Slightly Stoopid Top of the World

[Buttercup]

Here is the tracklisting, I have heard 8 of these tracks before (in bold), still 13 new Stoopid tracks I have never heard is a pretty cool thing.

1. Top Of The World
2. Don't Stop
3. Devils Door
4. Serious Man
5. Way You Move
6. Drink Professionally
7. Pon Da Horizon
8. We Don't Wanna Go
9. Ska Diddy
10. Just Thinking
11. Your Love
12. Deal With It
13. Work
14. Mona June
15. Rhythm Streets
16. Hiphoppablues
17. New Day
18. Underneath The Pressure
19. Marijuana
20. Im On Fire
21. Intro To Organics

[Eriebadfish]

Hard to judge an album by a track listing... But it danm sure seems like a fun album based off the track names! I'm so anxious to see how the studio cover of 'I'm on Fire' turns out. I'm pumped for this! 21 tracks!!!!!

[Buttercup]

Hard to judge an album by a track listing... But it danm sure seems like a fun album based off the track names! I'm so anxious to see how the studio cover of 'I'm on Fire' turns out. I'm pumped for this! 21 tracks!!!!!

Yeah for some reason I am getting a Closer to the Sun Vibe for this album. Only because it had a similar number of tracks and the cover art was done by the same artist I guess.

[Eriebadfish]

I'm feeling that too!

[SlyMinusRobbie]

I wonder if track 13 - Work - is the same song that got leaked ten years ago or so as a demo with Kyle and OG. Hopefully, because it's dope!

[Bombora]

Yeah for some reason I am getting a Closer to the Sun Vibe for this album. Only because it had a similar number of tracks and the cover art was done by the same artist I guess.

Although I don't think those two things will give it a more Closer To The Sun vibe, I do hope that musically you are correct. Chronchitis was a let down to me, as of today over the years I'm down to only having 5 songs from that record on my itunes. I'm not a fan of the more jazzy type stuff they've been messing with. I hope this one is more balanced out (from interviews they've said it is). I thought i read a while back they did record a version of Wiseman with DC. I hope there are a few more tracks that pop up on a deluxe version of the cd. Two pretty old songs they reworked into full ones, if they were going with that I wish they would come out with a full blown studio version of Mexico. Much rather have Mexico than Devils Door to be honest. Should be a good record either way, its been way too long.

[Eriebadfish]

Yeah for some reason I am getting a Closer to the Sun Vibe for this album. Only because it had a similar number of tracks and the cover art was done by the same artist I guess.

Although I don't think those two things will give it a more Closer To The Sun vibe, I do hope that musically you are correct. Chronchitis was a let down to me, as of today over the years I'm down to only having 5 songs from that record on my itunes. I'm not a fan of the more jazzy type stuff they've been messing with. I hope this one is more balanced out (from interviews they've said it is). I thought i read a while back they did record a version of Wiseman with DC. I hope there are a few more tracks that pop up on a deluxe version of the cd. Two pretty old songs they reworked into full ones, if they were going with that I wish they would come out with a full blown studio version of Mexico. Much rather have Mexico than Devils Door to be honest. Should be a good record either way, its been way too long.

I remember 'Finegreen' said they just can't seem to nail 'Mexico' in studio.From the two versions I heard. He's right. Ironically, always thought it was one of the sweeter live songs they play!

[torres]

Wish they'd rerecord "Souled" if they're gonna go ahead and redo "Devil's Door".

[Bombora]

I remember 'Finegreen' said they just can't seem to nail 'Mexico' in studio.From the two versions I heard. He's right. Ironically, always thought it was one of the sweeter live songs they play!

Damn, finegreen, I haven't heard that name in years. Yeah man, the two studio "demos" I'll call them are nothing compared to any live version. On that note I think those demo's are from around EYN era...before or a little after. I don't know if they have tried or not but I think now with a full band and horns and all it would be pretty sick. Hopefully one day they bust that out.

[Buttercup]

I can't believe this and the new joint from Kottonmouth Kings is dropping on the same day. It is going to be a bro-fest down at my local record store!

[Buttercup]

You can now listen to samples of all the songs on Amazon what are people's thoughts? Sounds kinda like I expected it to. Mostly funky reggae.

