Like most of Tech's recent work, he had a lot of guest features. With all of his Strange Music comrades, plus other well known artists such as, KRIT, Kendrick Lamar, and Game, this album had more features than songs. With all these guests it may lead you to believe this album would be disjointed. Too many artists can lead to a sloppy finished product, along with Tech N9ne claiming this project would be a mesh of many genres in one, which also may lead one to believe the project wouldn't be cohesive. Fortunately Tech is a musical genius, and I have complete confidence he can pull this off.
Another cool thing to add about this album is that it is split into three parts, Fire, Water, and Earth. Tracks 2-10 being Fire, 11-13 being Water, and 14-21 being Earth. Each section has a different theme if you will, and it makes it a cool effect while you are playing this album. I could rant about my love for Tech for hours, but that wouldn't help you get a feel for this project, so I'll be moving on to the run down.
1. News With Mark Alford 1
As you can assume by the number one in the title, Mark Alford will be appearing in multiple news segments throughout the album. As far as skits go, this one is cool, and plays nicely into the theme. This isn't a concept album, but it definitely has an underlying theme to it. This is better than most intro skits, which isn't saying much.
2. Straight Out The Gate (ft. Serj Tankian & Krizz Kaliko)
While Kaliko is a credited feature for backup singing on the hook, make no mistakes, that is the voice of former System of a Down front man, Serj Tankian. It opens with a classroom of kids creepily saying the Technician pledge to some really cool pipe organs. The guitar sample on the beat is really cool, and Tech brings the classic flow he is famous for. The epic drums are pretty cool, and Kaliko adds a nice effect on the hook to make Serj's singing sound even cooler than it is. If you have never heard Nina spit, this is a great way to start, as it is classic flow and lyrics from his standpoint. The hard electric guitar on the third verse, accompanied by the added harshness in Tech's voice makes for an awesome effect. Overall very good way to start an album.
3. B.I.T.C.H ( ft. T-Pain)
When I saw the name of the track, and the feature I got a bit nervous. Fortunately the title is an acronym for, Breaking In To Colored Houses, because Tech is attempting to crossover to gain a black audience. This is a track about Tech gaining a black audience because unlike most rappers he started out with a white following because of the darkness in his lyrics. This song isn't the best, but at least we didn't get a song about bitches by Tech and T-Pain.
4. With The BS (ft. Red Cafe, Trae Tha Truth, and Big Scoob)
So Tech Spits a verse about needing money, which is dope as hell, but also confusing. Tech has money, no doubt about it, so I am confused as to why he would think it will be a struggle to pay for his child's education. This is a bumping beat that would sound awesome in some car speakers, but is fairly average. Everyone else raps about being with the Bullshit tonight,and basically getting wild. Why Tech was on a completely different topic, I have no fucking clue, and for that reason this song just doesn't feel complete. It sounds like a Big Scoob song that Tech put a random verse on.
5. Love 2 Dislike Me (ft. Liz Suwandi, & Tyler Lyon)
This song is a crazy mixture of soft rock,metal, and hip-hop.Tech raps very harshly over the very heavy metal guitar, and the hook switches quickly from soft rock to metal. Some people will think this track is too much, but it clicks perfectly for me. While all these genres are just thrown together, I feel like they fit very well together, and on top of all that, the theme of the song is an emotional one. Once again, this won't be for everyone, but I think that it is a great listen.
6. Fortune Force Field
Well would you look at that, not a single feature, hallelujah. Anyone else on this track would ruin it completely. The hook to this track is really cool, and it gives you an honest feeling of going to battle. I'm sure any artist who has been forced to go independent has felt like this. He compares his feeling of having these ideas he can't put out with having a baby but not giving birth to it, which is a cool analogy that helps everyone understand what he is feeling. The soft tone of rapping and acoustic guitar on the beat go together perfectly, and i cannot understand not liking this track.
7. I'm Not A Saint
The soulful sample on the hook, and throughout most the song is really cool. It kind of gives you the effect of a reverend preaching, and it sounds nice. Tech tells a story of his imperfections which end up getting really deep. He includes when he had an affair with his closest friends girl, and then he died before they could fully patch things up. He also includes a past demon of his, being sexually abused by his middle school teacher, whose name is censored for legal reasons.
8. Fragile (ft. !Mayday!, & Kendrick Lamar)
This song has a very basic beat, that includes a simple drum line, and some guitar. I feel like you could hear this beat in a coffee shop, and it adds a calming effect to the track. The singing from !Mayday! on the first verse and hook is fantastic, and Tech follows up with a very good verse. He flows more quickly than he has on most of the album to this point, and does so very well. However, the true star of this song is Kendrick Lamar. The way he basically screams on this soft beat sounds awesome. His entire verse is very well done. This song, unlike most of the previous ones, will be for everyone. There is enough of everything to please any fan.
9. Priorities (ft. Game, & Angel Davanport)
The beat of this song is actually someone apparently running from the police. And the three rappers go back and forth with very small verses. The intensity continues to build throughout the entire song and it eventually ends with a giant crash. This is a very short track about minorities getting unfair treatment from the law enforcement, and gets the point across nicely.
