It’s been a while since I’ve hit y’all with some dope new music. And it’s not because a terrible dope music drought has struck the scene. It’s mostly because I’ve been busy…and lazy. In the time between my Top 5 Albums I Should Have Told You About In December post and Mr. Mather’s return to greatness, several records worthy of your attention have dropped.

So, in the interest of time and with respect to my innate lazy streak, I present to you Lazy Album Reviews: May 2010.

Das Racist - Shut Up, Dude

I’ve been pretty much obsessed with Das Racist since the day this mixtape (which you can download here) dropped. According to my Last.FM page I’ve rocked Shut Up, Dude 77 times. If you haven’t heard Das Racist, you probably still know their single, Combination Pizza Hut & Taco Bell. But please don’t judge them on this track alone. Behind the jokes lie a formidable Brooklyn trio with enough chops to ride a RZA beat to perfection (It’s embedded below, if you don’t believe me). They are informed enough to reference KRS One and Kierkegaard, versatile enough to implement Billy Joel samples and 8-bit glitchery and smart enough to keep you thinking and laughing at the same time. So what’s up with the jokes? I’ll let them explain…

Is it parody, comedy, novelty or scholarly?
A little bit of column A
A little bit of column B

Don Dada

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The Army of The Pharaohs - The Unholy Terror

The Unholy Terror is the rawest, most lyrical album I’ve heard since the Slaughterhouse debut. A celebration of punchlines and wordplay, full of old school East Coast bravado, The Army of The Pharaohs will punch you in the face with malice till you admit their greatness. The entire crew is undoubtedly talented. But the voice that shines is Jedi Mind Trick’s Vinnie Paz. Appearing on 11 of the 16 tracks, he destroys each one. His verses alone are worth checking this album out. The opening track is below.

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Ian Kamau - Vol. 3: Love and Other Struggles

I love albums like this—understated, intelligent, thoughtful. I stumbled upon Ian Kamau while wasting time on YouTube, where he posted the video for I Love It Here, an ode to his hometown of Toronto. Though Kamau’s delivery isn’t what you’d expect from your standard Hip Hop artist, his lyrics are elegant and fluid. Every word is spoken with an honesty and ease lacking in modern Hip Hop. The album is as cohesive a project as I’ve ever heard. Each track feeds effortlessly into the next, sewn together with snippets of his mother speaking about love. Yet this unity of theme and thought never feels stagnant or boring. The production is varied, sampling Nina Simone, Phantom Planet and even includes a cover of City and Colour’s The Girl, sung completely a cappella. Vol. 3: Love and Other Struggles may not be the best album I’ve heard, but it’s definitely becoming one of my favorites. Check out his YouTube Channel for more videos and to download the album.

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The National - High Violet

I’ve been told I have an unhealthy love of The National. Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers is one of my favorite albums of the last 15 years. So I was ecstatic when their latest release, High Violet, finally dropped yesterday. Nearly three years since my last fix of The National, I was ready. I haven’t given it a thorough listen yet, but what I’ve heard has been as fantastic as expected. Matt Berninger continues to deliver impassioned lyrics over a perfectly matched soundscape by the brothers Dessner. High Violet encapsulates the quintessential National sound—deep, engaging, beautiful.

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Tobacco - Maniac Meat

I’ve been a fan of Tobacco for a long while. But it wasn’t until he stepped outside the bounds of Black Moth Super Rainbow with his 2008 solo release, Fucked Up Friends, that he really grabbed my attention. That record was the beat tape to end all beat tapes. It had something for everyone—club kids, Hip Hop heads, even those weird electronica guys. Producing a worthy follow-up to that album would be no easy task. Yet with the help of Beck, Maniac Meat does just that. Just as infectious as Fucked Up Friends, Tobacco’s sophomore album adds vocals from Beck on two tracks. Beck’s presence on these tracks cannot be overstated. Fresh Hex (which is embedded below) is the catchiest fucking song I’ve heard this year. The day it was released, I played it on repeat for at least an hour. Maniac Meat offers us a fresh sound that is still uniquely Tobacco. If you’re a fan of synths, cracked-out beats, Beck, Black Moth Super Rainbow or Tobacco in general, this album is a must listen.

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