rubber soul

Open Mike Eagle- Dark Comedy ( 2014)

Best Tracks: Dark Comedy Morning Show, Qualifiers, Very Much Money.

Weakest Tracks: Thirsty-Ego Raps, Deathmate Black.



Disclaimer: I’m not especially a fan of rap. It is possible a rap/ hip hop fan would give this a better review than I’m about to.

Having said this, Dark Comedy starts out like gangbusters. If the album continued in the vein of its first two tracks, Dark Comedy Morning Show and Qualifiers, I probably would have given this a more positive review.

Starting with Thirsty Ego Raps, I have a hard time keeping up with the album. The track sound like it has audio difficulties which is why I rate this as one of the weakest tracks on the album. I also get that with rap and hip hop you tend to get some language. My criticism here is that sometimes the language takes away from what Open Mike Eagle is trying to convey. It’s a shame because the lyrics at times are rather clever.

Occasionally, there are moments where the lyrics don’t seem to match up with the beats. Rap/ Hip Hop at its best is essentially poetry with a backing beat IMO. There is some eighties political rap and hip hop that I can really get into. Public Enemy would be a great example.

As for this album, while there are a few decent tracks that I mentioned in my best tracks, the poorer tracks tend to take the album down for me. He does have a thing for superpowers though.

5/10 (the Word has spoken )

__________________

Frownland

Too tired for a full review today, but I will try not to be lazy this week and do some homework as well.

I think it's just that OME is trying to avoid taking the goofier approach found in other comedic hip hop artists' music by coming out with something that's a little more wry and dry (not to say that he doesn't get sillier at points like Informations). It's cool if you don't think that style is funny, but there's definitely a lot of successful humour on this record.

I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, but this album has a lot to offer and improves upon multiple listens. I also think it works well on the first spin so it might not be the same for you on that end.

Meh, I think he uses it in a very natural way that maybe you're just not used to. I suppose it varies from person to person on how much it takes to devalue something by however much.

__________________

Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.