Major Lazer - Free The Universe (07/08/2013)
Major Lazer is rad, tubular, total out-of-this world, and by far one of the most ridiculous records I’ve listened to all year.
That’s not to speak lowly of it. Ridiculousness has always been a key component of pop music. I’m sure music in general would be in a very different place weren’t it for the frankly bizarre personalities that have inhabited its world, and I’d also be sure that it’d be a lot more boring than what it is today. But thankfully, if you spend the fifty five or so minutes listening to ‘Free The Universe’, you’ll be anything but bored.
Major Lazer (a side project of notable DJ, Diplo), owes a great debt to its bevy of featured artists that pop up on the fourteen tracks. Basing your record’s effectiveness off of who you choose to lend their musical talents can be a dangerous art, but it’s one that ‘Free The Universe’ has me convinced that Major Lazer is indeed an expert. Fantastic guest spots from Santigold, Ezra Koenig, and Flux Pavillion provides a fantastic variation as the songs proceed, raging from club bangers to reggae ballads, but all the while maintaining a coherent direction thanks to a focussed production on the part of Diplo.
It’s not without it’s issues though. There are a fair amount of filler that really isn’t necessary on there, plenty of songs that drag on too long, or just don’t know how to end themselves.
Even one of the strongest tracks on the record, “Jessica”, which features Ezra Koenig, goes through some bizarre key changes and a pretty weak bridge before reverting back to its chorus and making a quick exit. And I guess thats one of ‘Free The Universe’s weaknesses, it doesn’t quite know how to wrap itself up, and often times its left sprawled out, or just awaiting a fade out til the next track can be ushered in.
Either way, if you’re looking for some bumping beats to bounce around too, ‘Free The Universe’ is a perfect candidate for your next house party.
Nick Kennedy
That’s not to speak lowly of it. Ridiculousness has always been a key component of pop music. I’m sure music in general would be in a very different place weren’t it for the frankly bizarre personalities that have inhabited its world, and I’d also be sure that it’d be a lot more boring than what it is today. But thankfully, if you spend the fifty five or so minutes listening to ‘Free The Universe’, you’ll be anything but bored.
Major Lazer (a side project of notable DJ, Diplo), owes a great debt to its bevy of featured artists that pop up on the fourteen tracks. Basing your record’s effectiveness off of who you choose to lend their musical talents can be a dangerous art, but it’s one that ‘Free The Universe’ has me convinced that Major Lazer is indeed an expert. Fantastic guest spots from Santigold, Ezra Koenig, and Flux Pavillion provides a fantastic variation as the songs proceed, raging from club bangers to reggae ballads, but all the while maintaining a coherent direction thanks to a focussed production on the part of Diplo.
It’s not without it’s issues though. There are a fair amount of filler that really isn’t necessary on there, plenty of songs that drag on too long, or just don’t know how to end themselves.
Even one of the strongest tracks on the record, “Jessica”, which features Ezra Koenig, goes through some bizarre key changes and a pretty weak bridge before reverting back to its chorus and making a quick exit. And I guess thats one of ‘Free The Universe’s weaknesses, it doesn’t quite know how to wrap itself up, and often times its left sprawled out, or just awaiting a fade out til the next track can be ushered in.
Either way, if you’re looking for some bumping beats to bounce around too, ‘Free The Universe’ is a perfect candidate for your next house party.
Nick Kennedy