Review Summary: Aer is just that a Breath of Fresh air that is a delighful change from most rap albums.
Boston has never been known for their rappers, it’s never been our thing we’re much better at drinking songs and heavy rock songs that evoke riots and force the mayor to call in the SWAT team. But that’s slowly been changing over time thanks to artists like Sammy Addams, Tim Nihan, and Moufy who have been working to try and build up Bean Town’s rap scene. But it’s safe to say with the arrival of Aer we are starting to see some progress.
Aer hails originally from Wayland Massachusetts, but based on their 2011 sophmore LP you would think they were from Cali, the way they blend reggae and relaxing beach music together. Aer has a smooth style to them that sets them apart from most rappers, their flow’s ease along the mellow acoustic tracks they use as beats. Beats that compliment the ridiculously calming vocals of MCs David Von Mering and Carter Schultz whose voices seem to bounce along the beats flawlessly. While most rap groups brag about how tight their flow is or how much tail they’re getting on the road lyrically Aer stays away from those empty boast and just seem like they want to chill and take in the sun. Songs like “Ride Up” and “Run Again” paint pictures of sitting on the beach sipping on some drinks while waves crash around you. The group doesn’t give into the same old tricks most rappers rely on in their music, you won’t hear any fights picked with other rappers or details about the overindulgent life of a rapper. In fact listeners are treated to the exact opposite throughout the whole album. Along with the Albums magnum opus “Feel I bring” songs like “School” and “Come & Go” show off the bands easy going attitudes and preach the joys of positive vibrations.
In recent years rap has been shifting from Public Enemy and Ice cube to a range of different styles. After The Dirty Heads 2010 debut “Any Port In a Storm”, Rap groups with a mellow beach party kind of flow have been emerging and Aer is one name that should not be forgotten anytime soon. “The Reach” can drag on at times leaving the listener wanting a heavy beat but that’s not what Aer is about. But if you want an album that flows smoothly all the way through and can make you smile based on the vocals alone I recommend this album.
