The Phoenix Network:
 
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
CD Reviews  |  Classical  |  Live Reviews  |  Music Features

Awol One + Factor | Owl Hours

Fake Four/Shape Shifters (2009)
By CHRIS FARAONE  |  June 23, 2009
3.5 3.5 Stars

090626_awol_main
Depending on your taste, Awol One is either the world's worst rapper or hip-hop's most inventive artist. He sounds like a stoned lacrosse player sweet-talking a cheerleader into performing her first blow job; if you're looking for spiritual, lyrical miracles, don't look here.

However, Awol's latest collaboration with producer Factor is a gorgeous synthesis on par with the Deltron 3030 of Del the Funky Homosapien and Dan the Automator, only without any single driving theme. From lead single "Celebrate," which would be a ripe soundtrack cut for a 1984 cocaine-relapse scene, to the driving anthem "Stand Up," with Aesop Rock and Myka 9, the beats and topics span the gamut. "Waste the Wine" with Tash and E-Swift is a deliberate party jam; "Sunset Sandwich" finds Awol waxing halfway philosophical: "I'm the class bully and the class nerd."

One surprising side note: Owl Hours was executive-produced by Xzibit, who's better known as the leather-throated ride-pimping West Coast MC from MTV. It's hard to believe that X flexed creative control over a one-of-of-a-kind project this catchy. But hey, I wouldn't mind broadcasting Owl Hours over one of his obnoxious truck stereos.
Related: Rebirth of a prince, That’ll learn ya, 13 shots to the dome, More more >
  Topics: CD Reviews , Entertainment, Hip-Hop and Rap, Music,  More more >
  • Share:
  • Share this entry with Facebook
  • Share this entry with Digg
  • Share this entry with Delicious
  • RSS feed
  • Email this article to a friend
  • Print this article
Comments
Re: Awol One + Factor | Owl Hours
if you are underground hip hop fan than this here will feed the need.. xzibit is a genius by blowing his brains out. awesome shit. you should of givin this album a 10. lol. hip hop for ever
By marvintbr on 07/04/2009 at 12:41:51

[ 11/07 ]   Tony Savarino  @ Magic Room Gallery
[ 11/07 ]   Brian Mcknight  @ Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel
[ 11/07 ]   Little River Band  @ Tupelo Music Hall
[ 11/07 ]   Chris Brenne + Bertrand Laurence + Chris Florio + Jonathan Keezing  @ Arlington Center for the Arts
[ 11/07 ]   Underberry’s  @ Tommy Doyle's @ Harvard
ARTICLES BY CHRIS FARAONE
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   BOSTON RAT RAMPAGE  |  November 06, 2009
    Residents say that if you jam a leaf blower in the earth virtually anywhere in Allston, furry bottom feeders will be blown out of every crack and hole in sight and rain down like unsavory screeching meatballs. North Enders joke that something similar would happen if you detonate a Parmesan wheel in an alleyway off Hanover Street.
  •   BLIND AMBITION  |  November 05, 2009
    The only thing less common than Brother Ali–caliber MCs are profiles that don’t credit dude as “blind” and “albino” in the first graf.
  •   BEKAY | HUNGER PAINS  |  November 03, 2009
    Bekay is that chip-shouldered scumbag from down the block whom your mom banned from the house after she caught him sodomizing your little sister’s Teddy Ruxpin.
  •   HIP-HOP FROM HELL  |  October 29, 2009
    Depraved hip-hop is the biggest thing to hit trailer-trash America since sliced meds.
  •   EVENT PUTS THE 'DATES' IN 'CANDIDATES'  |  October 28, 2009
    In their quest to land one of Boston’s four at-large City Council seats, the eight remaining candidates have shaken more hands and kissed more behinds than anyone probably should in swine-flu season.

 See all articles by: CHRIS FARAONE

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group