Far From Ordinary
gonn1000 | Portugal | 03/28/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"An underrated album if there ever was one, Day One`s debut is an addictive, original and creative effort that wisely mixes hip-hop, lo-fi, dance beats, pop, folk, spoken-word and trip-hop. Released by Massive Attack`s record label Melankolic, "Ordinary Man" is clever, honest and subtle, delivering witty and poignant stories with an urban feel. Sometimes it`s humorous, like the dazzling "Bedroom Dancing" or the ironic "Trying Too Hard", in other moments touching as in the superb "I`m Doing Fine" or the mellow "Autumn Rain", and in a couple of songs it offers a darker, more haunting perspective, such as "Truly Madly Deeply" or "Paradise Lost". It`s a tight and strong record, much better than the ridiculous hip-hop that is presented in MTV and most radio stations today. Day One are quite an unique and engaging band (well, they`re a duo in fact), and it`s a shame that their first release was virtually unnoticed. "Ordinary Man" is a very well-crafted debut, containing moving and relatable lyrics as well as good and captivating soundscapes.
Highly Recommended."
They're not trying to be hip-hop artists
W Mianecke | Rochester, NY | 11/16/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"It seems obvious to this listener that Day One are NOT trying to gain hip-hop credibility. No more so than, say, Beck or Cornershop. They aren't following any strict rules about rhyme or beats or whatever. They're enjoying themselves. They're not taking themselves seriously. They're not having fun at the expense of some gender or ethnic group. They're not bragging. They're not hip-hop. They're being silly. It's by no means great, but, it's unselfconscious, just like, say, the Beasties' BS2000 side-project. I think the best comparison, if one must compare, is the Cornershop/Clinton one."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1