The Marvelous Missing Link (Lost)
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Track listing
Show track credits
- 1 Intro 2:00
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music, writer, programming
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vocals
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- 2 Lost 3:20
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music, writer, programming
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- 3 Apocalypse 2:58
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music, writer, programming
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- 4 Shock 2:32
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music, writer, programming
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- 5 Confederate Flag 4:12
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music, writer, programming
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- 6 Vomit 4:43
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music, writer, programming
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- 7 Falling Apart 4:30
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music, writer, programming
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- 8 How 3:48
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music, writer, programming
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- 9 Explosions 2:56
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music, writer, programming
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- 10 I'll Keep My Hatchet 3:12
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music, writer, programming
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- 11 Neighbors Are Fighting 3:01
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music, writer, programming
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- 12 You Should Know 4:28
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music, writer, programming
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- 13 Flamethrower 5:29
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music, writer, programming
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- 14 I See the Devil 6:37
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music, writer, programming
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- Total length: 53:46
Rate/Catalog
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Set listening
Review
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2 Issues
- Release view [combined information for all issues]
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The Marvelous Missing Link (Lost) Exclusive, Limited Edition, Slipcase / O-Card
3 Reviews
The title is lost, the group is not
Coming off the heels of the fantastic "Mighty Death Pop." This record had some major shoes to fill. It wears it with major style. The production on this record is as solid as usual and it even takes on an almost industrial sound on certain tracks that really evoke a "HEALTH" sort of vibe. Tracks, like "Apocalypse" really struck that cord. This whole record is consistent and very well put together pacing wise. It's your typical ICP record with a slight catch, alot more storytelling songs. These clowns got that Dr. Seuss in them, which is to say they nail it! I liked this record from beginning to end and that's what every album should set out to do. The clown's by this point where 25 year's past Riddle Box, however, The Dark Carnival is still bursting out of their bloody hearts. So, I give it a 10/10.
Favorite Cuts: I'll Keep My Hatchet, How, Apocalypse, Lost, Confederate Flag, Explosions
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ICP Re-Listen and Reflection Journey Part 11
The time from "Mighty Death Pop" to "The Missing Link" albums is a strange and volatile one for ICP and their label as a whole. Twiztid would split of to form their own record label amicably but some tension was supposedly behind the move. Along with it most of the associates of the label were either striking out on their own or going to join Twiztid due to being closer to them then ICP. This lead to the label rebuilding its stock with other acts such as Big Hoodoo and the Axe Murder Boyz. The latter is most important as one of its members Young Wicked was a shining star to the duo and was not only the main vocal (though uncredited) guest of this album but also tasked with being the main producer of the first album of the two "Missing Link" projects. This was following Mike E Clark and ICP agree to split for a bit to broaden the horizon of both parties sounds. With Mike leaving to go produce for former associate Kid Rock that he ad produced for back in the 90s and for ICP to look to their younger artists such as Young Wicked to provide a fresh new sound to their style as Mike P and Zug Izland had provided during the "Bizzar/Bizaar" and "Wraith" eras of the group.
The sound that Young Wicked provides (at least here) is a mixture of Trap drums and Dubstep / Wubstep / Brostep style electronic beats that in ICP's eyes would make for a great clash of styles regarding their more "old school" style of rapping and Hip Hop mentalities.
Along with this sonic change, ICP around this time seemed to have really gotten into the spiritual side they had hinted at during the sixth and more outwardly portrayed one certain tracks in the past two releases of the second deck ("Miracles" and "Where's God?"). The Missing Link as a concept was to focus on the importance of "faith" and how one was with and without it. Now how ICP defines "faith" is woefully misconstrued from how most would and that makes the whole concept of both albums such a headache. When J talks about "faith" he seems to totally mean in god, as the main inspiration for this topic deep dive was J being in wonder at all the hardships his mother had gone through raising him, his brother and in her later health and how her "faith" had kept her going and strong.
Meanwhile the intro states that one can find "faith" in anything and J is quick to mention this too regarding things like art, family, friends or just something like skateboarding. Now that sounds great, but then it gets muddled when he also means utilizing those things to strengthen you with god. Which, sure but as a agnostic dude and a guy who thinks ICP is very inclusive I do find this message a smaaaalll bit accusing towards people aren't exactly subscribing to the whole "belief in god" or that idea that god even has a plan for us all. And the light antagonistic anger J has towards said people is a bit understandable and makes sense when during interviews about this album and around the time him being very annoyed with how scientists (and lets be honest he means atheists here too) are always quick to attempt to make him not believe in god, have faith or just enjoy things on a simplistic, wonderment level.
