Death Grips - The Money Store
 

Well, the ratings thread wasn't there so I thought I'd make it since it deserves one.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sQgTF7TyUM...th%2Bgrips.jpg
(Not sure if it's a big deal if I post the original album cover that doesn't censor the boobs, but I'll just post this one out of safety pruposes)

1: Get Got
2: The Fever (Aye Aye)
3: Lost Boys
4: Blackjack
5: Hustle Bones
6: I've Seen Footage
7: Double Helix
8: System Blower
9: The Cage
10: Punk Weight
11: F*ck That
12: Bitch Please
13: Hacker

Mmm I believe I got that one myself. =P This ain't my first forum, so I know some of the stuff already. ;)

Also, I chose the "great"-option, not everything about this album was amazing, but tracks like Get Got and The Fever (Aye Aye) blew my mind. I'm not a big hiphop fan in general, but maybe that;s why I love this album; It's very inaccesible to the hiphop purists, but those who love alternative music will find this awesome.

I enjoy hip hop, noise, metal, punk, and crazy experimental music, so this I liked this. However, I thought it was just good. The first half is amazing, After that though, I just lose interest and turn on something else. I have no idea why.

Yeah, the first half was definitely the best, that one got the best tracks. If everythign would've been like that I think I'd have chosen the "amazing" option. The rest was just good.

Also, who voted for "awful"? I'd liek to see him/her argue why it's awful.

It was me, and I don't have to argue why my opinion is that this an awful album. I don't like Death Grips in the least, and I believe they're not much more than a flash in the pan. Pretty wack style and effort on this album.

= Wrong

This album felt much more organic than Exmilitary, probably because there are less samples. Actually, comparing the Money Store and Exmilitary reminded me of comparing Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head: except I prefer the more organic sound with the Beasties rather than with Death Grips. I prefer my Death Grips being absolutely batsh*t insane with their sound and Money Store sounds like they're holding themselves back.

That being said, I still really liked this. I think the Fever is now my favorite song by them and the swirling synths really compliment the beat and my favorite crazy homeless man, MC Ride. If there is anything I liked on this more than Exmilitary, it was the beats; especially Get Got, Lost Boys and Blackjack. I agree with the people who said this lost steam as the album went on. Those opening 4 tracks are as good as anything released by them in their short career. Hustle Bones and I've Seen Footage are very good, but don't stand next to the opening 4. And then the rest of the songs are pretty average, IMO.

If we're going by numbers for a rating, I'd say 8/10 because despite how the album finishes, the beginning of Money Store is incredible.

I'll give it "Amazing" as it's probably my favourite album of this year. No weak spots, which I can't say the same for Exmilitary. I don't agree that the album lost much if any steam as it went on. I really liked songs like System Blower and Hacker, although, like I said before, I didn't think there were any weak spots on the album.

I agree with ET that it kind of seems like they're holding back (or at least that it doesn't seem nearly as intense as Exmilitary) but I didn't mind that at all. It'll be interesting to see which one of these "styles" they go with in the future, or if they go in a different direction altogether.

I still think Takyon is the best song they've done, and Guillotine is right up there as well, but this was a much more solid package than Exmilitary overall IMO.

That was my favourite track on Exmilitary, and I probably prefer all of the first six tracks on The Money Store to it.

Double post...

May as well point out that I think the first half of The Money Store is probably in the Top 10 of all-time.

^Nah

I think so. Not many albums I think of maintain THAT level of quality for six or so tracks. There are albums that have great tracks throughout, but there's something about Death Grips that gives them an extra push beyond "enjoyable".

I like it, and that's after listening to it with the preconception that it was going to be wiggity wack.

Seems to have one foot in 80's hardcore and the other in industrial hip hop. MC Ride is so abstract and devoid of any linear, cohesive message I'm reluctant to call it rap.

Agree with anticipation, i think its a "flash in the pan"; certainly dependent on the scene around it, which won't last long. Thats the case for a lot of music however, and i won't fault them for that, i just think they have already reached their peak with this particular sound.

