(no subject)
so I wrote a review of the new Pushmode album.
My initial reaction to Pushmode’s Invisible Children was since when are they Public Enemy fans. At it’s core this is a punk rock album. Blake and Chris are discontent and instead of attacking other rappers. They attack the culture in which they live. This tactic has various results on the album. For me, upon first hearing the album first few tracks, I hated it. The viewpoint was so abrasive at first. I kept listening. A lot of the music I listen to comes from artists that have different beliefs then me. At least Pushmode share a basic christian background. (The following is a track by track list of my thoughts on the album. The order comes from the pure volume page.)
1. The Empire Strikes Back. At first the the track sounds menacing. The huge beats, and the copyright stealing of the imperial march. What bothers me most is the title, are they the empire? If I had not been curious I would have honestly turned the album off after this track. Long and at times seemingly pointless introduction. I would have started with the second track.
2. Revolution Now. The production on this track is among the best on the album, and introduces the new socially conscious PushMode. It feels long toward the end, but when the tempo increase it feels really tight. The track feels like a declaration of war.
3. War. This is a confusing track. With the piano intro, i thought this gonna be more introspective. This is the punk rock track. Essentially a massive diss of american consumerism. The flow is not as tight as other tracks. The issues seems forced into the track, and I question a male attacking the make up industry. However the chorus is tight. But that does not save the verses from seeming preachy.
4. Anything. This is by far the best track on the album. And perhaps the best song ever released by Pushmode. Blake’s flow is amazing, and blends well with the outstanding production. The track is both hopeful and revolutionary. Its reminds of John Lennon’s Imagine. A pretty little pop song that is anti everything. This makes there ideas which have seem harsh until this track much more palatable. I’m not sure if this is related, but in Bowling for Columbine, Micheal Moore asks Marilyn Manson, what he would ask the parents of Columbine. He says, I wouldn’t say anything, I would listen.
5. Who am I. Another track with tight production and a chorus. It switches up the order and gives Chris the first verse. Where he sounds the most confident of any track on the album. The words play as mission statement, and almost is if they are reaffirming themselves of the their battle cry.
6. Ten Mics. The third super tight track in a row. The rejection of worldly things comes off as a personal choice, not as a demand as on earlier tracks. This track sounds like they are trying to win a battle. The guest rapper helps set the track apart from earlier tracks.
7. I’m Fly. this track just doesn’t grab you with that immediacy of the last track. Chris goes solo on the track with fairly good results. Just seems too slow after the last few tracks.
8. Clap Clap Breathe Breathe. I swear I heard a song with a similar beat and chorus on the radio. The track starts as another diss of hip hop culture. Blake’s verse is fast, and cunning. The second half feels like a whole different song. Back to Chris, and the pace that Blake started, slows done. Also its ironic that there is an orgasmic sounding woman in the background of the track. Didn’t they diss false sensuality earlier?
9. Entertainment. The verses are tight, but it feel like a sermon. Its a rejection of their comfortable lives. While its tightly produced, and rapped. The words seem cliched at times, and taken from other christian books. Namely Wild at Heart.
10. Ramen- I know this song. It harks back to Blake’s solo work. I heard this song live, and on his non rap project KinderGardner. They expanded it and it sounds good.
11. The joke track. I liked it. But not enough to review it.
This album is a tricky beast. The production is better then its ever been. The beats seem like they fit the group better then earlier tracks. The rapping is tighter then before too. But I can’t ignore the politics of the album. Which become repetitive, and sometimes silly. As a christian I don’t agree with the views they express, which makes it tiresome to listen to this album. The high point the anthem, Anything. Which injects hope into serious rebuking nature of this album. To be honest I miss the playful nature of previous pushmode tracks. Before writing this review I revisited Introduction. Which includes my favorite Pushmode track, the confessional I Wish. Also I revisited songs that Blake recorded pre Pushmode, and found my self wondering why he has not revisited any of those tracks( besides Chucks). The track Nightmares and Lovers which may be better then I Wish, tackles the same issues this album does. It does lack the militant stance. This new album is very well produced, well rapped, it is very abrasive. Chuck D would be proud of these angry young men. But I am left wondering what kind of album they would have made if they had been outside of Olivet.
