RJD2
The Colossus
(RJ's Electrical Connections)
A boiling pot of electronic beats, strings and classical/rock fusion, RJD2 delivers his most collaborative work to date. The Colossus is RJD2’s first release after spinning off from indie label Definitive Jux to form his own label, RJ’s Electrical Connections. Opening track “Let There Be Horns” delivers the promised instrument in a hyper-active, mood-shifting track that fits nicely into the catalog of RJD2’s previous work.
The album features more vocals then most of RJD2’s previous output combined. Standout track “Games You Can Win,” featuring Grammy-nominated artist Kenna, plays as a smooth groove in this tightly woven, if somewhat uneven, album. As if to counter the straightforward nature of the vocal tracks, RJD2 dives into the deep end of musical madness with most of his instrumentals, sampling and recording a plethora of instruments.
“A Spaceship For Now” plays as the most fuzzed out ambient track on the album, while “The Shining Path,” featuring another Grammy-nominated artist, Phonte Coleman, as the vocalist, could easily find mass appeal. “A Son’s Cycle,” featuring The Catalyst, Illogic, and NP as MCs, deliver harsh words in the albums single rap track. Flipping one hundred and eighty degrees, follow-up song “Tin Flower” is an instrumental whose highlighted flute, played by Heather Fortune, offers a different side to this sonic rollercoaster.
Closing tune “Walk With Me” ends the album on an upbeat note, with a retro-rock sound that is both catchy and fun. RJD2 manages to cast a wide net over the musical styles and instruments that have influenced him or caught his attention over his decade long career. The Colossus lives up to its name in the sense that it shows the colossal size of influences and talents in RJD2’s bag of tricks. |
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