📰 Second Coming? – Album Review: Jan. 2000
- Escape
- Jan 1, 2000
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
A one‑page review published on January 1, 2000, assessing whether Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic signalled a genuine creative rebirth for 0(+> — or merely a momentary spark. The headline, “Second Coming?”, frames the piece as a question of resurrection, renewal, and artistic recalibration at the dawn of a new millennium.
📰 Excerpt
“Has life begun again for the artist formerly known as over?”
The review opens with a wry, provocative line, positioning the album as a potential turning point after several uneven late‑’90s releases.
📰 Overview
The critic situates Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic within the broader arc of 0(+>’s late‑’90s output — Chaos and Disorder, Emancipation, Newpower Soul — arguing that Rave represents a more focused, disciplined effort. Not quite a full return to form, but a clear sign that he “means business.”
The review highlights:
• muscular funk
• high‑octane harmonies
• X‑rated lyrical swagger
• a roster of high‑profile collaborators
It also notes the album’s blend of dance‑floor energy and unexpected tenderness, particularly in the slower, more introspective tracks.
📰 Source Details
Publication: Unspecified (UK music press)
Issue Date: January 1, 2000
Format: One‑page album review
Provenance Notes: Part of the critical response to Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic following 0(+>’s signing with Arista.
📰 The Story
The review explores the album’s key elements:
• Title track — feverish, high‑energy funk
• “Everyday Is a Winding Road” — a Funkadelic‑leaning reinterpretation
• “Hot Wit U” — playful, explicit, aerobic rather than erotic
• Guest roster — Sheryl Crow, Chuck D, Gwen Stefani, Maceo Parker
The critic argues that while the album doesn’t break new ground, it offers enough quality to reassert 0(+>’s relevance.
The emotional centrepiece is identified as:
“The Sun, The Moon & Stars” — a slow‑burning acoustic ballad with dramatic tenderness, suggesting a more mature, reflective artist approaching 40.
The review closes by suggesting that Rave is strongest when it slows down — when it leans into vulnerability rather than bravado.
📰 Key Highlights
• One‑page review of Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
• Frames the album as a potential creative rebirth
• Notes improved focus after several uneven releases
• Highlights major guest appearances
• Praises the ballads as the album’s emotional core
• Positions 0(+> as entering a new, more mature phase
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One‑page album review — January 1, 2000.
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📰 Related Material
• GlamSlamEscape entries on Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic and late‑’90s output
• GlamSlamChronicles features on transitional eras and label shifts
• External references on Arista, Clive Davis, and the album’s rollout
• Explore the tags below for connected eras and themes.
📰 Closing Notes
This review captures a moment of recalibration — a late‑’90s artist stepping into the new millennium with renewed focus, high‑profile collaborators, and flashes of the brilliance that defined his earlier work.
📰 Tags
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