Danny Brown "Atrocity Exhibition" (2016)

Atrocity Exhibition
release date: Sep. 30, 2016
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]
producer: Paul White
label: Warp Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Downward Spiral" - 2. "Tell Me What I Don't Know" - 3. "Rolling Stone" (feat. Petite Noir) - 4. "Really Doe" (feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul & Earl Sweatshirt) - 6. "Ain't It Funny" - 7. "Goldust" - 9. "Pneumonia" - 12. "When It Rain"

5th (?) studio album by Danny Brown and his first on electronic-associated label Warp Records shows a new style of abstract hip hop and industrial hip hop from Danny Brown. There's a touch of (Madvillain) experimental hip hop that makes this a special experience. The lyrics may be obscure but the music really constitute a whole. Strangely, the title is taken from a track by British post-punk band Joy Division - a sample may be heard on "Goldust", and the inclusion of post-punk references and a clear industrial style on top really makes this a strong release far from the mainstream r&b outings of contemporary hip hop and the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, and Drake. This is experimental and music with distinction that draws on Madvillain, Outkast, Wu-Tang Clan, and... Joy Division [!]...
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, The Guardian 5 / 5, Mojo, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

The Prodigy "The Day Is My Enemy" (2015)

The Day Is My Enemy
release date: Mar. 30, 2015
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Liam Howlett, Neil McLellan
label: Take Me to the Hospital - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "The Day Is My Enemy" - 2. "Nasty" - 4. "Ibiza" (feat. Sleaford Mods)

6th studio album by The Prodigy was about 6 years in the making. Apparently, the album was a band effort, as contrary to the last two albums with Howlett in control of everything. According to Howlett the word 'violent' kept coming up when describing the album, and truth is, it's rather fitting. It's almost like an edited version of The Fat of the Land, from 97, only angrier.
I must confess that I haven't been a great fan of the band since the mid-90s, and have often been disappointed about their musical change into a more hip hop universe with heavy sampling and tribal, however, this is in a sense a return to form, although, I rejected it the first many times. It has a certain quality - it's quite good, but I don't really find it near great.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3 / 5, The Guardian 4 / 5, Drowned in Sound 2 / 5 stars ]

M.I.A. "/\/\ /\ Y /\" (2010)

/\/\ /\ Y /\
release date: Jul. 13, 2010
format: cd (XLCD 497)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,70]
producer: various
label: XL Recordings - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Steppin Up" - 3. "XXXO" - 4. "Teqkilla" - 7. "It Takes a Muscle" (4 / 5) - 8. "It Iz What It Iz" - 9. "Born Free" - 11. "Tell Me Why"

3rd studio album by M.I.A. released on her own label N.E.E.T. through XL Recordings and Interscope Records. The album is named after herself, Mathangi Arulpragasam, or just "Maya", which is also the correct way to pronounce her artist name, M.I.A.

I find the album more complex than the fine Kala (2007), and initially found this a lesser album, but it really contains some fine tracks. Stylistically, this is not like her 2007 album, but more electronically-founded with glitch pop, electroclash, and what may be identified as industrial - some also call it synth punk or noise pop. Anyway, it is more 'noisy' and probably less mainstream oriented, and I think of it as her second best album. It really makes sense that it's more complex - giving the fact that it's about herself. It reflects her life, her struggles with identity, the Sri-Lankan (violent) background, and her view and feelings about love and politics, which is a bit of a mouthful. And therefore it can only be complex, and anything but polished.

[ allmusic.com, The Guardian, Slant 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5, Spin 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Danny Brown "XXX" (2011)

XXX
release date: Aug. 15, 2011
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,12]
producer: Skywlkr (and others)
label: Fool's Gold Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "XXX" - 2. "Die Like a Rockstar" - 3. "Pac Blood" - 6. "I Will" - 13. "DNA" - 15. "Party All the Time" - 16. "EWNESW"

3rd studio album by Detroit rapper Danny Brown [aka Daniel Dewan Sewell] is an original hardcore hip hop and slightly experimental hip hop album. DB doesn't add much new to the genre as he raps 'bout his lifestyle, the negative stuff, drugs, ODs, and girls. That's pretty much within the frame of hip hop, right`? But Brown has his flow, a strict (almost industrial) production, and a nice touch with experimental influences, which are quite secondary here but they contribute to his style. With Brown it's not about making single hits with sing-along chorus and nice hooks as much as presenting his sonic style.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, URB 4 / 5 stars ]

The Prodigy "The Fat of the Land" (1997)

The Fat of the Land
release date: Jun. 30, 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,26]
producer: Liam Howlett
label: XL Recordings - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Smack My Bitch Up" - 2. "Breathe" (4 / 5) - 3. "Diesel Power" (feat. K. Thornton) - 4. "Funky Shit" - 5. "Serial Thrilla" - 6. "Mindfields" (3,5 / 5) - 7. "Narayan" (3,5 / 5) - 8. "Firestarter" (5 / 5) - 9. "Climbatize" - 10. "Fuel My Fire"

3rd studio album by The Prodigy. If Music for the Jilted Generation was their musical high and their real international breakthrough, this one was their biggest commercial success, putting the album as number 1 not only nationally but world-wide. Actually, it entered the Guinness World Records in '99 for being the fastest selling UK album to date. The music has changed in respect to the previous release. It's still hardcore breakbeat and big beat but the presence of samples of others artists' works have become more dominant, and a "new" style has been adopted: industrial hip hop. Both "Breathe" and "Firestarter" were monster selling single tracks, and "Smack My Bitch Up" became more of an issue of sex debate as The National Organization for Women (NOW), among others, criticised the song for being offensive, to advocate for violence against women, and for depicting (the video) heroin sale in a positive way. The Swedish music director, Jonas Åkerlund, made the highly controversial music video that was banned in many countries including the UK (UTube link). The track "Serial Thrilla" features a sample of a riff from "Selling Jesus" by English alt. rock band Skunk Anansie. The album has been included on many official list of essential albums including "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die", Q Magazine's "100 Greatest British Albums Ever", Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90s", I don't really agree, though. It's great but not on par with the predecessor, imho.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Q Magazine, Sputnikmusic 5 / 5 stars ]

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