We Don't Even Live Here

by P.O.S.

I've been a fan of POS for years - since I first heard him on Audition, his second album, and I am constantly impressed with the way he refines and refocuses his vision and his approach to each new project.

We Don't Even Live Here, his fourth solo album, is a very tight shot across the bow of the zeitgeist.  This is a post-Occupy album, which has Stef stating plainly his position on 'stuff', and the materialism and greed of North American culture.

At first, it seems that Stef is good and pissed off throughout the album, but I don't think that's really true.  I find it clear that he doesn't like where things are going, and he's refusing to accept it, but I don't hear a lot of anger in his tone - it's more like frustration.

Stef uses this album to call a lot of groups out.  'Bumper' the fantastic opening track, contains a screed against clueless rappers who continue to support the money-making aspects of music to the detriment of using their voice to spread a message.  'F*** Your Stuff' could be a post-Occupy anthem, as he proudly proclaims his freedom from materialism.  The beautiful 'How We Land', featuring Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, mourns the ease with which people accept things they don't like as inevitable.

Other tracks continue these themes of self-reliance and change from below.  There are tracks with titles like 'Lock-Picks, Knives, Bricks and Bats', 'Fire in the Hole/Arrow to the Action', and 'Wanted/Wasted', which all neatly sum up Stef's position.

POS continues to be a stunningly talented lyricist, and he is joined on this album by Doomtree crewmates Sims and Mike Mictlan, as well as his Marijuana Deathsquads bandmate Isaac Gale, and rapper Astronautalis.  Production wise, this album is fuzzier than his last, with beats by Stef and his usual Doomtree collaborators Lazerbeak and Cecil Otter, but also by new collaborators Andrew Dawson, Patric Russel, Ryan Olson, Housemeister, and Boys Noize.

This is easily one of my favourite albums of the year.  It's hard not to listen to it and think about Stef's current medical predicament.  If you are interested in supporting one of the truest voices in hip-hop, and an all-round great person, head over here to do you part, or learn more.

Lava Bangers

by Lazerbeak, with Plain Ole Bill

It will come as no surprise to anyone who reads this blog that I am totally happy with yet another release from the geniuses at the Doomtree mansion in Minneapolis.  This time around, we are being gifted an instrumental album spotlighting the music of Lazerbeak, the premier producer of the Doomtree collective.

There are twenty tracks on Lava Bangers, which runs for exactly thirty-nine minutes. A few of them have appeared before, usually as intros or interludes on entries in the False Hopes series of mixtapes, but most are original to this project.

Lazerbeak is stretching his sound here - most of these instrumental tracks are not designed to be sung or rapped over, but instead exist as their own creation, and are quite lovely.  My favourite track on this album is the last one, 'Lift Every Voice', which I believe samples heavily from Philip Glass's soundtrack to the film Powaqqatsi, creating a transcendent and deeply beautiful piece of music.

Each track blends into the next, for which we can thank the scratches and blends of Plain Ole Bill.  Without doubt, it would have been nice to hear  a track where POS or Dessa could cut loose, but this is a project I'm very pleased with.

No Kings

by Doomtree


No Kings is the second full-crew album from the Doomtree collective, and is their most collaborative project yet.

Whereas on their previous, self-titled album, most of the songs followed the usual convention of having a single producer providing the beat for anywhere from one to five emcees, this album blurs the lines between the various roles, giving the entire package an organic feel.

The credits for many of these tracks list three producers, as usual producer Lazerbeak works with Cecil Otter, POS, with Paper Tiger showing up for the awesome closer 'Fresh New Trash'.  Otter has a few solo beats as well, which is nice to see.  There is a much heavier rock influence on this album, but this is still a raw hip-hop beast.

Lyrically, the crew is reaching new heights.  There seems to be a lot of Sims on this album, but the credits are nicely balanced between him, Otter, Mike Mictlan, Dessa, and POS.  This is not a group that has any weak links (how many other rap groups of this size can say the same?  Not even Wu-Tang), but it is Dessa and POS who elevate each track they're on to the next level.

