Album Description: The debut album from Cut Chemist, formerly of pioneering underground hip-hop group Jurassic 5, The Audience's Listening is evocative of an era when sound enthusiasts put out records for the adventure of it, not as a vehicle tied to hit singles and booty-shaking videos. Using a turntable, mixer and computer to create the songs, this gifted DJ has conjured an homage to what is possible. Varied, uplifting and unexpected, rooted in hip-hop but leaping into new sonic territory, The Audience's Listening offers musical magic created by the alchemist known as Cut Chemist.
The Savior After seeing the golden age of hip hop deteriorate and then the dissapointing sell out of DJ Shadow I had begun to lose all hope for artists who had a passion for the art of sampling. I purchased "The Audience's Listening" and I was so happy to hear that Cut Chemist was keeping this sound alive.
Although DJ Shodow and Cut Chemist both still work together on a constant basis, we now all know who to give our respect to. An album like this was truely needed this day and age. Anybody with a love for sound collage will not be dissapointed. Support Cut Chemist.
I love it. I'm amazed nobody have written a review for this album yet! It's a shame because I'm not really good at this, I'm no music expert, but I know what I like and I know what I hate, and this album is fantastic! Every track has a great variety of beats and sounds and so fun to listen to, it reminds me a little of "Amon Tobin - Permutation". If you enjoy turn-table performances you won't be disappointed, this gifted DJ has conjured an homage to what is possible - Varied, uplifting and unexpected, rooted in hip-hop but leaping into new sonic territory, the Audience's Listening offers musical magic created by the alchemist known as Cut Chemist.
Intelligent album! I only heard one cut (The Garden) from this album, and only heard it 3 times over the course of about 2 months. Outstanding tune, but I wanted to hear more.
FINALLY the DJ actually said who the artist was, and I bought the album immediately! This was a good decision on my part!
It is an intellegent composition, one that will not yield hits on the radio, but is brilliantly crafted. It requires actually listening to it several times to get into it, but the "effort" is worth it! And you won't get sick of hearing it on the radio every hour like so many albums!
If you have any interest at all in DJ compositions, this one is a must have!
fine turntablism i think the people that bash this album or are dissapointed by it are the ones that expected too much of the album. and that's not the album's fault, that's their own. let me tell you, i first heard this album performed live by the cut chemist himself. and it got me shakin', same with the whole audience. so if u get a chance to, go see it live... it was awsome. so therefore i decided to pick up the album on vinyl and compact disc. its a good album, especially if u like a mix of hip hop, funk and jazz. Djs should respect it because the turntablism aspect of the album is up to par, nothing new or totaly mind blowing, but creative nontheless. if this is your first album listening to cut chemist, its a good one, and i think even for the cut chemist fans, its apreciable work. its fun, creative, and gets you moving. i thought however there lacked a bit of energy from the MC on the track 'whats the altitude' on the CD. however, live, he rocked it. its a short album, but its fun, and its short enough not to be too redundant, long enough to enjoy. get a copy, its not a let down... if youre looking for something completely mind blowing, maybe this isnt your pick, but thats why i didnt put five stars. fine album all the way through.
The robots... are coming... Sometimes albums are made with groundbreaking new twists and sounds. Sometimes they are made for financial gain, via radio hits and MTV coverage. And then there are some that are really just made for the love of it.
Cut Chemist's "The Audience's Listening" appears to be one of the third category, though the turntablist/DJ/Jurassic 5-er does give electronica and hip-hop some novel twists in his first fully original album. But at the heart of it, it sounds like Chemist is simply dabbling in whatever he enjoys most.
"Start remembering what you hear," says a cheerful interviewer, before a patchwork of samples inform us about the DJs of the future, about music, the first annual DJ convention, and a lot of dogs barking. By the time you're finished with the intro, your brain will be in the right state for what comes next. ("People get ready... the robots are coming!")
He retreads familiar ground in the energetic percussion-heavy "My 1st Big Break," before switching over to a new sound -- bossa nova. Gypsyish guitar playing an energetic live tune, with a sample of Astrud Gilberto playing softly halfway through. It's an exquisite, ethereal tune that shows that Cut Chemist can do all sorts of music.
Lest anyone think that Cut Chemist has lost his edge, he dabbles in some truly weird stuff (a phone conversation done entirely with samples and scratches), sharply surreal hip-hop, and shimmering electronic numbers that sound like an arty sci-fi film. Cut Chemist dips back into bossa nova once before, before finishing up with the dense, catchy hip-hop of "The Audience Is Listening Theme Song."
Cut Chemist has done some pretty brilliant work with remixes and the "Brainfreeze" collaboration with DJ Shadow, so expectations were high for "The Audience's Listening." But the best way to listen is without expectations -- while it's neither groundbreaking nor brilliant, it is a beautiful, funky little album.
One thing it has from the beginning is a relaxed, laid-back feeling feeling. Cut Chemist shows that he can do everything from spare acoustics to dense, intense melodies, dabbling in a little of everything at least twice, and trying new sounds without trying anything too new.
It's not groundbreaking, but from the sound of it, Cut Chemist was just trying out whatever existing sounds he liked rather than striving for something new. The basic melodies are loaded with extra sound: lots of vinyl scratches, odd samples (glass breaking? dogs?), razor-sharp hip-hop beats, and everything from a cowbell to gypsyish guitar to waves of smooth synth.
Hymnal and Thes One make rather surreal cameos on a pair of songs, while Edan and Mr. Lif appear on the frenetic hip-hop "Storm," blurting out a breathless rap that gets stranger with every word.
Cut Chemist may not have broken new ground with "The Audience's Listening," but the result is still a fun, weird, and thoroughly likable album. Definitely worth a listen.
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