My initial reaction to Pushmode’s Invisible Children was since when are they Public Enemy fans. At it’s core this is a punk rock album. Blake and Chris are discontent and instead of attacking other rappers. They attack the culture in which they live. This tactic has various results on the album. For me, upon first hearing the album first few tracks, I hated it. The viewpoint was so abrasive at first. I kept listening. A lot of the music I listen to comes from artists that have different beliefs then me. At least Pushmode share a basic christian background. (The following is a track by track list of my thoughts on the album. The order comes from the pure volume page.)
1. The Empire Strikes Back. At first the the track sounds menacing. The huge beats, and the copyright stealing of the imperial march. What bothers me most is the title, are they the empire? If I had not been curious I would have honestly turned the album off after this track. Long and at times seemingly pointless introduction. I would have started with the second track.
2. Revolution Now. The production on this track is among the best on the album, and introduces the new socially conscious PushMode. It feels long toward the end, but when the tempo increase it feels really tight. The track feels like a declaration of war.
3. War. This is a confusing track. With the piano intro, i thought this gonna be more introspective. This is the punk rock track. Essentially a massive diss of american consumerism. The flow is not as tight as other tracks. The issues seems forced into the track, and I question a male attacking the make up industry. However the chorus is tight. But that does not save the verses from seeming preachy.
4. Anything. This is by far the best track on the album. And perhaps the best song ever released by Pushmode. Blake’s flow is amazing, and blends well with the outstanding production. The track is both hopeful and revolutionary. Its reminds of John Lennon’s Imagine. A pretty little pop song that is anti everything. This makes there ideas which have seem harsh until this track much more palatable. I’m not sure if this is related, but in Bowling for Columbine, Micheal Moore asks Marilyn Manson, what he would ask the parents of Columbine. He says, I wouldn’t say anything, I would listen.
5. Who am I. Another track with tight production and a chorus. It switches up the order and gives Chris the first verse. Where he sounds the most confident of any track on the album. The words play as mission statement, and almost is if they are reaffirming themselves of the their battle cry.
6. Ten Mics. The third super tight track in a row. The rejection of worldly things comes off as a personal choice, not as a demand as on earlier tracks. This track sounds like they are trying to win a battle. The guest rapper helps set the track apart from earlier tracks.
7. I’m Fly. this track just doesn’t grab you with that immediacy of the last track. Chris goes solo on the track with fairly good results. Just seems too slow after the last few tracks.
8. Clap Clap Breathe Breathe. I swear I heard a song with a similar beat and chorus on the radio. The track starts as another diss of hip hop culture. Blake’s verse is fast, and cunning. The second half feels like a whole different song. Back to Chris, and the pace that Blake started, slows done. Also its ironic that there is an orgasmic sounding woman in the background of the track. Didn’t they diss false sensuality earlier?
9. Entertainment. The verses are tight, but it feel like a sermon. Its a rejection of their comfortable lives. While its tightly produced, and rapped. The words seem cliched at times, and taken from other christian books. Namely Wild at Heart.
10. Ramen- I know this song. It harks back to Blake’s solo work. I heard this song live, and on his non rap project KinderGardner. They expanded it and it sounds good.
11. The joke track. I liked it. But not enough to review it.
This album is a tricky beast. The production is better then its ever been. The beats seem like they fit the group better then earlier tracks. The rapping is tighter then before too. But I can’t ignore the politics of the album. Which become repetitive, and sometimes silly. As a christian I don’t agree with the views they express, which makes it tiresome to listen to this album. The high point the anthem, Anything. Which injects hope into serious rebuking nature of this album. To be honest I miss the playful nature of previous pushmode tracks. Before writing this review I revisited Introduction. Which includes my favorite Pushmode track, the confessional I Wish. Also I revisited songs that Blake recorded pre Pushmode, and found my self wondering why he has not revisited any of those tracks( besides Chucks). The track Nightmares and Lovers which may be better then I Wish, tackles the same issues this album does. It does lack the militant stance. This new album is very well produced, well rapped, it is very abrasive. Chuck D would be proud of these angry young men. But I am left wondering what kind of album they would have made if they had been outside of Olivet.