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Immortal Technique The 3rd World Viper Records |
Immortal Technique’s first full-length release in five years does not let down. We find Tech spitting blatant and thought provoking lyrics like “You’re damn right the AK symbolizes jihad, but a holy war is a conversation with god.” The 3rd World is a mixtape record and sees a higher level of collaboration amongst the producers. Tracks like “Payback,” “Mistakes” and “Harlem Renaissance” have a more soul feel in the production. As where the title track “The 3rd world,” “Lick Shots” and “Parole” are straight hardcore hip hop. DJ Green Lantern’s feel is apparent throughout the record. This record is a must for fans of the hardcore political hip hop. The mixtape format makes me feel that it is preparing us for Tech’s next projects The Middle Passage and Revolutionary Vol. 3. – Mike Saunders Alkaline Trio Agony & Irony Epic Ironically, Alkaline Trio’s late-career majorlabel debut doesn’t sound in the least like selling out. Actually, the long-running Chicago emo-punk band has built to this point musically with their last two albums, and there’s little doubt the disc would’ve turned out much differently on any other label. Studio polish, including vocalist/guitarist Matt Skiba’s delay effects on the excellent “I Found Away,” and synths on songs like single “Help Me” shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s kept up with the band recently. Bouncy and downtrodden simultaneously, this set of very sing-along-able songs – bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano has the best chorus on the tonguein- cheek “Love Love, Kiss Kiss” – sounds solid and similar, just about right for an act going big after a decade of dominating indie-dom. – Eric Mitts The Black Kids Partie Traumatic Sony In retrospect, I guess I should have known better. Listen — the next time Rolling Stone magazine crowns one of their new “Bands To Watch” and I find myself submitting to the always-tempting lure of what might possibly be an interesting new record, I want one of you to come up and punch me in the nose. I’m sick of this shit. Problem is, I had a subscription to RS for like, 15 years growing up. I’m having a harder time adjusting to the embarrassing nosedive their reputation has taken. They suckered me again with this one, boy. At least I didn’t pay for it though. Then I’d really be pissed.
– Andrew Watson
