets better all along.

7. Slump

Boring beat but the Outkast are still holding the track up, and came up with a catchy hook as usual.

8. West Savannah

Not one of the best tracks of the cd. The beat is not wack, but definitely not tight. It’s kinda mellow, and so is the verses. They’ve done their best to make a catchy hook tho. Didn’t work on me.

9. Da art of storytellin’ (Part 1)

Cool production and tight lyrics. On top of that they came up with a catchy hook. This is definitely a tight song.

10. Da art of storytellin’ (Part 2)

I thought this would be like Part 1, but it’s totally different. Tight beat with a mellow mixing on top of it and a tight flow. Don’t sleep on this track!

11. Mamacita

What the hell is this track doing on this cd? Wack.

12. Spottieottiedogsallscious

Cool, slow production. They must have been high while doing this. And that’s also what you should be when listening to it. ( to bad that would be illegal 😉 )

13. Y’all scared (feat. T-Mo, Big Gipp & Khuju)

Cool production, but wack track. Skip it unless you feel like listening to something to just enjoy the production.

14. Nathaniel (Skit)

15. Liberation (feat Cee-Lo)

This is a cool slow jam, and I enjoyed it. I’m not to sure ya’ll will tho.

16. Chonkyfire

Damn!!! I was expecting an outro or something, but instead the Outkast gave me a blazing song! Tight beats with an electric guitar over them. Definitely one of my favourite tracks on this album, maybe even my favourite one!

This album was definitely not a disappointment. I’d say this is the best Outkast album. Since I’m doing this review in 2003 I’m also counting Stankonia. If you compare this album to “ATLiens”, “ATLiens” had a few VERY tight tracks, while this had, with some exceptions, tight tracks all the way. This album had tight production on most of the cuts, and every track had a catchy hook. As always the Outkast are showing off their good flow and lyrical skills. If you’re an Outkast fan, you NEED to have this album. If you’re the average rap fan, my advice is to get this album, too.

I give this album 4 out of 5 stars.