Kitty Power

Surrounded By Silence

Okay, we’ve got Bill to blame for this post. I’m not a music blogger goddammit, but he was questioning me. What the hell is up with the Prefuse backlash? Is everyone still bitter from that tongue lashing back in February? Poor chastised little downloaders…boo fucking hoo. Y’all probably haven’t even given it an honest listen. Track by track:
1. I’ve Said All I Need to Say About Them (intro) — I’ll admit I rolled my eyes at the voice. That sounded like someone drunk at 3am “trying” to prove a point. Totally not necessary. But once he shut up and got to the music, he came out swinging. Is that a Freeway sample? The beat is ultra hard “you must bang your head now” for a good minute and then softens to a nice casual nodder. Oh, you think he’s done with the asskick? Nope. But, he’ll smooth it back to lull you haters. Banging. 5/5
2. Hideyaface featuring Ghostface and EL-P — Ghostface and Laserface…nice. The first time I heard it, I could almost imagine undie hiphop lovers across the land creaming their pants. I like it, but I don’t love it. The beat is probably the most interesting part to me besides trying to decipher if he’s calling out people hating on My Space? I hope not because that’s silly. Give rappers a thicker skin for their birthdays please. And I like all the BK shouts and screaming along “motherfucker, we hold the legends with every breath that we take.” 4/5
3. Bad Memory (interlude one) — Short little pick up the pace placeholder. 3/5
4. Ty Versus Detchibe featuring Tyondai Braxton — That beat is ferocious. I like that it keeps you guessing what the deal is going to be for so long. The 1:15 switch has me jumping out of my chair everytime. That is a bounce that gets in your ass. In fact, I usually end up turning back when it all slows down to relive it again and again. For that piece of brilliance, 5/5
5. Expressing Views is Obviously Illegal — This might be the most “old school” Prefuse song on the record. It would fit in perfectly on Vocal Studies or 92vs.02. Here’s your security blanket, people. 4/5
6. Pastel Assassins featuring Claudia + Alejandra Deheza — My first reaction on this song was: “Did I slip in Apropa’t when I wasn’t paying attention?” Beautiful lush and soothing song. And just like I got into Sam Prekop/The Sea and Cake because of “Last Light,” now I’m all interested in On!Air!Library. 5/5
7. Pagina Dos featuring The Books — I used to think this song was cute and now it just annoys me. It’s more than a little corny but I like that random “damn son!” at the beginning. 2/5
8. Silencio Interlude — It’s like Tom Man Man is the guest drummer! The song sample makes this song and it’s driving me nuts. What the hell is it?!?! 4/5
9. Now You’re Leaving featuring Camu — Straight banger. Why isn’t this on the radio? People will eat this up. It screams summer jam. I’m going to have to do some guerilla style introducing of this. This is definitely the most “mainstream” song by far and what’s wrong with that? Not a damned thing. I wish I had a car (and a license) so I can blast this driving down Flatbush or something. 5/5
10. Gratis (Pedro versus Prefuse) — After the track before it, this song is kinda boring. I guess it’s the bone thrown to the people who were screaming “sellout!” Solid traditional track. 4/5
11. We Go Our Own Way featuring Kazu (Blonde Redhead) — Nice slinky boiler. I really thought I’d hate this song because I am not a fan of Blonde Redhead. If track 9 is the summer day jam, this is the nighttime “I’m going to Lit to see what I can drag out of there” anthem (and I mean that generally. I’m too dark for Lit…there isn’t a damned thing happening for me in that piece). 5/5
12. Mantra Two featuring Tyondai Braxton — Beatboxingesque with hardly any backing until the musical version of Sandman’s hook at the end. I was also amused when I realized it’s the sample (I guess you can say) from Ty vs. Deichibe. And hearing this always makes me want to go listen to that again. 4/5
13. Sabbatical With Options featuring Aesop Rock — I fucking love Aesop. He always sounds like he just wandered into the studio after barhopping and made something up off the top of his head. The beat is all light and playful and is that the sound of a cash register/bell? Great. 5/5
14. It’s Crowded featuring Claudia Deheza — Another lush song. Totally the soundtrack for a lazy day watching the world go by. What I just realized is that her voice doesn’t even kick in until around minute three. This song sounds like a definite throwback to Folk Songs For Trees and Honey. 5/5
15. Just the Thought featuring Masta Killa + GZA — This song is an utter waste. The beat’s kinda cool but there’s no real redeeming features. Would’ve worked better as an instrumental. 1/5
16. La Correccion Exchange featuring D.J. Nobody — Nice return to form after #15. It’s a solid song and I like the beat interplays. 4/5
17. Hideyaface Reprise (Reminder Version) — I find this song funny because I definitely wouldn’t have though the backing beat was so classical. If he gives up the handclapping orchestra idea, he can go conduct the Philharmonic or something. 3/5
18. Morale Crusher featuring Beans — This song could be so much longer. Beans just throwing out some silly rhymes on top of this ultraplayful beat. It’s just a fun little song. 4/5
19. Minutes Away Without You — This song is just too lumbering. It annoys me. It’s like a One Word emo outtake. Not really feeling it at all. 1/5
20. Rain (Edit Interlude) — Mini pick me up after the blahness of #19. Good and bouncy. 4/5
21. And I’m Gone featuring Prefuse (versus Piano Overlord versus Broadcast versus Cafe Tacuba) — This song has a lot of ideas crammed into under three minutes. The sound layering/splicing makes it really atmospheric. Perfect closing track. 4/5
Out of a possible 105, it gets an 81. It’s a solid album with a few missteps but there’s more than enough right with it that I liked it on first listen. Unlike One Word which I was blah about for ages until Extinguished made it all okay. Most Prefuse albums are growers and I don’t think this’ll be any different, as long as you avoid #7 and #15. Stop hating on a man trying to grow and shit, people…or so he says.

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