Animate Objects – Dubs, Grunts and Things EP
Self-released: 2009
Note: The bold text is from Sir Alistair and the rest comes from me, Marty. We both thoroughly enjoyed this EP and wanted to collaborate on the write-up.
As I wrote about Inverse’s fantastic So True EP, it’s become clear that ‘free.99’ has become the new price for album-teasers from burgeoning hip-hop acts. And, to be honest, it’s a nice change from the never-ending stream of mixtapes out there that are consistent but typically way too long and poorly mixed – though I write that with a tongue-in-cheek sentiment after hearing 8thW1’s “Sound Quality Convo”.
So you can understand the immediate appreciation for Chicago hip-hop band Animate Objects Dubs, Grunts and Things. It’s a quick but powerful statement stretched easily across five tracks that blend soul, rap and funk. And it’s also an interesting look at another side of this act that used their last album, the highly-regarded and enjoyable Riding in Fast Cars with Your Momma, to showcase their abilities to rock a banging hip-hop anthem as well as a mellow soul joint.
Also important is the fact that in only five tracks, AO could easily have tried to fit too much into each song in an attempt to impress new listeners. But rather than overdoing the whole project, AO sticks to their roots, creating a simply fluid vibe that carries over from track to track. Furthermore, some may accuse Dubs of lacking any outside the box tactics, however, AO simply bases Dubs in well-established musical techniques from their favorite genres, and builds from there to create an innovative organic sound.
But on Dubs, rap takes the wheel and never looks back as the EP opens with the working-man’s theme “Bluebloods”, a track driven by the tight, smooth rhythm section of bassist Prashant Vallury and drummer Brian Derstine, airy jazz-guitar from Steven Dobias and Artur Wnorowski’s shiny keys. And over that musical amalgam, emcees CZAR Absolute and Aquil introduce themselves to anyone sleeping on the Animate crew. That fervor continues across the next four cuts: From the summery vibe and soulful stylings on “Five” to the breezy and slightly darker “4Love”, which features the emcees rhyming about making hip-hop “for the love.” And wrapping it all up is the refreshing “Look to the Sun”, an introspective, broken-heart platter of rhymes served by Aquil and CZAR.
To call AO’s tunes smooth, neglects the fact that additionally, there is a energy that comes through which provides extreme authenticity. So when AO declares “we do this for the love,” people won’t just hear them, they will believe them.
It certainly says a lot about the Animate Objects when only one of their tracks, “Goodbye, Foolish Bird!”, is a slight misstep. While it’s not necessarily bad in the conventional sense, the contrived “we bringing it back” hook leaves a lot to be desired, though the DJ Premier-esque scratching at the end almost saves it.
There is also a sample by Black Thought of The Roots from “Don’t Say Nuthin’” on “Goodbye, Foolish Bird!”. To say that AO is comparing themselves in some manner to The Roots is not that far-fetched [Although very few are actually on the level of the Legendary Roots Crew]. Stylistically the two are compatible, favoring live instrumentation, and although they call Chicago home, AO’s music occasionally hints at Philly-soul inspirations at times.
Overall, you have to love the fresh and cohesive feel of Dubs. While the emcees won’t knock you out with their punchlines or storytelling, they ride the beat well and hold your interest. Also, the concept of a hip-hop band is one that, not yet anyway, has not been beaten to death. Here’s looking forward to Animate Objects’ next project, which should be coming soon.
3.5 out of 5