The Beach Boys
have been synonymous with summer for half a century, and so it is perhaps not
surprising that Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment start off their debut
album, Surf, with the kind of
harmonies and warm strings that wouldn't be out of place on a song penned by
Brian Wilson.
What is
surprising, however, is how completely confident, engrossing and uplifting Surf is. On their first attempt, the
Social Experiment has crafted one of the best summer albums, not just in recent
memory, but ever. It joins newer albums like Japandroids' Celebration Rock as a perfect encapsulation of moods and feelings
for when the weather gets hot.
To provide a
little background for those who don't know who this group is, the Social
Experiment is a group of Chicago musicians formed and lead by Chance the
Rapper. Chance's 2013 mixtape Acid Rap,
was one of the best hip-hop albums in recent memory, and Chance's voice and
music practically exploded out of the speakers with frantic energy and fidgety
anxiety. Chance seemed poised to be one of hip-hop's next "big
things," and so many weren't sure what to make of the Social Experiment
formation, particularly with the group's focus on jazz, and less on the hip-hop
sounds people expected.
Whether or not
you know all of this doesn't really matter when it comes to appreciating how
consistently enjoyable Surf is.
Instead, it demonstrates how visionary a musician Chance is – he's not bound
just by rap (though he could run that shit if he wanted), and is looking now to
bring other genres into his orbit.
Chance is
probably going to get the most attention for Surf, particularly since fans have been waiting so eagerly for a
new album from him, but the real star of the album is Nico Segal (the titular
Donnie Trumpet). Chance is the most consistent voice on the album, but Donnie's
horn is the most consistent sound.
Sometimes his
playing is out in front, like on "Nothing Came To Me," which starts
out a little jarring after the smooth sounds that preceded it, but stick with
it, and at about one minute and 30 seconds in, you realize he's damn near
playing a sunrise, as his horn playing elongates into these gorgeously swirling
phrases. It's Donnie's stab at some Miles Davis shit, and I'll be damned if he
doesn't do Miles proud.
Most of the time
Donnie's trumpet is more in the background, as heard in "Something Came To
Me." The horn on that song sounds like it was recorded in some kind of
huge space, and that gives it a glorious echo-effect. The trumpet isn't vying
with the other instruments or any other voices to dominance – it's leading by
confidence.
Confidence is all
over Surf, and all one need do is
glance at the bevy of guest vocals (check out practically everyone here) to see
how Chance and crew pulled some unique voices together to form a cohesive work.
It's a mix of veterans like Busta Rhymes and Erykah Badu, established voices
like Janelle Monae, J. Cole, Big Sean and B.o.B. and new talent like Raury and
Quavo from Migos. The fact that the album not only doesn't sink under the
weight of such a varied roster but soars with them alone should serve as proof
of how great a piece of work it is.
I think the thing
that surprised me so much about Surf
is how sunny and warm it is. To be sure, Chance had that on Acid Rap, but there was a darkness to a
lot of his best songs that went deep. And there are a few cloudy moments on
this album, but even songs like "Windows" and "Rememory"
have a comforting feel about them – the latter no doubt assisted by Badu's
gentle vocals at the end. Surf is
just relentlessly positive, from the affirmations of "Wanna Be Cool"
("I just can't stay cool, I don't wanna be cool/I don't want you to be me,
you should just be you") to the encouragement of "Slip Slide"
("But it’s not so hard/To stand up/Stand up/But it’s just too easy/To sit
back down"), it's an album to make you feel good.
The music here is
incredibly lovely, and perfect music for any summer day – take the beat on
"Familiar," which sounds like some kind of amalgamation of a piano
line from Jack Johnson's Curious George soundtrack
and the Hot 8 Brass Band's version of "Sexual Healing." I don't know
how, but it works perfectly on the track.
Speaking of
perfect, I have to say a word or two about "Sunday Candy," which is
about as pure an expression of love as you're likely to hear the entire year.
The song is an ode to Chance's grandmother, and just overflows with pride and
affection. The horns are brilliant, the piano lines just burrow into your mind,
and the chorus will stay rattling in your mind for ages. When he raps, "I
got a future so I'm singing for my grandma/You singing too, but your grandma ain't
my grandma/Mine's is hand-made, pan fried, sun dried/Southside, and beat the
devil by a landslide," you can almost feel the gratitude he feels for all
his grandmother has done for him. The song is absolutely luminous, and easily
one of the best of the year.
While Surf will undoubtedly be in constant
rotation throughout the summer, I don't think its power will be limited to the
sunny season. It's an album all about joy, about life, and about gratitude, and
during those grey days in the winter when I need a little sunlight, Surf will be my source. It's an album
for all seasons.
Surf is
available for free on iTunes. Seriously, go get it.
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