New music! Well, technically Sir Sly’s latest full length, The Rise & Fall of Loverboy, was actually released at the end of April. Sometimes I get nervous listening to new music from bands I like. While in most cases the new stuff is awesome, there are times when it’s just plain old bad. Part of me felt like this album could go that way, but I was wrong!
In truth, this was a very natural progression from their previous album Don’t You Worry, Honey. I mean, they are a band, so they are going to play instruments, but they also manage to expertly incorporate beats I think most rappers would be jealous they didn’t come up with. Phantogram is probably king at this, but these guys get pretty darn close! In fact, right off the jump with the first track, “Honey,” you get a glimpse at the beats that are going to come. “I.M.G.” does this pretty well, too, but my favorite songs this time around comes from the ones not relying too heavily on those manufactured sounds.
“Welcomes the Pressure” easily stood out as my favorite track. Perhaps because it’s so reminiscent of all the hits off of their last record, but still. Genius cannot be denied. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, “Numb” really struck a chord and knocked it out of the park for me. The pure honesty and emotion in that song is enough to make anyone sit back and contemplate their own lives. The lyrics were as self-reflective as anything I’ve ever heard. Kudos to the band for barring their souls on that one. Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the truly catchy lead single, “Material Boy.” If you know, you know.
Overall, this was a fun record to listen to, and it’s perhaps the most diverse record the band has put out to date. There’s a nice mix of fast-paced, dance-like tunes, interspersed with slower tracks that really bring your attention back in. Sir Sly wants you to listen to what they have to say, and I can tell you that I did! If you’re a fan of any of their other work, you’d be a fool to skip out on this.