How can you say that? I doubt many Death Grips fans expected them to top Exmilitary and they certainly did in most people's view, so why not expand and grow with their next release?

idk i just feel like they're not going to lol

They are blowing up big time. Next release is going to be post-"fame" if you will, lotsa fan and media expectations as well as studio pressure. Their original energy might get diluted in the midst of it all (similiar to OFWGKTA for lack of a better example)

I don't think so. They might put out an average record, who knows, but I doubt that the new fame they have is going to make them fail.

As you hinted at, Odd Future are not quite the same in that they seemed to be making music that was there to appeal to kids and people who wanted an alternative take of what the mainstream is already giving them. (in a broad sense)

Death Grips, on the other hand, are making music for themselves. They have been lucky enough to blow up big time and maybe the sound is a fad, but I don't think that takes away from how great their music is.

A lot of folk are saying that the first halves of both albums are amazing but the rest aren't as good.
I think I may be able to provide a conclusion to this conundrum.

When you put the album on, you're overthrown by the noisy bass and power of the abnormal sound, I think by a couple tracks in, you're accustomed to the sound dynamics, and therefore the raw effect is lost somewhat.

Yeah that's why i was stressing "with this particular sound" in my original post.

It's kinda redundant, because you would hope their next release would be a different sound. I just feel like it won't capture the same energy.

I think they are in a great position where they can go in almost any direction they want. Electronic, Metal, Hip Hop, Abstract etc. They will be making music for a logn time I think, and not everything they put out will be in the same lane.

Maybe it's listening to this several more times since I posted my short little review, but the back half of the album is not nearly as bad as I made it out to be. Sure, the two weakest songs on the album are there (F*ck That and Hacker) but System Blower has really grown on me with repeated listenings, especially that synth that sounds like a hurricane raping a tornado.

I agree with Thom. Takyon is my favorite track from Exmilitary and it's in the running with the Fever as my favorite overall. And, ironically or not, those are the two tracks I use to get people into Death Grips; usually followed my Beware because I think it sums up Death Grips' musical philosophy the best, especially the hook.

That's kinda true. I found the second half to be meh as well, but a couple of more listens has learned me that System Blower and Bitch Please are pretty f*cking good as well tbh. Hacker is kinda odd but I don't necessarily dislike it. The only real con to me is the beginning of Punk Weight. Nice try, but I think the high-pitched voices are just odd. The rest of the track ain't half bad, but the intro is awful to me.

As for Ex-Military: I don't think the second half is worse at all. While I like the overall sound of The Money Store better, Ex-Military seems to have it spread out better. The beginning has Beware, Guillotine and Spread Eagle Cross The Block, the middle has Takyon and Culture Shock and the end has Known For It and I Want It I Need It as some of the best tracks off the mixtape. (Yes it's actually a mixtape.) The Money Store has the best stuff focused on the first half but it's overall a stringer record IMO, although Ex-Military isn't far away from its level.

It's all about Get Got, I've Seen Footage, and Hacker.

Weirdly, this album suddenly clicked with me. I now enjoy it much, much more than their first. So yeah, it's pretty dang good.

Those are my favourites, too! I'M IN YOUR AREA.
It took me a few listens to really get into, but then, it's fantastic. I'm wondering how they will evolve and develop their sound in the future.

I really, really dig this album. I'd give it a strong eight (out of ten) bordering on a light nine, it's a really exciting, original and well performed, they've created a really unique style. I seem to like it more every time I listen to it and I'd go far enough to say it's one of my favorite albums of the year. '**** That' is my least favorite song, but none of the others are bad, it's hard to pick favorites but I'd go with 'The Fever (Aye Aye)', 'Blackjack', 'Hustle Bones', 'I've Seen Footage' and 'System Blower'. 'Hacker' is good too. A really great album.

it's not bad

i voted "great"

i enjoyed whatever crap he managed to throw into the mix

I hope this group isn't a short lived one, I wanna see these guys put out a whole kickass discography! :)

First of all, let's see if No Love will actually accomplish to exceed the previous 2 albums and not fall flat.