Review: Drapht - Brothers Grimm
Wednesday
Released: 24 May 2008
Label: Obese Records
Website: www.myspace.com/drapht
Artist:
Drapht (Paul Ridge) is finally back into the music scene after a long break from his last album in '05. Originally from Western Australia, MC Drapht has a long history in the Aussie hip hop scene through the SBX crew and various other groupings which built his career with renowned label Obese Records.
Opinion:
I'm hooked on this album right now - well the first half at least. The second half really seems like it was added to fill the space (see below). Nevertheless, it is a great album overall. Drapht has brought originality and skills of his own back to the Australian music scene which, unlike many other artists hasn't been widely publicised. I want to believe that his work is all for the music but songs like The Money and Don't wanna work kind of throw that idea away...
As mentioned in a recent interview, Drapht has slowed his lyrical work right down from Who Am I? in 2005. I tend to agree with him that the older album's lyrics were fast, sometimes beyond comprehension - Brothers Grimm brings the tempo down in most songs which sounds perfect for his very unique voice.
The only real concern on this album is the way Drapht structures his choruses - it's usually 1-5 words repeated over and over, see below under 'tracks that stink' for more on this.
Track Highlights:
Falling
Kudos on deciding that this would be the first track - everything flows perfectly but I don't know why he's 'fading away'?
Someone please leave me a comment explaining this
The Money
This track brings the classic Drapht style back, lovin' it
Jimmy Recard
Apparently this is just a cool name which he googled for, as mentioned in the song - I don't think he wanted a 'boring old name like Paul'. Join the club
Dreams and Dreamers
All good things true, this track is really chilled out
Boom boom boom
This must be the follow up to 'Drink drank drunk' from the last album - I guess he had to include at least one song about drinking ;)
Tracks that stink (These tracks are all on the second half):
Insomnia
The chorus: Insomniaaaaaaaaa, Insomniaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa,Insomniaaaaaaaaa, Insomniaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I think I've made my point
Don't wanna work
Well most people don't wanna work mr. rap guy
Put on a Record
I'mmaaa put on a recorrrrrrd, I'mmaaa put on a recorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd, I'ma put on a recorrrrrrd, I'mmaaa put on a recorrrrrrd - again I think I've made my point
Extras:
It's been a long wait, but this album is great (hey that rhymes)
Get out and buy this album, supporting local artists is important to the future of Australian music
Drapht will be touring with other Obese Records artists within the coming months - the event is called Block Party 5 around Australia - see HERE for details
Breezy Rating: 4 out of 5
Similar Artists:
Downsyde, Funkoars, Layla
9 comments:
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nice blog.....................
love this album and every song has grown on me and has it place right....although some songs mite seem as tho they are just added for the sake of it they appeal to others who love that sort of music
Yeah I tend to agree Ruggs, some songs do seem just added in for the sake of it... maybe i'll call jimmy recard and he can sort it out
"Sound Man", "Fallen" and "Boom Boom Boom" also ended up in my Favourites folder, but Dreams & Dreamers became my absolute fav track... I've listened to it hundreds of times. A lot of deep thoughts and the melody is just beautiful. I know it's sampled and stuff, but seriously... It's just Beautiful. This track is the soundtrack for my sleepless nights and long walks.
I think the phrase "fading away" means, that he's becoming distant from real life or something like that. In Dreams & Dreamers there's a line "Reality's a very sad state of affairs" that may connect to this, i'm not sure.
Anyhow, Brother's Grimm is dope and so is Who Am I, his previous LP. I'm from Estonia (Eastern Europe) and i'm trying to get my friends to listen to Australian Hip-Hop like Drapht and Bias B and so on. Drapht is good on a global level, in my opinion.
Also, your blog is dope. I just might steal your brilliant way of reviewing albums, by introducing the artist, then giving your opinion and then introducing the tracks. So far i've always put all this together.
If you're out of new albums to listen or something, you should check out my blog - http://dieshadowmandie.blogspot.com/ There's some good stuff to review too, i think ;)
Good luck with your blog. I'll be sure to drop by, time to time, to check your solid opinions.
peace.
Thanks buddy but please respect my ideas by not copying my ideas
Hey. I wasn't going to steal your layout, just borrow the idea of paying attention to all aspects of the review with headlining. As i said, so far my own reviews are one bulk of text. I don't even know if i'll ever start a blog that focuses on reviews.
But i do want to ask you for a favor of some sort. I'm trying to lay down the lyrics of "Dreams & Dreamers" to understand it better, but i have problems with identifying some of the words.
For example, on 1:39 there's "??? occupation is in rest. A mind vacant is another mind of distress" or at 1:58, "??? and the council ain't lovin' it..." or 2:20 "Is this life the ??? hallucinogen"
If you understand these words that i can't figure out because i'm not very familiar with Aussie accent, then i would be very grateful.
Ok no worries, yeah I don't fully get it but my understanding of 1.39 is 'absence of occupation isn't rest' (I guess he's saying its still busy without a 'normal' job). 1.58 'rummage through our cans and the council ain't loving it' (in that verse i think he's talking about homeless people). 2.20 'is this life the booze or hallucinogen' (booze=alcohol in australia)
Thank you!
I'm kinda annoying with this, but i'm writing a review about Brothers Grimm for www.ehh.ee and i was thinking about mentioning the fact that Drapht's track "A Good Year" sounds exactly like Eminem's mixtape track "Back Down Royce" from underground/unofficial tape "Don't Call Me Marshall" (2003).
Check it out: http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/1644956_bpzug/BackDownRoyce.mp3