Kids and Explosions - Shit Computer

In honour of the upcoming Rifflandia Festival in our very own victoria, I have decided to try to review a couple albums from the incredible lineup of talented artists they have this year.  The first of these artists that I decided to check out is Kids and Explosions' 2010 album "Shit Computer."  You can check out his bio for Rifflandia here.

At a first glance, you might compare K&E to the pop sampling maniac Girl Talk, but K&E's more focused and careful delivery exceeds Girl Talk's frantic, fuck and chuck style of quickly adding elements and then changing them 8-10 seconds later before they have a chance to fully develop.  K&E's attention to pacing creates more complete songs and an altogether more cohesive album.

Even though K&E utilizes samples for all of his music, he is not content to let them play as normal.  In fact, a lot of the fun of listening to this music is remembering what the original lyrics or melodies are, and comparing them to how they have been chopped up and forced into these new formations.  For example, the opener, "Everything," features some hilariously mixed up Eminem and Notorious lyrics, set against a very backwards rendition of what I think might be "Sweet Child of Mine."  This technique reaches ridiculous proportions on the aptly titled "Swear Words," a song that is childish, but still fun.  I definitely laughed every time I heard Biggie yell "tits!"

I also find that, when you take away the meaning of these rap lyrics, it forces you to pay attention to the timbre of each rappers voice.  This is something that does not always get as much attention in rap music and you may once again find yourself loving how angry Eminem sounds, or appreciating Lil. Wayne's nick name "Weezy."

This album is not without its flaws, however.  When K&E's slice and dice skills fail, they fail hard.  At their best they are fun and intellectually compelling, but at their worst they are jittery and nearly intolerable, like on the track "Winning is Easy."  To put it in perspective though, this was a remarkably fun and unique mash up album, and since it is a first effort from K&E, I look forward to seeing K&E's development in the future.  I am also excited to see him play Thursday September 11 at Market Square.