Swollen Members - Armed To The Teeth Album Review
Posted on | January 26, 2010 |
If you haven’t heard of this Hip Hop group hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada yet it’s time to listen up. The Swollen Members just released their latest album Armed To The Teeth, coming three years after their previous album Black Magic. With Armed To The Teeth, Swollen Members deliver an eclectic album that features songs which stay true to Swollen Members form and many songs that introduce a new, club hip hop feel.
Having heard nothing about the album prior to listening to it, I was a little surprised to hear songs that I would hear at the clubs. The club feel is not typically the style Swollen Members goes for. However, after listening to the album several times I found myself bopping my head to the sure-to-be-hits “Porn Star”, “My Life”, and “Flyest”.
What attracted me to Swollen Members when I first heard them was the feeling I got that they do what they want. By that I mean their lyrics, beats and overall feel was unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. Completely original and doing their own thing. Even though they have ventured into a more club feel with some songs, it still has that Swollen Members mentality I just described.
It wouldn’t be Swollen Members without epic beats that creep under your skin and swirl around your brain. Turn on “My Life” and you’ll hear beats that will get you as amped up as “Lady Venom” will - how’s that for a bold statement for you Swollen Members aficionados out there. The beats toward the end of “My Life” sound like level 2 of the original Super Mario Brother on vicodins.
It also wouldn’t be Swollen Members without Mad Child’s pro self-destructive, pro self-inflected lyrics:
“I’m constant faded
The promoter’s happy if the little monster made it
Known for skipping shows but known for ripping flows….
….Oxys, Percocet, Vicodin, Somas doesn’t really matter long as I am in a coma
My family and my friends say enough is enough
This is MadChild’s life and I’m fucking it up”
The song “Meltdown” is the most traditional Swollen Members song - you could slip that song into any other Swollen Members album and not know the difference. Taking nothing away from the song at all. Armed To The Teeth features guest appearances from Everlast and Slaine of La Cocka Nostra, Talib Kweli, & Tech N9ne. The best song featuring those guest artists is “Dumb” featuring Everlast and Slaine:
“I roll up in a stolen car, come hop in with them
Hand me a pill bottle, I dump it and pop ten of them
Give me some booze, I sip juice like Rakim and them
I got a fuse that’s too short and a noose that’s too long”
For you Swollen Members fans out there get ready for a new sound on a lot of these tracks. However, the new sound is brought with the same epic beats and lyrics that we’re used to. For those who’ve never heard of Swollen Members, start with their earlier albums and get to know them. I promise you’ll hear them in the club soon and you’ll ask, “Damn dude, who’s that?”
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