Murs – Love & Rockets Vol. 1: The Transformation

Murs – Love & Rockets Vol. 1: The Transformation
Blu Roc: 2011

Where’s the ‘Transformation’? Did I miss something? Murs is a storyteller. He’s a creative non-fiction emcee. He’ll take “creative” liberties to embellish, extend and turn an ordinary story into something out of a comic book. It’s a device to express the sentiment or moral of the story. However, sometimes Love & Rockets is too sentimental, too corny for it’s own good. It’s hard to see where the ‘transformation’ is. When I’d heard Murs was putting out an album with Ski Beatz, I was ecstatic. My Tiger Woods’ fist pump was going (and my Tiger Woods’ text fingers were going, “Hey baby, you’ll want to see this.”)

In 2010, Ski released 24 Hour Karate School  and it had me kicking my speakers and chopping the headphones from my head. “Be Better! Why aren’t you awesome?” I screamed. Regardless, he’s an iconic producer who’s had a hand in several key ’90s tracks (Camp Lo’s “Luchini”, Jay Z’s “Dead Presidents II”). Overall, he’s a prolific artist who’s constantly shifting styles to attract today’s listeners to down-to-earth hip-hop.  So, where does Love & Rockets Vol. 1: The Transformation rank in such an extensive, often surprising catalog? Above average. Where does the album place in Murs catalog? Below average, better than Fornever, sometimes great.

This album is a tale of two Murs. There’s the engaging, beautifully storytelling Murs whose wordplay elicits conversation beyond the verses and bars. Then, there’s the sappy, corny Murs who seems distant and unfamiliar with Ski Beatz’s landscape. That said, “Epic Salutations” is a great rebuttal to the whole ‘landscape’ argument because it’s most definitely a beat Murs has never encounter before. He kills it too. Ski takes a synth approach, adds in some stabs and drum kicks that accentuate Murs’ braggadocio flow. Murs is “slinging moon rock to these alien fellas” and a few “million miles away from Mars / among the stars.” The distance between the two dissolves.

Then, there’s “67 Cutluss” and “Remember 2 Forget”. The former pits Ski in a tough position. He’s seemingly boxed in by the pace and message of the song. The production has slick vocal samples, but a guitar lick that says, “Hey, just letting you know this is supposed to be a sad song.” It hits you over the head. Where previous Murs releases succeeded–Murs 3:16‘s “Walk Like A Man”–there lacks a sense that he’s actually feeling the angst. It’s forced. So, perhaps there is a ‘transformation’ of sorts, but one I’m unable to accept. “67 Cutluss” talks about the cops and how, well, no one likes the cops. And, for the most part, it’s a fun story. That’s until Murs quips about fitting a cop in the truck of his Cutluss. He says, “no small feat, he wasn’t a small guy / how you fit a pig in the trunk? Hog tie.” It sounds like a superhero’s catch-phrase gone soft. It’s punny, not clever. (Good example of funny cop story: “Trevor An’ Them”).

Despite some issues there’s a lot to love about this album. “Animal Style” tackles a topic that’s barely audible in hip-hop culture, often winced at, but never voiced: homophobia, gay rights and those who’re afraid to come out. Murs weaves a story about a friend who’s environment is hostile to change and doesn’t accept gay lifestyles. The story is genuinely sad, it’s griping and deserves steady applause. “Eazy-E” also deserves applause (and surely will on tour) for its homage to West Coast gangster rap.  What I like about Murs is that he never strays from where he’s been offering humbling lines and narratives. When the album’s 13 tracks play through it really is about love and rockets. Some tracks you’ll come to love (“International”, “Hip Hop and Love” “316 Ways”) others are explosive (in a bad way, like verbal diarrhea). There’s frame in the comic Love and Rockets I think helps explain the album. Murs takes a stance that things are different in the title, but it’s still very uniquely Murs. I’d say it’s nothing challenging or different (besides Ski Beatz). ‘Transformation’, what ‘transformation’? I don’t hate the pose, but, “watch it or I’ll paint you like that.”

3 out of 5

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4_99LQsZGo&version=3&feature=player_detailpage]