Who made it to see "Digable" at the Canal Room in NYC--the reunion show? I didn't. Any reviews?

Anybody check out the cd yet? Waddaya think?

mlc

Thanks for the luv and encouragement!

mlc

Mikol, your review was on point and very well presented (but we expected that). I have DP's previous recordings, but I'll definitely go out and buy the new joint & won't mind hearing the repackaged tracks over again...

You're right about your last paragraph, mikollrae. It's beyond the nickel bags's funk. Your review sure got me lifted. Thanks for sharing :-) Sandi

Thank you Bredren for waxing poetic...After reading your review, I'm gonna run out and get any of the missing DP albums...I also have this CD and your review was on point, Sir!:-)...JASunshine

Thanks Switty and Futuresoul--I had a ball writing this! Switty great to see you on board. :)

-mlc

brotha' mic,

your review is as poetic as the digable's music. i am a big fan of both!

word.

thomas | futuresoul

Michael, excellent review. I didn't realize DP had a new CD. I will have to pick it up right away even though I have the 1st 2 cds and still listen to them as if they are new.

Digable Planets – ‘Beyond The Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles’ (Blue Note Records)

The artistry on Digable Planet’s (DP) latest release, Beyond The Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles, a collection of hits, remixes, b-sides and rarities, actually begins with the mere accomplishment of marrying tracks from the two vastly different DP projects and have them flow as mellifluously as they do. Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space), the groups 1993 debut album, is the more commercial-friendly of the two with jazz, R&B and intellectual poetry blended to perfection. In sharp contrast, Blowout Comb, the 1994 sophomore project, intimidated it’s commercial following with references to the Black Power movement and deeper, funkier grooves that were more likely indigenous to those who were down with the cause. A second accomplishment of Beyond the Spectrum is the audible evidence that DP’s two projects have aged well through the decade—remixed or not.

The CD rightfully begins on a galactic trip down Planetary Lane with the 33 second Intro borrowed from the debut album’s first track, “It’s Good to Be Here,” and sets the pace for the groove trip to follow. The previously unreleased tracks include: “Dedicated” a subdued-***-funky bass-lined anthem where you can hear Butterfly’s sincere gratitude to DP loyalists; and the “Where I’m From” remix which is lyrically lush and brandishes DP’s mastery of diction, phrasing and syncopation with poetic allusions to the Digable Planet cocoon and the ‘spaces and places they fly.’ However, because of this cut’s jazzy undertones, it comes off more like a DP original--the reggae-tinged LP version should be the remix.

My two newly discovered favorites are: “Three Slim’s Dynamite” which will make your head bop instantaneously and will vex and challenge your intellect with lyrical references to Jimi Hendrix and poet, bell hooks; and the militaristic “9th Wonder: Blackitolism” (dedicated to Elaine Brown, writer of the Black Panther Party National Anthem) featuring DJ Jazzy Joyce. I won’t give it all away, but the CD would not be complete without the song that positioned the group as hip-hop essentials with Butterfly’s lyric: “we be to rap what key be to lock” from “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat),” the commercially successful hip-hop anthem that earned the group gold status and a Grammy.

The trio has recently reformed and are touring. I look forward to their third concept album as they are equipped with an arsenal of material in way of new wars, new social causes and new Bushes to rap about. Until then, Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles is well beyond just a nickel bag’s worth of funk to keep us spiritually high.


Reviewed by Michael L Clark (mikollrae) for Giant Step
October 2005
View Michael’s profile: www.giantstep.net