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Slug from Atmosphere
has always been honest about what’s on his
mind. He’s built a reputation on it; from
his “god loves ugly” attitude to his
female escapades and the pain they’ve caused.
Through the years fans have seen Slug and Ant grow,
from two guys trudging from city to city in a van
to selling out large arenas and standing face up
on the cover of a magazine.
Yes, there’s been the booze and bitter
songs about woman and all that, but 2005 is a
new year and the new album shows just how much
the two have been through since Seven Travels
was released in 2003. Back then, Denver got a
shout out on “Denvemolorado,” including
a line about making out with girls in the backstage
of the Ogden. Today, it’s a different story,
it’s another volume from the Atmosphere
encyclopedia of life – and it’s a
keeper (as well as a fabulous stocking stuffer
for the holiday season).
Slug has been the spokesman of sorts for the
duo, but with You Can’t Imagine
How Much Fun We’re Having,
Ant shows his force more than
ever before. Production, scratching, and sampling
of a jazz lick to a bit-o-Bill Cosby is quite
simply, and if I can get technical for a moment
– off the friggin’ hook. The punch
is spiked with Munchins from Dorothy land to street
sounds and Cliff Claven discussing the concept
of Atmosphere, getting you drunk with pleasure.
The beats all around are heavy, harsh, lush and
loving your body and ears like a warm, wine buzz;
slapping hands high and loud with the analytics
flying furiously from Slug’s brain. “Watch
Out” is a perfect example, paying ode to
the old school hip-hop groove and showing their
love of this music. Fact and observations mix
with humor as Slug spouts about others with a
mic that really don’t having anything to
say or to offer, that are more bling than boom
bang. I couldn’t help but giggle at the
line “Cars drive by with the booming system
/ I must be getting old ‘cause the bass
sounds ridiculous” ‘cause I always
get the rolling eyes, scrunch face when I hear
the same thing.
Taking a look at society’s dependence on
pharmaceutical drugs, they mock this growing trend,
where people can only to survive with the help
of a pill to “make yourself feel better”
or to “look younger, thinner, with energy
to burn.”
Angelic choruses that seem to step from a Bronx
gospel choir provide the intro and compliment
to “Say Hey There.” But where the
emotion really hits the heart is on the song every
journalist will ask and write about, “That
Night.” It was the night when a young girl
lost her life at their show in Albuquerque, and
one many will not soon forget. And with “Little
Man” he gets even more personal, talking
to his family, his son, and to himself as he takes
a look in the mirror to see the world outside
of the world of Sean (Slug's birth certificate
moniker).
It may have been the 2004 SXSW Rhymesayers showcase
where Slug got the inspiration for “Pour
Me Another,” but the title to this album
says what they’ve been through over the
past few years, in a very sarcastic fashion, which
is very much Atmosphere. You can tell they’ve
poured their heart and soul into very syllable,
drum beat, guitar lick, and into all 13 tracks.
This is a strong trait of the duo and of the band
that accompanies them on the road, and the reason
why so many fans adore them.
If you haven’t seen Atmosphere live –
do it. If you don’t have their music or
this album – get it, all of it. You will
be a better person for it, feeling refreshed and
with energy to burn, but without the nasty side
affects.
www.rhymesayers.com
-Kim Owens, October 14, 2005
>>Our
interview with Slug from Atmosphere in 2002
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