K-OS claims on his website that this album is less of a reflection on the world around him than an insight into his very own mind.
Either way, I have nothing but praise for these Hymns. Atlantis is a real treasure. Seriously, bad puns aside, this record is freakin’ awesome.
The album starts off well enough with a catchy, record-scratching beat and lyrical freestyling in Electrik Heat – The Seekwill (video below). The following track does an almost complete 180 with a slow, yet uplifting beat in The Rain. Then the beat comes back after a fake commercial interlude in Fly Paper, singing a message about resisting temptation in modern media. Whether or not you care about the lyrics, it’s probably the best damn track on the whole album.
For the more gospel-minded of you music fans out there, Sunday Morning delivers another real good hymn that harkens back to k-os’ fundamentalist upbringing. As he sings in the refrain, “Every day is Saturday night, but I can’t wait for Sunday morning.” And Born to Run (definitely not a Bruce Springsteen cover) provides a nice burst of energy the perfect party track.
Admittedly, the album kind of slows down in the second half, with Valhalla sounding even more gospel-ish than Sunday Morning, and the awkward mix of a disco beat with uplifting lyrics in Black Ice (Hymn 4 Disco). But even these tracks, while not outstanding, are still very good.
Seriously, what are you still reading this review for? Atlantis: Hymns for Disco should be out by the time you finish reading this. Go out and get it now.
Either way, I have nothing but praise for these Hymns. Atlantis is a real treasure. Seriously, bad puns aside, this record is freakin’ awesome.