[QUEST85]

For me, from the previews, sounds like they knocked it out of the park.

[Buttercup]

For me, from the previews, sounds like they knocked it out of the park.

Not sure if I would go that far. I am getting another Chronchitis feel to it, basically because it seems like it is featuring a lot of horns again. Chronchitis is my least fav Stoopid album too.

What I don't like about the samples is that while I know many think Mile's vocal performance on the past couple of albums has not been the best and it is Kyle that has really stepped up (which I agree with) I still really like Miles voice. So it is disappointing to hear that he sings on only 2 songs out of the last 10.

While I have never been a huge fan of Devils Door, if the band could find a way to make the song sound worse I think they found it in this recording lol.

Still I will wait to I hear the whole thing before I reserve my judgement.

[QUEST85]

For me, from the previews, sounds like they knocked it out of the park.

Not sure if I would go that far. I am getting another Chronchitis feel to it, basically because it seems like it is featuring a lot of horns again. Chronchitis is my least fav Stoopid album too.

What I don't like about the samples is that while I know many think Mile's vocal performance on the past couple of albums has not been the best and it is Kyle that has really stepped up (which I agree with) I still really like Miles voice. So it is disappointing to hear that he sings on only 2 songs out of the last 10.

While I have never been a huge fan of Devils Door, if the band could find a way to make the song sound worse I think they found it in this recording lol.

Still I will wait to I hear the whole thing before I reserve my judgement.

I hear you man... I hated Chronchitis at first. I was hoping for Closer to the Sun/Everything You Need Pt. 2. It ended up really growing on me. Overall I equally love Acoustic Roots, Everything You Need, Closer to the Sun and Chronchitis. Acoustic Roots and Everything You Need will always hold a special spot in my heart as they were the 2 albums I discovered simultaneously that changed my life. I feel like Slight Not Stoned Enough... was a glorified B-sides release.

I guess what I'm trying to say is the new album seems to kind of have elements from all of the previous releases, which really appeals to me. The early-mid 2000's Stoopid will always be my favorite though. I also like the new version of Devil's Door more than the old. It always seemed kind of bland to me. They may have went a little hard on the effects though... I guess we'll see.

I can honestly say I'm more stoked for this release than anything else to have come out in a while. May be even more stoked for the new Movement album with Josh Swain back!

[Buttercup]

I agree Acoustic Roots and EYN are my fave Stoopid albums. AR really showed the amazing talent Kyle and Miles had and doing an acoustic album live and raw like that at the time was pretty unique.

To me EYN was Stoopid's equivalent to Sublime's Self titled album. Big on production, some big beats and some very catchy pop moments sprinkled through-out. It is not surprising it the bands biggest selling album. I really dug this album when it was released because the sound was similar to the Sublime album. This album also features the best interplay between Miles and Kyle on individual songs. This is where I feel they sounded the strongest.

CTTS for me is a quality album, but quite a few songs feel unfinished and could have used more time baking them into something great. It felt like it was more about the quantity of songs than quality. Still I saw CTTS as an evolution of the Stoopid sound and I was digging how they were trying something different with each album.

I actually listened to Chronchitis driving to work this morning. It does have some good songs on it but a lot of the album is just not that exciting. Personally I blame the horns. Which is funny cause normally I love horns in bands, but for me the horns just take away the focus from Miles/Kyle singing and amazing guitar/bass playing. I listen to Chronchitis with the JBB horn section and I just feel like the band now sounds like a second rate JBB (I'm also a big JBB fan) - not its own thing.

The breakfast album is a b-sides album with a few new tracks thrown in the mix. It's ok, but naturally feels in-cohesive and I got tired of it pretty quickly.


Still, I am looking forward to the new Stoopid album. They are one of my all-time favs.

[QUEST85]

I agree Acoustic Roots and EYN are my fave Stoopid albums. AR really showed the amazing talent Kyle and Miles had and doing an acoustic album live and raw like that at the time was pretty unique.

To me EYN was Stoopid's equivalent to Sublime's Self titled album. Big on production, some big beats and some very catchy pop moments sprinkled through-out. It is not surprising it the bands biggest selling album. I really dug this album when it was released because the sound was similar to the Sublime album. This album also features the best interplay between Miles and Kyle on individual songs. This is where I feel they sounded the strongest.

