I'm not a hip hop fanatic, and I don't claim to be. While it can be an excellent genre, made up of lyrical geniuses, there's generally a lot less Outkast and a lot more Akon. But, after listening to this amazing album, there's not a doubt in my mind that hip hop still stands as a major art form.
Dessa starts out the album with the line: "My father was a paper plane/My mother was a wind swept tree." The song is called "Children's Work", and it's definitely one of my favorite songs of the year so far. But, read that line, and keep in mind: that's the opening line of the album. From that first moment to the final line of the very last song, this album grabbed my attention and held it.
I hope that Dessa is around for a long time because, judging from this album, she is a lyrical master. On "Mineshaft II", another highlight, she sings, "Hoping we could trade/Just for tonight/Like I could borrow your heart/And I could leave you mine/It's not much for collateral/Tattered and battle-scarred/But I promise you solemn/That I will be back for it tomorrow". The first time I heard this album, that line caught me, and I usually don't even pay much attention to lyrics.
Almost every track on this album is fantastic. "Seamstress", "Matches to Paper Dolls", "Go Home", "Memento Mori", "Crew". They're all such great songs. And, although this probably won't be on many end-of-year lists, it's definitely going to be on mine. A truely great album. |
