tour | M T Walker

The embodiment of the early 21st century hip–hop movement, Jedi Mind Tricks, hit Melbourne on Friday 9th December at Billboard.

The group comprises Philadelphia’s DJ Kwestion, Vinnie Paz and Jus Allah from New Jersey; often alongside artists such as Percee P, GZA, Ill Bill in various collaborations in their Army of the Pharoahs. Jedi Mind Tricks are touring Australia for the first time ever, to promote their latest Violence Begets Violence release. The group formed in 1996; with The Psycho–Social EP, whilst hitting rap battles and gigs on the U.S. East Coast. But they did not achieve widespread success until Jus Allah returned to the group (after quitting in 1999), to record their 2006 hit The Rebuilding, and 2008 album A History of Violence (a must–have for any hip–hop enthusiast). This is one show you do not want to miss, so as usual you‘d best be advised to buy a fucken ticket!

I’m sat here listening to this disc; the latest offering from French powerhouse label Kitsuné. I picked up this release a few days ago and am quite glad I’d held off listening to it until I was in such a mood as I am in now.

Thus, the record is quite good; if but a tad heavily produced. The album; Tourist History opens with track Cigarettes In The Theatre, which strikes as a somewhat upbeat tune -jovial and easy to digest, melodic while establishing a sound of the European summer in the vein of a Killers or early Franz Ferdinand B-side. Tracks 3 & 4 move through with a charm of melancholic repetition that is to be admired; admonishing earlier typecasting mentioned for Track 1. The sound digresses with the cruisiness that is Something Good Can Work; however the songs continue to wind up when one is just beginning to immerse oneself in its quaint yet rhythmic beauty.

The standout tracks are reluctantly Cigarettes, I Can Talk, Eat Up and Something Good -insomuch as this is an album that demonstrates an excellent continuity and is quite certain to further impress on repeated visits. Hear it for yourself, perhaps?

–Rock The Boat