Crowded Places comes next up for review, with a tape giving us insight as to what to expect from his debut album and the tape has clear strengths and weaknesses. I have to confess, I was intrigued by the title and the artwork to this tape. There is definitely a futuristic feel to the external presentation of the project and this lifts itself to the tape at times, most notably in the track, Rusted Gears. The flow is bizarre on this track but it is absolutely intriguing and really, executed very well. Crowded Places is sporadic on the track and this is intended to be a praise rather than a criticism. As a listener you really have no idea where he is going to go with his flow, it constantly chops and changes and the mystery as to the pattern adds to the aforementioned futuristic feel. There is a great philosophical feel to the track as well, as the final lines state: "There is no sun, but I'm blinded by a glare / I'm seated but there is no chair / These are the living conditions of my lair." Thought provoking indeed.
The strengths of Crowded Places' project are evident for all to see. The production is absolutely on point and every single track works well with the cover and general feel which the artist has created. It's a tape about a struggle, self doubt and I also got the impression that there was a deep reflection on some great loss experienced. It's not fair for me to speculate on this but, I'm Holding On was just one of the tracks which gave me this impression. There is this fantastic level of introspection throughout the track and it is undoubtedly the highlight of the tape, with a more regimented flow than on Rusted Gears and when this is paired with the absolutely gorgeous keys which make the basis of the track; the hard work Crowded Places put into the tape is there for all to see. Certain lyrics within the track were superb and "holding on till my hands bleed to death" along with "I won't sit back and give in" struck accord and gave the track this simultaneously uplifting and yet deeply saddening feeling. The track is the clear high point of the tape.
The tape's production is superb throughout but unfortunately, Crowded Places' raps at times do not do the beats justice. Do not get me wrong, the lyrics are extremely introspective and are undoubtedly a strong point for the project but there are certainly issues at moments with the delivery of this lyricism. At times, the stresses of each line are in some very odd places. For instance, in the Cave of the Unknown, a track with an absolutely infectious repetition of the chant "We're in the cave of the unknown", Crowded Places on more than one instance places stress in the wrong place in a given line. At times it is hardly noticeable but unfortunately there are also occasions where it is glaringly obvious. The stress in the line, "I see what you have to gain" is unnecessarily placed on the "I see", causing the rapper to linger on "see" and as a result have to catch up to the beat with the following line "from all the pain". The sporadic style in places works, as it did with Rusted Gears, but at times it just does not fit with the beat. There is further example to be found in the very first track of the tape, Here We Are, as Crowded Places states he "feeds off the moon, that's why it's a crescent" and a similar game of catch up with the beat is the result. The track also highlights the second issue with the rapping on the tape. There is very rarely a change in tone and the result, is at times monotonous as the listener is subjected to this long soliloquy which fails to attach itself to either the track, or its audience. It could be argued that at times rappers deliberately use this as a ploy on certain tracks, but it is not a style that will be as prevalent in a project as it is in this.
Happily, Crowded Places strengths come together on the final track Circular Exposure, where there is a great deal more variation in the tone of the rapper. In fact, I would compare his flow to Das Racist on this track. It is certainly alternative but none of the above weaknesses are evident throughout this final call to arms. It's braggy and there is a showmanship here previously unseen. It is a great end to a fairly solid tape.
POTENTIAL: 5.5/10 It's there for sure, but there are certainly places that Crowded Places can improve. The strengths of the tape lie in the production and the lyricism.
However, work needs to be done on the delivery of these rhymes and I am sure that this will come through general application of himself as he develops as a rapper.
I would certainly keep an eye out for him because when his methods come together in the manner he intended, they are excellent.
STRENGTHS: An intriguing flow which when it works, works exquisitely well. Rusted Gears, Circular Exposure, I'm Holding On.
WEAKNESSES: The moments in the tape where this sort of delivery is forced really lets Crowded Places down. Here We Are and moments within Cave of the Unknown.
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