Rapid Review - 10/2/21

Injury Reserve – By the Time I Get to Phoenix: The experimental hip-hop group releases yet another experimental project that pushes the boundary of the genre even more. Their testing with production is original to an extent that is foreign to hip-hop; besides some vocal delivery and subtle elements in the beats, I don’t even know if I would classify this album as hip-hop. Nevertheless, this outfit’s innovative style allows for the creation of some phenomenal sonic experiences, including play with spoken-word work for a more artistic experience. However, there is some unease with the constancy of the almost offbeat beats that makes everything less enjoyable. Injury Reserve digresses even more from rap conventions in this album than the last, making for a truly “interesting” experience. 7-7.5

Lil Wayne & Rich The Kid – Trust Fund Babies: The duo of staple contemporary rappers drop a surprisingly good project filled with exciting tracks. Starting with the impression of a silly, comedic cover art and album title, I did not expect much from this record. However, right from the beginning of the album, the ironically-titled LP presents multiple hard-hitting trap bangers. Both MC’s voices blend well and the objective chemistry between the two’s verses and vocal aesthetics is undeniable. Feelin’ Like Tunechi, Headlock, and Buzzin’ are my favorite songs. ~7

Japanese Breakfast – Sable (Original Video Game Soundtrack): Soon after the well-received Jubilee project, Japanese Breakfast releases a hefty 32-track soundtrack project for the indie game Sable. Still, the music immediately presents as “more than just a soundtrack,” meaning that I felt completely compelled by it to be evaluated as an independent album. Regardless of artistic motive, Michelle Zauner pours her usual emotional and passionate songwriting into this beautiful holistic work. Sable is grandiose, gorgeous, atmospheric, and plot-driven as a sonic experience alone. All the various versions of musical accompaniment for the game almost serve the same exact experience as an album: to take you on a journey. The ability to capture the auras of the different scenes and locations of the game is amazing and Zauner executes it impeccably. The convenient match between the progression of an indie game and an album surprised me, but it obviously shouldn’t because both mediums thrive from being story-driven. Even more, the project reminds me of the indie masterpiece The Glow, Pt. 2’s layout with a few phenomenally visceral tracks divided by many transitional, interesting segments. Glider, Better the Mask, and Abandoned Grounds divided by everything else serve that purpose. Overall, this experience is like no other for me—from the perfect versatility of instruments to the immaculate mixing, this project blew me away. 9+

PAT (feat. jacolby satterwhite) – Love Will Find a Way Home: This is a great electronic album with an interesting background of utilizing groundbreaking artist Jacolby Satterwhite’s mother’s vocals for the project. A truly artistic experience that I recommend to any person interested in ambient, experimental orchestral, or artistic albums.