REVIEWS
4 of 5 thought this review was well written
I don’t know what it is about most hip/hop and rap that just turns me away. I enjoy some but it’s not one of my favorite genres in music. I’m no hater, I enjoy some Lil Wayne, Jay Z, 2pac, the Beastie Boys. But I’m not sure if it’s the stereotypes of all of it that turns me away for the most part. Most songs seen to be about how the artist “macked on some honey in the club,” and how so and so is a real OG. In a world where the same rap song plagues radio over and over, it’s nice to have a fresh perspective in the genre.
Enter 3OH!3, a group that seemingly came out of nowhere, gaining a slot on the Vans Warped Tour ’08. I actually missed them while I was there, but a friend informed me of their existence and introduced me to their cd “WANT.” When we listened, I brushed them off as just another hip/hop adventure that ended at the same destination as all the others. But upon further listening, I discovered that there was more to be had from these two guys from Colorado.
The beats and electronics that make up just about every song are actually really good. The distortion that is used really adds a gritty, urban feel to each track. Opener Tapp is an instrumental that lets the listener know what they are in for, showcasing what most of the songs are made of. Almost everything that they utilize has already been done before, but never before has it felt as fun as they have made it. There are record scratches, distorted claps, keyboards, massive bass beats and other staples in the rap genre. But they also use distorted guitar lines, which really throws the listener off, and nearly makes one want to classify them as alternative/punk rather than rap.
The lyrics are relatively cheesy, but the fact that the two members alternate vocals and styles makes the cd sound fresh. Songs like PunkBitch and Don’t Trust Me are creatively done, but still include the same themes of every other artist. Most songs incorporate sing along choruses that just scream for crowd participation. The rhymes are well executed and it seems like these two guys have a real passion for what they do, and know very well what they want to accomplish with this album, which is bringing the fun back to hip/hop. Rich Man has probably the best lyrics and best rhymes in my opinion, and a very catchy flow to the song. The lyrics are usually very humorous as well, almost seeming like the album is a spoof at times.
All in all, 3OH!3 has caught people’s attention, and will only gain popularity, and will have fans from all genres, seeing as the album dabbles in everything, and even includes piano driven songs. The biggest letdown is the fact that there is a lack of originality in most songs, but the group makes up for every negative in fun. So, if you are looking for something fresh sounding and need something to change your outlook on hip/hop, check these guys out.
Rating: 3.5
Recommendations
PunkBitch
Rich Man
I’m Not Your Boyfriend Baby
Holler ‘til You Pass Out
http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-3oh3-want/ review
3OH!3 (pronounced 3-OH!-3) is far from your ordinary band. For instance, when I downloaded the CD to my iPod it was listed as an unclassifiable genre and that is an understatement. Debuting with WANT, the twosome white-boy rap/rock duo certainly have released material worth talking about as they have mixed up elements of crunk, punk, electronica, and even emo, making for an energy overload album.
Hailing from the streets of… umm… Boulder, the duo have discarded their college educations in favor of creating some of the best crunk rock dance party tracks I have ever heard. Already debuting on the Top 10 on the iTunes album chart, the band has also gained attention from AP Magazine naming them one of AP’s one hundred bands you need to know.
3OH!3 stands for the area code that front men Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte represent. Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, the duo met while studying physics in college and discovered one another’s love for underground hip hop. The mutual fixation for a genre of music that is rarely handled in the capitol of hippies brought the two united to create 3OH!3 and before they knew it they were selling out local clubs with their high strung dancing layered on top of their truly unique genre-bashing music.
“Punk Bitch” was the first track I heard from these guys and I must admit I thought they were a Lil John wannabe project. Not until halfway through the song did I realized this was not really a rap act but something much more entertaining. The opening to the song imitated lots of crunk music I have heard before, but as you go through the song you start to hear a blend of crunk and emo, something I did not think was possible until now. The result is an infectious track that I have listened to over and over. This gangster emo track will be getting the clubs moving for sure this year.
The third track “Don’t Trust Me” has the greatest refrain ever: “Shush girl, shut your lips. Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips.” Dance like Helen Keller? Who the hell writes something like this? How offensive… I loved it. I can only see it now, a forbidden dance called the Helen Keller created from this track. Aside from the crude lyrics talking of a no-name groupie, this track is full of danceable music that is far from annoying.
Sounding almost like what Electric Six would sound like if they collaborated with Lil John & The Eastside Boyz is “I’m Not Your Boyfriend Baby”. The electronic beats alone surpass a lot of crap I have heard in the clubs or on the radio, and once the interesting, whiny, emo cry solo was slammed with their tough ass rap lyrics I was addicted.
“Star Struck” has more of a R&B feel a la Kenna mixed with hard electronics and a beat that pretty much has been stuck in my head since I first heard the sexually suggestive song. Then there are the full on rap tracks “Choke Chain” that you will be singing along with and “Photo Finnish” that reminded me of the Faint but excessively crunked out.
Just when I thought things were insane enough, “Still Around” started up. This slow sensitive track regarding the love of a special something really proves to me these guys are not just out there to jump around and get the party rioting. The lyrics at times were predictable but the music and the idea of the song is sweet and almost depressing, especially if you have been in the situation of which they sing.
No need to be too depressed though, because “Holler 'til You Pass Out” brings back all that energy that was paused for a moment with a full blown anthem all about representing the city of Boulder. This track is tough, addictive, and fun and I wanted more once it was over.
Want might very well be the most fun CD I have heard all year and at this moment I am addicted to 3OH!3 and their crazy ass music. These guys have something a little gangster, a lot insane, and damn well genus. If you are looking for something a tad different from the norm yet catchy at the same time then 3OH!3 is where it’s at.
Already stealing the show at the 2008 Warped Tour with their high vigor, including their hilarious onstage presence, this is one band you need to experience especially if you are in need some new pickup lines to rifle off to the ladies.
