I awake from hibernation coz I know you guys know your shit and to be honest I’m deeply concerned with an artist that is close to many of our hearts, Dj Shadow.
3 Freaks.
What is that? What is he doing there? “This can’t be the same Dj Shadow that gave meaning and direction to modern hiphop/beats/electronica,” I said to myself. “It must just be some reject that’s stolen his handle to try and prop some extra record sales or something.” But sadly this was not to be, as I’m sure you know.
3 Freaks….. The likes of 50 Cent and P Diddy would be disgusted with that effort.
I was lucky enough to recently catch him live where he combined a lot of classic old material with new stuff, that will presumably feature on his next album ‘The Outsider’. It was a really strange show in some ways, where the crowd went absolutely ballistic for tracks from ‘Entroducing’ and older material, and just stood to watch the visuals as he brought out some kind of ‘James Blunt –esque’ type guy to whine over a few tracks.
I’m all for experimentation and sonic adventures in new directions, but I fear ‘3 Freaks’ and what I heard at the live show is going to alienate many of even his most hardcore fans, me for one.
I read a lot of stuff about ‘Entroducing’ being his only good album, which I disagree with completely, and releases like ‘The Private Press’ while not as good as solid as ‘Entroducing’ still make an interesting listen, but if an album full of tracks like 3 Freaks is on the way…. (shudder)
So come on, please, someone tell me this is just some brief departure for Shadow to make some quick bucks, and we’ll be back to those outrageous beats in no time.
There is an audio player on the home page of djshadow.com that lets you listen to it. Not sure about a free download. If you find a link anywhere to the video clip..... I don't want to talk about it... it's just horrible... more bling bling, booty, and pimped out cars than snoop dog (almost).
I remember when the unkle track 'eye for an eye', which was the supposed anti capitalist anthem of the time was used in a Nike commercial, Shadow lost a lot of cred with the local scene, I was upset but more forgiving, you gotta pay the bills any way you can sometimes, so long as he keeps making wicked beats..... but geez i don't know if there's any coming back from this? For anyone in Aus, apparently jjj are broadcasting an interview he gave while on his most recent tour, maybe we'll get some answers there.
