Music Blogs

Just in case you were concerned, the URB Blog on Yahoo! was not forced into a padded penitentiary room after over-thinking the virtues of supermanning that ho and cranking dat batman. I'm OK, really, and I appreciate your concern. But the psychological banishment in direct correlation with over-consumption of pop culture sounds like something heard on the new Atmosphere record, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Sh*t Gold.

Perhaps the defining indie rap group of the past decade, Minneapolis' Atmosphere pairs soulful samples with soul-bearing lyrics for a final product that cuts straight through hip-hop's ghetto fantasies into the suburban angst that most of its listeners truly know first hand. Slug is the rapper, Ant is the producer and now the duo is employing live instruments.

On first listen, the majority of When Life Gives You Lemons borders on morose; Slug focuses his pen on Johnny Cash-like characters who live on the edge of barstools and porcelain bathtubs reaching for their respective vices. But it's more than that. There are smiles and triumphs and--gasp!--even fun moments on Atmosphere's newest record, it just takes more than a first listen. To prep you, the URB Blog on Yahoo! has picked out particularly poignant lyrics from each of the new record's songs. Then, it's up to you what color the lemons get painted.

"Like the Rest of Us"
"Here kitty kitty can't train that fox/Must be drinkin' that name brand scotch"

"Puppets"
"I know a guy with a rock star life/But he still don't fly so he's mad at the sky"

"The Skinny"
"It's like you don't know or care/But he's right there in your clothes and hair/You're known to let him in your home/I can smell his breath on this microphone"

"Dreamer"
"Peace out, keep out, take the scenic route/Rather only hafta feed three mouths"

"Shoulda Known"
"I've got a restraining order against satan's daughter/And I keep it at the bottom of this Jameson and water"

"You"
"Surfin' through them men/'Cause they all searchin' for that bent one/Or just one to bend"

"Painting"
"The progress stops and pauses/Spits and sputters like the basement faucet/And it's obvious he's lost in his regrets/You can smell it on his breath"

"Your Glasshouse"
"Hangover ain't a strong enough word/It don't describe what just occurred"

"Yesterday"
"I like to tangle up the strings of the puppetry/But you knew me back when I was a younger me"

"Guarantees"
"Can't save no nest egg/In fact this nest is rented/In fact that rent is late"

"Me"
"And even though he was too young to hunt and gather/Hungry puppy had to learn how to front and swagger"

"Wild Wild Horses"
"'Cause he knows if he hangs out for a few hours/He'll dig another hole trying' to plant some new flowers"

"Can't Break"
"Every city's the same scene gangrene/Vampire's lookin' at your veins fangs craving/Interchangeable hair similar name jeans"

"The Waitress"
"Look lady, I'm homeless, I'm crazy/I'm so hopeless, I'm suicidal daily"

"In Her Music Box"
"He fakes the accent, even makes all the faces/And when he raises his voice/It makes her feel like he's famous"