Atmosphere - Fishing Blues

Atmosphere

Fishing Blues

2016

Spotify

The Minneapolis hip hop due have been in the game for nearly 20 years and in that time have played the part of both indie idols and relative jokes. Hip Hop often ages poorly, besides a few outliers you don’t often see a Hip Hop artist really thriving later in their career and the same can be said for this new record Fishing Blues. It’s dad-rap and that can never be a good thing. There are of course some well crafted lines, and a few really cutting verses but as a whole the album feels dated and uninspired. “Ringo” which is one of the lighter tracks has a few fun lines but then takes the stance that “everybody wants to see a falling star” which gives it this very odd emo vibe. There is this sense that what Slug and Ant are putting out there is profound and wise, but it is only in their own heads. When the words actually reach your ear it is just that same tired dime store wisdom that everyone has heard 200 times a day. The delivery and production are just miles away from anything happening today and that idea that time has slipped away is not even a thought here.

There are a few political tracks on the record but none have the impact that “Seismic Waves” does. It is a tale about Police brutality but told from the Officer’s perspective, and it is one of the only truly poignant moments on the album. Because Slug is actually a really solid rapper and Ant a really good producer when they have a direction they are able to get there, it is when they wander that the music really suffered. The sweet moments where they talk about going fly fishing or love are so clawingly sugary it’s almost intolerable. The album is also way to long at 18 tracks and Eight minutes over an hour. By the time you reach the end you have sifted through so much bullshit to find a few great nuggets that the silence is a welcome break. "The Shit That We've Been Through" stands out for just how incredibly bad it is as Slug's pinning and reminiscing goes on and on and on. Clearly time has passed these two by and their ability to adapt quickly just is not there. There may be a chance for a future for Atmosphere, but if they keep making music and albums like this I simply can't see how it's possible. 

3.9 out of 10