CTTS for me is a quality album, but quite a few songs feel unfinished and could have used more time baking them into something great. It felt like it was more about the quantity of songs than quality. Still I saw CTTS as an evolution of the Stoopid sound and I was digging how they were trying something different with each album.

I actually listened to Chronchitis driving to work this morning. It does have some good songs on it but a lot of the album is just not that exciting. Personally I blame the horns. Which is funny cause normally I love horns in bands, but for me the horns just take away the focus from Miles/Kyle singing and amazing guitar/bass playing. I listen to Chronchitis with the JBB horn section and I just feel like the band now sounds like a second rate JBB (I'm also a big JBB fan) - not its own thing.

The breakfast album is a b-sides album with a few new tracks thrown in the mix. It's ok, but naturally feels in-cohesive and I got tired of it pretty quickly.


Still, I am looking forward to the new Stoopid album. They are one of my all-time favs.

I'd say that's a pretty good analysis. I feel the same for the most part.
Miles and Kyle definitely had a great dynamic on the earlier stuff. The addition of horns definitely changed the way they approach the song writing process. I tend to always prefer songs with a slower tempo, grooving drum sample, heavy bassline and good vocal rhythm (Mellow Mood, Killin Me Deep Inside, Wicked Rebel, Closer to the Sun, What I Got, Habit, Another Man's Shoes, No Time for Ya'll, and the list goes on). You know, it's actually really interesting when you analyze the common traits of your favorite songs. I know from playing guitar, I tend to gravitate to songs in certain keys over others. It's funny when you start to learn guitar licks and you realize how often they are recycled.

[yardyknow]

I totally agree with the horns statement. I've had this discussion with many people. I love when bands have a nice horn section but not with stoopid. It works sometimes but overall the vibe is much better without in my opinion. ETYN and CTTS are incredible albums, and once the horns were added it just took away from the sound.

[Bombora]

I'm going with what everyone has said about the horns. Not a fan at all, they don't seem to fit and they just thrown in a horn here and there just to throw it in. This one really is just all over the place. Even more on this you can hear Kyle going with that reggae style and Miles with that jazzy pop style. Then Kyle throws in a ska tune here and there. That bassline on Don't Stop and work is sick...strictly old school..like i'm spinning some old 45's. I would love and I mean LOVE to hear Kyle do a true roots reggae solo record or something. Songs like that got me hyped for this record...Miles stuff...ehhh I'll pass Mona June sounds nice though and maybe only because the clip is showcasing the chick.

[eZc]

might as well throw in my 2 cents:
Agreed, the horns are over-used and sometimes just seem tacked on to give them somethin to play on a song that really doesn't need it.

I know we're a long ways past the older lineup and I'm normally not one to bitch about bands trying new things and reworking songs lives especially , but I do miss that sound of just drums, guitar, and bass (and percussion) sometimes. That simple ass medley fromlive the bootlegs of kyle singin marley tunes, etc. over the changing bassline is one of my all time favorites - sometimes less is more.

Examples - just in my opinion :
Songs that don't sound better with horns: Everything You Need, Till it gets wet, Jetplane, Fat Spliffs

Songs where horns are appropriate: Wiseman, Serious Man, Ocean, 2 AM

I too will hold off on the judging the new album based on those short snippets till I can listen to the whole thing, but it sounds like it'll continue down the path of me liking kyle's songs way more than miles.

And to echo some of the other people - I too got introduced via Acoustic Roots and EYN, and still consider those my favorites.

EDIT: just to throw out a positive comment to go along with the horn criticism - I do think its real cool that they continue to put so many tracks on recent albums. With so many tracks, I can't complain too much - even if I skipped every miles song, I'd prolly still be left with a dozen kyle songs, and for a lota other bands a dozen songs is an album.

[yardyknow]

I also agree that Kyle's songs are better now. I used to love Miles singing a lot more than Kyle's but the past 2 albums Kyle's songs have been much better. I miss hearing Miles rip songs like officer, older, and mr. music. Although I did like baby i like it and hold on to the one. The older Miles tracks are way better.