Let me recall what has happened since we last spoke…I’ve been ghostwriting for Silver Fox on the Chicken Bone Circuit, it was all smoke and mirrors but hey, it was work. That is until I took a shot in the dark and killed a man in June and had to cut out to FL where I left two more dead. Actually, one turned out to be a dead ringer. I stood on the final frontier and could not believe the horror of it all. Let the good times roll…
So here we are, LP numero dos from the world’s most jocked instrumentalist (Shadow has been spending too much time in one, plus I just think RJ is better). So about 6 months ago El-P said this in reference to this album: “what this cat did for soul he is about to do for rock…I’ll leave you with that thought.” The speculation began, dreams were dreamt, bets were made, tears were shed, and the question was asked, ‘what is this album going to sound like?’
Basically we see Rj applying the same formula to different genre. From the outset of the title track and even more so on the second (“Exotic Talk”), Rj’s unmistakable techniques are applied to rock samples rather than soul. The drums are still there, his incredible breakdowns, the vocal samples, all in tact. Ultimately, I’d say “Ring Finger” epitomizes this album. It starts off quite aggressive with a nice electric guitar sample before slowing down to a sexy female vocal sample over some Spanish guitars, then the drums slowly hit more rapidly until the guitar comes back fusing everything together. Of course, that is just the first minute of the song and the remaining three are even more dynamic. Much like other standouts such as “Someone’s Second Kiss” and “Through The Walls,” this song takes multiple listens to really wrap your head around.
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There are some tracks that bridge Rj’s old sound with his new, such as the implausible horn-driven “1976” and the oh-so-funky “Clean Living.” There is also a chunk of the album that abandons both sounds for breezy, mellow songs that rely more heavily on vocal samples than most of his other selections. This is certainly true for “Making Days Longer” which nearly seems like it features a guest appearance…or is that Rj singing?!? “To All of You” is easily one of the albums finest tracks, but is still overshadowed by the album’s finale and soon-to-be-called classic “One Day.”
As I mentioned earlier, the aesthetic pleasures of Rj’s work is immediately noticeable, but the true pleasures of his music comes with cultivation. Aside from making really, really good beats, this is Rj’s strongest point. Instrumental records lack the replay value that their vocal counterparts have due to the fact you only have one thing to concentrate on. Rj’s soundscapes are so dense and dynamic that this isn’t an issue for him, which is why he is the best at what he does. People are going to be quick to compare this to “Dead Ringer” and it is a difficult task as it is such a different album. “Since We Last Spoke” is certainly more cohesive and better arranged, and at just 12 tracks it is a more tightly knit package. I know cats have been talking sophomore jinx since Rj last spoke, and you can surely kill that. Until next time, it’s been a pleasure chewing the fat.
8.5/10
