RJD2 – The Colossus

Rating:

If there is one thing that really separates RJD2 from the crowd of DJ acts out there, it’s his musicianship. His songs are both carefully crafted and at the same time feel very organic . His tracks don’t sound like the cut-n-paste mixes often pushed out to clubs and never get buried under the weight of their own samples. Hell, even his collaborations with singers and rappers alike come out sounding great. I was first introduced to the sound of RJD2 in 2006 with ‘Magnificent City Instrumentals’ a re-release of sorts of an album he had recorded with LA based rapper, Aceyalone. ‘Magnificent City Instrumentals’ was the original backing tracks RJD2 had created for the the corroborative album with Aceyalone’s vocals stripped out, and it was magnificent. There was a noir sound to many of the tracks that really spoke to me. Since then I have tried to find anything RJD2 has had his hands on.

The Colossus is the first new album put out on RJD2′s newly created label, RJ’s Electrical Connections and as usual features appearances by notable singers and rapers adding their touch of sparkle to his already spectacular arrangements. If you are already familiar with RJD2 or even only know of his song “Beautiful Mine” featured in the opening credits of the critically acclaimed AMC series, ‘Mad Men’ then you will already have certain expectations. Rest assured this album delivers. RJD2 empities a dump truck of funk on this disc that will keep your head bobbin’. It’s the kind of album you put on if you are expecting company and want that killer CD that tells your guests how cool you are while not being overbearing or offensive to anyone’s ears.

On every album I look for at least that one track that makes the disc worth while, on ‘The Colossus’, “Tin Flower” was the track for me. Coming in with a funky flute loop and killer cool jazz inspired beat, you could have just set it on repeat and I would still be rockin’ in my seat. “Let There Be Horns”, “Small Plans”, and “The Stranger” are just a few of the knockouts featured on ‘The Colossus’.

RJD2′s music is hypnotic and have an artistry that is absent in so many other DJ’s sets. You will be hard pressed to find anyone else out there that sounds this good and does it again and again like he has here on ‘The Colossus’.

RJD2 – The Colossus