May 17, 2015

to join the listening club or the cool cat club is the question

stay tuned, about to design an icon for each club

 

May 17, 2015

Jellyfish Brigade - Gills and a Helmet (2011)



Jellyfish Brigade is a duo from the Northwest US made up of Lucas Dix (formerly of Hives Inquiry Squad) and Jeffrey Acciaioli (aka The Great Mundane). Lucas Dix comes off like an old man on a park bench, freely sharing his profundity with whoever's listening. Jeffrey Acciaioli sets these barefoot poems in a soundscape as vast and wondrous as the wilderness they were inspired by. To my knowledge, Jellyfish Brigade is the only group fusing elements of folk, hip-hop, and electronic music. This is their first release and free to download, so cop it, ruminate on it, and let me know what you think down below.

Spoiler

@Deadpool @Flacko @Peter Parker @Michael Scott @FreeAgent @Jimmy @able @FullSpeed @Big Mitch @Ozy @BigCountry

Click here to sign up for the SxN80 Listening Club.
Click here to sign up for the SxN80 Viewing Club.

 

May 21, 2015

Reminder that discussion shoulder wrap up by Sunday. Users who respond will be put into a randomized lottery to select who will pick next week's album.

Spoiler

@Deadpool @Flacko @Peter Parker @Michael Scott @FreeAgent @Jimmy @able @FullSpeed @Big Mitch @Ozy @BigCountry @Fire Squad @Cyreides @Narsh @Fazers @Ordinary Joel @The Product

 

May 21, 2015

I had to listen again before posting. I don't have many things to say since everyone has done a good job so far, but a few general thoughts: the production is fluid, very atmospheric and it was easily the highlight of my first listen, a while back. It's dynamic to a degree that this would be a good project without any vocals.
The vocals themselves were a bit underwhelming for me at first, his voice isn't bad but it's kinda lost in the instrumentals if you don't pay attention. Focusing is rewarded though, because his imagination is wild and he makes many clever, "sneaky" references in his tracks (even from the start, with the line @Ozy posted I was thinking about this.) The rapping is also very well executed. I agree with @Fazers that this is a very interesting project, and definitely draws your attention for them and their music.

edit: yeah these tweets are actually dope man.

 

May 20, 2015

 

May 17, 2015

I've already listened to it

 

May 18, 2015

So what I'm going to do is enter users who respond with a paragraph or two into a randomizer and that's how we'll decide who chooses next week's album. Sounds fair to me. Let me know if you think of a better way.

 

May 20, 2015

d--- that's pretty awesome!

 

May 20, 2015

The production on this was amazing from the second I hit play. Kind of was hoping that it would be longer than an EP format, so I'm definitely going to check out whatever else they've put out in the past when I get a chance. The voice and execution of the MC in this group is great, as are his lyrics and content. This is a perfect example of a MC and producer duo with great chemistry as their respective styles bounce off one another perfectly, kind of like how Blu and Exile were a great match on BTH & GMMFWICSST. Even if you're not paying attention to a word he's saying, he flows extremely well and is a good listen regardless... like Young Thug

Didn't know anything about them before having heard this just now, so I would have to say the instrumentals hook your attention without dragging any away from Dix and his lyrics. Feel elements of multiple genres on this like @CharlieWork said before, so this was a very enjoyable listen for me.

I'm slightly partial to Kerosene and Fireflies as that was the first song I heard and it drew me in, but I think as of my first listen, my favorite track would have to be Dance in the Dungeon... But that will probably change. And rating after a listen I would go for an 8. This is the ideal project I would want to listen to when first discovering a new artist, didn't put me off but made me want to discover what else they've done. So, going to get on that.

 

May 20, 2015

Favourite tracks: Kerosene and Fireflies, Dance in the Dungeon, Tremor Dancer

Least favourite tracks: Chasing the Shine

Production was really good. The MC had an urgency in his voice which drew me in and his flow is great. The first track 'Kerosene and Fireflies' was a highlight for me - production was on point and the changed up beats after each verse was engaging.

I'm not that good when it comes to reviewing a project but overall I enjoyed it. Would give it a 7.5/10.

 

May 17, 2015

This thread isn't for deciding that. Like I said, users who participate and contribute more to this thread will be the ones to decide next week's album. It's an incentive.

 

May 21, 2015

Been busy, will listen

 

May 21, 2015

I haven't had a lot of time this week hence why I haven't been active on S80 all week. If I don't get around to this tomorrow, I definitely will on Saturday. I listened to a few of the songs earlier in the week and liked them. I'll be sure to add more before Sunday.

 

May 20, 2015

A bit of leeway each way really. I liked the project and some of the songs are great to the point where I'd bump them a few more times. As a whole project where I'd bump it front to back I'd maybe do it twice or three times at the most.

7.5 is most probably because of the production and creativity from the MC. As a project it was good but I dunno, lacked a spark to keep me engaged and satisfied.

Now that I think about it a 7 or strong 6 (Fantano-style) would fit this project.

<insert fantano smiley>

 

May 20, 2015

Sorry, it took me more time to get back to this and write something about it than I thought it would, mb. Anyways...

Was impressed with this guys flow, it's nice to listen to. Helps keep my attention most of the way through, which is generally hard to do with me and rap. His voice is also nice, and it doesn't scream generic bedroom rapper either... which is always a plus for a seemingly white internet rapper I've never heard of before. I do feel like the album loses a little steam part of the way through though.

High quality stuff where the mixing/recording/producing is concerned as well, and the production instantly brings me in from the first track. A lot of the tracks have a nice atmospheric quality to them, and to top it off, it's hip hop charged with raw bass filled synths and other electronics. My favorite. It's all sort of mellow and/or sort of gloomy, so again, my favorite. This is the kind of stuff I can vibe out to and at the same time, not feel embarrassed if other people hear it.

 

May 17, 2015

They most definitely are. Lucas Dix is one of the least cringeworthy white rappers I know. This is coming from somebody who can't stand most of them. His influences are anything but corny white rappers and he translates into his own music effortlessly. His mentor was Gavin Theory who was like the Northwest's Eyedea before passed from cancer.