New Album Review: Atmosphere's Strictly Leakage

News Type: Other — Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:52 AM EST

entertainment, music, hip-hop, rap, atmosphere, listen-in-reviews

This article was written for Listen In.

Over the holidays, Atmosphere released a quasi-LP called Strictly Leakage on their website, for free. No, not Radiohead pay-what-you-want free - just free. Here: see for yourself.

Atmosphere featured prominently in my introduction to so-called "indie" hip-hop. Emcee Slug and producer Ant (the most successful ponytailed beatsmith of all time) were among the first hip-hoppers to really catch my ear. "At" and I have mostly gone our own ways for several years… until last week. Almost any free, legal album is worth downloading in my mind. This one is definitely no exception. Strictly Leakage is great for first dates, crappy houseparties, or to play in the backround while you google yourself again. It's also good for waking up, driving, walking, working out, and a lot of other things.

In short, I enjoy this release a great deal. It's not the sort of stuff that blew my teenage mind on Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs. Slug's lyrics there are meditative and emotional by turns, and the whole mess is really powerful stuff. Here, Slug is significantly more upbeat, showcasing the wit and sarcasm that epitomize his style. A few trademark candid moments are present, as in "You Played Yourself" when Slug recalls in passing his nervousness at playing with a live band, but these tracks are mostly about partying, being a rapper, human foibles, and picking up on women. Most emcees who focus on those topics struggle to keep my attention, but somehow it works here. Slug's offbeat sense of humor and generally unique point of view keep it interesting.

This is more of a party record than anything else Slug and Ant have released to date. The beats are clean, funky, and infectious. This is some of Ant's finest production work, with "Crewed Up" - a crew piece showcasing some (mostly less prominent) Midwest rappers - leading the way. Several songs are clear tributes to 80s and 90s hip-hop, including the final track: a re-conception of Kool G Rap's "Road to the Riches" (originally released in 1986).

The strong chemistry between Ant and Slug is what really makes this record. Ant's beats fit Slug's lyrics and overall persona perfectly, and it's obvious that the two had a great deal of fun putting these pieces together. Interplay between emcee and producer, which is wholly absent on far too many hip-hop records, makes it obvious how closely they work (for example, see the track "Get It to Get Her").

If you're an experienced Atmosphere listener, you'll pretty much know what to expect from Strictly Leakage. There's nothing too artistically groundbreaking here - just a really solid, fun record that will keep your head nodding and bring a smile to your face.

Published to:

Evan Mix's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Entertainment Gateway, Independent Music Fund, Newsvine Music: Listen In, The Review Cafe, Tunes
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4.0

{"commentId":1385262,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Evan Mix

Seriously, it's free - you might as well download it.

{"commentId":1385262,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"emix"}

2 votes

#1 - Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:54 AM EST

{"commentId":1385434,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Eric Atienza

Yeah, I really enjoyed this record. Every track is fun but with it's own unique personality and sound. The track about the Texas Hold'em game caught me off guard (in a good way) and I think it's going to eclipse The Gambler on my Favorite Songs About Playing Cards list. Though, admittedly, that's a short list.

{"commentId":1385434,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

2 votes

#2 - Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:53 AM EST

{"commentId":1385588,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Evan Mix

Yeah, the poker song is kind of odd, but it's still good.

that's a short list.

Two tracks?

{"commentId":1385588,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"emix"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:35 AM EST

{"commentId":1387053,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

I enjoyed it too. It was like being transported back to my underground hip hop days, with better beats and production though. ;)

My favorite tracks are You Played Yourself, Things That Hate Us and Crewed Up.

{"commentId":1387053,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

2 votes

#3 - Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:56 PM EST

{"commentId":1387120,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Evan Mix

You have good taste.

{"commentId":1387120,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"emix"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:16 PM EST

{"commentId":1387185,"authorDomain":"kymlee"}

kymlee

:D Thanks Evan!

{"commentId":1387185,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"kymlee"}

2 votes

#3.2 - Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:33 PM EST

{"commentId":1388080,"authorDomain":"wonnacottyledon"}

wonnacottyledon

you beat me to it you bastard.

oh well, good music for free.
and good writing.

{"commentId":1388080,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"wonnacottyledon"}

2 votes

#4 - Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:29 AM EST

{"commentId":1388289,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Evan Mix

You've got to get up pretty early in the morning to beat me to one of these. Plus, I have the time zone advantage working for me. That, and your natural laziness. ;-)

{"commentId":1388289,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"emix"}

2 votes

#4.1 - Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:34 AM EST

{"commentId":1388721,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Eric Atienza

The writing isn't free. Newsvine pays the big bucks for it.

{"commentId":1388721,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

2 votes

#4.2 - Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:14 AM EST

{"commentId":1388780,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Evan Mix

Speaking of which, they're lagging on the November disbursement.

{"commentId":1388780,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"emix"}

2 votes

#4.3 - Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:36 AM EST

{"commentId":1388305,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Evan Mix

Minor point of interest: Here's a review that isn't quite so rosy.

The illusion of complexity crumbles under Ant's dusty soul loops and Slug's harshly enunciated ABAB rhyme structures. The most glaring example is the posse cut "Crewed Up," where Ant's laid-back groove allows the seven local guesters—even relative unknowns like St. Paul Slim and YZ—to steal the show from Slug.

{"commentId":1388305,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"emix"}

2 votes

#5 - Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:53 AM EST

{"commentId":1397537,"authorDomain":"pobox522rlyeh"}

Smiling Jack

I'm not usually a fan of hip-hop, but I decided to download this one and check it out.

{"commentId":1397537,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"pobox522rlyeh"}

1 vote

#6 - Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:54 PM EST

{"commentId":1397576,"authorDomain":"emix"}

Evan Mix

Good stuff. If you have time, please stop by and let us know what you thought.

{"commentId":1397576,"threadId":"206258","contentId":"1243489","authorDomain":"emix"}

#6.1 - Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:02 PM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"206258","isPrivate":false}

EVAN MIX

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New Album Review: Atmosphere's Strictly Leakage

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