NEW MUSIC REVUE(ED)
Sorry for being so sporadic with posts these days - this week's been especially hectic since I had to travel to Madison ("come for the brat, stay for the cheese curls!") this week, as part of the Rap Sessions tour. (We're down in Pasadena next week, then Providence the week after that. If you're in either city, come out and holler).
Anyways, thanks to the new gig and other responsibilities, I've actually been listening to more new music than I typically do. Here's a few reports back:
Rev Run: Distortion (Def Jam). Better than you'd think...but you'd probably think it'd be pretty bad, especially based on the disaster that was Crown Royal. The production is actually pretty listenable and while Run hasn't updated his flow since, well, 1984, it still works for him. The cover image, however, does not. Repeat spins? Not likely.
Alternate Opinion: Bol was, "actually feel[ing] this."
Atmosphere: You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having (Rhymesayers). Of all the "cult" indie hip-hop acts out there, I'd rather listen to five Atmosphere albums than a handful of Aesop Rock songs (I'm sure he's a good MC. At least my students say so. But I can't stand dude's voice. Never have.) Like this new album - not his best work, but par for the course. ANT's beats were excellent though. Repeat spins? Sure.
Alternate Opinion: Sean Fennessey (for Pitchfork) sez, "You can't imagine how much fun I wasn't having listening to this album."
Bun B: Trill (Asylum/Rap-A-Lot). The next best thing to another UGK album? If I never hear another keyboard track again in my lifetime, it'll be too soon...but it's still nice to hear Bun on something more elaborate than another rushed-to-market mixtape. A few outstanding songs, reminded me of Jeezy's album in that respect (well, that and all the crack talk). Repeat spins? Not the whole album, but certain tracks, yes (actually I could have said this for about 95% of what I've heard this year).
Alternate Opinion: Nastack opines: " Sort of like Paul Wall's album, the album really didn't change up from the same material I'm used to hearing from Bun B ".
Lil Kim: The Naked Truth (Atlantic/WEA) Five mics/stars? Uh, no. The best album this year by a rapper-facing-jail-time = The B.Coming. This wasn't a terrible album but overall, Lil Kim's news-making is more interesting than her music. Repeat Spins? Nah.
Alternate Opinion: Danielle Stolich counters, "With its brutal honesty and hot tracks, The Naked Truth does not disappoint."
Big Shug: Who's Hard (Sure Shot). Well, Shug rhymes better than Malachi, but the Premier beats on here are not of Livin' Proof caliber. A few decent tracks but you really have to wonder how it is that Gang Starr's whole steez went from a full clip to an empty chamber in just a few years. Repeat Spins? Only if I'm feeling really nostalgic for 1998.
Alternate Opinion: Believe it or not (actually, believe it)...I couldn't find a single review of this anywhere else via Google's blogsearch or Technorati. Like whoa.
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