Name: Taste the Secret
Brand: Emperor Norton
SKU: 536589
Price: 30.4 USD
Availability: InStock

Performer Notes

Ugly Duckling: Andy Cooper, Dizzy Dustin (vocals); Young Einstein (scratches).
Recorded in Los Angeles, California.
Personnel: Young Einstein (vocals, scratches); Ursula Williams, Stacy Q. (vocals, background vocals); Kate Romero, Children of Silverado Park, Royden Vigilance, Laton Carter, Romona Holmgrem, David Wollock, Fat Hed, Andy Cooper, Mark MacGuire, Ivie, Pinky Turzo, Lauren Berhoeven, Geneva Fate, Kimmy Fate, Juliet DeGuzman, Dizzy Dustin (vocals); Greg Koller (sound effects, background vocals); Double K , Trish Henley, Kevin Kubrick, Mike Felder , Jen Park (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Greg Koller; Jon Saint James.
Photographer: Kate Romero.
It's easy to understand how three guys who worked at a fast-food chain called Meatshake would have a sense of humor about the experience, so the members of Ugly Duckling saluted the place they met (and found plenty of motif material as well) for the recording of their second album. The trio flaunts the groovy tracks, tuneful choruses, and constant microphone passing of the classic Native Tongues groups, plus much of the sampladelic lyricism. Though they can't pull off their one attempt at a real anthem ("Turn It Up"), they have plenty of excellent moments on Taste the Secret. "Meatshake," "The Confrontation," and "The Drive-Thru" send up the inanity of a restaurant that takes the meaning of Steak 'n' Shake to a new level. "The Opening Act" does for support slots what A Tribe Called Quest did for the rap industry on "Show Business" -- that is, deftly intersperses off the cuff humor with cutting commentary. It's as disarming as the hilariously bubble-bursting "A Little Samba" from their debut, Journey to Anywhere. Unfortunately, Ugly Duckling make up so many tracks from clich?d scenarios ("La Revolucion," "Rio de Janeiro," "I Wanna Go Home," "Mr. Tough Guy," "The Potty-Mouth") that the total effect is less a spin through 3 Feet High and Rising than it is an hour of Yogi Bear cartoons -- fine when you hear any one track, but much too much over the course of a full album. ~ John Bush

Professional Reviews

Entertainment Weekly (7/25/03, pp.72-3) - "...Goofiness is served up in a bouncy old-school style, a refreshing cross between Slick Rick's cheeky narratives and A Tribe Called Quest's soothing lyricism..." - Grade: B+

Album: Taste the Secret
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Opening Act
2)	Turn It Up
3)	Meatshake
4)	Dumb It Down
5)	Abigail Silk
6)	Energy Drink
7)	Drive-Thru, The
8)	Mr. Tough Guy
9)	Pass It On
10)	Revolucion, La
11)	Potty Mouth
12)	Daisy
13)	Confrontation, The
14)	Rio de Janeiro
15)	I Wanna Go Home
16)	Goodnight Now

Album: Taste the Secret
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Opening Act
2)	Turn It Up
3)	Meatshake
4)	Dumb It Down
5)	Abigail Silk
6)	Energy Drink
7)	Drive-Thru, The
8)	Mr. Tough Guy
9)	Pass It On
10)	Revolucion, La
11)	Potty Mouth
12)	Daisy
13)	Confrontation, The
14)	Rio de Janeiro
15)	I Wanna Go Home
16)	Goodnight Now