DecoyMusic.com

Sign Up | Login |

Forgot your password?

Atmosphere - The Family Sign

Rating

RIYL

Brother Ali
Eydea
Grieves
Kno

Release Date

04/12/2011

Label

Rhymesayers

Tracklist

1-"My Key" – 4:19
2-"The Last to Say" – 4:16
3-"Became" – 4:45
4-"Just for Show" – 3:39
5-"She's Enough" – 3:19
6-"Bad Bad Daddy" – 3:33
7-"Millennium Dodo" – 3:21
8-"Who I'll Never Be" – 3:08
9-"I Don't Need Brighter Days" – 4:05
10-"Ain't Nobody" – 3:17
11-"Your Name Here" – 3:37
12-"If You Can Save Me Now" – 3:52
13-"Something So" – 3:41
14-"My Notes" – 2:18

Users Rating 5 ratings	Your Rating Create an account or log in to rate this album
Recent Ratings
Nick Senior	rustycage
Bukkakeface	Rick Gebhardt
Bill Lohr

For the better part of a decade, Slug and Ant, better known as the hip-hop duo Atmosphere, have had the underground scene by its trendy little nuts. In 2008 they released When Life Gives You Lemons… which became their notch on the mainstream charts while also making the release the highest charter to be put out on Rhymesayers. Move forward to 2010 where they released a double EP titled To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy which was also a big hit on the charts. So it’s safe to say that Atmosphere laid out some pretty big shoes to step into. With their latest effort, the North Star State gents set out to top their previous endeavor with The Family Sign and boy is it a hell of an effort. The Family Sign can easily be compared to a fire that was lit with a single match--it starts with a small, fragile potential, works its way to a climax, and then slowly fades to a pile of ashes.

The album gets its leisurely start with “My Key,” a guitar-laded introduction with Slug’s typical approach of storytelling that harmoniously flows right into the following track, “The Last to Say,” which could almost be mistaken as “part two” of the first track. Keeping with the monotone delivery of melancholy lyrics, Slug upholds the moniker of emo-rap that was given to the duo more than a few years prior. Don’t let that divert you from continuing your journey through this album; it’s not like these dudes are rockin’ skinny jeans and eyeliner. Their music holds a firm grip on the nature of emotion and these first two tracks really deliver on the standard they have set for themselves. Track three, “Became,” is another storytelling passage in this fourteen part essay, throwing in deep themes to deliver an even deeper message. Skipping ahead to “She’s Enough” you start to get the vibe that Slug is shedding his stage persona and just being himself, providing a heartfelt interpretation of what-if circumstances and wondering if simplicity will be enough for him. Sure it’s the first upbeat track on the album but it’s also just as stripped down as its predecessors due to the lyrical content.

The first flop on the album is “Bad Bad Daddy.” This particular track falls more than a few yards short of a first down. The beat is too obscure for an Atmosphere album and sounds like it should be on Blueprint’s latest effort instead. Also, the lyrics are slightly… well, corny. Again, jump ahead a few tracks to “I Don’t need Brighter Days” and you’ll yet again find the more melodic side of this album. A Deeper lyrical entrée with a side of anger and some dilemma filled desserts are waiting for you at this metaphorical dinner. This holds true throughout the rest of the album, up until the last track. “My Notes” seems to be a ray of sunlight on the cloudy day that has been The Family Sign. It’s short lived, but the message has never been more apparent than on this track; it is the perfect wrap-up and explanation to the album.

For long time fans, you won’t be disappointed. However, this release won’t jump out and bite you in the ass either. You need to warm up to it. Pretend it’s like that person you really have an interest in and you have been doing everything in your power to just get that first kiss goodnight. You took him or her out several times, paid for dinner and even lost on purpose at mini-golf so that they would feel bad and potentially give you that pity kiss! Still, nothing worked until that one day you warmed them up to the point where they were comfortable enough to give you that smooch you’ve been patiently waiting for. This album is that long awaited first kiss that was a pain in the ass to get to, but was well worth the work. Seriously, treat this album well; because once the hard work is over with, it’ll stay by your side for a while to come.

--Bill Lohr