Depart from Me

Cage

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 7, 2009)
• Original Release Date: July 7, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Def Jux
• ASIN: B0029ZUQ8K
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,683 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Four years ago, Chris Palko traded in the sex, drugs and ultraviolence of his early discography for serious and sombre cautionary tales on Hell's Winter. Follow-up album Depart From Me continues down this rocky road, creating a clever combination of personal songs delving into his past as a patient at Stony Lodge Mental Hospital, a decidedly important moment in the evolution of Cage, as well as some surprisingly creepy first person character studies of the mentally deranged.
The production, supplied by El-P, Blockhead, Aesop Rock, F. Sean and the late Camu Tao, is rock- and electronic-influenced hip-hop that fits Def Jux's musical mold while maintaining a more universally appealing sound. That might just be the indie rock choruses and guitar flourishes, though. Despite missteps like the cheap cheat of the serial killer disclaimer before lead single I Never Knew You and the senseless rambling that detracts from the banging beat and catchy chorus of Kick Rocks, Depart From Me is a cohesive album of dark hip hop from an MC in top form. --URB June 230, 2009

Product Description

DEFINITIVE JUX is proud to present 'Depart From Me' - the latest full-length album, from underground/indie-rap legend CAGE, aka CHRIS PALKO. The follow-up to "Hell's Winter?, his 2005 critically-acclaimed LP, "Depart From Me? continues Cage's musical saga of a no-holds-barred, brutally autobiographical journey through his past and present. Plagued by abuse, institutionalization, drugs, and violence throughout his life, these nightmarish experiences have permeated his art and defined the music he makes today. Cage's music is truly reflective of a reality far stranger than fiction. On "Depart From Me? Cage illuminates the struggles he's faced upon entering a world that continues to be a source of loss and confusion. He's helped along in this task with production by El-P, F. SEAN (HATEBREED), the late CAMU TAO and also AESOP ROCK.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Somber Genius Behind The Scatterbrain., July 8, 2009

By	Brandon F. Billman "must not sleep; must warn... (Chandler, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Cage Palko is back with his sophmore release on indie rap label, 'Def Jux'. Easily their most emotionally unpredictable artist, Cage slows down his flow a bit. A project that would be almost four years in the making; delivers what he calls his most personal lyrics to date.

'DFM' is more diverse than any previous releases, with production written primarily around live instruments. Upon first listen, alot of it reminded me of Beastie Boy's 'Check Your Head'. Only half of it though, the other half being more polished, dark, much like 'Movies for the Blind'.

I associate many of these artists with the early underground hip-hop movement, and while becoming more successful maintain a musical quality that far surpasses the norm. 'Hells Winter'(2005) really was a foot in the door for Cage, his lyrical delivery was fierce! He has less to prove here, some songs work better than others but the creative direction is credible. 'Depart From Me' is a Dope record !!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best yet!!!, July 16, 2009

By	steven C. (haverhill ma) - See all my reviews

i been a cage fan since his beginning with agent orange and radiohead. we all grow up and change. cage style changed and hes not affraid to admit it. rapping about sex and drugs gets old. theres more to life and music. i loved hells winter but man this cd is amazing, i just got it and been playing it out nonstop. my fav song is captain bumout. i definetly recoomened this cd. fans of any indie scence or underground hiphop especially.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars epic fail, January 29, 2010

By	ickytips (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

hmm... i'm a huge Cage fan. ever since Smut Peddlers. Weatherproof, Movies for the Blind, Hell's Winter, all amazing. Leak Bros. (Cage Kennylz & Tame One) "Waterworld" is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time. Nighthawks is good too (R.I.P. Camu Tao).

what happened? i understand that musicians evolve, their styles change, and i totally respect that; i look forward to it. but it's not a style change that makes this record terrible, it's simply terrible. make me wait nearly 5 years for this? i was sooooo stoked when this album finally dropped. then i listened to it. it didn't click, which happens a lot, you know, sometimes you have to listen to a record a few times and it finally clicks. i listened over and over, trying to make myself like it and enjoy what i was hearing. didn't happen.

all-in-all, i'm extremely disappointed. i'm sure all the hipster kids with black hair are satisfied, but not me, along with many others with whom i associate. i want raparations!