Other Side (CD)

The Other Side is an amazing, spiritually possessed journey through the world of the afterlife, the living dead, spirits, celebration of life, and recognition of one's self. The author of the introspective miracle is Nick Groff of Ghost Adventures. It is in turn, produced by longtime P-Funk main keyboardist, and producer and artist in his own right, Mr. Danny Bedrosian, who also contributes most of the musical material, compositions and arrangements on this album. Nick's raps, are triple threat rap-beat poetry-spoken word graphic novels of cataclysmic proportions. Indeed this is no strange territory for Groff and Bedrosian to be working together; they were in a long time hip hop unit based in New England called Dysfunktional from 1994-1997. Nick also filmed Danny in various bands through the years, and they are both success stories from the same area, having grown up together. This album celebrates the life of his loved ones, his wife (who grew up with them both), his baby daughter, his friends, family, co-workers, and even his enemies and rivals, eschewing a truly spiritual undertone that is not missed on most listeners; however it is not too much in any one religious doctrinal dimension or category, as Judaeo-Christian, Buddhist, Pagan, and varied Mysticisms are blended with the ghost theories that are so prevalent and well documented by Groff and his cohorts from Ghost Adventures; Zak Bagans, and Aaron Godwin, who both appear in cameos along with other Ghost experts at the top of their field, all having congregated together to share their many views on Nick's single 'What's Next'. The opening track, Enter My Realm is like a Medieval Chant, and betrays Bedrosian's classical concert pianist roots, as do others on this amazing musical adventure. Energy features hip hop madman Steve Boyd Jr (and son of P-Funk lead singer Steve Boyd) in a hip hop monster dealing with some very positive lyrical content. Black Death is a thrasher of a rap jam, with nasty guitars and synthesizers crashing into live drums and programming both along with screaming crowds fighting, and other insane armageddon inspired nastiness. The music of the outer plane indeed. The next song, Spiritual War is a crazy duet of sorts of Nick as a spiritual warrior, an angel, or even possibly autobiographical in nature for his part, while Bedrosian plays the part of a demon intent on destroying Nick's character. They do battle on this amazing musically textured track featuring more classical/funk combinations and Bedrosian's usual trademark singing voice as well. Memories is a Dan Forberg groove with some Bedrosian vocal and keyboard sprinklings and Nick doing a throwback rap about the good old days, and sending love to his friends from growing up. Possession is another nasty single, and another classically inspired, strings and piano and choir track with some of Nick's best vocals. The follow up to this is a Funkadelic inspired Blues Rock session called Ghost Killa, with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Garry Shider's son Garrett Shider on guitars, and Upright Bassist Sean Gorman on the low end, with Bedrosian recalling Funkadelic ghosts on vocals and organ, and Nick doing some spoken word and some singing reminiscent of the Doors. Night Terrors is a schizophrenic track by Adam Trull of Blue Cast Catalyst, collaborating with Groff and Bedrosian. Groff's lyrics on here are some of his best; a great masterpiece based on the many characters he has met on Ghost Adventures in some of th