Foul-mouthed Michigan minstrels Insane Clown Posse are back with yet another volume of gimmicky horror rap. On "The Amazing Jeckel Brothers," rappers Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J assume the identities of jugglers Jack and Jake Jeckel, a dastardly duo who play catch with your sins. Granted, some of the skits are funny and a few of the raps even employ gifted word play, but ultimately the gruesome twosome drop the ball.
"Fuck the World" and "Bitches" are comical rants in a sophomoric way, but don't hold up after repeated listens. "I Stab People" and "I Want My Shit" offer little more than shock value to the listener. (Is stabbing someone in the neck really hilarious?) Even guest appearances by heavy-hitters Snoop Dogg ("The Shaggy Show"), Old Dirty Bastard ("Bitches") and phone pranksters The Jerky Boys fail to lift ICP's obscenity-laced rhymes above mediocrity.
The best thing about "The Amazing Jeckel Brothers" (available in three collectible packages) is the well-crafted, head-bobbing beats. But first you have to get past ICP's Tourette's-syndrome vocabulary, Gene Simmons makeup and horribly violent imagery.
