Dieselboy

You get the feeling right away when listening to this album, that Blockhead isn't too thrilled with musics direction lately. One hint to this is the crooner sounding sample in the title track, which repeats, "The music scene has got me down. Cause I don't want to be a clown." over and over. If you pay more attention too, you might see that the title of the album on the cover, is all left in lower case...perhaps suggesting that the current scene is just so generic that he doesn't even find the need capitalize?

Ok...that second one might be a stretch, but if you want another clue to his dismay, then you could simply look at the music itself. Nearly every song on here has a string, horn, or vocal part that sounds as if it was probably taken right off a very old jazz or blues album. Of course many artists in this genre, such as Shadow and RJD2 use older samples as well, but never this much I don't think, and not this well either. After many listens now, I get the same feel from this album that I used to get listening to Moby's Play cd, where I feel like I have one foot in the past and the other in the present.

Whether it's old or new sounds though, the amount of sampling and layering here is immense. You can listen to this and just nod your head with the beat, but if you really pay close attention and get into the music here, it's almost possible to get dizzy with the progression. This can be realized right as you put the CD on and listen to the opener, It's Raining Clouds...and it just builds from there. Because of this, I really feel that this disc is more designed for sitting by yourself in the dark with a nice pair of headphones, or maybe just night driving...as opposed to partying with friends (though I haven't had this opportunity I admit.) With the exception of Tricky Turtle, none of the songs on here would be what I'd call upbeat. Indeed, quite a few of them could actually be described as depressing...but in a good way!

As you make your way through the album, another thing that really stands out and must be discussed is the vocals. Yes it is technically instrumental, but there's quite a few vocal samples mixed in with it all. Some of the samples here, although short, say as much as a full song of verse/chorus could. The couple shouting and cussing at each other throughout The Daily Routine, and the nun talking to "her flock" of kids in the intro of Hell Camp both set the stage incredibly well for the tones of those songs. When you get to the middle of Hell Camp there's yet another vocal sample of a male counselor saying good-night to the kids. It's just so weird...I honestly feel pained for those little campers when I listen to this tune. I really feel like the vocal samples on the entire album are something special though, in connection with the music.

In conclusion, everything works well together on the music scene to make this a very solid album. Beautifully done. Highly recommended...and yes, I'd have to say...the best album of 2010 (so far)! However, RJD2's new album is being released today, so there may be some competition very quickly. Seriously...what a month for instrumental hip-hop.

Here's the title track. A standout for sure.

This song breaks my heart. Poor kids.

Tracklist:


1. It's Raining Clouds
2. The Music Scene
3. Only Sequences Change
4. Which One Of You Jerks Drank My Arnold Palmer
5. Attack The Doctor
6. The Prettiest Sea Slug
7. The Daily Routine
8. Tricky Turtle
9. Four Walls
10. Pity Party
11. Hell Camp
12. Farewell Spaceman