Rainbows In The
Rubble
By
Frisco Boogie
Rainbows in the Rubble is the follow up to 2020’s Masks of the Morning Sun (Which I also reviewed) and was quite a challenge to review.
Frisco sent me the album as a single file and so I took it upon myself to listen
and make notes as I went. So, as you can guess it took a couple of listens to
get all I needed.
As this was released in February 2021 there are many of you
that might have already heard this but, for those of you who have not or for
anyone interested in my take on it, Let’s go…
The Intro is a simplistic beat that fits with the
contemplative narrative as Frisco speaks on reflection of the many differing
situations that we have all faced but, there are always the blue skies beyond
those grey clouds. Next up is the album’s first single, Survival which
drops with an upbeat head nod vibe over a synth which adds to that upbeat
feeling. This track evolves that impression from the intro and looks at the
little things we do that help us survive those dark days, because its all about
the feel good, the more we do that, the less the darkness can steal, and
speaking of the feel good Frisco is joined by Billy Biznizz for B.A.R.S,
a pounding foot stomp feel with a nerve tingling violin and dope cuts added to
the mix. Here it’s all about exactly what the title says, Bars. The art of the
emcee is to conjure those words about anything and everything that either needs
to be said or just comes to mind, they then write it all down ready for the
next project.
The melodic beat and flute on Everyday seems to take
you back a few decades and as you listen you get this feeling this one is
talking to you about facing life’s challenges and that you can see you have
risen from every setback like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The track ends
with a laid-back skit that has you mellow out to some positive vibes via a deep
vocal that lifts and relaxes you at the same time. The chilled-out vibe
continues via calming brass vibes and a laid-back beat on Goodbye (The Second Single from the album) and
here we find Frisco saying goodbye to all those negative influences in life.
These are the things, the people that you don’t need, just keep walking forward
with a focus on your goals. Keeping you in that chilled contemplative place, White
Feather carries you along with an eastern vibe from a sitar. The white
feather has always had a deep meaning, and many believe that seeing one float
down in front of you or one the path in front of you means that you are being
watched over by a loved and that you are on the right path. Like a positive
sign on those darkest days and as the track ends the music seems to take you to
the brink of darkness before hinting at a reincarnation and a return to the
light.
La La La La takes us back to the head nob vibe with a
pounding beat and some eerie piano as Friso takes us on trip looking at how
some struggle through life and the mind and what is the meaning of it all, is
there an easier way, do we have a choice, and do we return after we die? Vandal
Savage joins Frisco as beat stays banging and a mind-bending synth tweaks at
our awareness as we are taken on a ride through various rough landscapes and
experiences but, this is what a good emcee does opens your mind to infinite
possibilities while leaving you with the fly’s Swarmin’. DJ One Step Ahead drops the intro to Here
We Go and Frisco details his love for what he does and holding the mic. The
bond of an emcee and the mic is an almost spiritual thing, and they are
inseparable through thick and thin. This track has a proper upbeat club vibe to
get ya movin’.
P.T.S (Pop Twist Shake that shit) drops with sparse beat over a mix of guitar, violin,
and tambourine vibes. This one is a homage to the exploits of all the writers
out there. Under cover of darkness they strike, painting their names on the
walls around town. Once again, this one ends with a nice positive skit to keep
your mood up. We move into the penultimate track, which is also the albums
title track, Rainbows in the Rubble, which brings the sunshine after the
rain the simple drumbeat is upbeat and is the perfect backdrop to Frisco looks
forward to the brighter and more colorful days ahead. This is uplifting to the
fullest. The album ends with Dear Me which has a sparse beat leading to a
chorus full of brass and piano notes. Here Frisco asks a simple question, what
would you say if you could write a letter to yourself?
After the last twelve months or so, listening to this album
felt like a reflection or a retrospective on what has just passed by. In fact,
looking at the current situation in the world around us, you could easily
listen to this album anytime and reflect differently each time you listen.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel and that tunnel might be long and
littered with obstacles and rubble but, the light is there all the same and we
will reach it and as we look it creates Rainbows.
The album also works perfectly as a retrospective on your
life. You may have reached a particular point in life, say midlife, and you are
looking back at what has gone before it might look like a pile of rubble but,
the more we look we can see the rainbows, those positive points of reference
that remind us we are on the right path.
No matter what context you put on the album it perfectly
encapsulates the fact that through all that we experience, there are those
beautiful and colorful times that rise above all the negativity and show us
the path to a brighter future.
Credit to Frisco Boogie here who has self-produced this
album and once again created an awesome piece of musical and lyrical art. I
advise listening to this start to finish, as I did, with no breaks as it does
hold your attention and allows you to focus and experience it, just as if you
were watching a movie or documentary, you wouldn’t pause or dip in and out of
it. Frisco’s use of self-production whist works so well with him switching his
lyrical flows and pacing to enhance his skillful story telling which works
especially well when he is crafting a deep and emotive vison.
Rainbows in the Rubble is available now.
I’m Out,
Peace
Steve
LINKS
Buy the Album and both singles via Frisco Boogie's Bandcamp Page Here:
https://friscoboogie.bandcamp.com/music
Check out Frisco Boogie on YouTube Here:
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