DING DING!. Turn off whatever you are listing to. It is Gym Class time. And here come your Heroes with The Quilt.
Each song on this album is an individual square on a winter project patchwork bundle of warmth. Distinctively different but completely coherent, every tune matches it's predecessor while leaving it miles behind. From 80s poprock ("Papas Song") to reggae swag ("Blinded By the Sun") to ballad fused hip hop "Fly With Me," this album is diverse and shows the bands artistic progression.
The harmonies and melodies on The Quilt are nothing short of phenomenal and supercede what any other hiphop group out there is doing. Singing, rapping and sometimes right in the middle of the two Travis, Erik, and Disashi are changing the face of not only hiphop but indie rock as well. Disashi wails on the guitar with siq guitar solos, Erik breaks down on bass, and Matt is a little drummer boy beating out his heart. Tyler and Dan keep the melodies alive on the keyboards making the band a…. REAL band. You won't find any back tracks here.
Laced with celebrity cameos (e.g. Daryll Hall to Busta Rhymes) GCH is solidifying their now "baller" status. Indie collaboration is also the name of the game with underground sensations such as the Icelandic beauty Patti Crash from Philly on '"Drnk Txt Rmeo" and the rising star Estelle on the opening track "Guilty As Charged."
Lyrically, Travis has left behind the self deprecation of The Papercut Chronicles and the self realization of As Cruel As School Children to arrive at an album full of stories, jokes, fights, love, and heartache (getting the quilt reference a little bit more now?). There is a song for everyone and every situation. And wit has not been spared.
The stand out jam on The Quilt is "Don't Tell Me It”s Over" where Travis lays out how he fells about all the "haters" (to the leeeeeft). Lyrically outstanding and straight up hiphop you can feel the passion in his voice and the intensity in the bassline.
What do I think of this album? Travis says it best for me:
"One hit wonder, my ass. What are you talking about? Let them keep blogging trash, I'ma take the garbage out."
www.gymclassheroes.com
www.myspace.com/gymclassheroes
http://store.fueledbyramen.com/albumview.asp?idproduct=60666
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