Customer Reviews

Depart from Me

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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 !!

The long-awaited four years in the making follow-up to his 2005 duet on Def(initive)Jux(taposition)"Hell's Winter". Cage I believe is one of these artist you have to really sit down and listen too. Because his style changes from one album to another. Which isn't a bad thing, but when your in a world where people expect the samething (killing, money, sex ect) then you probably wouldn't get the respect you should. If you was to listen to a earlier album like perhaps "Movies for the Blind" you would probably ask if the man that did "Depart from Me" is the same dude. Believe me it is! Cage is a outcast from todays hip-hop artist meaning he didn't sell out to get where he is. If your that type of person that is into Gangster Rap then this album is not for you. People always seem to hate this statement I always make, but I do it anyhow and here it goes: 'Eminem copy his style from Cage (at least his earlier stuff)' So if you like a mix of hip-hop style then I think your love this album. Head over to [...] and download the free e.p from Cage title "I Never Knew You" and listen to a sample your get out of this album.

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.

I'm not one of the reviewers that jumped on the Cage bandwagon early on.... I hadn't heard any of dude's material until I copped Hell's Winter. I didn't like Hell's Winter at all... but this work is such a progression from that album and I love every song on here. The beats are original and engaging, the lyrics are sick, the themes of the songs are good... hell even the hooks are great. The only complaint that I have is that some of the songs are too short, so the whole album comes in at right around 45 minutes which is kind of short for a hip-hop album.

Man I'll be the first to admit that "Hells Winter" was not my cup of tea but 'Depart" is a solid cd from Palko. Its worth it for Beat Kids and Kick Rocks. Im one of those people who hate it when artists go musically in a different direction but ive come around in my old age and think "Depart from me is good even though it will never be movies and im cool with that. Im liking the rawk Cage is bringing. Metal cd next?

Wow!This is definitely a departure from the "Cage Kennylz",that I heard on "Movies for the Blind",and even from "Hell's Winter",but in a good way.Cage is one of those artists,who seems to let the mic serve as his own personal therapist,which I admire about him.his openeness with his fans and audience is what truly makes him a standout artist to watch in 2010.It seems like with every release,he seems to grow and evolve,as an artist,which is what an artist is supposed to do,hell it's what human beings,in general,are supposed to do. In "Hell's Winter",it sounds like he was outgrowing his "charachter" persona,as he would put it,and in "Depart From Me".It sounds like he truly found his voice.Good for him,i said it before,and as i've said in my previous reviews,"The Weathermen",are my favorite crew of all time in hip-hop,and Chris Palko,is a core member of the group.He's had some help from Darryl Palumbo,of "Glassjaw"a hardcore/emo outfit,and for anyone who is a fan of "Glassjaw"(myself included),it really shows in his writting style,on this album.All in all,it's another solid release from Cage,but don't expect to hear him rap about PCP, and killing his stepfather.If you want that style go for "Weatherproof" or "The Weathermen=The Conspiracy(mixtape),but if you're a die-hard Cage fan,like me,COP IT NOW!IT'S HEAT! Oh yeah,I almost forgot,the artwork enclosed in the cd is amazing.Shout out to Alex Pardee!

At first listen I didn't like this album but from my experience the ones you don't like at first become your favorites. Why? Because it's something different,new and just a new kind of sound. Not every track is gold but the album as a whole is just great. Cage's lyrics cannot be duplicated because he's one of a kind unlike most rappers today. The beats on this are insanely original and not oversampled garbage like the Black eyed Peas or you name it these days. I'll see if this gets more play from me than Hell's Winter which I still listen to on occasion but for sure this album has the better last song. (Written by a Serial Killer who knows how to make a catchy hook evidently). Great job Cage and all who participated in making this album.
P.S. Buy the LP vinyl....it comes with a card to download the album on a high bit rate mp3 format.
P.P.S. Album art of the year!!!

This CD shows a cool fresh style of music, but in the pantheon of Cage's previous releases this work is trapped between fully breaking out into a whole new sound or simply retreading the same narrative from his time spent in a that mental hospital. But the biggest problem is that he is sliding out onto thin ice by trying sound confident inside a rock hook. It comes off as more of split personality disorder between the tough guy with something to prove about being hardened, and the silly kid trying to pretend to be serious. This is a really cool idea for how a band should sound, but I personally want less of the side of Cage that sounds like he's about to fall asleep and more of the side of him that sounds like he's on a mission. Make of it what you will, but all in all this disc still gets the job done for me. Despite my hang-ups this is still overall way more enjoyable than 95% of the stuff out this year, indie or otherwise.

Cage is hands down my favorite hip hop rap artist. This whole album is great and a must-buy, even down to the album art. My personal favorite on the album is I Never Knew You. The song really exhibits Cage's twisted dark mind. It's beautiful. Cage's work is real art, not just some guy wearing ridiculous chains and singing about a "Gucci Bandana" for the money, fame, and girls (although I'm not really sure who would even want to hang out with, much less sleep with, Soulja Boy, but this review is about Cage so I'll talk about that somewhere else) Anyways, I love Underground rap because the artists are really creative, and do it because they love it, not for the money. Cage is one of the best.

First, let me briefly describe my history as a fan of Cage & hip hop in general. I've listened since '4 letter word' & have every album from him besides 'night hawks' & 'leak bros'. I've seen him in concert w/ Smut Peddlers, Revenge of the Robot & Hells Winter Tour (Camu Tao, r.i.p., was dope during his set). My favorite emcee's ever are Canibus, Chino XL & Aesop Rock. That should describe my artistic taste & give some insight into the review.

I really like the album, a lot!! I didn't feel the preview tracks from Amazon but the album is well put together. I've played to a novice Cage fan & someone from the golden era of hip hop & he said it wasn't boom bap enough for him. I feel the direction of the album is for a more mature mind even though the target audience may be 18-35 year olds as he is aggressively trying to broaden his audience. The video single "I Never Knew You" really grew on me and I appreciate it more after watching the video.

Pros: "nothing left to say" produced by el-p feels like a transition from 'Hells Winter' to the more guitar oriented, mind numb spill your guts feel to 'D.f.M'. I really like 'Captain Bumout' & it would be on the top 20 of the radio w/ the marketing and known name of Kevin Rudolf doing the same song. I also like 'I Found My Head in Ct.' & 'Eating it's way out of me'. Both have a heavy slow punch feel to them. Lastly, the title track 'Depart from Me...' is a surprising hit w/ a urban jungle city vibe feel to it (for me atleast). I personally like the shout-out to Mighty Mi, hope we can get a remix or collab track again.

Cons: No Weathermen tracks!!!! This is soley Cage all the way thru. I'm sure everyone's schedule is hectic but a album that is probably going to reach more people, especially with Shia Labeof hand print on it, why not give more exposure to the core. Aesop Rock has a produced track & Cage co-produces another, the rest (besides the el-p track) is soley done by F.Sean (hatebreed).

I enjoyed this album 100x better than Eminem's 'Relapse' (I'm from Detroit too). It seems Cage has found a better way express his artistic ability within his music and has evolved as a writer & artist. I do hope he dabbles with a more hip hop influenced vision in the future.