Buck 65 - Square

Though in Buck 65's own review of this album he says that you should "(i)gnore the first five and a half minutes of this record," it's a good introduction to "new" sound of Mr. Terfry. Here is his first album that includes human accompaniment on real instruments, and Buck's naturally gruff voice without the trying to sound like someone else.

It's at 5:30 that the track known as "Phil" starts, but we've only begun to delve into part 1 of 4. "Phil" is something of a sad love song, no real sound of hip-hop beats, but something of the old vocal cadence. The song transitions into "noodling" with sound effects and samples. There's another sad song, some turntablism, more samples and movie clips, and more traditional songs strewn between it all. Some material has been re-worked (or at least new vocals) from various sources, including the nearly non-existent "Boy/Girl Fight" (including one of my favorite tracks on both albums: "Stupid," #6 on BGF.) There are some really well done song transitions, with little interludes changing the theme nicely.

Buck 65 refers to "the decision to construct the album in four extended suites was a romantic gesture, I suppose, but a bit silly." It's an odd structuring, but I've seen odder. The one thing I do agree with is that the last section is the weakest of the lot, feeling more like filler than a solid section.

Each track on square is pretty much an amalgamation of individual songs spliced together under each track. None of the tracks are tiring because of the constant shifting of ideas and rhythms, and just when you think things should move on, an entirely different song is introduced that could have been a seperate track unto itself. Wonderful listening.