Stand-out tracks include the opener 'No Way', which has an amazing hook, and 'Beacon' (for Dessa).  My drop-dead favourite is the infectious 'Bangarang', which is the partiest track Doomtree has ever released.  This is a terrific album from one of the best, and most slept on, groups in hip-hop today.

Bad Time Zoo

by Sims

When I saw Doomtree perform here back in December, there was some mention of the fact that Sims had traveled to Nepal (it could have been Tibet, but that seems unlikely) to study Buddhism before starting work on this new album.  Whatever the degree of truth to that story may be, there is definitely a more spiritual aspect to Sim's lyrics on this, his second full-length album.

The songs on here are pretty political (even for a Doomtree record), as Sims talks about globalization, liberal guilt and self-delusion, and consumer culture.  He's not particularly angry on this disk, and is coming at things from a more philosophical and observational standpoint than anything else.

Musically, the album is very nice.  Lazerbeak produces all but the hidden track at the end (which is done by Cecil Otter), so there is a strong sense of consistency here.  Perhaps too much though.  The only guest appearance is by POS, and that's on the fourth track.  Somewhere towards the last third of the album, I always find myself hoping someone else is going to show up on a track, just to switch things up a bit.  Sims is a very capable rapper on his own, but I find I get a little tired of just hearing him.

That said, when all of the tracks on this disk are transferred to my ipod, I know each of them will be a nice surprise when they show up in shuffle mode.

Legend Recognize Legend

by Lazerbeak

Before this album was released, Lazerbeak, best known as the producer par excellence of the Doomtree collective, warned his fans that it wasn't going to be what they were expecting.  I appreciated the warning, as I was originally anticipating a strong instrumental album with some dirty beats and chirpy sped-up vocal samples.  Instead, he gifted us with Legend Recognize Legend.

The first time I listened to it, I kind of hated it.  I thought he was doing the same thing that RJD2 did with his Third Hand album, which I couldn't stand (although maybe I should give it another try).  The second time, I started to get it a little better.  Now, it's become one of my favourite albums of 2010.

See, Lazer has bucked all expectations and put out a pop album which is heavy on the synthesizers, and which features his own singing.  It's a pretty weird concoction.  The songs are airy and light, although they occasionally feel a little emo.  There are plenty of guest performers playing live instruments, and the lovely Dessa appears on one track.

The album is short - 10 songs in 34 minutes - and is really meant to be listened to as a single piece.  The songs match up with each other perfectly, and the album just floats along on its good intentions.

I bought this on cd, and it came with a dvd which features a video for each song.  Some are straight up trippy (the video for Dream Team just shows multi-coloured jellyfish floating around), while others are more conventional in their approach.

This is a very cool project.  Congratulations to Lazerbeak for doing his own thing, no matter how non-commercial it may seem.

A Badly Broken Code

by Dessa

Dessa starts her first full-length solo album with a poetic spoken-word piece about her family over a lovely beat by MK Larada. From there, she goes into a simple poem sung over layered vocals. This is definitely not a standard hip-hop album, but is instead a showcase for the various talents of this artist.

A Badly Broken Code holds within it a wide range of emotions, moods, and levels of aggression, as Dessa demonstrates (yet again) why the Doomtree crew deserves much more attention than it gets.

'Dixon's Girl' is an interesting song, recounting her meeting with a fellow musician who was struggling within her relationship. The later song 'Alibi' usese the same storytelling skills.

Dessa returns to ground covered on her False Hopes disk with 'Mine Shaft II', where she once again displays her lyrical skill, and shifts from rapping to singing and back again over a lush Cecil Otter beat.

Perhaps the loveliest song on the album is 'The Chaconne', a song featuring vocals by Matthew Santos, that appears to be about a love she felt for an older musician, who had no time for her or his own family. Similar to this are songs like 'Go Home' and 'Momento Mori'.

'Seamstress' and 'Dutch' are softer versions of the type of songs I've gotten used to hearing her appear on with the rest of the Doomtree crew. They are somewhat gentler than her group work, although still proof she can spit with the best of them. 'The Bullpen' has her addressing the rarity of women in hip-hop, and speaking openly about what it's like to be the only woman in her crew, but on 'Crew', she declares her love for the guys. The album ends similarly to the second track, with a sung poem that is simply lovely.

