While a lot of albums flirt with other genres to make their sound more eclectic, Why? presents an album that actually fits the bill for a genre-defying album. Though different tracks on Alopecia mimic more popular sounds we all know and love, the fact that they are all pulled together so effortlessly and uniquely is impressive.

A lot of times very ambitious bands attempt to do too much and once, and they end up releasing something mediocre as a result. But from a spectrum of drum machine rock to hip-hop, Why? delivers a high quality album that is beautiful to listen to and impressively thoughtful (if not overbearingly serious).

Lead singer Yoni Wolf’s stream of consciousness lyrics lose me at points - this certainly is not hip-hop to rhyme to, or rock music to scream along with. The content represents a process in a bizarre musical creation that is foreign to me, but then again I enjoy the change of listening to something a little more raw and less poetic in its lyrical content.

The band really glows behind their uniqueness, showing that no matter what direction genres go, they can follow in an interesting way. This characteristic is not unlike most other label mates on Anticon Records, but their connection with Anticon stemmed from Bay-area friendship more than anything else.

Beyond novelty, it is nice to see a hip-hop label that is understanding hip-hop’s role as the 21st century musical form that is affecting everything out there. And Why? shows it all off in what is truly a contemporary genre-defying creation. I can’t say it is an album I will be blasting all of the time, but it is certainly a music project I have real respect for and enjoy my unique experience with.

One Response to “Why? - Alopecia”

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