By The Throat

Eyedea & Abilities | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 21, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhymesayers
• ASIN: B002AKAM3S
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,677 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

After a five year break exploring new sounds and building their personal repertoires, Eyedea & Abilities return with the follow up to their 2004 critically acclaimed sophomore album "E&A". With biting guitars, fuzzy keyboards, melodic choruses, and some of their most intricate turntable work to date, "By The Throat" cuts right to the vein and advances far beyond the duo's battle tested history (winners of HBO Blaze Battle, Rocksteady, Scribble Jam and the DMC's). Confirmed for the 2009 Rock The Bells Tour, and a headlining tour this September.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is as close to perfection as an album could get, February 8, 2011

By 

midevilco - See all my reviews

This review is from: By The Throat (Audio CD)

....and no, I am not just saying that because he passed on. The only criticism I could offer is that it is too short, and leaves you wanting more.

I think my favorite is Sky Diver, mostly because I can't see anyone else touch this beat, and even Eyedea struggles to keep up with it at times, but it just works.

I love the chorus on Time Flies When You Have a Gun, and Smile is just pure beauty.

As others have said, you have to hear the whole album all the way through a few times before you can really appreciate it. Such a shame that it ends here for E&A, they came so far, and still had places to go, but what can you do? If you don't cherish this album, I would say you aren't really an Eyedea fan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "there's a thin line between your Wit and your Whining", July 22, 2009

By 

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

This review is from: By The Throat (Audio CD)

Back from a five year hiatus Mike Larsen aka Eyedea, breaks away (just slightly) from familiar territory with darker themes and crunchy production. With plenty of fierce lyrical delivery, covering everything from his current broken heart to the recent loss of loved ones, his singing only makes up maybe 12% of the album. Everyone does this now; Atmosphere, Cage, P.O.S., Yak Ballz, the list goes on! Let an artist be, well just that...'First Born' was over 7 years ago. This album is nothing if not progressive song writing!

Eyedea has already mastered the realm of battle rap, and undeniably became one of RhymeSayers most successful artists. With plenty of that 'E&A' feel from 2004, this music develops more with further listening. Only complaint is the length being just at 30 minutes! But I'd take this over the majority of recent releases anyday.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not what most people were hoping for., July 22, 2009

By 

J. Olsen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: By The Throat (Audio CD)

(Original/revised review, see edits at the end) I'm a huge fan of Eyedea. From discovering a brand new album called First Born from a "new and upcoming rapper", way back in the days of Audiogalaxy and Napster, through his entirely self written, self produced near-masterpiece The Many Faces. On to E&A, a still strong but disappointing return of the acclaimed duo, and then through these last few years of Eyedea's exploration of grunge, alternative, freestyle performance and jazz. Eyedea has, as an artist and as a lyricist, has had nothing but a huge impact on me as a hip hop fan and as a person, and on the underground scene. I have nothing but respect.

But with all that said, this album just leaves me feeling a little let down. It's not that it's a big departure from what I would've expected. Of course many of us were hoping for the return of the pure, all hip hop sound of First Born and E&A. This isn't that, entirely. For those familiar with Eyedea's side project Carbon Carousel (grunge/alternative), the sounds on By The Throat are noticeably influenced by that style. A few of these tracks sound like they should maybe be under the Carbon Carousel name, and not under the guise of E&A. There is some pure hip hop mixed in, however, which results in sort of an overall fusion of that grunge/alternative/live band/hip hop sound, with occasional skills by DJ abilities on the turntables.

Here's my two biggest issues with this release. One, is that it's just clearly not the Eyedea & Abilities everybody's familiar with. You just know half the people that buy this record aren't going to get what they expect. And my other issue is, 29 minutes? Seriously? This is pretty much an EP, not a full length. This isn't the E&A of old.

Overall, This isn't the big reunion and homecoming most of us wanted. This is a brand new Eyedea, with an almost completely new sound (since "E&A"). But if you can listen with an open mind, and can deal with imperfection (and short length), this release isn't bad. If you're a fan of Eyedea as an artist, and not just the old E&A sound, give it a chance. But some may be disappointed here.

Update 7/25/09: After a couple more spins, I will say a few more good things. Eyedea is clearly more honest and introspective (and somber) in this release than previous E&A albums, and a couple of the tracks on this album are great. It also has good replay value, this is the kind of album that grows on you the more you listen to it. But with all that said, it's still 29 minutes and it still lacks some cohesion and refinement.

Update 8/10/09: Have listened to the album a lot more now. Still disappointed in the short length and it still feels a bit unpolished. But I will say that the more I listen to it, the more I think Eyedea's on to something. A few of the tracks on here are strong, and hint at a sound that--if refined and expanded on some more--could blossom into something much bigger.

Updated 2/9/11: I've felt obligated to come back and edit this review one more time, especially since the passing of Micheal Larsen (Eyedea). I've listened to this album thoroughly to date. I also was tremendously lucky to see him perform some of these songs live in late July. Seeing with my own eyes what he'd become as an artist and performer (since the last time I'd seen him was 2007), I'm now convinced that not only is By The Throat more real and raw than I could ever realize just by listening to it on its own, but that Eyedea was on the verge of creating a brilliant new beast--beyond this--that this album was only a preamble to. But that's not to say brilliance isn't found on this release, and it is. It's a release that, in my opinion, defines (defined) his evolution as an artist. It's a tragedy his life, and art, was cut short. Buy this if you're a fan, and if you want a glimpse into something unique, genuine, and at times brilliant and ultimately tragic. Just don't forget, it's still only 29 minutes, which really the only significant drawback to this release. I've deleted some of the negativity of my original review and upped it from 3 to 4 stars.

R.I.P. Mikey.