Snoop Dogg - Malice in Wonderland - Album Review

Rap superstar Snoop Dogg's tenth and latest studio album entitled, "Malice 'N Wonderland," is a 14 track collection that shows both a dark dingy side as well as a laid back cool funky tone. After listening through this latest album from one of the most famous rap-treuners, one is left with a funky taste in their mouth, both the good and bad kind.

"Gangsta Luv," featuring The Dream and the first single off the album, is the best song of this collection with the most melodic beat and easy to listen to vocal arrangements. The second single, "That's Tha Homie," features an ok instrumental and a repetitive chorus that you're going to either love or hate which goes like, "Would you say my name? Would you s.. Would you say my name? Would you say my name? They gon say - "That's.. That's tha homie!" I took the second option.

The rest of the album is forgettable and wouldn't be given a second listen to make it on an album if not for Snoop's popularity.

Positives

All instrumentals are really crisp with grooves that are sure to get the head bobbing like a bobble doll.

The tone of Snoop's voice is still there even in his twilight years and he doesn't stray away from his usual content that we all know.

Negatives

The collection as a whole is definitely lacking in "wow" tracks or "wow" sounds.

Snoop is missing any commercial appeal with this one, and album sales will decline from week one as a result.

Summary

"Malice in Wonderland," is a little mix of good, "wonderland," and bad, "malice." Although the content of each song is different, the instrumentals are all cut too closely from the same cloth. If the cloth were commercially appealing like what Nickelback has done through the years, then this wouldn't be a bad thing. But, of course, it's not.

There's nothing really memorable here. All tracks have good rhythm, but after listening to the album through, nothing sticks in the mind. Snoop has created a brand and his best success is going to come from movies and TV going forward. Two words will describe this latest attempt from Mr. Dogg, "Very forgettable." This album gets a 2 out of 5.

Snoop Dogg - Malice In Wonderland - 2/5

Copyright 2009 Dan Rozak

Comments/Inquiries: danrozakmusicman@musician.org