The Knocks - New York Narcotic

The Knocks
New York Narcotic
2018
Spotify

New York Narcotic is The Knocks' highly anticipated follow up to 2016's 55. Where that album was moody and drenched in vibe this album seems to take things back to a bygone era of New York hip hop while still managing to keep things modern. The boys set the tone with the album cover, something straight from Master P's graphic design team. It let's people know there is some swag here, but they also don't take themselves all that serious either. That is the thing with The Knocks, they always look like they are having so much fun making music that it pull everyone listening or watching right along with them. I will let you know from the outset The Knocks as of late have let JPatt do A LOT of singing and rapping. Sometimes it claps like it does on the albums title track, but other times His deadpan delivery can feel a bit dated and weird. He is finding this hybrid delivery of half DJ shout out and half New York in the early 2000s rapper, and for me it's hit or miss, but people seem to love it. The entire record is such a fucking bop though that you almost don't notice. The Knocks have pulled out one of the best versions of Big Boi than we have heard in a long time. Instead of sounding like some dad rapper like he did on his last record, his feature here is bright and exuberant, Outkast vibes through and through. This record also features another collaboration with Sofi Tukker called "Brazilian Soul" that is much lighter and more airy than their previous track "Best Friend".

Bass lines, real deal old school bass lines make a comeback in a big way on this album. JPatt is a really solid bass player in his own right, but the other people they have brought in have created these absolute slaps. On "Feeling Myself" they dive into this techno section that gets you on hype level 7,000 waiting for that big drop into dance heaven. While JPatt's delivery isn't always my favorite They have managed to find a way to let a DJ sing and rap without it feeling super crine a la the Chainsmokers. This record really feels like spending a night in The Knocks' New York, they are sharing far more about themselves on this album than they did no the last and it works. The album closes on "Fung Wah Bus" sung by Alexis Krauss and feels like it is a closing of a chapter in The Knocks' lives and the opening of another. It puts this album in it's place of being a memory, but maybe not exactly the future. There are plenty of songs to bop too here and much fun to be had. Sip in the last minutes of summer and let The Knocks provide the soundtrack.

8.1 out of 10