RJD2 - More Is Than Isn't (2013) ENG Review

Welcome everyone to my musical critic's corner. I'm glad to announce that some of the new albums will be judged right here, as long as the significant artists that already took their deserved places in some genre or style of music. Maybe there are some of them, that you may have never heard of.

Congrats to you on the release of the RJD2's 5-th solo album - More Is Than Isn't.
At first here's some info for those who have never heard of this musician.

Ramble John «RJ» Krohn has recorded 5 studio albums, 4 EP's, 6 mixtapes, 6 instrumental albums, has produced tracks for many famous rappers. He took place in The MHz, Soul Position, Magnificent City and Icebird projects. Since 1993 his art has varied from dirty hip-hop to almost
rock'n'roll. RJ has never been afraid of using musical instruments. I think that he still remains among the best representatives of experimental hip-hop.

Smooth intro with the "Suite 1" composition adjusts us to the good old melancholic and positive sound of Ramle John's beats.

2. "Temperamental"  reminds of his latest side project "Icebird". Which I can be excited about forever. It's all because of the perfect transmission of moods, the great vocal skills and the beats of out California master. Btw, we've already heard the voice of Phonte Coleman in "The Shining Path" from his previous album.

3. "Behold, Numbers!" drops us to the pool of positive sound. The sound that has already been expressed in, let's see, "1976" and "Exotic Talk" but more of a funk style than of rock'n'roll. The song sounds like John Ozila's "Funky Boogie".

4. "Her Majesty's Socialist Request" with its speedy drums has something in common with M.I.A. And the eastern tunes make it even more stylish. You're going to percuss this rhythm on every surface that comes handy... or "footy". But the main rhythm is a standard one for RJ. The similar one was in "Giant Squid". 

5. "A Lot of Night Ahead of You" sounds like the mixture of "Paper Bubbles" & "The Proxy". It has some kind of thoughtful set, the beat is slow and sort of pessimistic, thin tone chimes make your mind fly above the clouds.

6. "Bathwater" is recorded with the new for RJ rapper - P. Blackk. His voice sounds indiscrete. It somehow reminds me of Kanye West. Text of the song is fast, the beats are either, and the saxophones roar at the background. The bass chorus sounds perfect.

7. "Milk Tooth" with its whistling and howling will cheer you up and will make you march to the beat of this wonderful world. The organ fits to the ending of the composition just right.

8. "Suite 2" goes right into your soul and brings back form there some good late night mood, which is going to make you miss the passed time and warmth.

9. "Winter Isn't Coming". Of course, we all want to believe that. The melody jitters like it's afraid of not getting done something by winter. The song runs so fast. I like this kind of tracks. The ones that you turn on when you're late for something and they make you act faster and with pleasure.

10. "See You Leave". There is no reason to rush. It's almost like "To All of You" mixed with Ice Cube's "It Was A Good Day", but not in that positive manner. STS raps, Khari Mateen does the backing vocals.

11.  "Got There, Sugar?" sounds like jazz in the beginning, then it turn into rock, and in the end RJD2 mixes them together in his usual manner.

12. "Love and Go" - electrified beat and the splendid voice of Aaron Livingston. Livingston btw took part in Icebird project.

13. "Descended from Myth" at first reminds of some old spy thriller. You can mix and twist the melody a thousand times in 6 minutes. Believe me, you wouldn't like to fast forward this symphony.

14. In the "Dirty Hands" track we can finally hear the voice of RJ, which I missed so much. It's a perfect lulling song.

15. "It All Came to Me in a Dream" was recorded in cooperation with Blueprint. Such a meeting since their Soul Position project is a great thing. Lots of clanging, and a guitar riff is awesome. Old school style.

16-th final track "Suite 3" will make you pacified. It's like some sweet tiredness.

All in all album is rated 9.5 out of 10 points (rated by us). It's positive. Just the right thing not to fall asleep this autumn, but on the contrary to cheer yourself up and to enjoy various moments of your life. The album is the most miscellaneous one, that RJD2 has ever made.

RJ didn't disappoint us, but strengthened his positions as an artist. Bravo! We're waiting to hear from you soon!

Sincerely yours, Tea Infuser.

Weird translation by Hosfat Antabolis.