 | Tracklist:
1. Hay Fever
2. Spin Cycle
3. Time Flies When You Have A Gun
4. Burn Fetish
5. Sky Diver
6. Junk
7. Forgive Me For My Synapses
8. This Story
9. Factory
10. Smile
11. By The Throat
Release Date: 2009 | |
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On 14 Lists
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| Summary: Ambivalent in direction, Minnesota's E & A duo approaches the experimental with seemingly mixed goals |
By The Throat is an apposite example of psuedo-art in music, begging any semblance of emotive reaction from listeners new and old alike. Whether it's the anachronistic production standards suggesting a rap-rock resurgence and Tom Morello plagiarism or the relatively ineffective, anticon imitation delivery, Eyedea & Abilities' third studio record is an epic failure. Considering the foundation of a promising career put forth on First Born and improved upon with E & A, the time is especially ripe following the footsteps of fellow Minnesotan P.O.S.'s acclaimed Never Better. Frustrating in approach, the duo flushes all of this possibility down a toilet lined especially with Mike Larsen's pedestrian guitar riffing and ridiculous, nasally whine. And while still following a general narrative structure (as in all previous releases), it's completely puzzling as to why his trademark rapid-fire, verbose wordplay is missing here (sans "Junk") - instead opting for content generally orbiting an adolescent's understanding of guns, power, love, war, philosophy, and (surprisingly enough) basic poetic rhyme schemes, too.
In fact, it's puzzling as to why nearly every facet of what made this duo interesting is missing: from battle-rap sensibilities to DJ Abilities' staggering technical acuity on the tables, By The Throat veers dangerously away from their roots for such a chronologically important release. E & A was a fun and memorable record; while lacking the extravagance of superior records, it's truly difficult for such a release to stand the test of time - a testament to the duo's apparent chemistry in 2004 and unique, artless sound. Sporting grunge-hop flannels, they've constructed not only something completely generic, but have genuinely alienated their fan-base. Not much is worth listening to here; the record's second half saves the abysmal first, yet never approaches the greatness they're capable of... with the possible exception of "This Story." Oliver Hart, drop your backpack and do what you do best.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 2
this isn't really worth listening to. neither was cage's depart from me, ugh. i picked the stupidest records this month.
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | |
i mean good review though
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"Depart From Me" isn't that terrible. Anyway good review because you mentioned backpacks.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off
Spot on review.
| | | Album Rating: 2
yeah depart from me had some okay tracks, definitely more impressive than this overall. probably gets a 2.5 or 3 from me... which is again frustrating as a follow-up to the previous record.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Well, They Tried.
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yeah from what I have heard by these guys it is all "Eyedea" and not so much "Abilities"
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Damn...where do you find all those artists?Never heard of those dudes
| | | Album Rating: 2
they're an up and coming RSE group.
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: D
| | | Album Rating: 2
ugh, rhymesayers entertainment. i get too accustomed to hiphop forum/blogspeak.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Eh, it has it's moments. Pretty meh overall.
Digging: Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works, Vol. II | | |
"Eyedea" that's the dumbest name i think i've ever heard, it's up there with hoobastank
| | | Album Rating: 2
eh, it's a rapper name. not too too bad.
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i hate it, i mean there are a lot of stupid rapper names, but this seriously tops the cake imo. It's just so... corny. and not in a fun way
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Not at all surprising, don't think I'll be listening to this, pretty much worked out what they were about after E&A
| | | Album Rating: 2
Is this the same rapper that P-Diddy tried to sign years ago and he told him to shove it?
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
I hated this disc at first listen.. after awhile though, about half the tracks grew on me. Time Flies When You Have a Gun, This Story, Burn Fetish, Junk and the title track all have redeeming qualities and are pretty good tracks. Still not enough to save this record from mediocrity though.
I think E&A is their best work, and even that's still a little inconsistent.
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | |
this is pseudo art but you give crooked i a 3? do rappers get more generic than him? i think its a solid attempt at something a little different, and although his voice is a little grating, by the throat, hay fever, and the first half of smile are stand out
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sorry, 3.5. slaughterhouse blows, by the way.
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