dinozoa
SENATOR BABYHEAD  Posts: 319 Registered: 7/18/2004 Offline
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2/4/2006 at 10:15 |
I've seen Rjd2 live (he's a machine) and I've heard Aesop Rock recommend him, and I just got his album. He's quoted on track 2 saying, "this is the first record I've made under my own name, and the first record I've made under my own control entirely, without anybody else telling me what to do in certain places. Some of the stuff I like very much, some of the stuff I like, and I don't hate any of it..."
It shows. His first few albums weren't as smooth. This album is really smooth, and really solid, is a good way to describe it. If you're unfamiliar with this subgenre of hip-hop and r&b, the very instrumental drama that's light on the rap, then this is about as good as it gets. You can compare this to Ratatat's debut album, in style, but unlike Ratatat, which opens strong and then has a series of skippables, Dead Ringer is consistent throughout.
The Horror opens the album, and it's a candidate for best track. It's damn catchy. The best part of the album might be when, after a few minutes of seriously breaking it down, Rjd2 ramps back up the opening melody to close The Horror.
Track 2 is a short soliloquy, and tracks 3, 4, and 5 are each good songs, but you're going to want to skip them to get to the single, track 6, Ghostwriter. If you watch a lot of NBA basketball, an excerpt of Ghostwriter was used in a commercial that was shown a lot at the beginning of this season. It's easily the most recognizable track on the album, funky, but not heavy on the funk. You may say it only feels funky, without actually laying down any really funky bass beats or rhythms. This track, again, has a very familiar break, followed by a resurgence of the original melody, that's very nice.
The rest of the album is pretty good, and a lot of the songs are almost as good as The Horror and Ghostwriter, but if you want to download two tracks to check this guy out, those are the best two.
Also, Rjd2 is white. You won't get any street cred for listening to him.
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I disagree.
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nocal
It's insane, this guy's taint   SSHOLEPosts: 820 Registered: 8/25/2004 Offline
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2/4/2006 at 13:35 |
"this is the first record I've made under my own name, and the first record I've made under my own control entirely, without anybody else telling me what to do in certain places. Some of the stuff I like very much, some of the stuff I like, and I don't hate any of it..."
I'm 99% sure that's a sample. He's a really good producer, and he makes some interesting instrumental shit. Hell, he samples Steve Reich's Different Trains, which tells you that he's not the average hip hop producer.
If you like him, might as well check out Blockhead, who is Aesop Rock's sometimes producer. His Music by Cavelight is pretty good. Amon Tobin's Bricolage is also good, but that's a bit weirder and more unconventional. |
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vasudeva
Bad Taste in your Mouth  SSHOLEPosts: 4524 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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2/4/2006 at 14:47 |
nocal: If you like him, might as well check out Blockhead, who is Aesop Rock's sometimes producer. His Music by Cavelight is pretty good. Amon Tobin's Bricolage is also good, but that's a bit weirder and more unconventional.
I thought Aesop Rock sounded familiar. Being mentioned in the same paragraph as Amon Tobin is a hugely encouraging recommendation for me.
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Gothmog
busy lil bee bzz bzz bzz!  SSHOLEPosts: 203 Registered: 12/12/2003 Offline
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2/4/2006 at 15:04 |
That quote is definitely a sample, although from where I can't say. I loved Deadringer when it came out 4-6 years ago. His followup in 2004 Since We Last Spoke wasn't very notable, which was disappointing. I always compare him to DJ Shadow and Handsome Boy Modeling School (Dan the Automator), kind of a sideshow of hip hop mixed with a multitude of samples from obscure movies.
I think these guys have been trumped by more organic hip hop artists like Four Tet and Prefuse 73.
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"There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line." - Oscar Levant |
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metatron
Fighting The Good Fight ™  SSHOLEPosts: 489 Registered: 4/12/2002 Offline
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2/4/2006 at 16:32 |
Gothmog: I think these guys have been trumped by more organic hip hop artists like Four Tet and Prefuse 73.
FUCK YES!
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"it's water out of your body" - vasudeva |
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BrokenDown
Tender vittles  Posts: 3 Registered: 3/25/2004 Offline
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6/18/2006 at 16:40 |
Gothmog: That quote is definitely a sample, although from where I can't say. I loved Deadringer when it came out 4-6 years ago. His followup in 2004 Since We Last Spoke wasn't very notable, which was disappointing. I always compare him to DJ Shadow and Handsome Boy Modeling School (Dan the Automator), kind of a sideshow of hip hop mixed with a multitude of samples from obscure movies.
I think these guys have been trumped by more organic hip hop artists like Four Tet and Prefuse 73.
I agree wholeheartedly ... Since We Last Spoke certainly was disapointing after listening to Dead Ringer and I definitely see the correlation with DJ Shadow. I've never listened to Handsome Boy, but I like your description, so that'll probably change soon.
My main reason for posting was to put more emphasis on Four Tet, I was blown away when I found them and I think most people who appreciate the bands already listed would do themselves some good in checking them out ... try their album Rounds for starters.
Question though, you really consider Four Tet to be Hip Hop? I just don't see it, even describing it as organic doesn't quite make the link for me. I'm really curious as to what makes them hip hop to you. |
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Acidburn
I am El Chupacabra  SSHOLEPosts: 800 Registered: 8/1/2004 Offline
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6/23/2006 at 05:08 |
On 2006-06-23 at 00:09:30, Acidburn praised Jejus
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