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There are few hiphop group that have the integrity to perform with instruments, or tour outside of traditional rap venues, and two examples that readily come to mind are the Roots and Jurassic 5, and both are coming out with new albums. Jurassic 5 is returning after something like a 3-year hiatus, and so I have been eagerly awaiting their album, and the advance copy I recieved was a blessing in disguise.
At the point where a hiphop uses said instrumentation, they then pass on to the realm of being a 'band', which then puts them into focus of every indie kid's laser eye judgement beams, and so, well, here we are. Many criticize Jurassic 5's new album, "Feedback", for not sticking to the old-school formula that has been the basis of j5's sound. Well, I think those people are assholes. It's been three years, one of the crew, Cut Chemist, has left the group, and, well, it's been three years.
When I think about this album, only the Dismemberment Plan can lyricize what I feel: It's fucking beautiful, is what it is. The production team is top notch - J5's DJ Nu-Mark handles the bundle of material, but Scott Storch and Salaama Remi get their hands on a few tracks as well. The sound is definitely evolved J5 - there is less of an old-school feeling, and the flow-trading style has straightened out into more typical delivery, with each emcee taking an entire verse. But there's a new attraction to be found here, a new sensibility that I want to call "pop" but isn't. It isn't! Did I mention that J5 collaborated with Dave Matthews Band for their hit single, 'Work it Out', an anthemic song about moving on? SHIT! IT'S POP! J5 HAS GONE POP!
But you know what, fuck it. J5 has been making waves since their inception, and this is no different. If they're gonna make pop, they're gonna make damn good pop, damnit. And so it was. With such jivetastic songs as 'Brown Girl', 'Work it Out', and 'Radio', J5 definitely has some catchy hooks. But they just as easily, they spit songs that harken back to the J5 we've all come to know and love - 'Back 4 You', 'Turn It Out' , and the wonderful 'Canto de Ossanha'. And the real juice comes when they manage to juxtapose the sound: in 'Gotta Understand', in between a catchy beat and female pop-magic chorus, they return to the tag-team delivery that we all love. I think the boldest song on the album could be 'In the House' - an orgasm of self-promotion and fantastic sampling and rhyme that might just become the next dance club single.
So, what can I say? Jurassic 5 is back, they're still razor sharp, witty, and capable of melodies that reach into your soul. Old-school, new school, whatever, it's good and that's all that should matter. Enjoy the album for what it is: music. Good music. To quote Black Thought: "Does anyone like good music? Sweet music, soul music?" J5's answer: "Yes."
Everyone's heard of Hydra Head Records by now. They've released a slew of hardcore-minded bands upon the world, everything from Isis and Pelican to jesu and Knut (and a cool Boris collaberation, to boot).
And on August 8, Hydra Head will uphold that unblemished record and release "Hell Songs", Daughters' first full-length. The album is a tantalizing expose of so-called "mathcore" ethos, blending smooth vocals with frenetic-paced guitar, bass, and drum. There's an interesting twist in the usual metalcore formula, in that most lyrics are not shouted or in general indecipherable - but instead generally sung, albeit sung over a cacophany of focused, intense music.
Most songs on the album clock in at 2 minutes or so, with an occasional 3-minuter, but there is a 6-minute song - hardcore expose, complete with odd shrieks and other miscellaneous noises (I swear I'm hearing one of those racecar pit-stop power ratchets).
The album was over before I knew it (I started writing this review on track 1, and look how short it is, I'm already at the end), and so in honor of the speedy poignancy of the music, I will leave you with the speedcore music version of this review:
DAUGHTERS GOOD! BUY ALBUM!
Comments
Yes, I hooked up a TEAC Graphic Equalizer to my car's audio system...the effect is dazzling. I've always been weary of over-the-top audiophile products, but the GEQ does add a notable quality of sound to the music. Plus, turning the bass off is a matter of a quick flick of a switch, so if I transition from hip-hop to rock, I'm not overwhelmed.
Yes, this is a device meant for home audio systems, not a car :) But a little trickery with the wires and I had it hooked up to the power system.
It's great when you want to get passengers to shut up and listen to the music...they tend to get enticed by the bouncing lights.
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"It’s great when you want to get passengers to shut up and listen to the music…they tend to get enticed by the bouncing lights."
coooool...I may be able to use this with my wife...(just kidding, honey)
I soldered power/ground wires to some leftover 16 gauge speaker wire, and then connected it to my battery cable. I'm debating whether or not to wire up an inline fuse...but the box itself has a fuse, and I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm not super learned in audio electronics - I'm literally ghetto-rigging a home system, in my car.
MOG Meter
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I never gave J5 a chance back in the day, til i bought the This or That mixtape. I always thought they were some gimmicky group, til i heard "Improvise" and really gave them a chance. Ive been a fan since.
i always liked j5 but totally forgot about them, thanks for putting them back on my radar.
"There are few hiphop group that have the integrity to perform with instruments" yo. yo. yo. check it...
my homie can't afford drums or guitas, he's strummin' a broom... and whitey's on the moon