The Album Club: "Dark Comedy" by Open Mike Eagle
 

http://www.trollheart.com/openmike.jpg
Penultimate album to be reviewed in round three. Discuss, review, comment and post Nazi gifs here.

Big Open Mike Eagle fan. Almost his best album (7.3/10).
Awkwardly beautiful dark humor that turns raw, often crap,
reality into something transcendently entertaining. “I’m pretty
sure I self-deprecate for your benefit.”

I like it because I pretty much universally like all hip hop. It’s not minstrel show hip hop meaning it’s not like a black guy pretending to be scary to appear exotic. That’s good if you can hang your hat on it but his rhymes end up pretty dry. Maybe it’s intentionally everyday like his phone data and gas mileage but unfortunately it’s not funny and that’s a pretty serious drawback for “comedy”. It’s also not especially fun. It’s not very hypnotic and it feels like it’s going out of its way NOT to be clever. Still though 3/5.

Open Mike Eagle- Dark Comedy ( 2014)

Best Tracks: Dark Comedy Morning Show, Qualifiers, Very Much Money.

Weakest Tracks: Thirsty-Ego Raps, Deathmate Black.



Disclaimer: I’m not especially a fan of rap. It is possible a rap/ hip hop fan would give this a better review than I’m about to.

Having said this, Dark Comedy starts out like gangbusters. If the album continued in the vein of its first two tracks, Dark Comedy Morning Show and Qualifiers, I probably would have given this a more positive review.

Starting with Thirsty Ego Raps, I have a hard time keeping up with the album. The track sound like it has audio difficulties which is why I rate this as one of the weakest tracks on the album. I also get that with rap and hip hop you tend to get some language. My criticism here is that sometimes the language takes away from what Open Mike Eagle is trying to convey. It’s a shame because the lyrics at times are rather clever.

Occasionally, there are moments where the lyrics don’t seem to match up with the beats. Rap/ Hip Hop at its best is essentially poetry with a backing beat IMO. There is some eighties political rap and hip hop that I can really get into. Public Enemy would be a great example.

As for this album, while there are a few decent tracks that I mentioned in my best tracks, the poorer tracks tend to take the album down for me. He does have a thing for superpowers though.

5/10 (the Word has spoken :D)

Too tired for a full review today, but I will try not to be lazy this week and do some homework as well.

I think it's just that OME is trying to avoid taking the goofier approach found in other comedic hip hop artists' music by coming out with something that's a little more wry and dry (not to say that he doesn't get sillier at points like Informations). It's cool if you don't think that style is funny, but there's definitely a lot of successful humour on this record.

I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, but this album has a lot to offer and improves upon multiple listens. I also think it works well on the first spin so it might not be the same for you on that end.

Meh, I think he uses it in a very natural way that maybe you're just not used to. I suppose it varies from person to person on how much it takes to devalue something by however much.

Much to my surprise, I'm enjoying this album quite a bit. Generally not a fan of hip hop.

I think it's funny. Lot's of clever lines all over the place.

The beats (that's what I'm supposed to call the backing music, right?) are very nicely varied, textured and with a sense of sonic depth to them. Much hip hop is musically boring to me. Most, really. This album has a lot of good things going for itself in this department and I like it.

I like the overall personality, voice and style of this rapper. I think he's got a lot of subtle qualities that serve to make these tracks feel varied, interesting and relatable. There's no tough guy posturing and it's not too goofy either. Despite being a comedy album, there's a strong human undercurrent to this. A sort of connection to reality and everyday life that makes the album feel more relatable and nuanced.

Don't know if I will buy the CD eventually, but I will keep it on my Spotify for sure.

This is a good album. I voted "liked it".

I’ll give it another go in a few weeks then. Maybe it’s just my mood. I almost never disagree with your music opinions so it carries a lot of weight.

The music goes from being average to monotonous and boring. I don't care if he's sharp or flat when he sings. No really cares about that with rap. It's what he has to say and how he goes about it. He constant epeening, and it's dull. I guess what turned me off to this no talent is this line:

Really any person from any race or ethnic could "assume" the same, or "think" the same so it bascially boils down to
After that burst of white-hating I lost interest in this boring shitty album.

e-peen/10

He's got a point though. Have you ever met a white person?

I think Nea needs to not review rap. :D
Apparently he's unable to "Respect [OME's] qualifiers."