Album Reviews

Album Review: Mongrel – Better Than Heavy (Wall Of Sound)

By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 2 March 2009

Musical cornucopia, politically aware, the sound of the streets. Some people will review this album and spout exactly that type of crap that you get from condescending, fear-ridden idiots. The album starts with pretty crap MCing, sub-N*E*R*D bass and a no-sample-is-too-pointless approach to production. There’s a bit too much funky bass for me as well. Although, it is politically aware, albeit in a kind of ham fisted way. However, blowing up Parliament – which Mongrel advocate in ‘Lies’ – is the Wright Stuff call-in level of stupid bravado. I’d take this back if they actually did it, though. As it stands, it’s the kind of juvenile stuff that would make Tariq Ali grimace. Nevertheless, it picks up from track five. ‘The Menace’ is good with its (kind of) theologically aware dismemberment of using Christianity as a rationale for war. They could be a pop-match for Aquinas (er… George Bush’s unconscious theoretical enabler). Until they get guy who raps like the bloke from Arctic Monkeys. ‘Too many children deaded in vein’, is a lyric that, despite its earnestness, made me almost piss myself. Followed by the never before heard exclamation of pan-Scottish-African unity: ‘Aberdeen To Addis Ababa’. Nevertheless, as the album progressed it becomes more adult with shadows guitar lines, dubstep and Ian Brown worship on display. Other songs such as ‘Julian’ and ‘All Your Ever Afters’ are also creditable efforts. So there you go – a quite good album, with some dubious aspects. When the later tracks on the album delve into more sophisticated and well chosen samples it shows that Mongrel have a more than the skin deep appreciation of music. PG

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