Yung Warriors - Standing Strong (16/07/2012)
Yung Warriors have released a record that highlights indigenous issues but is, overall, pretty average. There are moments where the spoken word is stronger than the backing track and it would have been an excellent album if not for the disconnection between those two parts of the tracks.
The album clashes RnB and Hip-Hop un-successfully. The Hip-Hop and RnB influences seem complete opposites in the tracks and create a disconnection between the backing track and the artist’s voices. The album would have been amazing if the backing tracks had more thought to them.
The record starts off on quite a serious note. Opening with a spoken track about ‘Black deaths in custody’, the first song comments on aboriginal death and arrest rates. The track focuses on the rap, with the backing music being quite literally backing music.
Standing Strong (ft. Dizzy Doolan, Sneake) is the stand out track on the album. The rapid-fire rap gives the song fire; while the backing track is, once again, letting the song down, the song is still a great listen that stands out from some of the more sedate songs on the album.
Other stand out tracks on the album are Just A Thought and Blaze It Up. Just A Thought is the only track on the album where the track seems complete with the parts complimenting each other. It’s a thoughtful song (rightfully so) and is worth taking a moment to listen to exactly what Tjimba and D Boy have to say. Blaze It Up is on an obvious subject matter but is a relaxed track that sticks out as a coherent, clear and talent-filled track.
Overall the record is relaxing and full of talent but an attempt to mix Rap, RnB and Pop has left parts of the album sounding like elevator music. The tracks seem like they would come out a lot better live, but that will only be seen in time.
Casey Cunningham
The album clashes RnB and Hip-Hop un-successfully. The Hip-Hop and RnB influences seem complete opposites in the tracks and create a disconnection between the backing track and the artist’s voices. The album would have been amazing if the backing tracks had more thought to them.
The record starts off on quite a serious note. Opening with a spoken track about ‘Black deaths in custody’, the first song comments on aboriginal death and arrest rates. The track focuses on the rap, with the backing music being quite literally backing music.
Standing Strong (ft. Dizzy Doolan, Sneake) is the stand out track on the album. The rapid-fire rap gives the song fire; while the backing track is, once again, letting the song down, the song is still a great listen that stands out from some of the more sedate songs on the album.
Other stand out tracks on the album are Just A Thought and Blaze It Up. Just A Thought is the only track on the album where the track seems complete with the parts complimenting each other. It’s a thoughtful song (rightfully so) and is worth taking a moment to listen to exactly what Tjimba and D Boy have to say. Blaze It Up is on an obvious subject matter but is a relaxed track that sticks out as a coherent, clear and talent-filled track.
Overall the record is relaxing and full of talent but an attempt to mix Rap, RnB and Pop has left parts of the album sounding like elevator music. The tracks seem like they would come out a lot better live, but that will only be seen in time.
Casey Cunningham