Comments on: P.O.S. “Never Better” Review

By: Chris DeLine

Chris DeLine — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:32:32 +0000

Not to say that there's anything too wrong with apple-bottom jeans & crunk rap (yeeeeah), but it's a refreshing album to toss into the mix.

By: Thom

Thom — Fri, 01 May 2009 21:49:51 +0000

Excellent review…I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been a P.O.S. and Doomtree fan for a while (ever since Ipecac Neat) and this album truly was a breakthrough. It’s good to see that even while “Apple-Bottom Jeans” and crunk-rap, autotune nonsense may still litter the radio, there is a distinct and startlingly different branch of music being created (and nowadays, finally recognized) which can be called, in your words, nothing short of true poetry. Someday people will look back on this album, and be able to say nothing but “wow”.

Now I just have to go pick up a copy of “I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead”.

By: TimS

TimS — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:00:55 +0000

In a recent interview p.o.s. said he aimed to make something that wasn’t catchy or pop at all-he succeeded. But I think your review and the subsequent comments prove he made something brilliant that after multiple listens becomes catchy only because of the brilliance displayed. Definitely a great start to the year

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:05:35 +0000

Just ran into this blog. Great review and I love the comparison of the first commenter on El-P and Hip-Hop’s OK Computer. Great blog, another one to feed now!

By: Chris DeLine

Chris DeLine — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:59:16 +0000

Thanks for taking the time to read through the review and comments – really appreciate that!

Gotta stick to my guns here – that El-P disc is classic.

By: MANIKENZ

MANIKENZ — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:08:37 +0000

Great review, but I’m not sure if I agree with Brock on “Low Light” and “Goodbye,” and you with the ISWYD comparison.

I think El-P’s cd is alright, but it just didn’t do anything for me. I felt like the beats overshadowed the lyrics and I just couldn’t get into El-P’s flow. I understand the reference, but I personally like Never Better a whole lot better.

Now as for the two tracks that Brock didn’t think fit, I wholly disagree. Those tracks are purely P.O.S. and to me just represent his range and variety. Low Light is just a fantastic Doomtree track and I love Dessa’s verse. Goodbye is a throwback to his punk rock roots with the killer base line and the fantastic chorus.

Overall, I love this album. I feel like it’s his best so far and that’s saying something because I’ve played the hell out of the other two and the Doomtree stuff to boot. This is a cd that I’ll be coming back to for years.

By: Chris DeLine

Chris DeLine — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:21:38 +0000

On your thought about overall cohesiveness, I think you’re right – Never Better doesn’t mirror ISWYD in that respect. Similar tracks to those you mention as feeling out of place on Never Better aren’t heard on El-P’s disc, every track on that album feels like it can only exist within the context of everything around it.

Some cats are getting on me for still huffing and puffing about how much I enjoy Never Better, which is alright with me–I stand by it, this album is gold.

By: Brock

Brock — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:48:53 +0000

I enjoyed your review. I agree with most everything you mentioned save for some of the commentary regarding the production. To preface, I’m a huge fan of Lazerbeak’s. I’ve enjoyed just about everything he’s done, including some of his earlier work that he shared at The Last of the Record Buyers (Legend recognize Legend! Haha!). I even border on worshipping based on such tracks as “Stand Up!”. With that said the production on “Goodbye” and “Low Light Lowlife” just doesn’t fit not only the album but also the emcees and the content. Without getting too long-winded, I’d call these tracks too polished P.O.S and crew. That is not to say that P.O.S hasn’t damn-near perfected his flow, but that’s just not the style or the feelings I get from the content. Despite these two tracks that were underwhelming for me, the rest of the album is chalk full of borderline genius production with drums that had me entirely convinced that I was going to find a live band/drummer in the credits on some.

As for the lyrical content. I believe P.O.S has definitely upped his game. Especially with the introspective “Out of Category” and the excellent character-building and story-telling in “Been Afraid.” I haven’t heard anything quite like these from P.O.S.

I, too, was gobsmacked by El-P’s “I’ll Sleep When Your Dead.” Bravo in your final paragraph describing it as the sound of what is yet to come. It couldn’t have been put better. However, I don’t feel like this album is on par with ISWYD. It’s not nearly as cohesive while being extremely experimental at the same time as El-P’s. Even disregarding the beautifully seamless transitions between tracks on ISWYD and the appropriate studio chatter, ISWYD has the same feeling on every track while having a completely unique sound, story, and message on each one as well… if that makes any sense.

Ugh, I ramble. Anyway, that’s way more than my two cents.

I will say that, again, I enjoyed your review and your blog. Keep it up!

One!

By: ccskiandrun

ccskiandrun — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:16:10 +0000

Well done on this one. Great break down of the entire feeling of the album. I agree this is going to be hard to top for local albums but there are plenty to look forward to.

By: patrick

patrick — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:30:54 +0000

I recieved this album, pre order it, couldnt wait!! this ablum is un like anything i have heard as far as hip/hop…Its amazing, lyrics are incredable, beats and drums are crazy good…Guarnteed peeps that buy this album will love it!