The Tempest (album)

History

Mike E. Clark produced much of Insane Clown Posse's discography, as well as working with other groups on Psychopathic Records, until having a falling-out with ICP in 2000, after completing ICP's album's Bizaar and Bizzar, and beginning production on the Dark Lotus debut album Tales from the Lotus Pod.

After becoming a full-time producer for Kid Rock, Clark contracted pneumonia, but ignored the illness, and began coughing severely as he awoke, leading to a three-month stay in Mount Clemens General Hospital, during which one of his lungs collapsed three times. As the result of his near-death experience, Clark decided to reconcile with Bruce and Utsler. Phone conversations between Clark and Insane Clown Posse led to Clark producing Shaggy 2 Dope's 2006 solo album F.T.F.O.. The following year, Clark produced The Tempest; however, in both instances, he did not work with Psychopathic Records directly. Because of this, ICP felt that The Tempest was missing the collaborative element that they felt made their earlier albums enjoyable. Clark would not work directly work with Psychopathic Records until 2009's Bang! Pow! Boom!

Music and lyrics

Unlike previous Insane Clown Posse albums, The Tempest is not connected to the Dark Carnival mythology, which formed the basis for ICP's "Joker's Cards" series, which began in 1992 with Carnival of Carnage and concluded with the albums The Wraith: Shangri-La and Hell's Pit; however, it references themes, concepts and songs from previous albums. Joseph Bruce (Violent J) said that The Tempest is a concept album in its own right. Bruce describes the album's concept as relating to both a violent storm which turns into a tornado and pulls people into a hurricane as well as a roller coaster. According to Bruce, "That's a lot like riding on a violent roller coaster, I'd assume. You get jerked to the left, jerked to the right, sucked way up into the sky, and then you go shooting down to the floor, and then you jerk up to the left and then you whip around to the right. Well, The Tempest is a storm in the form of a roller coaster." As a result of this concept, the album focuses on a variety of different moods.

The Tempest maintains much of the horrorcore lyrical content ICP is known for, as well as their humorous perspective. Unlike previous albums, this album does not contain any disses aimed at other rappers or music industry figures. Bruce and Joseph Utsler (Shaggy 2 Dope)'s rapping on this album is described by Allmusic reviewer David Jeffries as being delivered in "a carnival barker fashion that fits with their circus motif", and contrasted Bruce and Utsler themselves as being like "Alice Cooper with a mallrat attitude".

The lyrics of "Growing Again", which describe Violent J growing into a giant, were inspired by Bruce's weight gain; Bruce also says that the song reflects the feeling of being able to "rap about anything we want [...] I feel we have the right for some songs to be softer and not about killing or Dark Carnival." "The Tower" describes a war veteran and expert marksman climbing a college tower and shooting people with an arsenal of weapons, a reference to Charles Whitman's 1966 murder spree.

Mike E. Clark's production incorporates elements of rock and heavy metal, as well as live instrumentation. Reviewer Lana Cooper of PopMatters compares "Ride the Tempest" to Flock of Seagulls, and describes the instrumentation as incorporating elements of synthesizers and calliope. Cooper says that "Growing Again" incorporates power ballad chords. Jeffries describes "I Do This!" as being influenced by psychedelia, and called "Mexico City" "Low Rider music".

Release and reception

The album was released with a bonus poster. The Tempest debuted at #20 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 33,000 copies in its first week. Reviews from Allmusic and PopMatters generally appraised Mike E. Clark's production as the album's most appealing element. Allmusic's David Jeffries wrote, "there's no denying that Clark's vision does wonders for the duo." PopMatters' Lana Cooper said that "[Insane Clown Posse's] theatrics have to be given their due."

Personnel