And maybe it bothering me is a me problem and I'm being a bit petty given my relationship and thoughts on how the dark carnival mythos should work versus how ICP actually want it to and wish for it to be. It's not like this bothers me on other artists the way I've made it and J and Shaggs have pointed out that it's no different then when someone like Bone Thugs makes a religious song about praying ("Crossroads").
ENOUGH OF THAT THOUGH! How is this record, and how does ICP do on Trap and dubstep influenced production? Well, it definitely makes you feel like your listening to a different artist the first time you hear it. It took me a long while with this and "Found" to get into them and even view them in the headspace of an ICP album. Once I did though I will say this is still a bit of a mixed bag of an album to me. About only half the tracks in my opinion work and otherwise they just don't really have a strong concept ("I'll Keep My Hatchet", "Neighbors Are Fighting") or a strong beat and delivery ("How", "Apocalypse").
And just as a caveat to get it out of the way Young Wicked as a vocalist for hooks is not great and sounds wayyyy too "butt rock". And when you sound even more "butt rock" then Syn from Zug Izland on previous records that is an issue. Some tracks to make for a good corssover of styles like ICP wanted like the bass heavy "Flamethrower", which is my favorite track on the album, "Falling Apart" which feels like a modern Rock heavy track in the same vein as "Crossing Thy Bridge", or "Shock" and "Vomit" feeling like updated version of the standard ICP fare with added weight and gravitas from the Dubstep-laden production.
I'm not exactly sure how to feel about "Confederate Flag" since it's basically an updated for the modern age version of "Your Rebel Flag". Which I can understand updating since other then the chorus that rack never had much going for it but was still famous for it's message, but the production still feels a bit clashed and some of the verses awkwardly delivered and cheesy. And there's no doubt, a lot of both "Missing Links" topics and lyrical points can get really cheese heavy at times but on "Lost" it rightfully is a bit toned down given the heaviness.
"You Should Know" is the only really other notable track, mainly because it's probably the most well handled relationship song ICP has ever done and comes down to how surprisingly J handles the topic of a spouse who is more emotionally abusive then physically. Though I will say the hook one some points is a bit weary when listening to it, but i'll say it still works well enough to feel powerful and desperate.
"Missing Link: Lost" is an interesting turn in ICP's discography that would carry over to the next album but I do have to wonder just how much of this material can really stick in both the long term and as a positive note in ICP's discography. I'm sure J and Shaggy are thrilled to have this type of topic and sound covered for an album but in terms of fan outlook these two albums mark their lowest point so far and it was right before and post these albums that a lot of turmoil would follow the clowns outside of their fanbase, which they probably felt was stronger then ever as the Juggalo March occurred this same year. They were clearly riding a high, but one has to wonder if it would be the reason for the angry crash that would occur for "Fearless Fred Fury. Still, I wouldn't call this their worst album at all really, it's less of a slog then "CoC" when listened all the way through and it doesn't make me annoyed like "Bizaar" but it does leave me just wanting to listen to other ICP albums that do feel, well, more ICP.
The time from "Mighty Death Pop" to "The Missing Link" albums is a strange and volatile one for ICP and their label as a whole. Twiztid would split of to form their own record label amicably but some tension was supposedly behind the move. Along with it most of the associates of the label were either striking out on their own or going to join Twiztid due to being closer to them then ICP. This lead to the label rebuilding its stock with other acts such as Big Hoodoo and the Axe Murder Boyz. The latter is most important as one of its members Young Wicked was a shining star to the duo and was not only the main vocal (though uncredited) guest of this album but also tasked with being the main producer of the first album of the two "Missing Link" projects. This was following Mike E Clark and ICP agree to split for a bit to broaden the horizon of both parties sounds. With Mike leaving to go produce for former associate Kid Rock that he ad produced for back in the 90s and for ICP to look to their younger artists such as Young Wicked to provide a fresh new sound to their style as Mike P and Zug Izland had provided during the "Bizzar/Bizaar" and "Wraith" eras of the group.
The sound that Young Wicked provides (at least here) is a mixture of Trap drums and Dubstep / Wubstep / Brostep style electronic beats that in ICP's eyes would make for a great clash of styles regarding their more "old school" style of rapping and Hip Hop mentalities.
Along with this sonic change, ICP around this time seemed to have really gotten into the spiritual side they had hinted at during the sixth and more outwardly portrayed one certain tracks in the past two releases of the second deck ("Miracles" and "Where's God?"). The Missing Link as a concept was to focus on the importance of "faith" and how one was with and without it. Now how ICP defines "faith" is woefully misconstrued from how most would and that makes the whole concept of both albums such a headache. When J talks about "faith" he seems to totally mean in god, as the main inspiration for this topic deep dive was J being in wonder at all the hardships his mother had gone through raising him, his brother and in her later health and how her "faith" had kept her going and strong.