The production, by Doomtree stalwarts Larada, Lazerbeak, Otter, Paper Tiger and joined by Big Jess and Ronin on one track each, is as varied as Dessa's subject matter and choice of style. This is a lush, well-made album by a very talented artist.

Death of a Handsome Bride

by F. Stokes and Lazerbeak

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Doomtree, and noticed this little project tucked into the bottom corner of their web store one day. Lazerbeak makes some impressive beats, so I figured it was worth the rather small financial risk to give this a try.

F. Stokes is an interesting rapper. He doesn't really fit into the Doomtree aesthetic, reminding me of underground rappers like Buff1 or Finale; cats who put out some nice stuff, but aren't exactly instantly recognizable when a song comes on.

The album starts off with 'Too', a spoken word piece about being too black, too pretty, etc., that does set the tone for this short album. From there, Lazerbeak comes on the scene, and provides him with some pretty standard, if nice, beats. Stand-out songs include 'Blessings', 'Soul Clap', and the prerequisite relationship song 'Pretty Shit'.

The high point of this album is 'So Into You', F. Stokes anthem of optimism, which basically is about his mother's belief in him, and where their shared dreams will lead. The album closes with 'Tickle Me Mars', a club anthem with a very uplifting beat. Usually I hate songs like this, but I found the chorus pretty infectious, and its become one of those songs that creeps into my head at odd times.
I can't really see what the future will bring for Mr. Stokes. He's a talented artist, but doesn't seem to be enough of an individual, based on this sampling, for him to really stand out in an over-crowded music industry. I wish him all the best though...

False Hopes Fifteen

by Doomtree

Anyone who checks this blog regularly knows how much I love the Doomtree crew, so the release of the latest in the 'False Hopes' series of ep's was greated with great excitement. It's only 8 tracks in length, but it is a terrific sampling of the group's personalities and talents.

It opens with a nice intro from Paper Tiger before heading in to a couple of bangers - 'Coup for the Kings' by Sims and POS, with Lazerbeak on beats, and 'Profit & Loss', a recession-themed posse cut featuring the whole crew.

Cecil Otter's 'A Rickety Bridge' is your standard Otter poetic gold, and 'Scuffle' has me looking forward to Dessa's solo album, which should be arriving this week or next. POS and Mictlan get a solo track each in 'Do Not Stay' and 'OMG!' (respectively), showcasing their strengths. The ep ends with Otter's instrumental 'Carpe Diem', a lovely, almost drum'n'bass track.

This is a good way to spend a half hour, and a perfect sampler for anyone thinking about checking out Doomtree. Now I want more though...

False Hopes XIV

by Sims

Sims comes off as the most optimistic and happy of the Doomtree crew. I don't mean to imply that the rest of them make music that is dark or cynical; it's just that he seems to project a more upbeat persona through his music. He doesn't appear to have the angry ambition of POS and Mictlan, nor seem as soul-searchingly poetic as Cecil Otter. He also lacks the mercurial nature of Dessa.

Basically, he's the one that can turn out a pile of tracks that are technically skilled, intelligent, and uplifting, which basically describes this installment in the False Hopes series.

Beats are provided by Doomtree regulars Lazerbeak, MK Larada, Paper Tiger, and POS, although there are also tracks produced by Medium Zach and Noam the Drummer. The only guest on this short ep is Omaur Bliss.

Never Better

by P.O.S

Musically, I consider the period from the summer of 2008 to now as the 'Year of Doomtree', as I picked up and listened to a lot of product from this Minneapolis group, of which this album would have to be the highlight.

P.O.S is the first of the Doomtree crew to come to my attention, with his excellent "Audition" album of a few years ago, which this present album surpasses in every way.

First, "Never Better" is beautifully packaged. The cd is packed in a stiff plastic casing, which contains a number of acetate inserts, which can be rearranged to design a custom look. It's a cool idea.

The album itself perfectly blends Stef's punk and rap roots, as discussed in 'Out of Category'. It starts with 'Let it Rattle', where Stef asks "Who really listens?/ Precision with a verse draws a crowd/I draw a line between an easy melody/ and piece on mind," explaining the ethos at work throughout the album.