10. News With Mark Alford 2
We get an update on the state of the city which helps move the albums theme along nicely. I personally like what these skits add to the album. The most interesting part is when a deep voice at the end booms, "Water," and we are introduced to the second part of the album.
11. Dwamn
To avoid confusion that is not a typo. It is damn with a wam on it. Basically when you are extremely impressed you yell, Dwamn. In most cases it is referring to a females ass, which makes me laugh quite a few times. We can tell that the mood in Water is much lighter, and the theme is women. This isn't a very good song, but come on, yell dwamn and see if you don't get any amusement from it. The shit is fun as hell, and for that reason this track isn't terrible.
12. So Dope (They Wanna) [ft. Wrekonize, Snow Tha Project, & Twisted Insane)
This song has a very creepy vibe to it on the verses. It is a song about sex that has a dark beat, so you can see where I'm coming from with the creepy thing. All of the rappers chop up the beat fantastically, and while the subject matter is basic, this lead single showcases the speed and talent of all the involved rappers.
13. See Me (ft. Wiz Khalifa & B.O.B.)
This is the most obvious radio attempt on the album. Tech spits well, but the beat is very radio friendly, and Wiz is garbage. B.O.B. unfortunately does nothing, but sing that annoying hook. I have to say that this is my least favorite track so far on the album from all aspects. Fortunately Water is over, as the voice once again booms, Earth.
14. My Haiku- Burn the World (ft. Krizz Kaliko)
For those who don't know a haiku is a basic poem. Tech's happens to be about pedophiles dying, which I'm all for. We then get to the song, which I say with solidarity is great. Tech spits amazing emotional verses about everyone getting together to light the world and stop pedophilia. Tech once again references when he was sexually abused as a child, and uses that insight to really grab the audience. The subject matter is fantastic, and the rapping matches it. Krizz Kaliko shines on the hook, and delivers a good verse as well. Who knew Krizz had that voice. Tech's last verse is an attempt to rally everyone to keep these horrific crimes from continuing, and it is a great verse. This is a highlight of the album.
15. That's My Kid (ft. CeeLo Green, Big K.R.I.T., & Kutt Calhoun)
Here is another track with great subject matter. Tech talks about setting a good example to his kids, and always keeping an eye on what they are doing. He talks about his stories as a parent, and it is very insightful to the listener. The hook by CeeeLo is well sang, but a bit on the corny side. K.R.I.T. delivers a similar very well written verse, and then we have Kutt. If I'm listening right, Kutt has eight children he's taking care of. Well done Kutt you are the father of the year. The little girl at the end of the track is the cutest thing that has ever happened if I may add.
16. Meant To Happen (ft. Scoop Deville)
The Scoop hook sounds like a vinyl sample, which sounds really cool. The rest of this song is plain depressing. It is another fantastic song, but Tech takes us through the horrors of his life. Including his mom being stood up by his father and beginning a history of epileptic seizures. The next is Tech and his Aunt facing a gunman in the middle of the night. Tech ends the song by accepting the darkness in his life and almost thanking it for helping him gain fame. After all Tech's rhymes are often based on the darkness in his life, and for that reason, it was all meant to happen.
17. Mark Alford News 3
Well hey Mark. This man has the most stereotypical anchor man voice. He wraps up his three-part news story with a happy ending, and we all look fondly back on Mark Alford. You go Mark!
18. Believe
Out of all the features on this album, it baffles me that this female singer goes unaccredited. I'm sorry female singer, you deserve more. That aside Tech delivers my favorite track on the album. The beat is just epic enough not to be corny. And the hook reminds me of the song Skyfall by Adele which is awesome. Tech N9ne lightens the mood and encourages everyone to ban together for a better future, which sounds corny, but it comes out great. Something Tech did on this album that I like is preach much more positive messages to his very real cult-like following.
19. R.I.P. Ray
Tech N9ne reminiscing on his experience with meeting a member of The Doors who is now sadly deceased, you know what I'm sizzling?
20. Strange 2013 (ft. The Doors)
I am not familiar with the music of the doors, but I have to assume they coined the term Strange Music or something. The hook provided by Jim Morrison is awesome, and The beat is very classic rock mixed with hip-hop. This is the last track on the album, and Tech basically says he is hear, and Strange Music isn't going anywhere any time soon. This is a great way to end the album on a happy, high note.
21. SMB
Straaaaaaaange Music Bitch!
Rating: 3.5/5
This album has something for everyone, and will satisfy all Tech N9ne fans. If you have never heard a Tech song I advise starting somewhere else, because this is an album for the fans in my mind. Tech continues to try new things, and they continue to work for the most part. As Strange music expands and continues increasing popularity I can only See more Techinina in the future. I would recommend a purchase here, but once again not as your first taste of this artist. He has albums such as K.O.D. and even, All 6's and 7's that will better ease you into his style. Overall as a fan I am satisfied by the project, and that is all you can ask from an artist.