Atmosphere is the stage name of Minnesota rapper/DJ duo Sean Daley (Slug) and Anthony Davis (Ant). Their sixth album, their first in three years, is titled ‘Family Sign’. For the new album Slug and Ant are joined by Nate “The Guitar Man” Collins (guitar) and Erick Anderson (keys). Collins’ guitar work helps give a bluesy, gritty feel to the album alongside Anderson’s piano work adding texture rather than melody. All the while Ant keeps the bands minimalist stripped back Hip Hop sound.
‘Family Sign’ is a heavy and moody album that gives the listener 14 emotive and thought evoking tracks to ponder and lament over. ‘The Last to Say’ is a chilling and heartbreaking tale of spousal abuse and is told in such a way that puts the listener in the midst of the story. ‘Became’ is more abstract and allows the listener to project their own impressions on the subject matter. ‘Just For Show’ is livelier but by no means cheerier, telling a sarcastic tale of losing friends, while ‘Your Name Here’ is a brilliant and sarcastic tale of meeting an alcoholic ex-girlfriend. Slug also finds brilliance in the much less obscure 'If You Can Save Me Now,' which for me, is one of the album’s best tracks. With his vivid lyrics, the listener might miss the fact that he’s rapping from the perspective of a person who has just experienced being in a car accident.
There are some lighter subjects covered by the band, on ‘She’s Enough’ Slug raps about being in a happy relationship while ‘I Don’t Need Brighter Days’ has bursts of electric blues guitar and is destined to become an epic.
'The Family Sign' takes a second or third listen to fully absorb but this album is certifiable proof that the dark side has a melody. Slug and Ant are near-perfect unison with regard to their vision for what the album should sound like and what sort of thoughts and emotions it should convey and evoke. As documenters of disturbing experiences on the underbelly of lower-middle-class America, Atmosphere have developed what they do best into an unashamed mantra for life.
Album Rating: 8/10
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‘Family Sign’ is a heavy and moody album that gives the listener 14 emotive and thought evoking tracks to ponder and lament over. ‘The Last to Say’ is a chilling and heartbreaking tale of spousal abuse and is told in such a way that puts the listener in the midst of the story. ‘Became’ is more abstract and allows the listener to project their own impressions on the subject matter. ‘Just For Show’ is livelier but by no means cheerier, telling a sarcastic tale of losing friends, while ‘Your Name Here’ is a brilliant and sarcastic tale of meeting an alcoholic ex-girlfriend. Slug also finds brilliance in the much less obscure 'If You Can Save Me Now,' which for me, is one of the album’s best tracks. With his vivid lyrics, the listener might miss the fact that he’s rapping from the perspective of a person who has just experienced being in a car accident.