Meanwhile the intro states that one can find "faith" in anything and J is quick to mention this too regarding things like art, family, friends or just something like skateboarding. Now that sounds great, but then it gets muddled when he also means utilizing those things to strengthen you with god. Which, sure but as a agnostic dude and a guy who thinks ICP is very inclusive I do find this message a smaaaalll bit accusing towards people aren't exactly subscribing to the whole "belief in god" or that idea that god even has a plan for us all. And the light antagonistic anger J has towards said people is a bit understandable and makes sense when during interviews about this album and around the time him being very annoyed with how scientists (and lets be honest he means atheists here too) are always quick to attempt to make him not believe in god, have faith or just enjoy things on a simplistic, wonderment level.
And maybe it bothering me is a me problem and I'm being a bit petty given my relationship and thoughts on how the dark carnival mythos should work versus how ICP actually want it to and wish for it to be. It's not like this bothers me on other artists the way I've made it and J and Shaggs have pointed out that it's no different then when someone like Bone Thugs makes a religious song about praying ("Crossroads").
ENOUGH OF THAT THOUGH! How is this record, and how does ICP do on Trap and dubstep influenced production? Well, it definitely makes you feel like your listening to a different artist the first time you hear it. It took me a long while with this and "Found" to get into them and even view them in the headspace of an ICP album. Once I did though I will say this is still a bit of a mixed bag of an album to me. About only half the tracks in my opinion work and otherwise they just don't really have a strong concept ("I'll Keep My Hatchet", "Neighbors Are Fighting") or a strong beat and delivery ("How", "Apocalypse").
And just as a caveat to get it out of the way Young Wicked as a vocalist for hooks is not great and sounds wayyyy too "butt rock". And when you sound even more "butt rock" then Syn from Zug Izland on previous records that is an issue. Some tracks to make for a good corssover of styles like ICP wanted like the bass heavy "Flamethrower", which is my favorite track on the album, "Falling Apart" which feels like a modern Rock heavy track in the same vein as "Crossing Thy Bridge", or "Shock" and "Vomit" feeling like updated version of the standard ICP fare with added weight and gravitas from the Dubstep-laden production.
I'm not exactly sure how to feel about "Confederate Flag" since it's basically an updated for the modern age version of "Your Rebel Flag". Which I can understand updating since other then the chorus that rack never had much going for it but was still famous for it's message, but the production still feels a bit clashed and some of the verses awkwardly delivered and cheesy. And there's no doubt, a lot of both "Missing Links" topics and lyrical points can get really cheese heavy at times but on "Lost" it rightfully is a bit toned down given the heaviness.
"You Should Know" is the only really other notable track, mainly because it's probably the most well handled relationship song ICP has ever done and comes down to how surprisingly J handles the topic of a spouse who is more emotionally abusive then physically. Though I will say the hook one some points is a bit weary when listening to it, but i'll say it still works well enough to feel powerful and desperate.
"Missing Link: Lost" is an interesting turn in ICP's discography that would carry over to the next album but I do have to wonder just how much of this material can really stick in both the long term and as a positive note in ICP's discography. I'm sure J and Shaggy are thrilled to have this type of topic and sound covered for an album but in terms of fan outlook these two albums mark their lowest point so far and it was right before and post these albums that a lot of turmoil would follow the clowns outside of their fanbase, which they probably felt was stronger then ever as the Juggalo March occurred this same year. They were clearly riding a high, but one has to wonder if it would be the reason for the angry crash that would occur for "Fearless Fred Fury. Still, I wouldn't call this their worst album at all really, it's less of a slog then "CoC" when listened all the way through and it doesn't make me annoyed like "Bizaar" but it does leave me just wanting to listen to other ICP albums that do feel, well, more ICP.
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Huge Surprise
I doubt this album will get consideration by many, due to the extremely checkered history of this band, with respect to the music. To say they have had quality issues is an understatement. Before this album, "Great Milinko" was the last decent offering. Something changed with this album. You can let this spin from beginning to end. I put this album right next to "Beverly Kills" and "Riddle Box" as among my favorites. And by favorites, I mean the only albums worth a damn.
Fav tracks: "Explosions"; "Confederate Flag"; "How"; "Falling Apart"; "I'll Keep My Hatchet"; "You Should Know"; "I See the Devil".
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