Mr. Wonderful [LP+ CD]

by Action Bronson

Overview

Benefiting from mixtapes like rock bands used to benefit from pre-debut tours, chef turned rapper Action Bronson is wonderfully loose and comfortable on his first full-length, the audaciously and aptly titled Mr. Wonderful. Album opener "Brand New Car" forgoes the usual bombastic intro for a cheeky, goofy track, one that stops and starts at will while offering "That girl on top of me: pornography/She only want me for my guapery" in a voice that's gruff and powerful. Billy Joel is skillfully sampled by producer Mark Ronson on the cut, while highlight "Terry" later uses the Piano Man's name as a sign of success (from then's "First time whacked off, was a Penthouse" to now's "Billy Joel at the Garden/Should I get a skybox?"), but all the insider chef talk, all the cutting-edge alt-hip-hop references, and all the left-field production ideas from the underground days remain, as Mr. Wonderful is a subtle way to join the major leagues/major labels. Hooks and radio-worthy moments are supplied by the edgy likes of Chance the Rapper as "Baby Blue" bubbles with soul and venomously breaks up with an ex, sounding as if De La Soul could show a pimp hand. Closer "Easy Rider" clues into the freedom-driven spirit of its movie namesake and offers an elaborate, ambitious journey that proves both Action and co-conspirator/frequent producer Party Supplies make things sound "effortless," which could easily be misconstrued as "slacker." Other, less accessible examples include the exotic "The Passage" and "A Light in the Addict," a compelling six minutes' worth of sound art and rap-jazz. Through it all, Bronson balances brutish punch lines with a stunning wit, and tempers his lust for world travel and opulence with self-deprecating jokes, and yet, Mr. Wonderful is still just a tad too big and busy for the newcomer, as EP-sized intros always seemed more right-sized with Bronson. The merely curious can try one of those taster platters before gorging themselves on this rich, delicious meal. ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	07/24/2015
Label:	Atlantic
UPC:	0075678670633
Rank:	17735

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Brand New Car
2. The Rising
3. Terry
4. Actin Crazy
5. Falconry
6. Thug Love Story 2017 the Musical (Interlude)
7. City Boy Blues

Disc 2

8. A Light in the Addict
9. Baby Blue
10. Only in America
11. Galactic Love
12. The Passage [Live from Prague]
13. Easy Rider

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Action Bronson   Primary Artist
Ezra Dowery   Primary Artist
Mark Ronson   Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Scratching,Fender Rhodes
Tommy "TNT" Brenneck   Guitar
Leon Michels   Mellotron,Vibraphone
Meyhem Lauren   Vocals,Featured Artist
Zane Lowe   Vocals (Background)
Curt Chambers   Guitar
Big Jeff Bess   Vocals
Meyhem   Featured Artist
Black Atlas   Featured Artist
Cas Weinbren   Piano,Keyboards
Party Supplies   Guitar,Vocals,Featured Artist
Big Body Bes   Featured Artist
Chance the Rapper   Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Black Atlass   Vocals,Featured Artist
Chauncy Sherrod   Vocals,Featured Artist
Donnie Trumpet   Trumpet
Gloria Lovett   Vocals

Technical Credits

Sidney Brown   Composer
Bill Withers   Composer
Billy Joel   Composer
Isaac Hayes   Composer
Ricky Walters   Composer
Eric "Vietnam" Sadler   Composer
Mark Ronson   Composer,Producer,Programming
I. Brockington   Composer
Nick Hook   Engineer,Recording
88-Keys   Producer
Master Henry Gibson   Composer
Johannes Pappert   Composer
Statik Selektah   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming
Ingo Bischof   Composer
Ryan West   Mixing
Hellmut Hattler   Composer
Peter Wolbrandt   Composer
David Porter   Composer
Justin Smith   Mastering,Mastering
Oh No   Producer
The Alchemist   Engineer,Producer,Recording
Hank Shocklee   Composer
Leon Michels   Engineer
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Noah Shebib   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
David Kutch   Mastering
Zane Lowe   Composer
Riggs Morales   A&R
Jan Fride Wolbrandt   Composer
Alex Fleming   Composer
Johannes Alto Pappert   Composer
Charles Njapa   Composer
Danny Zook   Sample Clearance
Nick Bilardello   Package Design
Mazhar Alanson   Composer
Carolyn Tracey   Package Production
Brian Dackowski   Marketing
Action Bronson   Executive Producer
Noel Cadastre   Engineer
Rhys Downing   Engineer
Sidney "Omen" Brown   Producer
Ralf Schultze   Composer
Patrick Baril   Composer
Party Supplies   Producer
Evan Stewart   Engineer
Joya Nemley   A&R
Arian Asllani   Composer
Irvin Brockington   Composer
Ariyan Arslani   Composer
James Rencher   Composer
Andrew Sarlo   Engineer
Henry Gibson   Composer
Leon Kelly   Engineer,Assistant
Chancelor Bennett   Composer
AntMan Wonder   Musician
Sean Mahon   Composer
Justin Nealis   Mixing,Composer,Engineer
Alan Maman   Composer
Michael W. Jackson   Composer
Woodrow Jackson III   Composer
Riccardo Damian   Engineer
Antoine "Audioblk" Baldwin   Composer,Producer
Gabriel Schuman   Engineer,Assistant
Jared Tauben   Engineer,Recording
Richard "FRKO" Montgomery   Art Direction,Illustrations
Ricky Damien   Engineer
Zafer Hakansoy   Composer
H. Wayne Browne   Composer
Nahiem Johnson   Composer
Besnik Sadikay   Composer
Irv Brockington   Composer
Oliver Sunderland   Composer
Peer Forsberg   Composer
Alexander Fleming   Composer