The Audience's Listening

Cut Chemist

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 11, 2006)
• Original Release Date: July 11, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000FIHN02
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #52,857 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The robots... are coming..., August 27, 2006

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cut Chemist.., July 28, 2006

By	R. P. Johnson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a turntable enthusiast, I can really respect what Cut Chemist does on this album. He really is just having fun with things, with a variety of beats and great samples. One track in particular he simulates a phone conversation with scratching, which blows my mind. Great album.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rock, Surf, & Hip-Hop, July 21, 2006

By	Hip-Rock "Hip-Rock" (Los Angeles, CA.) - See all my reviews

Cut Chemist's 'Motivational Speaker' wants to know who the audience is and what it wants. The second track begins with 'If I get killed '****' it! It's at this point that he proceeds to show the listener that he is not going to play by the rules of the standard DJ record. This is an experiment that analyzes the role of the audience and the DJ. Chemist's answer is to have fun without sacrificing integrity and invite the Audience in as close as possible. The backbone of this LP is most undeniably Hip-Hop. The results show a mature ease with incorporating elements of rock '(My 1st) Big Break', garage/surf 'What's the Altitude', electro 'Metrorail (thru space)' & 'Storm', world 'The Garden', and progressive funk 'Spoon', 'Peak in Time'. This record is not a loner DJ record or filled with guest MC's yet is fun and gives an experience that begs repeat listens.