The Naught has been out for three weeks now, and I’ve listened to it the required dozen times to form a strong opinion (other listener mileage may vary). While I’m undecided if I’m going to write a full review for the album, as it is the last in the Second Deck series, I can now decide where particular elements rank against other Cards from its Deck. For the first ranking feature in who knows how many, this week I’m going to rank my favourite title tracks (the songs that carry the Joker’s name or as near as on the album). The Missing Link is definitely getting special treatment with me allowing all three of its tracks to be featured, so with eight entries to get through, let’s get started!
8) Don’t Touch That Flower
Even though it’s last place, I don’t actually have a problem with this song. I like that it’s the only title track to be found in the middle of the album, as the tone of the song doesn’t fit as either the opening or the outro. The greatest shame for Don’t Touch That Flower is that it comes directly after the best track on Yum Yum Bedlam, The Drunk & The Addict, so on the first handful of listens is definitely overshadowed by the greatness it follows in the track list. Along with being a good song, it compounds the lore of the album we were told in the intro; everything a title track should do. That being said, this is my least favourite overall Card of the Second Deck, so it’s fitting this song is also in last place.
7) Found
I can’t put Found at the bottom of this list as it’s one of the few tracks on its album that I genuinely like. Found has the most tracks I skip every time of any Second Deck album (4), but this is one of those upbeat catchy songs I sometimes find myself in the mood for. Definitely among the best of a bad bunch in my opinion, but as I said in my most recent Joker’s Card ranking; when an ICP album shuns the wicked shit they’re known for, it’s never going to get on well with me.
6) The Mighty Death Pop
I can say with confidence that I love every entry on this list starting from here. The titular song for The Mighty Death Pop sets the stage so well for the rest of the record, while also incorporating the themes and messages behind the meaning of the Card. The song is a banger too, with lines such as “When The Mighty Death Pop; everything stop, you either rise or drop” being among my favourite from the entire Deck.
The era of this Card was unfortunately stuffed to bursting with three ICP albums along with a Mike E. Clarke project dropping on the same day. I feel like if the music on the main Card had been given more time in the oven, so much could have been done to elevate this song, and indeed the whole album, from ‘very good’ to ‘great’.
5) Lost
Whether you love or hate this album, I think this track superbly delivers on the frustration and anger Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope were experiencing during production of the record. Promotion for this album proudly stated the wicked shit would be prominent throughout and similar to the tone of Hell’s Pit. We definitely got the darkness from Hell’s Pit in this track, and while it might not capture the quality of its inspiration, I always enjoy this song as a great opening to one of my favourite albums of the last decade or so.
4) The Missing Link
A common consensus is that The Missing Link: Outtakes album houses the best songs from across the three records that comprise this Card. The main title track, The Missing Link, being a substantial case in point to demonstrate this. The beat and lyrics to this track are upbeat and bouncy whilst maintaining the highest quality wicked shit fans know and love from Insane Clown Posse. I wish they’d split the album track lists differently; rather than having one light, one dark and one leftovers. This entire era would probably have been way better received if we received the same songs but more tonally balanced on albums that allowed the best of them to shine instead of clumping different vibes together.
3) The Naught
Recency bias maybe played a part in the high placement for this track, but I don’t care, I love this title track as it’s one of my most replayed from the album. The album focusing on the concept of nothing hits hard throughout this song with the ‘NOTHING!’ ringing out at the end of most bars. Maybe I’ll be less into it the further we get from release, but I doubt it.
2) Red Fred
Aside from The Naught, Fearless Fred Fury represents the biggest gap between albums in the Second Deck. This being the case, hype was at a fever pitch when it finally released in February 2019, after already suffering a substantial delay. After the intro plays out, which does the best of all the intros for setting up the lore for the Card, the beat kicks in and the triumphant yell of ‘FIGHT BACK’ first echoes through the core of all listeners. Even though it’s one of the shortest tracks in this ranking, it delivers its message instantly. The beat productions is also one of the best on this list and there really is nothing to criticise, which is of course why it features here so highly.
1) Bang! Pow! Boom!
Of course my favourite Card of the Second Deck was going to nail it here. I love how the final track of the album is the culmination of the short stories we’ve been told throughout of people who deserve nothing less than being fucking obliterated in the middle of nowhere. The track is as explosive as the mantra behind the Card itself, and the peerless Mike E. Clarke production ensures the chaos that has prevailed throughout the album is front and centre here.
The only title track to end its album of any Joker’s Card ever, the switch-up to finish with the Card instead of leading the charge with it is one of the ways this album stands head and shoulders above its counterparts.
Which Second Deck title track is your favourite? Let me know in the comments. My next list feature looking at the best of each Second Deck Joker’s Card closing tracks will be coming up next so I’ll catch you then!
Written and edited by Alexx.
There’s No Safety in Silence