"Atmosphere Finally Made a Good Record"

Defiantly tongue in cheek words from Atmosphere's Slug kick off "Trying to Find a Balance," the most accessible and one of 2003's Seven's Travels' best tracks. That album, dropped about halfway between their studio debut and the new one, When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold, had a massive impact on getting the duo's name out there. Their latest release finds Slug and producer/DJ Ant in a comfortable spot, partly because they're often overflowing with confidence, but also that now they have the knowledge of having paid their dues. Such focus is paying off, as they're hitting personal heights in levels of commercial recognition . According to Billboard, Lemons debuted at number 5 in the states, a career mark for the boys from Minneapolis. There isn't a huge departure in any single aspect of sound or lyric, but sample a few of the tracks below and you'll find beats more reliant on simple, clean sampling and traditional instruments, backing Slug as he explores familiar topics like human inadequacies and contradictions.

Atmosphere - Painting
Atmosphere - Can't Break

Video: Shoulda Known



- B.A.