Crystal Clear:A review of Crystal Ball

Here's my thoughts on the set,marks out of 10:

Disc 1:

Crystal ball:awesome,sprawling,weird,wonderful,there aren't enough words
with a 'w' 2 describe this,definitely a (9)
Dream factory:Good,but grates a bit 4 me,besides anything that follows
the title track will pale in comparison (6)
Acknowledge me:Excellent song,should have been on TGE,should have been
released as a single (maybe it stil could) ,should have gone 2 No.1 (9)
Ripoffgo,sorry,Ripopgodazippa:Really good,like the reggae tinge,fine,
filthy and fun (8)
Lovesign:The first remix,against my better judgement (and previous PPML
posts) I liked this,the DMSR sample is fun and fonky (6)
Hide the bone:Good new live song,it'll grow on me 4 sho' (7.5)
2morrow:Good,but brings 2 mind other,better, songs such as Emale,
18 & Over and every mix of TMBGITW there ever was!(6)
So dark:Not really the sorta song that needed 2 be redone,I preferred
the original (4)
Moviestar:Had this 4 ages,never really seen the appeal, the lyrics are
mildly amusing and  unfortunately the music is laughable also,
Seinfeld he ain't! (4)
Tell me how U want 2 be done:And U thought Moviestar was funny,here is
the biggest joke of the album,what was He thinking,LOL! (0)

Disc 2:

Interactive:really good rocker 2 start off this disc,love it (8)
Dabang:I really loved the clip of this on Love4oneanother,then when I
heard the whole song I hated it.It's a Same December sorta thang,2
seemingly contrasting styles in one song,takes time 2 really grow on U
but it's worth the effort (8)
Calhoun square:What have we here,a cool song with an excursion into rock
4 the chorus,just like Dabang,good but done so much bettter the song
previous (6)
What's my name:I said in a previous PPML I thought this song was a
complete throwaway and my opinion hasn't changed.All He has 2 do is
say any old rubbish and chuck a few sirens and other weird  noises in
a record and someone on here will cry "Genius",I think it's garbage (2)
Crucial:A classic outtake -apparently!A good ballad but nothing special
IMHO,certainly no Adore,and when he sings "Crucial" it sounds like an
impression of the whistle on an old steam train 2 me,choo-choo,sorry (4)
An honest man:Amazing - a number with no  musical merit whatsoever!
4 the  purposes of this review I forced myself 2 listen 2 it again
and found it reminded me of the end of "Darling Nikki" ,U know ,the
"Noos Gnimoc,Noos Gnimoc Si Drol Eht Esuaceb Enif M'I,Ouy Era Woh,IH "
bit.He's singing forwards but the whole thing sounds like it is
running  backwards-Genius!Hey,perhaps when it's in reverse it's "Kiss"
or something,if so (10)... otherwise it's a big fat (0)!
Sexual suicide:Another supposed classic that always left me cold,a piece
of musical fluff (2)
Cloreen baconskin:2 my surprise I realy liked this,15 minutes fled by,
fun and funky,reminded me of Bob George and the Black album generally,
who the heck is Alfred tho' (6.5)
Good love:Yes it's been released officially b4,yes it has no real place
on here,but yes it really is very good 2,cherry pie,apple kisses,
everything is cool (8)
Strays of the world:Strange putting this after Good love,but it really
is an album closer,an epic piece of rock opera, so much better than,
and not as pretentious as  3 chains of gold (8)

Disc 3

Days of wild:Not my favourite version of this song,nor even my favourite
live version,but it is still one of my all-time fave outtakes and
definitely deserved official release,now and 4ever dabomb! (9)
Last heart:Another of my all-time faves,nothing particularly innovative
or adventurous about it ,just an excellent little pop song,nuffink wrong
with that (8)
Poom poom:A bit whimsy but good ,and I'm on a high from the last 2
tracks so I'll let it pass (6)
She gave her angels:Didn't realy appreciate this on the Muppets,a
serious
number after 20 minutes of fun,but here it sounds excellent,a welcome
piece of elegance, maturity and depth (8)
18 & Over:Funny,funky and freaky ,can't help picturing the video
 whenever I hear this,sickfunky (8)
The Ride:great idea putting a live version of this  here,If U got the
time baby...smokin (7.5)
Get Loose/P.Control:Hmm,2 more remixes,not great but not bad either,and
they don't spoil the flow of this 3rd disc 4 me so..(6 each)
Make your mama happy:When I saw the title I though this song would be
about something completely different ,the MFer,good tho' (6)
Goodbye:Excellent ballad,got lotsa time 4 this 2 grow on me,in a few
weeks I'll love it (8)

So in summary,I like most disc 3,then disc 1  and finally disc 2,much
the same as with Emancipation really.The 4 clunkers on disc 2 spoil it
somewhat 4 me,there's lots of tasty stuff on discs 1 and 3 then a hole
in the middle of disc 2,perhaps he should have called it Crystal Do-nut,
ah well.
 The review (by T. I think?) which said the 90's stuff comes out best
was spot on IMHO.Apart from Empty Room,every essential  outtake I
can think of is on there in some form or another.

The Truth is a love-or-hate it album I think.One of the things I love
about  is the musical variety in his albums,and the thought of
a purely acoustic album didn't really excite me 2 be honest,but as ever
he manages 2 fit various styles into this piece .The thing about
stripped down songs is U can pretty much tell straight away how
good they are,if they're really good they're great,the flipside
applies also of course,if they're awful-they're godawful!
In order of preference :

The other side of the pillow(9):Cool indeed,a HCUDCMA 4 the 90's I'd
say.
The Truth (8)
Don't Play Me (8):Tellin' it like it is
Fascination (7):Flamencan funk-eat your heart out Gloria!
Man in a uniform (7)
Welcome 2 the dawn (7)
Comeback (6.5)
Dionne (6)
Circle of amore (6)
One of your tears (5)
Animal Kingdom (2):Horrible -and with an agenda 2!