Inappropriate reviews

 —  Sweet. 2112 is one of the most amazing pieces of music I've ever heard. It can be appreciated by even the most hardened listener. Even if you listen to System Of A Down (spit), you'll love this album. Powerful instrumentation and brilliant lyrics combine to make up 2112. Go out and buy it NOW!

 

 

 

Only one centence of somewhat useful advice...

 

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Alpha 7 Ministries was founded in 1995. Our primary purpose is to help individuals establish an intimate relationship with God, which in turn helps them to establish better relationships with one another. It is the goal of Alpha 7 Ministries to encourage you in your walk with the Lord and help you develop a one on one relationship with Him. We are a ministry committed to helping individuals draw closer to the Lord. Whether through song or words of encouragement, our Counseling and Music Ministries are here to aid you in your walk with the Lord. Our Music Ministry "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” Colossians 3:16

Christian Music is a viable vehicle by which the gospel of Jesus Christ can be spread throughout the world. It is a means by which we can express we have been filled with His spirit. A song can encourage and uplift the soul when nothing else will. Christian music is powerful and we strive to bring you the music of artists who are dedicated to ministry. Traditional gospel to classic quartet to Contemporary Christian/Inspirational, we aim to bring forth music from artists that speak to your heart, minister to your soul and inspire you to continue on your walk with the Lord. Our repertoire of music includes artists such as Pastor Fleetwood Irving, Jus-B-Cuz, The Sons of the Soul Revivers, Brenda Lowe and Debra Henderson.

Our Counseling Ministry Where there is no counsel the people perish, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14

There are times when we all need some encouragement in our walk with the Lord. Our counseling ministry was designed to encourage, motivate and uplift you in your journey. If you're facing some personal dilemmas visitThe Counselor's Corner where our resident therapist tackles some of the most difficult problems facing Christians today. Have a question for the counselor? Submit it anonymously and it could be featured in our Ask The Counselor section. And for those of you who are engaged or contemplating marriage check out our pre-marital guide "How Do I Love Thee - Food For Thought Before You Say I Do."

Are you a Christian Counselor in need of resources and training? Alpha 7 Ministries as an authorized representative of the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling offers two home study courses Each course is designed to help you become a more effective counselor by making use of the Arno Profile System. During 7 years of study with over 5,000 individuals this method was found to be 90% successful when administered by a person trained in this counseling technique. For more information check out our courses Created In His Image and Creation Therapy.

Man, I really wanted this album to be amazing, but it’s only good, and therefore a huge disappointment. Marc Anthony has some kind of huge instrument there, an almost operatic tenor that can actually cause tears to leak from stones; he sings with all the passion and fire anyone could ever want in a singer. But, sadly, that’s not enough.

It’s the songs, I think. They’re too sappy, too overproduced by Estéfano, too general and not specific enough, too stereotypically Latin-ballad-ish. That doesn’t make this stuff bad or unpleasant to hear—on the contrary, this is about the best Spanish-language romantic pop music ever made, probably. The way the swelling strings give way to the metal guitar in the middle of “Se Esfuma Tu Amor” forms a perfect frame for Anthony’s soaring voice, and the handclap heartbeat underneath the acoustic guitar and rain-stick noises of “Tu Amor Me Hace Bien” could probably not be beat for crucialness.

In fact, there are some strange wonderful things buried here. The techno touches on “Nada Personal” are perfect and unobtrusive, and the brilliant decision to bury Anthony’s voice in the opening verse under layers of murk just makes it slam harder when he lets loose with his “real” voice. And if you think I’m going to argue with the fake-Trevor-Horn production touches at the beginning of “Nada Personal,” then you just don’t know me.

It’s impeccably done, tasteful and shiny as you please, not a note out of place, and with several he first thing I noticed about Mase's second album was the lack of an "Explicit Lyrics" warning label. While Mase has publicly proclaimed his new Christian self for several years now, I was a little skeptical about his return to hip-hop and his maintaining that image. It wouldn't be the first time an artist was hypocritical to make a buck...espcially in the rap genre. However, much to my delight, Mase has succeeded in demonstrating a clean product can still be succesfull in this market, a case to demonstrate sometimes the good guy does win.

The first track, the title track, also happens to be the first single on Welcome Back. It has quickly become the feel-good song of the summer, utilizing a sample and hook over the theme from Welcome Back Cotter. It's a very fitting start, seeing as Mase has been quiet for about five years. "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" will probably see some club rotation.

"Keep It On" is the first true evidence of Mase's positive image. It makes a valid argument about just chillin', not neccessarily getting nekid, freaky, or whatever. He also points out that just because a dude might drive a fancy whip (car) or have cash doesn't make him the best guy, or even a good one (although Mase does plenty of bragging about his goods - more on that in a bit).

