- Audio CD (11 Oct 2010)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: ADA Global
- ASIN: B000NA7FT6
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 66,421 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
When a hip-hop album opens with a collaboration with modern-day prog-rockers the Mars Volta, you know to expect the unexpected. That's pretty much what Brooklyn's El-P (born Jaime Meline) has been delivering since day one, first as a member of now-defunct indie-rap heroes Company Flow and later as founder of the maverick New York label Definitive Jux. Trent Reznor and Cat Power also show up on his first new release in five years, but El-P remains the one to watch, rattling off his typically complex rhymes about the state of the world (and the bedroom) over the cling-clang of industrial beats and frenzied noise. It's dense and weird and sometimes even scary, all of which makes it a marked improvement over the usual Saturday night boom-bap. --Aidin Vaziri
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Flipping the syntax on the popular saying for dirty stop outs "I'll sleep when I'm dead" innovative rapper El-P has released his first album for five years. The New York is a busy man of course -running his "Def Jux" label as well as producing other artists but he reckons the five yard gap between albums is an advantage anyway as it has prevented him putting out the same album year after year. As he says "I'm a different person at 30 than I was at 25".
Personally I'm not entirely convinced that this album is that much different to "Fantastic Damage". Its a little more loose and melodic but essentially EL-P is using the same melange of grimy rhythms, hardcore beats, samples, cacophonous interludes, scuffed feedback and jarring lyrical passages. Thematically it's as if the rapper has been given insight into some terrible dystopian future as he fires precise lyrical bullets at faith politics , the obsession with statistics , driving in a metropolis and rampant consumerism.
There are guest spots for Trent Reznor on "Flyentology", fellow rapper Cage on the blackly humorous "Habeas Corpses" , a judicious Cat Power on "Poisonville Kids No Wins" and label mates Aesop Rock on the dynamic "Run The Numbers". There also contributions from Mars Volta, James McNew of Yo La Tengo and Tunde Adebimpe from TV On The Radio.
With all these guest slots beyond the hip-hop genre its a worry that this album could have an incoherent mish mash of styles and influences but El-P has seamlessly integrated the various crowd into his sound and philosophy so the music's and albums thematic core remains stable and consistent, in fact so much so I would have liked a little more variety . Still when you have tracks as vibrant as the graticulating "Up All Night" or the Gore-Tex shaving rhythms of "Smithereens( Stop Cryin)" there are few reasons to complain.
The one thing I have to say about El-P , or indeed any Def Jux artists is that I have to be in the mood to listen to them. Some days their skittering rhythms and hyperkinetic beats are just too intense for my jaded palette .But when I am more susceptible to the crushing dense textures then this is truly thrilling music to listen to and while "I'll Sleep When You're Dead" could be considered a difficult album it's one entirely appropriate for these difficult times.
Personally I'm not entirely convinced that this album is that much different to "Fantastic Damage". Its a little more loose and melodic but essentially EL-P is using the same melange of grimy rhythms, hardcore beats, samples, cacophonous interludes, scuffed feedback and jarring lyrical passages. Thematically it's as if the rapper has been given insight into some terrible dystopian future as he fires precise lyrical bullets at faith politics , the obsession with statistics , driving in a metropolis and rampant consumerism.
There are guest spots for Trent Reznor on "Flyentology", fellow rapper Cage on the blackly humorous "Habeas Corpses" , a judicious Cat Power on "Poisonville Kids No Wins" and label mates Aesop Rock on the dynamic "Run The Numbers". There also contributions from Mars Volta, James McNew of Yo La Tengo and Tunde Adebimpe from TV On The Radio.
With all these guest slots beyond the hip-hop genre its a worry that this album could have an incoherent mish mash of styles and influences but El-P has seamlessly integrated the various crowd into his sound and philosophy so the music's and albums thematic core remains stable and consistent, in fact so much so I would have liked a little more variety . Still when you have tracks as vibrant as the graticulating "Up All Night" or the Gore-Tex shaving rhythms of "Smithereens( Stop Cryin)" there are few reasons to complain.
The one thing I have to say about El-P , or indeed any Def Jux artists is that I have to be in the mood to listen to them. Some days their skittering rhythms and hyperkinetic beats are just too intense for my jaded palette .But when I am more susceptible to the crushing dense textures then this is truly thrilling music to listen to and while "I'll Sleep When You're Dead" could be considered a difficult album it's one entirely appropriate for these difficult times.
Format:Audio CD
This album was well worth the long wait since Fantastic Damage dropped.
Unlike previous albums (and other Def Jux compilations), ISWYD really flows as one beautifully crafted journey from start to finish. The more I listen to this, the more I love it.
The beats are "dirty, dusty" as ever, and the lyrics still poignant, intelligent and potent. This is another proud feather in El-P's cap.
I spoke to him last October after a gig in Manchester and he told me he was already working on new material - so hopefully us Jukies won't have an extended wait for the next album!
Unlike previous albums (and other Def Jux compilations), ISWYD really flows as one beautifully crafted journey from start to finish. The more I listen to this, the more I love it.
The beats are "dirty, dusty" as ever, and the lyrics still poignant, intelligent and potent. This is another proud feather in El-P's cap.
I spoke to him last October after a gig in Manchester and he told me he was already working on new material - so hopefully us Jukies won't have an extended wait for the next album!
Format:Audio CD
I'm at the stage with this album whereby I think it's pretty much a classic but I could end up losing interest soon. The real test is whether I get that hit a couple of months in where I listen to it once at find something even more spectacular about it.
So far I love it: the extended, prog-rock beats and electronics/noises of all descriptions. My favourites are probably the first track, last and many of the others in between. It's a lot easier to say which tracks I don't find 100% great. Flyentology has a slightly monotonous and boring beat which doesn't quite seem as dark or deep as some of his other tracks but it's still pretty good.
I bought this quite soon after getting Fantastic Damage and am currently in a sort of EL-P mode which could mean I'm a little biased but this is definitely worth a listen.
So far I love it: the extended, prog-rock beats and electronics/noises of all descriptions. My favourites are probably the first track, last and many of the others in between. It's a lot easier to say which tracks I don't find 100% great. Flyentology has a slightly monotonous and boring beat which doesn't quite seem as dark or deep as some of his other tracks but it's still pretty good.
I bought this quite soon after getting Fantastic Damage and am currently in a sort of EL-P mode which could mean I'm a little biased but this is definitely worth a listen.
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