As I am new to writing here on Blogcritics, I’ve decided that I’m gonna try something a little different to what I usually do on my blog (which can be found via clicking on my BC name). I’m gonna do a track review. The track in question is Sage Francis’ “Going Back to rehab,” from the album, Human Death Dance.
Sage Francis is an “indie” rapper and the only hip-hop act signed to Epitaph Records. He’s by far my favourite rapper and possibly the best artist I have come across recently.
One of the things I love about Sage Francis is his use of a live band rather than an entirely computerised backing track. This gives a lot more emotion to his music, and "Going Back to Rehab" in particular wouldn’t sound the same or have the same emotional impact without it.
The picked guitar in the beginning, together with Sage’s voice sets a mood that the flow of his words and the instrumental progression build on throughout the song, making it an epic, emotional journey.
The song starts with a voice reading out an alphabetical list of drug names. The voice then starts to fade out with an increasing reverb effect. Once the voice has been drowned out, Sage starts rapping.
The lyrics in this song are nothing short of art. Most people have forgotten that RAP stands for Rhythm And Poetry, but I believe that Sage Francis is exactly what we all need to remind us of this. I would even go as far as saying that he’s our generation's Bob Dylan. And that’s a bold claim!
When the chorus comes in, the song starts to fill out. Piano, violin and drums are added to the mix before the drums drop out a few barres into the second verse.
Article comments
1 - Marc Dickason
Interesting, I'll have to check out that track.
2 - Xtianzzyzx
Its worth it, the entire album is brilliant.
3 - moni
Awesome,would've liked it if you gave us a lytic or two,just to wet our pallets :)
4 - Xtianzzyzx
Well here is possibly my favourite line in this Track,
I will not meditate on the sermon
Heaven's gate is burning so we self-medicate with bourbon
While their collection players turn into a person
I've turned into a second rate person, but I'm not the first
You can find the lyrics at http://www.lyricsmania.com/going_back_to_rehab_lyrics_sage_francis.html
5 - Benjamin
Those lyrics you quoted are wrong. Lyric sites are horrible like that. This is what the last two lines should be:
"While their collection plate gets turned into a purse,
I've turned into a second rate person, but I'm not the first"
6 - Xtianzzyzx
Thank you Benjamin. I actually thought it was wrong, I just assumed the site was right.
Never trust the internet