Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles [Explicit Lyrics] [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
It's not clear why they didn't just call this a "greatest hits" compilation since it so clearly is one. That said, it does a decent job of pulling out the best songs from the DP's two mid-90s albums (though one should ask: can a two-album group really qualify for "greatest hits" status?). The seminal "Rebirth of Slick" is on here, as are other slices of jazzy mellowness from Reachin', like "Nickel Bags" and "Dial 7." It's good to see how much material is here from the underrated Blowout Comb, which features superior musical and lyrical material such as the deliciously dark "Dog It" and the light-hearted charm of "Jettin'." The album also features some exclusive material such as unreleased songs ("Three Slims Dynamite"), "Dedicated" (which only appeared on the B-side of a single) and remixes for both "Where I'm From" and "9th Wonder." --Oliver Wang

Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles,Digable Planets,Blue Note Records,Alternative Rap,Hip-Hop,Jazz,Jazz-Rap,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop

Average customer rating:

the ticky ticky buzz the sun winks the sky...

Great collection of one of hip hop's greatest

5 for old content 3 for new

Tight...

I dig it.

Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles
Digable Planets
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Blowout Comb

Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)

Trip the Light Fantastic

Hip Hop 'N Jazz

Anthology

ASIN: B000B66PLQ
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Intro
Dedicated
Nickel Bags
Jettin'
Where I'm From (Remix)
Three Slims Dynamite
Dog It
Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
Dial 7 (Axioms of Creamy Spies)
Graffiti
Pacifics
9th Wonder (Blackitolism) (Elaine Brown Mix)
Where I'm From (LP Version)

Amazon.com

It's not clear why they didn't just call this a "greatest hits" compilation since it so clearly is one. That said, it does a decent job of pulling out the best songs from the DP's two mid-90s albums (though one should ask: can a two-album group really qualify for "greatest hits" status?). The seminal "Rebirth of Slick" is on here, as are other slices of jazzy mellowness from Reachin', like "Nickel Bags" and "Dial 7." It's good to see how much material is here from the underrated Blowout Comb, which features superior musical and lyrical material such as the deliciously dark "Dog It" and the light-hearted charm of "Jettin'." The album also features some exclusive material such as unreleased songs ("Three Slims Dynamite"), "Dedicated" (which only appeared on the B-side of a single) and remixes for both "Where I'm From" and "9th Wonder." --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews:

the ticky ticky buzz the sun winks the sky..........2006-10-31

...I fumble through my fuzz and buzz mr. i

I thought I'd lost them forever. I thought, perhaps that was the lesson for me, their purpose in my life. Two great albums, a cool breeze rich with promise. Like a ham-fisted tyro, I tried to capture it, tried to hold on. But they ultimately went where all cool breezes go.

Then, they were back. But I read the Amazon blurb on the new album, warning that it was just a collection of their greatest hits, even mockingly asking "can a two-album group really qualify for `greatest hits' status?" But then I decided to trust the few kind reviewers who understood: You don't buy an album to collect the song titles. These may be culled from the same set of songs but they are completely new renderings, as well as some completely new tracks. If you are disappointed in this CD, you should more appropriately be disappointed in your own lack of musical sophistication. You've heard the lyrics before but you listen to this music not for the words, but for the vibration. I've said it before, listen in your belly, your center. Then come back and thank me.

True story: I was walking along `round Inman Square, had the Planets on my iPod. I saw an old acquaintance walking my way, coming around the corner. We used to work together, talked music, traded some bootlegs we burned for each other. Haven't seen each other in a while. Eye contact was established, heads bobbing at the same frequency. There was the moment when I went to pull out the ear buds. Wouldn't want to be uncouth. Then, I saw his hands going to his ears. We were close enough to see we both were digging our tunes. Simultaneously, we both dropped our arms. It was the ultimate act of non-verbal post-modern etiquette. There was a chuckle, the raised eyebrow greeting, the knowing glances, the nod, and we passed without interrupting each other's tunes. And somehow I'm almost positive he too was grooving to the Axioms of Creamy Spies.

Great collection of one of hip hop's greatest.......2006-07-16

First of all, those fooled into thinking this is Digable Planet's long awaited reunion album will be disappointed, for it is not. This is a collection of Digable Planets music from their time together between 1993 and 1995. The concept of this album is very similar to the A Tribe Called Quest collection "Hits, Rarities, and Remixes", if you are familiar with it. This album contains some singles and great deep tracks from the group's two albums, "Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)" and "Blowout Comb", but to convince old fans to buy it it also includes remixes of songs from those two albums and previously unreleased tracks from that period. Like I said about the Pete Rock & CL Smooth hits collection, a compilation of Digable Planets songs is kind of redundant and questionable considering they only released two albums over two years. However, if you are new to Digable Planets, this might be a good starting point, but I'd actually recommend buying their two albums instead because they are both amazing, there's no track worth skipping on either one. Digable Planets is one of hip hop's greatest and most underrated groups, making a trademark fusion of hip hop and jazz that was some of the most artistic and beautiful music I've heard. From Doodlebug, Butterfly, and Mecca's beautiful voices to the live instrumentation, sampling, and lyricism, "Reachin'..." and "Blowout Comb" are two of the best albums I've heard. Digable has never received their proper respect and remains a largely unheard group ten years later.

Bottom line, a long time Digable Planets fan might want this album for collection purposes, but in my opinion, new fans should pounce on their two albums instead. The content on "Beyond the Spectrum" is excellent, and you can't really go wrong by buying it, but Digable's two albums are definitely worth the purchase.

5 for old content 3 for new.......2006-02-26

Even to a huge fan of Dig Ps this CD was not at all impressive. Don't get me wrong, what's on it is the some of the best music ever created...the problem is... I've already got it all. If you have their first two cds then this is really only worth it if you have an unsatiable curiosity about those extra tracks. They're ok. If you don't have the old ones..then pick them up first!

Tight..........2005-11-06

As another reviewer said, the first reviewer's low mark isn't based on a valid point. The point of this album was to be a remastery of the better Digable tracks. There are also some tracks that did not show up on the albums, which is a bonus.

If you are new to Digable Planets, I highly recommend this work, for every song on this CD is ace. These people are the kings (and one queen) of psychadelic chill out hip hop. The rhythm production also helps out a bunch. Many of the tracks sample older songs, but the producers (including King Britt) do it so tastefully and respectfully that they would have been hot beats without the use of a sample.

Get this and I'm sure you'll be hooked. If you like them, also get "Uptown Saturday Night" by Camp Lo. There's another group I could go on about.

I dig it........2005-10-30

I admit I initially thought this was a new album, but then I saw the tracklist and realized it was a collection of sorts. So what we get here is a couple remixes, a couple b-sides, and the "better" tracks from their two albums. A few more tracks would have been nice, and I'd easily swap "Nickel Bags" for "It's Good To Be Here". Overall though I like what's included. Obviously a new album would have been more welcome, but at least we get something from them, and they are on tour as well.

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