Atmosphere, “You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having”: “I’m not really supposed to talk about this,” Slug, the MC from Atmosphere, whispers at the beginning of the group’s new album “You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having.” And with that statement, listeners are thrown once again into the innermost reaches of this indie rapper’s thoughts on the fifth LP from the Minneapolis-based hip-hop duo.
Overall, the album is a strong release, though some have criticized its lack of novelty. Slug’s lines are confessional as always, with more than one nod in the direction of his relationships with women. “Say Hey There” and “Pour Me Another” hit especially hard if you’ve ever loved someone so much you want to kill them, as seems to be the case with Slug and his girl Lucy. But novelty is not always a sign of quality and the rhymes are not bad by any stretch of the imagination.
Some tracks, however, do breach new surfaces. “Get Fly,” for instance, has a subliminally political bent, not to mention a catchy piano and blues rift at the end. And “Little Man,” a track in which Slug sends candid messages to his son, his father and himself, is one of the more touching and memorable songs on the album.
Ant, Atmosphere’s innovative DJ, lays down some catchy beats and works in some unexpected instrumental samples as well. A soulful electric guitar kicks Slug’s verses right in the ass on “Smart Went Crazy” and a fiddle brings an eerie feel to the background of “Musical Chairs.” Ant’s vocal samples between songs also make tight transitions, which are almost unrecognizable at most points.
Some of the songs, unfortunately, fall prey to the so-indie-they’re-esoteric problem that plagued many tracks on “Seven’s Travels,” the last Atmosphere release in 2003. The first few songs come off a little too hard, showcasing mosh-pit-style beats and rhymes.
Bottom line: Get ready for Slug and Ant’s upcoming performance at the McDonald Theatre on Nov. 4. If this album is any indication, it’s going to be an pretty amazing show.
-Kristen Gerhard