Blue Scholars - Cinemetropolis (2011)

Blue Scholars have come a long way since their last full length LP, 2007′s “Bayani.”  The concept behind Cinemetropolis is supposed to be a celebration of films, or something.  At least, that’s what Geo has said in interviews.  The titles of all the songs (excluding the first and last) are the names of film actors/actresses, directors and producers, with each song supposedly celebrating something about that particular person’s essence.  It’s a concept so abstract, that if Geo hadn’t explicitly told us, nobody would’ve ever gotten it.  The tracks all have little to nothing to do with films or cinema, focusing instead on the typical Blue Scholars subjects: politics, Seattle, etc.

Geologic has clearly developed as an MC over the past 5 years, he no longer has the monotone delivery that he was heavily criticized for on the group’s first releases, which sacrificed inflection for the sake of ensuring that his political charged lyrics were absolutely understandable.  The change takes some getting used to if you’re used to Geo’s old delivery.  The message seems somehow less powerful because of it; he’s lost some of his “poet turned rapper” vibe, trading it it for a more traditional delivery and flow.  It’s hard to fault a guy for becoming more diverse in flow and delivery, though.

Gone are the days of the booming drum machines, sampled guitar riffs and piano that characterized Sabzi’s early productions.  They’ve been replaced by synth beats.  From almost any other producer, I would be applauding the way the beats run into each other and the overall melodiousness of them, but I’ve come to expect more from Sabzi.  Instead of the slow, relaxed melodies typical of him, we’re given several beats that sound like they belong on a post “Late Registration” Kanye album.  Poppy.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, the Blue Scholars have changed.  The music is still good, but they’ve lost what made them unique.  Having beats that sound like Kanye’s wouldn’t be a bad thing… if this was a Kanye album.  I don’t listen to Blue Scholars for grandiose production with a traditional rapper, though.  I know, I can’t expect artists to never change their sound.  It has to happen, but I think Cinemetropolis was a step in the wrong direction for Blue Scholars.  Unfortunately, they won’t see it that way when it’s their most successful album yet.  Get ready to start hearing them on the radio soon, I guess…

Best Tracks: Cinemetropolis, Lalo Schifrin, Anna Karina, Slick Watts, Rani Mukerji

Overall: 77/100