Ordeal - Beat On, Beat Off Jesus

Ordeal – Beat On, Beat Off Jesus

Writing another review right now would be torture, both for me and whatever lost soul actually reads this crap. Yet I still have time to kill at work and artists that I want to plug on this dumb blog. So I’ll write a little about my experience with Ordeal, his music as well as him.

                It’s kind of hard to believe that I’ve only met Ordeal one time, but have known him for years and still stay in loose contact with him. But it was an interesting enough encounter to leave a strong impression on me. I met him when he toured through Pittsburgh on the ‘Never Ending Gun Show Tour’ with Kristoff Krane, Sadistik, and Bodi. The night before they played in Portland, ME, and that trek is at least a 10 hour drive. Not to mention the show that night was at an art gallery and started at 8pm and had to be over by 11, a fact that seemed to slip the tours mind until they were already late on their way to Pittsburgh.

                When the group arrived to the venue only 45 minutes late, they wasted no time in setting up and playing. Bodi went first, while Ordeal and the rest of the tour filled me in on their drive. It consisted of the usual things you do when you’re late, don’t pull over to eat, piss in bottles, etc. etc. Except when it was Ordeals time to perform he let the crowd know of one extra detail about the drive, that he had some acid (or mushrooms, I can’t remember) about halfway through the trip, and was still tripping.

                With that in mind, he still killed his set. I found it weird/hilarious/awesome that anyone would willing eat psychedelics when they’re around to stuck in a stinky, dirty, van with four other sober people for hours on end. The show was so long ago that’s about all I remember of his set, but whatever that was still enough to make me a fan of him.

               In 2004 when ‘Beat On, Beat Off Jesus’ came out I was 16 sneaking rap cds in my car listening to them alone because I was worried my band mates would make fun of me for listening to this stuff. Meanwhile Ordeal was making music that internet hip hop geeks (like me I guess) are still gawking about. The fact that the cd starts off with a skit dates it as old right there.  Rap skits have pretty much been extinct since the iPod had become the standard method for listening to music.

                Abbadon is featured on this release a lot, and I think he is responsible for producing almost the entire album. But good luck to finding any sort of internet presence from him.  According to Ordeal he has none. Apparently he’s been recording music for somewhere around 10 years and has never even bothered making a cd. He’ll record a song one week, save it on his computer, and if he loses it then the song is lost forever. Ordeal says if you ever want to hear anything Abbadon has made more than likely you have to go through Ordeal to hear it. These two have been teaming up for years and you can still see Abbadon featured on some of Ordeals newer releases. Crude Perdition is my favorite one they collabed on together off this release.

                If you like gritty, unconventional, hip hop then check Ordeal out.

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HW - Wall Papered Exit Wounds

HW – Wall Papered Exit Wounds

                Here it is, another day at this lame temp job and another sorry excuse for a review…

 Wall Papered Exit Wounds, released by HW (aka Josh, formerly known as Hazardous Waste, but not the punk band) of Boston in July 2012 is produced by MobRobb with cuts by DJ Emoh Bettah is a release that will stand of the test of time and be relevant to people (and not just ‘rap fan people’ everyone can find something in the release) because each of the song topics are something that all listeners are able to relate to regardless what age or social status they’re living in. From relationship troubles, to feeling like everywhere else on earth is better than where you are (This Old Town), to dealing with your own internal struggles, and more all of which are mentioned during the duration of this coming to age 8 track album by HW.

1.)    Memories of Linwood

The album starts off with an overtly personal song over a cool calm beat with a flow so smooth and subtle you almost don’t notice how depressing the track is. And even more depressing than the song topic is beating able to relate to it, from the breakup at the beginning of the track to being 25 and still feeling lost.

2.)    Blueprints to Your Inner Workings

Track two elaborates on the (presumably) breakup that was mentioned in the first track. From what I grasp the female the song is about is jaded, but HW refuses to let her give up on all the potential beauty in the world, and thinks that she can find again in the love they use to have. What a nice guy, I’d never do that, I’ll never be happy for any of my ex’s without me.

(I have no idea what I used this photo. Not that it isn't him, but it's a pretty bad representation of what he normally looks like)

3.)    Brutally Beautiful

Brutally Beautiful is a little me of the “emo-rap” that fans have grown to expect from HW. But as usual it’s done way to good (should I have used ‘well’ here?) to be slumped into that category. Josh is such a better lyricist than most other emcees that get labeled as “emo” it’s an insult to even put him in the same sub-genre as them, he’s more so a great story tell (even though the stories aren’t always true) than a winey heartbroken mc.

4.)    Hello Stranger

This is another incredibly personal story by HW. Even to the point where he mentions his muse, Mellissa by name. Perhaps Mellissa is to HW what Lucy Ford is to Atmosphere, only except I don’t think Lucy Ford is “her” real name, but I’m willing to bet Mellissa is. HW must have balls of steel to not only write this “emo-song” and not only share it with the person it’s written about, but everyone who listens to his cd! There are more awesome cuts on this track by Emoh.

5.)    Moving On feat. Sarah Lynn Bowler

The only feature on this rap cd isn’t by a rapper. This is another reason HW is appealing to more than just rap fans. Sarah Lynn Bowler sings the hook in ‘Moving On’ over a soft jazzy beat with relaxing bass lines, piano, and horns scattered here and there.

6.)    Faded Memories

If you’ve seen HW live chances are you’ve seen him perform this song.  Also, it’s funny to hear him make reference to “surviving on lunch meat” in this song now he’s a vegetarian. Supposedly this cd was done almost a year before it was released.

7.)    Insecurities

Not every rapper can do a song about not being promiscuous. In fact most cats rap about the exact opposite, boasting about humping out girls with no sentimental attachment at all. So hearing HW do a track like this is a total breathe of fresh air.

8.)    This Old Town

‘This Old Town’ is an ode to boring hometowns. In the song Josh realizes the importance in in recognizing your roots, and pays homage to Fall River in this track even though he resides in Boston (well Cambridge, but whatever) now.

 

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Then buy it with the poster, and shirt.

Wow, I’m terrible at writing reviews.