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| With the liner notes and covers sporting quotes like 'son of a field negro: the struggle continues', 'fuck no evil' and 'in God we trust: united we stand', it's a pleasant surprise that the music on "Neologist" isn't overshadowed by incendiary socio-political views. Yes,
Calico's thirteen tracks include discussion of political issues and intellectual considerations, but the album's subject matter offers much more than those two topics alone. And with the Illmortal trio offering varied productions throughout, this isn't an album that's too easily pigeonholed. |
| A 'Neologist' is one who creates new words or sentences and, while J Cali can't claim to have reinvented the rules or vocabulary of the English language, he does display a great ability for piecing words together to form coherent lyrical images. His take on neologism on "Break
Or Fold" paints the album's most overtly political visual, encouraging scepticism of the powers that be while the lazy track bumps beneath. "Air Forces" and "All About Me" illustrate further aspects of Calico's
persona through use of religious references and musings on street life; the first over an Illmortal pseudo-Wu, and the second with Mediterranean strings. |
| While the lyrical content of almost every verse Calico spits demands respect, his flow isn't quite as consistent. On "Pure Eyes", for example, both the track's structure and Calico's delivery leave him sounding monotonous,
meaning that the song ultimately becomes one of the less enjoyable on the album. Calico uses a similar delivery on "Broccoli", although with greater success, aided by both the upbeat feel of the track and the inclusion of a hook between
verses. |
| It's on "Redlight Crush" that "Neologist" scores its one defining moment of genius that more-or-less blows all of the other tracks out of the water. Over production that flips and loops a snippet from the Walker
Brothers' 1965 hit "Make It Easy On Yourself" in a very genius way, the picture Calico paints is of a man who enjoys the company of women. It's more mid-70s, pink-vine-style pimp than Ice-T, Gangsta pimping but, whatever the flavour, it's a track that works very well. |
| So whether it's the notion of intelligent but still street rhymes over varying beats that entices you, or maybe just the idea of a smooth re-take of the Walker Brothers, this is an album that has a number of interesting things going for it. "Neologist" isn't a classic by
a long stretch, but it is a solid debut release. |
| review: cornerstone |
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