Jamie Radford - Athens: Album Review
Jamie Radford, Athens (Travel Records, 2006)
Jamie Radford hails from "a small town in Alabama," was a debate champion in high school and college, and went to law school in Athens, GA where he recorded this, his first album. Peep the streaming audio at his MySpace to get an idea of the kind of shit he's on.
KING OF THE CLASSROOM
A gangsta rap record about Radford's homework skills. It's extra amusing if you fucking hated those kinds of people in high school.
THIS IS A BREAKUP SONG
A heartfelt ode to Radford's old bitch, who ran out on him (as bitches are wont to do).
AN EARLY CHALLENGE
One of this album's several "experimental" instrumental numbers.
MEAN RAP 11
Does this count as screwed and chopped? The verse is amusing for what it is, but otherwise this could've been scrapped.
DUMB STEPS
Radford advises today's youth against taking dumb steps. He should know, having apparently been the only kid from his hometown to avoid crystal meth.
TRAVEL TAKEOVER
An "experimental" take on the asinine rap album skit.
THAT'S MY TRIUMPH
Radford meets a hot chick at a Starbucks and decides on a whim to quit his job.
HENRI ROUSSEAU
Another one of the instrumental numbers. This one kinda rocks despite there not being any vocals.
NEVER GIVE UP
More advice for today's youth. This time it's: Never give up on your creative side. I can get with this song's message, but I could've done whatever that music box thing is.
GIVE UP (GROW UP)
The flip side to never give up on your creative side. After all, somebody's gotta pay Ma Bell. [That bitch!]
YOU'RE SO WARM
Perhaps the most creative of this album's several "experimental" instrumental numbers. In fact, it kinda sounds like an Interpol song.
HAD TO LET IT GO
Radford's entry into the Fort Minor/Jedi Mind Tricks emo rap sweepstakes, complete with a female sung chorus and everything.
COMMENTS: You guys know I don't generally like to mess around with anything too creative, but I'm feeling this. Having obviously been recorded on the cheap, it's got its share of minor technical issues, but nothing too off-putting. The concepts are strong though. Radford's kicking a lot of shit here that you don't hear too often in hip-hop, let alone (motherfucking) southern rap.
BEST TRACKS: "King of the classroom" "This is a breakup song" "Henri Rousseau"
