The Album Club: "Splendor and Misery" by Clipping
 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...%26_Misery.jpg

Sorry guys: bit late with this week's album, which comes from Frownland, and brings us closer to the end of round seven. Vote, rate, comment, review blah blah blah etc.

I was about to feature this 2016 record on freak fighter but decided to wait when I saw it was Frown’s pick.

I’m starting with a bias against it because of the Hamilton association

The rapping sounds so much like Andre3000 that it’s annoying. He’s great at rapping fast and clear but unlike Andre he’s not especially fun. It’s actually super sterile and kind of conservative in its precision. Like Alex Lifeson on guitar except somewhere he didn’t belong like making a guest appearance with the Fall.

Precision technical rapping has become directionless

Maybe it’ll find a new home but for now it’s a party pooper

Sonically this albums soars. The textures and sonic designs and landscapes are a blast. If Diggs would take the stick out of his ass this could really be something special.

Major Tom meets Deltron 3030.

An interesting experiment that kinda works and kinda doesn't for me. The songs that really work, like 'Air 'Em Out' feel completely weightless in a good way and the "stuck in a vacuum' sound design works especially well. But as an aesthetic it grows tiresome a little over halfway through: maybe some other instrumentation, proggy synth solos, idk...just give me something resembling color or variety. At least 'A Better Place' has an actual melody, God forbid.

6 out of 10

One of the best hip-hop records this decade without a doubt.

Clipping- Splendor and Misery (2016)


Best Tracks: Interlude 01, Long Way Away/True Believer, Story 5

Weakest Tracks: Wake Up, Baby Don’t Sleep, A Better Place

This is an interesting album to be sure. I probably wouldn’t like it if it was a pure rap album, but the vocal arrangements really put this album over the top. All Black turned me off a little; I mean, robotic type rap has pretty much been covered by now. But then, we get to Long Way Away which reminds me of one of those old spirituals. It’s my favorite song on the album. I was also impressed with Story 5 for the same reasons. It ends a bit choppy as they get back into the rap portion of the program. Overall, this is one of Frownie’s best picks. I like it.



7/10 (the Word has spoken :D)

Any sort of familiarity with this album/artist, or are both entirely new to you? None. I've heard vague mention of the artist, that's all
Expectations (if any): Given that it's hip-hop, and a Frownland pick, I would not be too optimistic
Initial impression: Like the instrumental, hate the rapid-fire vocal which reminds me of that song by Quantum Leap, “The Lone Ranger”. Mind you, “All Black” is ****ing excellent.
Favourite track(s): “Long Way Away”, “All Black”, “True Believer”, “Air 'Em Out”, “Break the Glass”, “Story 5”
Least favourite track(s): “Baby Don't Sleep”, “A Better Place”
Overall impression: Much better than expected. The kind of robotic rap is different (to me, anyway) and the rhythms and melodies are tight. Is that how you say it? Tight? Did I get it right?
Chances of listening to further material from this artist? Pretty damn high
Rating (not mandatory): 9/10
Comments: I'm enjoying this a whole lot more than I had expected, to be fair. It's really good. I'm not actually sure there's anything on this I don't like. Is “Story 5” based on some hymn or gospel song? Love the acapella vocal harmonies. The last two tracks I find a little weak, but sitll a cracking album. Big surprise. Maybe I should start trusting the F-Man more?

Nah, that ain't happenin'!
:laughing:

Musically the album was OK but it would've benefited from some variety in the overall sound. The rapping style wore out its welcome early on for me and much of it gave the songs the sound and feel of novelty tunes. The two tracks that stood out; "Long Way Away" and "Story 5", were my favorites by far but they sounded completely out of place on the album.

Overall, the album was a "meh" for me but the two standout tracks were enough for me to give it a 6/10