On 'Optimist' (with its fantastic plastic-cup beat) and 'Purexed', P.O.S eschews the typical boasting of rap and punk, and instead speaks honestly about struggle and growth. This album is both personal and accessible. Other favorite tracks include 'Savion Glover' and 'Been Afraid', which showcases Stef's considerable talents as a storyteller.

'Low Light Low Life' is the only track where other Doomtree members pick up the mic, and Stef is joined by Sims and Dessa (who murders the track). He provides many of his own beats, but is also joined by Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger and MK Larada. This album deserves to be recognized as a classic.

Doomtree Blowout

This the first DVD released by the Doomtree collective. It chronicles the set-up for the Blowout 2 concert, and then features the concert itself. As well, it contains about 6 videos, and an odd collections of outtakes and extras.

The concert footage is stunning. It looks like it was a great show, and the crew really show their talent. There is a lengthy (very lengthy) dance segment in the middle of the performance, which I found I skipped over, but the rest of the dvd held my attention very well.

Worth special mention would be Turbo Nemesis's segments wherein he tells his story about cruising around Minneapolis with a man named D, and later when he takes the camera on a tour of the Doomtree Mansion.

Included with the dvd is number 13 in the False Hopes series of cds, featuring 12 tracks, most of which I'd never heard before.

All of the tracks are worth owning, but I was especially impressed with the instrumental offerings from Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, and Cecil Otter. I think it might be time for an all-instrumental release from these talented producers.

This is a must-own.

False Hopes

by Doomtree

Since the summer, when Doomtree put out their first official album, I feel like I've been playing catch up on this crew.

This is part of the 'False Hopes' series - a group of releases somewhere between a proper album and a mixtape. Thankfully, it doesn't have any of the skits or shout-outs that ruin most mixtapes, and instead serves as a sampler of the Doomtree crew's talents.

All of them rap on here: POS, Sims, Dessa, Cecil Otter, and Mictlan. The beats are by Otter, POS, Paper Tiger, Lazerbeak, and MK Larada.

Some of these tracks have shown up in other places - 'Savion Glover' is one of the best tracks on the new POS album, but they work nicely together. It's a short, quick album, but a highly enjoyable one. As much as I like it now, I imagine I would have gone nuts over it in 2007, when there weren't a lot of other Doomtree projects to turn to.

Hand Over Fist

by Mike Mictlan and Lazerbeak

Some of the best new hip-hop is coming out of the Doomtree family, and this album is another excellent example of the talent of this group of Minnesota rappers.

Doomtree has a unique sound - it's hip-hop, but with a punk element to it. Lazerbeak defined that sound for me on POS's 'Audition' album, and many of the beats on this disk sound like they would fit there as well. Mictlan shows that he has a decent range of emotion and topic on this cd.

Excellent tracks include 'Suicide Jimmy Snuffa', 'Wolf Tickets', 'LA Raiders Hat', and 'Prizefight'. Mictlan and POS trade verses on 'Shux', one of the strongest tracks on the album.

Like many of the Doomtree solo offerings, this album works as a cohesive whole, and stands up to many repeat listens.

Doomtree

I like albums that are made by a large roster of artists, and this cd fits the bill. Doomtree are a collective out of Minneapolis, and have connections to Rhymesayers Entertainment. I first heard about them through the POS album 'Audition', and liked their more alternative sound.

This album has contributions from everyone within the group, but I think the star of this album is the female MC, Dessa. She sings, and raps in both English and Spanish, and she shows a lot of range - tender on one song, tough and confrontational on another.

Favourite tracks - the posse cut 'Drumsticks', the Cecil Otter (buy his album!)/Dessa duet 'Last Call', 'Sadie Hawkins', and Mictlan's track, 'Game Over'. I would have liked to see a few more tracks featuring POS, but then, I've heard he has a new solo album coming soon, so I'm happy to wait for that.

I've seen some reviews criticize the production (Lazerbeak, MK Larada, and POS among others) for sounding too alike, but I find that the Doomtree sound really works.