Labcabincalifornia

The change in the Pharcyde between the group's first and second albums can best be summed up by the variation in album covers. Where BIZARRE RIDE II THE PHARCYDE depicted a cartoon version of the four rappers twisted and turned by a wild rollercoaster ride, LABCABINCALIFORNIA shows the real rap quartet in Southern white suits in a somewhat posed group photo. Where the former showcases wonderful, youthful chaos with skits and ideas that are woven together with little attention to logic, the latter is an album of distinct five-minute story songs. Moreover, the concepts on LABCABINCALIFORNIA are more complex and intellectual--even political--than those of BIZARRE, which dealt primarily with relationship issues. more...

The politics are much subtler than the rants of a group such as Public Enemy, but are unmistakably present. If P.E. is the publisher of a subversive newspaper against an evil state, the Pharcyde is a group of poets who live on the hill--both are effective in their own way. The Pharcyde's nuance carries into its lyricism. Although not particularly complex, the group's rhymes are casually catchy, so much so you'll have fragments of "Runnin'", "Y?", and "Drop" roaming through your cranium for days, if not years.

Rap Pages (12/95, p.27)
- 8 (out of 10)
- "...The Pharcyde are sharing more of themselves, but delivering revelations in...straightforward musical packages....they're actually saying something that means something..."

Vibe (12/95-1/96, p.151)
- "...a booming...disc reminiscent of early-career Sly & The Family Stone, mid Stevie Wonder, and late Sun Ra. Unafraid of swimming in lyrical streams of consciousness or sailing on the seas of the '70s....they stomp right on through in big tie-dyed boots."

Musician (1/96, pp.91-92)
- "...clever, funny, sometimes downright gorgeous....owes more to the Roots' elastic jazz grooves than it does to the dense, carnivalesque feel of BIZARRE or...glossy G-funk....their word play and in-jokes carry serious messages: personal responsibility, the value of watching your back..."

Melody Maker (4/20/96, p.38)
- Recommended - "...Me, I'll just marvel at the intricate syllable-gymnastics....Or just slip it in the Discman and forget where the f*** I am..."

NME (4/20/96, p.48)
- 6 (out of 10)
- "...gorgeous, soulful harmonies [with]...sublime lyrical delivery...compensating for the absence of youthful exuberance..."

Entertainment Weekly (12/8/95, p.71)
- "...they've carved out a loose-limbed niche reliant on smarts and allure rather than attitude and mindless menace. A follow-up that strikes a satisfying balance: playful but not goofy; benign but not ineffectual." - Rating: B+

Option (3-4/96, p.117)
- "...finds the clown princes of rap succumbing to outside pressure, diluting their manic energy with generic beats and far-too-earnest proselyting..."