Seven's Travels

Atmosphere

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 23, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Epitaph / Ada
• ASIN: B0000BWVOL
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,092 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Music > Indie Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental
  #33 in	Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental Rap
  #34 in	Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As point man for the Minneapolis-based Rhymesayers crew, Atmosphere MC Slug put heartland hip-hop on the map. Likewise, he's always written from the heart, and Seven's Travels--the fourth Atmosphere full-length, and first released under a licensing agreement with the venerable punk imprint Epitaph--finds that agenda unchanged. Though familiar antagonist Lucy Ford appears only once, these tracks are packed with passionate meditations on typical topics, pitting confidence against recrimination, parenthood against partying, joy against anger, love against sex. And while Slug spills his guts in the spotlight, the stage isn't his alone; from the neck-snapping beats of "Trying to Find A Balance" to the cartoonish suspense theme of "Gotta Lotta Walls" and the naked acoustic guitar behind "Always Coming Back Home to You," Seven's Travels features some of Ant's most adventurous and assured production, plus contributions from Mr. Dibbs and Brother Ali, whose scorched-earth verses drive "Cats Van Bags." --Anders Smith Lindall

Product Description
Atmosphere is the biggest selling group in the underground rap scene with their cerebral yet down-to-earth sound. Other artists in this genre include Sage Francis, Aesop Rock, Living Legends, El-P, Mr. Lif, Busdriver and Aceyalone. 19 tracks. Parental Advisory/Explicit Content. Epitaph. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real hip-hop from real artists, September 23, 2004

By	Alan Pounds "Minnesota Hip-Hop Fiend" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In a time like this, when you turn on MTV or VH1, or flip through your favorite music magazine, maybe Rolling Stone or Spin, and see the choices of popular hip-hop/rap groups that are forced down your throat at nausea; you may feel disgusted at what rap has become since the early 90s. Lets take the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards for example. The nominees included: 50 cent ft. Snoop Dogg & G-Unit, D12 & Ammonium, Jay-Z, Lil Jon & The Eastside Boys, Ludacris, Black Eyed Peas, Chingy, Nelly, Outkast and Kanye West. This list was nearly enough to make me gag, aside from Outkast and maybe Black Eyed Peas. MTV has proved to me that the glory days of conscious songwriters in popular hip-hop music are long gone. I'm just so embarrassed for the people that listen to this crap. I tell people I'm a fan of hip-hop music, and they automatically assume I like the crap mentioned above. Maybe I need to be more specific. I'm a fan of old school hip-hop, underground rap and the entire Rhymesayers crew. As far as I'm concerned, the underground is all that is keeping this genre alive and kicking.

I was introduced to "Seven's Travels" from a friend of mine. I was pleasantly surprised with the first track, "Trying To Find A Balance". From there on, it was just realization after realization about how good this album actually is. "Slug" is one of the best vocalists I've heard in several years. His lyrics are so down to earth, charismatic, and vulnerable. Atmosphere could have went with a larger label, since they have exploded in the underground in the past couple of years. I'm happy to see them stick with Epitaph, one of my favorite labels. Besides, several of these songs convey messages about how corporate labels suck ("National Disgrace"). I can hardly see any of these songs getting a lot of radio play; which is sad, considering we have been brainwashed to think that way. Other standout tracks include: "Reflections," "Apple," "Cats Van Bags," "Shoes," "Liquor Lyles Cool July," "Good Times (Sick Pimpin')" and the last track, including the hidden track "Always Coming Back Home to You". The hidden track, an ode to the Midwest, mainly Minnesota has sentimental value to me. It makes me feel proud that a quality group like Atmosphere comes from the same town as I do.

After several listens to this album, convinced that this is one of the finest albums in new hip-hop music, I decided to research some other Rhymesayers/Epitaph artists. Since then I've discovered "Eyedea & Abilities" and "Brother Ali", and they have since become my favorites. Aside from the new "Beastie Boys" album, "Atmosphere" has nearly single handedly reinstilled my faith in hip-hop music. It's an experience that every hip-hop lover should experience.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not the best, but still a good listen, October 25, 2005

By	Alana (Philadelphia suburbs) - See all my reviews

I got into Atmosphere with the "God Loves Ugly" album, and then got hooked on their eariler stuff. "Seven's Travels" is not as good as those. While I really LOVE some of the songs, the rest are hard to listen to. I definitely can't listen to the CD straight through. If you're a fan of Atmosphere, check it out. If not, check some some early stuff first.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars instant classic, April 14, 2005

By	chris "heron" (colorado springs, CO. USA) - See all my reviews

hip hop in its purest form is back on the rise.
thank you slug and ant.