Slam poety, battle rapping, Indie jazz or rock music fans - music fans in general - were stunned by the sudden death of St. Paul, Minn., native Michael "Eyedea" Larsen in October 2010. While Eyedea enjoyed an underground following, the freestyle rapper gained attention on the national level after wins at 1999's Scribble Jam and the HBO-televised Blaze Battle (2000). Besides his work as a solo artist, Eyedea shared vocal duties with Kristoff Krane in the improvisational jazz group, Face Candy. Rounding out the group are Casey O'Brien (bass) and drummer JT Bates.
Keep Eyedea's Words Heard
Waste Age Teenland will be released posthumously on June 24 (Rhymesayers Entertainment). Beyond a doubt, Eyedea's contributions and artistry will be a huge gap in the world of music and so many circles should continue to mourn the loss of such a talent; Waste Age Teenland is a gem of an album and rightly should be released to keep Eyedea's words heard.
This writer admittedly had never heard of Face Candy, but while researching (and knowing what a hot bed for creative forces the St. Paul-Minneapolis area can be) the words and music came through like a caged animal. The listener is grabbed. The beats and personality of each track succumb to an overall magnificent tale.
Whatever compass Eyedea subscribes to, the listener buckles down for showmanship and honest artistry. it never feel like the band is just there - they are seamless and by no means a spectator. Some of the tracks are a bit odd (tracks 3, 9) but not so bizarre one would stop listening. And, certainly, go back for seconds!
The movement and soul each song presents is like a cozy night at a jazz club or a fury of fun at a party. As a listeners, it is freeing to listen to each piece with such a fresh start. These songs never bore; they never jam too long. They engulf the senses and permeate into the night.
CD Gets Solid A Review
While listening to the back and forth between Eyedea and Krane, combined with the organic-flavored beats, all the tracks (there are 15) no titles are needed to differentiate each song's distinct personality. Fans of Living Colour, Mos Def, Kid Cudi, 311, A Tribe Called Quest, Classified will want to check out tracks 2, 8, 12 and 14 most. Overall Waste Age Teenland gets a solid A review.
Melissa Kucirek - Melissa L. Kucirek M.A. University of Nebraska - Omaha (2004) B.A. University of Nebraska - Omaha (2001) I'm a freelance writer ...
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