Belladonnakillz:
"As If"

Track list:

01. The Man
02. Neverever
03. Liez Thru The Eyez
04. Let U Go
05. Pitch the Bitch
06. Heroine
07. Abort! Abort! Abort!
08. Y Try Fight Life
09. Bi
10. Lay4pay
11. Time Doing Time

Total Play Time: 49:04

I had to laugh after reading someone else's short review of Belladonnakillz "As If" album, labeling it as all over the place with too much going on. They even implied it'd give you a headache despite the grins many of the songs bring out while listening to the release. My own opinion is that "As If" is easily one of the most enjoyable albums I've come across in my years of collecting music.

Maybe it's my love for Drum'N'Bass, mixed with the enjoyment of some sick humor and sarcasm that make "As If" such a blast. I could be wrong in this assessment, but it seems as though Belladonnakillz takes very little serious in life; and so anything is fair game in a song as long as it's fun. Regardless of what's going on in the minds on the musicians, the end result is everything from fast to slow beats, and tons of catchy verses and choruses.

My first few listens of "As If" had me hearing a ton of drum'n'bass in the songs, and of course I got pulled into the wacky lyrics which are abundant. The Man, Neverever, Liez Thru The Eyez, Pitch the Bitch, Y Try Fight Life and Lay4pay have prominent DnB style backgrounds, and the songs are typically high energy. The vocals are the other piece of the equation that make this album so fun. It's hard to describe, but I feel there is a strong contrast to the vocal style (spoken mostly, with slight singing and easily understandable) with the accompanying sound. The contrast is great though, as the lyrics are funny, witty and/or just straight forward catchy to sing along with. Most of the songs seem based around the loss of a loved one, or the lack of love for another; and at times no holds are barred. The rapping on Pitch the Bitch is an example of the humorous and straight forward nature the song's title implies. (The alarm like beeping sound at the end of Let U Go carries over into Pitch the Bitch for the first 45 seconds, and probably will drive many listeners crazy. I listen through it everytime though, as the jump into the frantic DnB beat and rapping at it's end is similar to leaping into a pool of cool water on a hot summer day: both fun and a relief.

Then there are songs like Abort! Abort! Abort! and Bi which have the standard witty/humorous lyrics found in the other songs, but do no focus so much on the DnB sound. Abort! Abort! Abort! is a fast beat, that focuses on the vocals mostly and a looped babies cry that is altered to go with the beat at times. Bi on the other hand comes across as more of a dance song for a club, but it's lyrical content is so not a standard club song's lyrics. I won't say what is said, as listening to it with the music is a laugh that really can only be experienced at that moment. Other songs such as Heroine and Time Doing Time are slower songs, which I am guilty of skipping at times. I have found myself wrapped up in the cries of "Heroine!" several times without realizing I've gone into the song though.

Yes, the songs do sometimes jump around a bit in style; but the energy in the vocals and beats easily wipe away any fault that sometimes comes with a crazy mix of sounds. My enjoyment of sarcasm and not taking life so seriously when a good beat is playing, are again probably huge factors in why I can not only stand this release, but will say I love it. The huge complaint I have whenever an album like this comes along is always going to be the same though: Damnit, I want more!

Reviewed by Bry'n
04.17.08