Honestly, it's the progressive political messaging inserted into the lyrics which grabs me the most. I'm just ideologically biased towards enjoying music that wittely criticises the status quo. Nevertheless, compositionally and instrumentally, this album is exceedingly tight.

Man, it's not that I dislike them, but I feel like what El does in RTJ dwarfs those beats by miles. Those older solo things just don't hit me the same. He seems so much more dynamic and diverse with subtleties in RTJ, I've already stated, but his older beats just don't hit marks that strike me.

Album Rating: 5.0

@pots fair enough dude. we all have art like that.

e.g. my hatred of morrissey is more because of a girl than how much of a piece of shit he is if i'm being honest.

you listened to all 3 of those in full already :s ?

Oh no, the first two, just realized the Cannibal Ox was underneath it. I've had beers.

regardless, i get it. rtj stuff is ~big~. it has immediate impact, wide appeal, and it draws from a lot of popular and current music tropes and content. its very commercial, and i don't mean that in a negative way. i just mean it in that this stuff is really made for a big audience that his old stuff was never focused on. i can completely see where a perspective favouring rtj stuff comes from, even if it is a perspective that makes my butt clench LOL

That Cannibal Ox songs goes, it's dark and sparse and that's my shit.

Album Rating: 4.0

Speaking of lukewarm takes:



I like old and new El-P for different reasons and don't really compare RTJ to indie-prime El-P

Album Rating: 3.5

hi maniac!!!



when can ox hits, it hits sooooo good. pigeon is a great pick

Going through other songs off The Cold Vein, I'm holding you all accountable for not alerting me to this sooner.

im so sorry :[

Album Rating: 3.5

those orchestral hits on iron galaxy

Album Rating: 4.0

We have failed josh



for 10 years, apparently.

Album Rating: 4.0

btw, I love you all. I missed this stupid fucking cesspool

missed u maniac

"those orchestral hits on iron galaxy"

I just put this on, hold up

Album Rating: 1.5

ooh la la has the worst hook in any song ive ever heard

Album Rating: 4.0

RIGHT



I kind of hope it was kept out of irony

Yeah, I definitely dig what he does in RTJ in comparison to his more "simple" beats, I'm just picky. But with Cannibal Ox, he fucked em up, he leaves a lot of room that makes a nice juxtaposition when all you know is this. Gonna spend some time with The Cold Vein this weekend.

Album Rating: 3.0

He says wee-wee