Posted on: October 15, 2007 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Junk Science – Gran’dad’s Nerve Tonic / 2007 Embedded / 13 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/junksciencerap / http://www.nukfam.com /

“Slojo” is the first track on Junk Science’s latest album, and the blend of seventies instrumentation with a current type of flow makes for a strong foot forward. The rap styles that are showcased during this CD are points and strong, and are only moderated by a second set of vocals which end the track. “Pop Rocks” starts things up with a skit-like discussion before going in an eclectic, shambling type of backing beat. The backing beat seems to intrude a little too much on the flow during the track, distracting individuals from what is a pretty intelligent lyrical flow. With this stutter-step, listeners will be a little shaky on whether they would like to continue with the disc. “Do It Easy” is Junk Science’s “make it or break it” track on “Nerve Tonic”, and the sixties girl group meets jazz instrumentation of the track is the first of many good things present on this track.

The instrumentation smartly stays in the background, allowing the intricate and blazing-fast flow present to have the spotlight. What was an iffy album before “Do It Easy” is a pretty solid disc by the time that the track ends. The inclusion of spoken pieces before a number of the tracks on “Gran’dad Nerve Tonic” really diminishes the act’s momentum accumulated prior on the track. During some tracks, these spoken pieces work in slowing down the flow, as is the case during “Words From The Pedro”, but it seems that they are more of a hindrance than a help to Junk Science on “Nerve Tonic”.

The “scratchy record” layer on “Woodchucks” gives the song a vintage feel but is put on a little too heavy. Like the instrumentation on “Pop Rocks”, the crackling detracts at points from what is an impressive flow. Junk Science has their vocal component down; it does not seem as if they are resting on their laurels in the slightest in that department during the entirety of “Gran’dad’s Nerve Tonic”. The instrumentation is similarly solid, but it feels as if there are times where it needs to take a more dedicated supporting role. I understand if the instrumentation builds to a crescendo at points, but do that when no one is rapping. Regardless, this disc brings it back to an earlier point of rap music, when slower flows and old albums were both looked favorably upon for a track. Pick it up.

Top Tracks: Glass House, Third-Person Stealth

Rating: 6.0/10

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