The Insane Clown Posse have released their 14th studio album and second chapter of this year’s The Marvelous Missing Link Joker’s Card. While the first chapter of this saga ‘subtitled Lost’ was one of the band’s most devilish to date – ‘Found’ is the most positive and chill release of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope’s career.
I haven’t loved an ICP release this much since the first half of their final Joker’s Card of the original series ‘ The Wraith: Shangri-la’. While the hip hop duo have been unleashing consistent hit records since that album, none of them have hit my soul on an emotional level as much as ‘The Marvelous Missing Link: Found’. Filled with an unspeakable amount of positivity and uplifting tracks, this album is front to back, one of — if not THE — best of Insane Clown Posse’s entire career. It’s so bizarre that ICP have managed to bottle this much positive energy into an album that still embraces their signature brand of wicked shit.
I’ve always enjoyed ICP more when they relax a little and produce their more laid back tracks — which is probably why I love ‘The Marvelous Missing Link: Found’ so much. Because let’s put it out there — this is one helluva smooth, take it easy feel good listen. Usually you’ll find ICP doing songs about ghosts or monsters preying on people, but instead they have a tune called ‘Mr. White Suit’, about a mysterious guy in the hood who cures cancer and gives back to the community. What the fuck? ICP just took your preconceived notions of what they’re about and stomped the ever loving shit out of them. Brilliant.
There is not one weak track to be found here. From the inspirational ‘OK’, to the feel good anthem of 2015 ‘Juggalo Party’, the album never lets up. It’s interesting that they managed to follow up one of their most evil records of all time with what is no doubt their most positive release ever, but it really works. This is the album of the summer, maybe even the year. What it is for sure — is spectacular. I’ve been listening to it on repeat and I have a smile on my face the whole way through each time. Chill out Juggalos – it’s time to calm down and enjoy the ride that ICP takes you on.
Rating: [star rating=”5″]
