Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde : Expanded Edition

これを聴かずしてヒップホップを語ることなかれ！THE PHARCYDEのデビュー・アルバムにして「SOUL FLOWER」、「OTHA FISH」、「OFFICER」はじめ、アルバム全曲がクラシック！いまなお世界中のファンを魅了する一家に一枚、いや三枚の家宝級と言える世紀の大傑作。インスト、シングル曲&レア音源も収録したCD4枚組の豪華ミニボックス仕様で堂々の復刻。
ウルトラヴァイヴ

The cover shot of a Fat Albert-ized Pharcyde roller coasting their way into a funhouse makes perfect sense, as the L.A.-based quartet introduced listeners to an uproarious vision of earthy hip-hop informed by P-Funk silliness and an everybody-on-the-mike street-corner atmosphere that highlights the incredible rapping skills of each member. With multiple voices freestyling over hilarious story-songs like "Oh Shit," "Soul Flower," the dozens contest "Ya Mama," and even a half-serious driving-while-black critique named "Officer," Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde proved Daisy Age philosophy akin to De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest wasn't purely an East Coast phenomenon. Skits and interludes with live backing (usually just drums and piano) only enhance the free-form nature of the proceedings, and the group even succeeds when not reliant on humor, as proved by the excellent heartbreak tale "Passing Me By." The production, by J-Sw!ft and the group, is easily some of the tightest and most inventive of any hip-hop record of the era. Though Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde could have used a few more musical hooks to draw in listeners before they begin to appreciate the amazing rapping and gifted productions, the lack of compromise reveals far greater rewards down the line. [Delicious Vinyl reissued the album in 2012 as a triple-disc box set with remixes and instrumentals.] ~ John Bush|