92 February 2013 www.bahrainthismonth.com downtimemusic Heems Nehru Jackets RATING: WHAT’S THE STORY? After splitting from joke rappers Das Racist, venomous rhymer Himanshu Suri is pulling no punches in dropping a mixtape that’s oddly entertaining to say the least. Nehru Jackets continues the same strange sound of Das Racist, blending Indian influences with laid back hip-hop beats and silly lyrics. This mixtape is an example of musicians using the Internet to test ideas and shape it into the form of a rough album, contributing to the genre’s progress. It is similar to what progressive rock did decades ago without the technology. WORTH A LISTEN? The less than stellar production is offset by highly catchy beats. A certain feeling of careless abandon permeates the record, which is very evident in the rather unorthodox ideas found here. There are a total of 25 songs in the album with a total running time of 73 minutes, which translates to many tracks being very short and serving as interludes. Still, you’d be hard pressed to stay away from the replay button or wishing that some tracks could be longer. Heems is certainly set to go far if not for anything but his vicious freshness. VERDICT: It is impossible to deny that many of the songs are pure genius. TOP TRACKS: Thug Handles and You Have to Ride the Wave. A$AP Rocky Long Live A$AP Young Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky has gone for a natural sound in his debut here. Although stereotypical cliches fleetingly surface, its honest lyricism and impeccable production make Long Live A$AP enjoyable. Tasteful samples and mellow beats are used to create a fun listening experience. The rapper’s flow can be described as nothing less than relentless. A satisfying hip hop album filled with charm and panache. Skrillex Leaving Skrillex doesn’t seem to be exploring new territory with his new EP Leaving. Ideas are found drying up with the use of samples from previous hits. Moreover, the robotic machine synths also sound as tired as ever. The opening track is certainly the best of the three. Green Day ¡Tré! Legendary punk rockers Green Day end their recent trilogy with ¡Tré!, a mishmash of stadium rock anthems with plenty of three chord riffing. Although there are a few good songs, the brash energy associated with the band seems to be missing. ALBUM OF THE MONTH Experimenting with hip-hop Long gone are the days when rappers had to rely on stereotypical themes. Take a look at some daring musicians who are not afraid to push limits and break boundaries.
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