Deuce "Nine Lives"

   Y’all wanna read about the solo album from Deuce? Well, “Let’s Get It Crackin!” It is easy to see that this song could have been leftover from his former band, in sound and subject matter, but that is b-sides the point; the point is that he can write a good party song. Irreverent, sure, but he has spunk; he even proclaims himself as the white Obama: “Yeah I ain't even gotta f****** try!/You know why?/Cause I sound good Whenever I talk, whenever I spit, whenever I sing, b****” in “Help Me.” The first two songs were entertaining, but may lack substance. “America” is his retort; it sounds heavy handed, and out of place considering the neighbors of this aural country, but it has a lot of elements in its favor.                                          If you forgot this fact, well “I Came To Party.” One night stands and more of the usual activities, but look who stopped by? Travie McCoy. This may not be bar conversation, but as the record progresses the album features songs that become more introspective and depict more than one dimension. “The One” sounds like it might directly address his departure from Hollywood Undead, or just address his need for companionship. “I need a friend, someone close to my heart/That'll help me through my struggles,” and not just another one night stand who plays tuggles. UGH! In truth, part of Deuce still wants to get “Freaky Now.” Jeffree Star is not afraid to get risque with some of his lyrics again; he was in the opener as well. It is to be expected, like they are going to talk about cupcakes, rainbows, and puppies? If they were talking about those kind of puppies they would have no fear in saying “titties.”  Ronne Radke joins Deuce in revealing the Truth; “Nobody Likes Me.” Calling out his fair-weather friends: “I thought I could trust/But when it came to saving me/You let me self-destruct;” almost in what sounded like a music box. “Walk Alone” may see him inflate his confidence, comparing himself to Tupac, Jonathan Davis and Trent Reznor, but he still has his insecurities; you just don’t hear them in this track. I like the verse where he addresses the duality of meet and greets. “Til I Drop” is where Deuce is overshadowed by the likes of Veze Skante and Gadget (who seems to channel Eminem), but compensates for it with the anger and pain channeled in “Gravestone.” Who is he talking about though? The final song coincides with the whole (Imagined concept) of leaving the party to be able to self-assess. The other side of fame, and how most people don’t reach it , but “Now You See My Life.” The most exciting element of this song is easily the verse that Skee-Lo drops.                                                              Favorites: Help Me, America, I Came To Party, The One, Walk Alone, Til I Drop, and Gravestone. I was going to say that since he has Nine Lives, maybe he can make a better album in his next life. But this must be the album he was supposed to make, and it’s not that bad; it just seems to lack the diversity of the album released by his former band in 2011.