On "I Owe" Mase recognizes he owes God for what he has. He sends a message against drugs, sex, and morally wrong actions. "They Love You Need" will be familiar to those that have had someone leave them for what they perceived as greener grass, and how you're left thinking how you put them on a pedestal and will always love them, and that they won't find anything better.

While chock full of bragging about bling, it is still bling-free. This means that it's ok to have money...but Mase controls the money, the money doesn't control him. And while Mase gives God his dues, this is by no means a Christian rap album.

Overall Welcome Back still feels like a late 90's P Diddy album. But whatever he's been doing since then has always worked, and so it does it here, but that's the same thing that doesn't make this a stellar album. It's been done. What helps this album is Mase, and what he brings to the table with his messages and his image. It's refreshing for once.thrilling vocal performances. It’s sexy, it’s professional, it’ll make a lot of people cry and/or make out madly. (Confession: I asked to review this record because my wife really likes Marc Anthony. Like, really likes Marc Anthony.) And anything that induces tears and sex can’t be that bad for the world.

So what the hell is my problem? Well…I’m not sure. Maybe it’s all the perfection, all the frozen crystallized arpeggios, all the sweeping strings and cavernous power-ballad drum sounds. It’s Vegas, baby, all the way—it’s good the first time through, the second time through, but by the third time it starts to wear on you. This is pop the way Celine Dion is pop: easily digestible, hardly memorable.

And maybe I’m falling prey to the whole biographical foofaraw. After all, can we expect to learn anything about love from a guy who split on his stunning wife (a former Miss World) and young children for his duet partner (and now wife), some up-and-coming young starlet named Jennifer Lopez? Nope—hey, the human heart is a delicate thing, a mysterious little thing that no one has yet been able to explain, and I’ve danced to enough R.Kelly not to review on that basis. But what about the fact that their song together here, “Escapémonos,” betrays no chemistry, no fire, no passion whatsoever? Now that bothers me.

Marc Anthony has another record coming out this year, a record much more focused on salsa. I’ll have to wait for that one to hear something I really love. In the meantime, this perfect and serviceable little album will have to remain in the “like” category. (And when the lights are low, but you didn’t hear that from me.)

There really isn't too much to be said about this album, except for that it is good. It is a mix tape of several rap songs, 27 to be exact. It is a constant mix, with only a brief break from the Cali Kings in the beginning of a song or two. It is a good choice of songs, ranging from a couple years ago to the present, from East Coast to West Coast. Artists featured include Wu-Tang Clan, Timbaland and Magoo, Militia, Dialated Peoples, Ice Cube, Master P, KRS-One, and many more...

The brothers demonstrate their scratching and mixing techniques well,without overdoing it for the average listener. This he first thing I noticed about Mase's second album was the lack of an "Explicit Lyrics" warning label. While Mase has publicly proclaimed his new Christian self for several years now, I was a little skeptical about his return to hip-hop and his maintaining that image. It wouldn't be the first time an artist was hypocritical to make a buck...espcially in the rap genre. However, much to my delight, Mase has succeeded in demonstrating a clean product can still be succesfull in this market, a case to demonstrate sometimes the good guy does win.

The first track, the title track, also happens to be the first single on Welcome Back. It has quickly become the feel-good song of the summer, utilizing a sample and hook over the theme from Welcome Back Cotter. It's a very fitting start, seeing as Mase has been quiet for about five years. "Breathe, Stretch, Shake" will probably see some club rotation.

"Keep It On" is the first true evidence of Mase's positive image. It makes a valid argument about just chillin', not neccessarily getting nekid, freaky, or whatever. He also points out that just because a dude might drive a fancy whip (car) or have cash doesn't make him the best guy, or even a good one (although Mase does plenty of bragging about his goods - more on that in a bit).

On "I Owe" Mase recognizes he owes God for what he has. He sends a message against drugs, sex, and morally wrong actions. "They Love You Need" will be familiar to those that have had someone leave them for what they perceived as greener grass, and how you're left thinking how you put them on a pedestal and will always love them, and that they won't find anything better.

While chock full of bragging about bling, it is still bling-free. This means that it's ok to have money...but Mase controls the money, the money doesn't control him. And while Mase gives God his dues, this is by no means a Christian rap album.

Overall Welcome Back still feels like a late 90's P Diddy album. But whatever he's been doing since then has always worked, and so it does it here, but that's the same thing that doesn't make this a stellar album. It's been done. What helps this album is Mase, and what he brings to the table with his messages and his image. It's refreshing for once.makes it an awesome dance party CD. You can put it in and let it play all night, and most people will recognize the songs, even if they aren't hip-hop junkies.

Cali Kings Mix Tape Vol. 1 earns 3.5, and a recommendation that you pick it up if you want some good hip-hop at your next party! I'm looking forward to their second mix tape which is due sometime soon...


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