Album Review: Common – The Dreamer / The Believer
In these days of the post-Napster era, we’re lucky if we see an artist reach album number three on a major label. And this is not due to the quality of music these days (or is it?), but rather due to the short attention span of an iTunes generation of listeners accustomed to 30 second snippets and mixtapes. With that being said, enter Chicago MC, Common and his ninth studio album The Dreamer/The Believer.
The Dreamer/The Believer on paper sounds like a wet dream for the die-hard Common fan. The production is handled primarily by No ID who produced Common’s now classic 1994 LP, Resurrection. To some this may appear to be a ploy to create hype and monetize nostalgia, but upon first listen it’s evident that the Common/No ID collaboration doesn’t disappoint although not quite a classic.
On the opener (half title cut), The Dreamer, Common flows effortlessly over a vocal sample stating, “A legend like John….Lennon, I’m a dreamer/Tried to f*ck the world but she only let me finger.” Common quickly lets you know he’s not holding back with witty wordplay nor censorship this time around. Poet, Maya Angelou, closes the track with a positive poem about “dreaming big” like ancestors of the past thus creating a dichotomy that pulls you in on the most basic human element of positive versus negative.
Common shines brightest on Blue Sky where he rhymes, “Daylight beams/night life schemes/this is my Inception, I’m writin’ my dreams” while effortlessly weaving in and out of a No ID crafted Electric Light Orchestra sample atop huge 808 kick drums. This song in particular works well due to the fact that the singing vocal hook can appeal to an audience wider than the core hip hop fan while at the same time not alienating them. Whether created purposely or out of inspiration, producer No ID managed to walk that line perfectly. The album as a whole doesn’t feel like they’re aiming for sales or to capture the ears of as many listeners as possible, which is refreshing.
Another standout cut is the reggae tinged Raw as Common tells a vivid story of picking up the girl that has caught his eye while avoiding the obnoxious, guy that had one too many drinks. “Seen a girl she had bottom like a spea-ker / Wanna put hands on her like a prea-cher” Upon first listen, it’s obvious that Raw will be released as a single but doesn’t stray away from the album’s core objective of being a ‘classic’ style hip hop album.
The Dreamer… is by no means a perfect project. The album almost manages to fall on its face on dull tracks such as Celebrate and the forcefully positive/preachy Windows. Common is well known for his positive hip hop and is held in high regards for it, but this time around (on Windows especially) it feels forced to the point where you have to press forward (or skip for you iPod kids). Luckily these two lacklustre songs are sandwiched back to back making the press of that forward button feel that much more guilt-free.
All in all, Common manages to deliver what his fans have been waiting for to the best of his ability. The Dreamer manages to deliver 12 songs without conforming to current trends of auto tune or monotonous subject matter. Common managed to cover everything from machismo/cocky MC to positive, uplifting tracks on the album like The Believer and Pops Belief. If you long for a solid hip hop album, then this is a release that you need in your life this New Year.
RATING – 3.75/5
Fresh lives by the words of Dizzy Gillespie, “Musicians should play for themselves first, their fellow musicians second and their audience third.” He admires artists who paint with a different brush. It is this respect and admiration of contemporary art that sets him apart from the rest. Be sure to catch his passionate blog, freshnerd.com
celebrate is dull?
Listen again.