KDUR New Music Review: Ab-Soul and Old Crow Medicine Show

Opinion by Douglas DuPont Photo by Jarred Green

Greetings, reader. It’s Douglas here, back with some music that’ll hopefully make you uneasy. The Independent News Organization and myself will be bringing you these short-yet-sweet breakdowns of two new interesting records bi-weekly. Today, both records come from very different genres,testament to the diversity one can hear regularly on KDUR, where the majority of these discoveries occur.

AB-SOUL-- Do What Thou Wilt. – TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT

Ab-Soul is able to share sentiments that Kendrick Lamar, a TopDawg affiliate of Soul’s, cannot due to the uniquely amplified platform he speaks from. The fact that Ab-Soul is a member of TopDawg solidifies his place amongst heavy hitters such as Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Slim Shady and Anderson Paak. Do What Thou Wilt. is a rap record offering the same heat as newer trappers, though Soul raps with a veteran level of substance. Vulnerable introspection ensues with discussions of religion, love, family and societal media diets driving the bus. Complemented by occasional sirens and gunshot samples, it is certain Ab-Soul isn’t messing around. Notable features include Schoolboy Q (Beat the Case /// Straight Crooked), Mac Miller (D.R.U.G.S., The Law) and Rapsody (The Law). This record is recommended for fans of Vince Staples, Danny Brown, ScHoolboy Q, A$AP Mob, and even Drake.                                    

FOCUS TRACKS FROM Do What Thou Wilt. TO STREAM AT WILL:

Ranked in descending order of how intimidated and put-off I was by Soul’s hard truths:

Huey Knew THEN (ft. Da$H)

Threatening Nature

D.R.U.G.S.

Now You Know

The Law (ft. Mac Miller & Rapsody)

OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – BEST OF – NETTWERK MUSIC GROUP

To this day, I still consider seeing Old Crow Medicine Show perform under the banner of Wyoming’s most iconic mountain range on the Fourth of July the most powerful performance I’ve witnessed, period. If the only Old Crow song you’re familiar with is Wagon Wheel, co-written by B. Dylan himself, this Best Of collection is an opportunity to discover what makes these men such bluegrass legends. Having worked in BBQ over several years, I’ve heard many  Stadium Country Songs played to death on commercial country radio via satellite throughout my meaty tenure. That being said, the Best Of Old Crow numbers are timelessly genuine. Regardless of what you’re usually comfortable listening to—treat yourself to some honest bluegrass with this impressive collection.

FOCUS TRACKS FROM Best Of Old Crow Medicine Show TO STREAM AT WILL:

(Ranked in order of decreasingly sensitive subject matter, really):

Big Time In The Jungle

Tell It To Me

Alabama High-Test

Take ‘Em Away

My Good Gal

Black-Haired Québécoise (Previously Unreleased)