Get the new FREE JFH METAL MP3 compilation -- Vol. 3!
Get the new FREE JFH METAL MP3 compilation -- Vol. 3!

JFH Music Review



Night Owls 4: A Shot In The Dark
by Various Artists



Album length: 20 tracks: 69 minutes, 46 seconds
Street Date: January 8, 2008 (CD)


Lemon Grove, California-based record label, Syntax Records, is well-known by fans of underground hip hop. While the label does have several artists outside of the genre, it's most well-known for the likes of LA Symphony, Sackcloth Fashion, and the incomparable RedCloud. And every so often, a collection of these and various other artists comes around. January 2008 marks the newest of such releases, Night Owls 4: A Shot In The Dark.

Most of the artists involved are mainly underground giants, but the talent is not left behind. The duo of Cookbook & UNO Mas, who provide the jam "Always Shine," make for one of the best songs on the album. Cookbook sounds almost identical to The Cross Movement's Phanatik, and is quite comparable in style as well. In "Live & Direct," Paradox sounds like he was born to rap, especially with a pretty impressive flow on the second verse. The intelligence and well-thought-out flow is what makes hip hop so unique, and it's what proves the talent of hip hop artists. And few people can spit a verse like RedCloud, who makes an appearance at the end of the disc with "21 Jump Street," where he showcases his fast-paced rapping ability. Even RedCloud's partner in crime, DJ Wise, gets some time on the album, appearing in several tracks, and also having his own interlude track halfway through the compilation.

Other highlights include Page One & Because playing with words on "Emceeing Is Believing," and Kaboose calling on two Deepspace 5 members (manCHILD and Playdough) to complete the track "Knuckle Up." Disappointments arrived a couple times as well, though. theBREAX's track "We Will Not Stop" is very outspoken, almost to the point of cockiness. Lines like "They crack jokes when they find out I'm celebate, but I've never been in the clinic sweating waiting for the evidence" seem, at first, to be just defensive, despite truthful. But when the whole song is full of lines like that, it almost seems as if he's just talking about how great of a Christian he is. Another letdown, although very very minor, is the extremely creepy sample used on Listener's "Older Than I Was Before." However, Listener's unique style almost makes up for it.

If you want good flows, creative beats, and more collaborations than you can touch with a 39 and a half foot pole, look no further. Night Owls 4: A Shot In The Dark is what you want. One of the best compilations to be released as of late, in any genre of music.

- PReview date: 12/1/07, Review: 12/30/07 written by Scott Fryberger



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Listen to the debut EP from the band Hopeful.!

 


. Record Label: Syntax Records
. Album length: 20 tracks: 69 minutes, 46 seconds
. Street Date: December 4, 2007 (Digital) / January 8, 2008 (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. For You - Kaboose
  2. Always Shine - Uno Mas
  3. We Will Not Stop - theBREAX
  4. Emceeing Is Believing - Page One & Because
  5. Spell It - NoVA Infinite
  6. Hold On - MotionPlus
  7. California Soul - Maximillian
  8. Older Than I Was Before - Listener
  9. First Of All - Sivion
  10. A Shot In the Dark - DJ Wise
  11. Knuckle Up - Kaboose
  12. Something You Said - Insufficient Funds
  13. Shots Out - Man Of War
  14. Test Market - The Pride
  15. Live & Direct - Paradox
  16. Fine Line - Scribbling Idiots
  17. We Ran With It - Propaganda
  18. Choose Your Battles - Cal Logic
  19. Okay With It - Braille
  20. 21 Jump Street - Redcloud

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Listen to the debut EP from the band Hopeful.!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, April 16, 2024
ALBUMS
iNTELLECT Roots [Polished Arrow]

This Thursday, April 18, 2024
SINGLES
Eric Owyoung (Future of Forestry) Gold Ribbons - Single (independent)

This Friday, April 19, 2024
ALBUMS
Apollo LTD Hello Human [Centricity]
Consumed by Fire First Things First Commentary Album [Red Street]
Darin and Brooke Aldridge Talk of The Town [Billy Blue]
Godspeed Religious Death (Remastered) [Charon Collective]
Joseph Habedank autobiography [Daywind]
Koryn Hawthorne ON GOD (Deluxe) [Provident]
Pastor Mike Jr. I Got Away - EP [Rock City]
Sanctus Real All Along [Framework / The Fuel]
Treasure Seeker A Tribute to the Past (Reissue) [Ulterium]
Vineyard Worship Christ In All Things - EP [Integrity]
Phil Wickham I Believe (Hometown Version) [Fair Trade]
Anne Wilson REBEL [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
The Lore Family God Said You're Gonna Make It - Single [Horizon]
Mark Tedder Wake Us Up (church falls asleep) - Single [7Core]

Next Friday, April 26, 2024
ALBUMS
Mack Brock Time and Time Again - EP [Centricity]
Aaron Cole Sorry, I Changed [RCA Inspiration]
Alex Henry Foster Kimoyo [Hopeful Tragedy]
Gileah Taylor Slow Parade [Velvet Blue]
Various Artists Unsung Hero: The Inspired By Soundtrack (Digital/CD) [Girder]

SINGLES
Nate Parrish I'm Alright - Single [Fair Vaux]
Unspoken What He Says About You - Single [Centricity]

VINYL
Various Artists Unsung Hero: The Inspired By Soundtrack [Girder]


For all release dates, click here!
 



Listen to the new album from Hope Beyond Suffering!




Listen to the new Album From Tim Juillet!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images