Sadistik
Flowers for My Father


4.3
superb

Review

by kingsoby1 EMERITUS
February 15th, 2013 | 296 replies


Release Date: 2013 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Purity of thought seldom heard or felt through music as a vessel

[Courtesy of Fake Four Records, Flowers For My Father is available to stream here in advance of its February 19th release date: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/2013/02/18/sadistiks-flowers-for-my-father-stream/]

On October 17th, 2010 Micheal Larsen, aka Eyedea or Oliver Hart, was found dead of accidental prescription overdose by his mother and fellow emcees Kristoff Krane and Sadistik. An inspiration to many, his passing shocked not only the local community and hip-hop scene, but also fans and friends throughout the world. While an unfortunate, unfair, and senseless tragedy, Larsen's legacy lives on not only by his living actions - Eyedea's emotionally charged music, unique lyricism, and deeply personal content have influenced an entire generation of musicians. Protege Cody Foster, aka Sadistik's sophomore LP is an extraordinary example of the breadth of Oliver Hart's touch. A titular dedication to his late father, Flowers For My Father takes this singular, poetic formula through a natural evolution, using his influences with conviction while expanding the sonic envelope and expectations of his craft.

Lyrically, Foster gets to the point immediately on "Petrichor" (likely the only non-black metal track ever made under this title) with a poignant introspection of his father's death via spoken word outro. "Snow White" offers one of the most rapid-fire verses this side of Eyedea's grave, while "Micheal" is a stirring, genuine dedication to the very same person, conceived "to convey that Micheal was a good human being and friend, not Eyedea was [just] a good rapper" per a recent interview with the Minneapolis City-Pages. Besides an incremental improvement in diction (he's not even 25 yet and verbal skills only improve with age), the real progression from 2008's The Balancing Act is his increasingly experiential approach to exposition and much more focused content. The new LP finds Sadistik with more of a cause than just pure introspection and soul-searching. Fellow indie-rappers Cage and Astronautalis lend their talents in very much the same manner to their respective verses on "Russian Roulette" and "Exit Theme", emphasizing the very substance of the record.

But the defining factor that can make or break any hip-hop record is production and compositional quality. Where his last efforts relied heavily on soul samples and a generally derivative (but well-done), subdued boom-bap skeleton, Flowers For My Father nearly brushes this safe formula aside with the epic, synth-soaked orchestrations of Blue Sky Black Death setting a much more intimate stage on "Russian Roulette", "City In Amber", "The Beast", and "A Long Winter". These progressive techniques infiltrate a majority of the beats throughout, with affiliate Raised By Wolves (by way of cousin Nacho Picasso) lending his talents as well as esteemed Sputnikmusic user/ producer of the Cunninlynguists Kno and soul-council member Eric G. Overall, this effort is a lot more cohesive between thematic intent and production, emulating a truly dark atmosphere that could quite possibly be from the very recesses of Sadistik's soul.

Music as a collective body needs more records like Flowers For My Father to stay grounded in life - records that not only confess the vulnerability of the artist, but use the opportunity to expose the very essence of humanity. Who knows if Sadistik will be remembered after he's dead and gone; the best we can hope is that his sentiments inspire those that come after and maintain this kind of purity of thought seldom heard or felt through music as a vessel. Hats off to Fake-Four Records and label head Ceschi Ramos for taking in fledgling artists like Sadistik or Dark Time Sunshine and giving them a real opportunity to not only succeed, but also preserve the art of hip-hop.



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4
excellent
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Comments:Add a Comment 
Yuli
Emeritus
February 15th 2013


10767 Comments


Oh man, sounds really cool.

foxxxythnksustnk
February 15th 2013


2131 Comments


u mentioned dts i will prob check

pizzamachine
February 15th 2013


27628 Comments


Dunno if I'll listen to this but damn, the review's really doing it for me.

Aids
February 15th 2013


24540 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

review wags pretty hard dude good job

kingsoby1
Emeritus
February 15th 2013


4970 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

thanks guys - the only favor you could do me is to check this out when it drops!



@rosa - if you liked by the throat you will probably 5 this

Buzzkillr
February 15th 2013


1541 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

nice, this should give him some well deserved attention, he certainly needs the exposure

klap
Emeritus
February 15th 2013


12410 Comments


Purity of thought seldom heard or felt through music as a vessel

Aids
February 15th 2013


24540 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

The capacity of human intelligence seems to limit the capabilities to expand upon any possible creative aptitudes.....

klap
Emeritus
February 15th 2013


12410 Comments


From the depths of unsullied innocence i am ensnared by this odd divination indeed...

kingsoby1
Emeritus
February 15th 2013


4970 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

U guyz

kingsoby1
Emeritus
February 15th 2013


4970 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yr just mad uvbeen ensnared

Tupik
February 15th 2013


680 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Can't wait for this to drop, The Balancing Act is such a great album. Excellent review Sobhi

iamSeraph
February 15th 2013


928 Comments


4.3 ???
how?

BigTuna
February 15th 2013


5915 Comments


I'm really glad to hear this is good! Can't wait to check it out. I loved his debut. Do you know if Emancipator produced any of the tracks?

EaglesBecomeVultures
February 15th 2013


5572 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

chuch

kingsoby1
Emeritus
February 15th 2013


4970 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

@tuna - no emancipator... thankfully for me. really cant stand him (un?)fortunately.

Captain North
February 15th 2013


6793 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I loved By The Throat so apparently I'll prolly 5 this. Must check now

Wolfhorde
February 15th 2013


15387 Comments


So, does this album have tracks that aren't all emotional?

kingsoby1
Emeritus
February 15th 2013


4970 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

no these odd divinations emerge from the depths of unsullied innocence to engage your interior hearing organ in a brief glimpse of eternity's waltz

Wolfhorde
February 15th 2013


15387 Comments


Motion denied.



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