Search - Pedestrian :: Vol. 1-Unindian Songs

I really wanted to love this album...

Alan Pounds | Minneapolis, MN | 03/24/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I must say, I am a huge supporter of underground rap. I support several artists on the Anticon label, as well as Rhymesayers and Def Jux. Don't get me wrong, Pedestrian has mad skills. But this album is just not cutting it for me after the fifth listen or so. The rhythm is what's so appalling on this record; there isn't any. There are so many mind-boggling interludes that distract from the flow of the album. Some of these interludes sound like they came straight off of Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica" album from 1969 ("The History Channel..."). Which is a confusing, mind-boggling ordeal on it's own.



I'm not a stranger to dense, complicated recordings, but I found this album to be a bit mediocre. There are some good songs in the bunch, including "O Silent Bed," "The Dead Of A Day," "Arrest The President," "The Toss & Turn," and "Blind Dates". The sad part is, is that most of the songs I just listed have faults of there own. Whether it's an ill timed sample or a rhythm breaking interlude, there are parts to these songs which make them less impressive. I understand that Pedestrian is a writer and poet. And on a side note, the album insert was very impressive. It includes all the lyrics to the album, including all of the sources (samples) used on each song.



All in all, I have to give 3 stars to Pedestrian for releasing the strangest "hip-hop" album I've ever heard, which may be a little over my head (I hate saying that). But, on the other hand, this album is nothing I would call "sick," "ill," or "dope". Some of my favorite artists are very inaccessible, such as Aesop Rock, Sage Francis and Buck 65. But their efforts are far from a mediocre result. If I'm not feeling "any part" of this album after 5 listens, I feel like it's time to move on to other sides of the underground hip-hop elite."

Clever

7th Angl | Ontario, Canada | 04/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, a founding member of Anticon, and six years later finally releases his debut album. Solid to say the least, with the album packaging and liner notes using native american thematic elements to satirize America's war on terror, as well as its history of pillaging native settlements. I just wish this was better conveyed lyrically as well, but Im not complaining. Pedestrian is quite good on the mic, and has drastically improved over the years. No more ghostwriting for Sole I guess."