Fishscale [Explicit Lyrics]

( 1 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Andy Kellman
Whenever a veteran artist professes disinterest in modern music, a safe retreat into the past -- a tired attempt at recapturing the magic of classic material -- tends to follow. Since Ghostface Killah towed that line after the two least-thrilling albums of his career, Fishscale seemed destined to be just another part of his discography; if his fans were lucky, they'd get a couple flashes of his mad maverick genius and nothing as clumsily foul as "Tush." Fishscale is much more generous than that. It's evident that Ghost knows where he's at in his career, and it's directly acknowledged by the Mickey Goldmill-like boxing coach during "The Champ": "You ain't been ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Andy Kellman
Whenever a veteran artist professes disinterest in modern music, a safe retreat into the past -- a tired attempt at recapturing the magic of classic material -- tends to follow. Since Ghostface Killah towed that line after the two least-thrilling albums of his career, Fishscale seemed destined to be just another part of his discography; if his fans were lucky, they'd get a couple flashes of his mad maverick genius and nothing as clumsily foul as "Tush." Fishscale is much more generous than that. It's evident that Ghost knows where he's at in his career, and it's directly acknowledged by the Mickey Goldmill-like boxing coach during "The Champ": "You ain't been hungry...since Supreme Clientele!" Ghost responds by pouring all that he has, both lyrically and vocally, into every track on the album. The scenarios he recounts are as detailed and off-the-wall as ever, elaborate screenplays laid out with a vocal style that's ceaselessly fluid and never abrasive. This is especially remarkable since each one of Ghost's lines, when transcribed, require one-to-five exclamation points, and every frantic scene's details -- from the onions on the steak, to the show on the television, to the socks sticking out of the "big Frankenstein hole" in a shoe worn by an accomplice -- are itemized without derailing the events. Since no active MC sounds better over obscure '70s soul samples, Ghost was wise to select productions that are best suited for him, no matter how bizarre or un-pop. Just Blaze, Lewis Parker, MoSS, Crack Val, Pete Rock, Doom, the late J Dilla, and several others supply Ghost with a tremendous round of productions. "Underwater" is the loopiest of all, even by Doom standards; its balmy Bobbi Humphrey flute and slippery beat, aided by burbling water effects, backs a hallucinatory journey in which Ghost swims with butterflies, casts his gaze on numerous riches rubies, the Heart of the Ocean, "Gucci belts that they rocked for no reason from A Different World" and bumps into a Bentley-driving, Isley Brothers-listening, girlfriend-smacking SpongeBob Squarepants before hitting spiritual paydirt. "Back Like That," featuring Ne-Yo, is the lone apparent crossover attempt, and it hardly compromises Ghost's character the way "Tush" did in 2004 "In the summertime, I broke his jaw -- had to do it to him quick, old fashion, in the back of the mall". Another completely unique track is "Whip You with a Strap," where Ghost recalls the pain of being whipped by his mom with more than a hint of misty-eyed wistfulness. How many other MCs are capable of making you feel nostalgic about leaking welts you never had? More importantly, how many MCs entering their late-thirties have made an album as vital as any other in his or her career?
Rolling Stone - Jonathan Ringen
Ghostface's emotionally charged stream-of-consciousness flow is as off-the-wall and amazing as it's ever been.... An ambitious disc with almost no filler.
Entertainment Weekly - Raymond Fiore
...as a must-hear street storyteller, Ghostface Killah's still at the top of his game. [Grade: A-]
Time Out New York - Mike Wolf
Weird, dark and inventive, Fishscale is the sound of an experienced artist in full stride.

...as a must-hear street storyteller, Ghostface Killah's still at the top of his game. [Grade: A-]
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/28/2006
  • Label: Def Jam
  • UPC: 602498799024
  • Catalog Number: 000615502
  • Sales rank: 37,044

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 The Return of Clyde Smith (1:04)
  2. 2 Shakey Dog (3:44)
  3. 3 Kilo (4:00)
  4. 4 The Champ (4:09)
  5. 5 Major Operation (0:06)
  6. 6 9 Milli Bros. (4:14)
  7. 7 Beauty Jackson (1:32)
  8. 8 Heart Street Directions (0:54)
  9. 9 Columbus Exchange/Crack Spot (2:21)
  10. 10 R.A.G.U. (2:39)
  11. 11 Bad Mouth Kid (1:10)
  12. 12 Whip You Down With a Strap (2:51)
  13. 13 Back Like That (4:02)
  14. 14 Be Easy (3:19)
  15. 15 Clispe of Doom (3:09)
  16. 16 Jellyfish (3:50)
  17. 17 Dogs of War (4:04)
  18. 18 Barbershop (1:56)
  19. 19 Ms. Sweetwater (0:14)
  20. 20 Big Girl (3:35)
  21. 21 Underwater (2:03)
  22. 22 The Ironman Takeover (0:05)
  23. 23 Momma (4:49)
  24. 24 Three Bricks (4:58)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Ghostface Killah Primary Artist
Birch Johnson Trombone
Rob Mathes Bass, Guitar
Tom Timko Alto Saxophone
Big O Vocals
Jeff Kievit Trumpet
Ken Lewis Multi Instruments
Jonathan Doyle Vocals
Megan Rochelle Track Performer
Candice Wilson Background Vocals
Shawn Wigs Track Performer
Technical Credits
L.V. Producer
Rob Mathes Horn Arrangements
Andrew Wright Engineer
Ghostface Killah Director, Producer, Executive Producer
Pete Rock Producer
Tony Dawsey Mastering
X-Treme Producer
Lewis Parker Producer
Mike Tocci Engineer
Sean C. Producer
Christos Tsantilis Engineer
Just Blaze Producer, Engineer
Ryan West Engineer
Dawud West Logo
Stephen Glicken Engineer
Morgan Garcia Engineer
Ken Lewis Producer
Ashaunna Ayars Marketing
J Dilla Producer
P. "Peter Rock" Phillips Producer
Metal Fingers Producer
Mario "Big O" Caruso Producer, Executive Producer, Management
Scutch Robinson Executive Producer
Crack Val Producer
David Brown Engineer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 1 )
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Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Greatest for Ghostface

    Not since Ironman has Ghostface made me move like this. This is by far the best album to be unleashed into the mainstream rap scene for some years. The game was so sleepy until this record. Applause for bringing up the little known underground producers too. It's suprising how well his style fits with the likes of MF Doom and Dilla. Pick this up, a definite MUST HAVE!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review