Fun if nothing else; worth a listen or two
Musac Critic | 02/19/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Mickey Avalon seems to be quite the interesting figure. If you haven't read up on the story behind the shirtless, tattooed ex-prostitute, you certainly should. Better yet, just go out and purchase the album, which summarizes his life in a nutshell. The album isn't going to go platinum and probably not gold, but it is worth a listening to. There are a couple of numbers worth a few spins. Opening track "Waiting To Die" is strong enough, and from the introduction that states "we are going to have open sexual intercourse throughout the country" (or something like that), you know that you are in for a ride with Mr. Avalon.
On "Waiting To Die" Mickey's flow is exactly dope, but the lyrics themselve, even with some corny lines thrown in there ("$20 gets you Chachi, $40 gets you Fonzi"), it is a fun track, even if it is raw. "So Rich, So Pretty" isn't as fun, but the hook is definitely catchy with the female vocalist chanting: "so rich, so pretty, the best piece of a** in this whole damn city". Trashy? Yes, but certainly intriguing, for whatever reason. The best track from the self-titled debut is none other than the infectious "Jane Fonda", which is perhaps the most "credible" number on the whole album. Here, Mickey counts and brags how he's going to teach you to "do the Jane Fonda". The track is good for a couple of great taglines such as: "licky, licky, sucky, sucky/ Mickey, Mickey, f**k me, f**k me", not to mention "her a** was jamming, like Janet Jackson and the Rhythm nation", "You could see her a** from outer space" or "I'm Mickey Avalon and I'm flaggin' it dammit". Again, it isn't a Grammy winning performance for best rap solo performance by any means, but it does have an infectious hook, infectious verses, and very strong, stand-alone production.
Annoying may be "Roll The Dice", where Avalon spits: "Eliza was a lesbian who...". Everything is a bit over sexualized on MICKEY AVALON, but given his background, one understands why the album is so sexually charged. This is incredibly obvious on the rediculous track 69 (ironic, right) "My D***" in which Mickey goes back and forwards bragging about, well his private parts. However, "Roll Up Your Sleeves" proves to be a must listen, especially with the excellent sample used as a backdrop for Mickey's infectious rhymes. "Dipped In Vaseline" isn't bad either. The rest of the tracks fail to be truly potent (if you can call anything here potent) as the very best of the album.
Again, this album I don't think is honestly meant to be taken seriously. Sure, it is autobiographical in the sense that these sexual escapades which Mickey spits were what he experienced, but still it is a bit overwrought with such elements and at times it is under-wrought with true 'credible' substance. I don't think people who understand Mickey's background or read the section about him in BLENDER magazine will be disappointed, in fact, it was BLENDER that led me to purchase this CD. But, if you are looking for serious rap or better "white-boy" rap, then turn to Eminem. Mickey has some potential, but he isn't the next Eminem by any means and a second album featuring so much "licking", "sucking", and other sexual references won't be as invigorating as MICKEY AVALON is. 3 stars."
Good dirty raunchy fun
H. H. Woodley | Los Angeles, CA USA | 11/08/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Is this album going to change the world? No. Is any album? Probably not. Mickey is definitely not for everyone but if the idea of a dirty Beck intrigues you, give it a spin."