P.O.S.

Never Better (2009)

(3 ½ out of 4)

 

Review By Chris Nowling: I should probably disclose, before I begin my review, that I don’t listen to rap music. Well, not usually anyway, but occasionally I stumble upon a rapper with a sound, a style...something that resonates with me and captures my attention. P.O.S. is one such artist. Born Stefon Alexander, P.O.S. is a Minneapolis-based musician with punk-rock roots and an agenda based much more on social and political issues than self-aggrandizing braggadocio. Apparently, when Alexander was a teenager, he played bass, guitar and drums in various rock bands before settling on rap for his primary mode of musical expression. And he continues to make records occasionally with his punk band, Building Better Bombs.

What makes Never Better, Alexander's third album as P.O.S., such a thrilling and exhilarating listen is the artist's ability to integrate punk intensity into his raps so seamlessly. The record still fits squarely into the rap genre, but P.O.S. is making music unlike anything you’re likely to hear on top 40 radio. The album's first track, "Let It Rattle," is a dense and noisy tune that serves as something of an introduction to the record. The explosive, appropriately-titled "Drumroll (We're All Thirsty)" follows: Frenetic drumming and squealing guitar tones underscore P.O.S.'s spitfire rhymes, which grab hold of the listener and refuse to let go for two and a half minutes. These tracks set the tone and the pace for the remainder of the record.

The punk attitude and production continues throughout the album, especially on tunes like the intense "Graves (We Wrote the Book)," with its stomping percussion and allusions to death and murder, and the abrasive "The Basics." Also, rap-rock track "Terrorish," which features vocals from hardcore singer Jason Shevchuk. The wealth of musical ideas and the overall intensity of the record might be something of an acquired to some, but Alexander is intelligent and talented enough to rein in his emotions and present this material in a way that’s generally immediate and entertaining. While his skill and style as a producer (he’s credited for about half of the tracks) helps keep the music surprising and interesting throughout.

Never Better includes more standard rap fare as well, which P.O.S. executes equally well: "Savion Glover" has an old-school hip-hop feel; "Goodbye" features more grandiose production while still maintaining an organic base; and "Low Light Low Life" includes several members of the hip-hop collective Doomtree that P.O.S. founded in Minneapolis. The softer-edged tunes balance the album and keep the 55 minutes from becoming tiresome or heavy-handed; though this is not a 'light' or 'fun' record, even when the beats and the lyrics become less aggressive. Thankfully, Never Change emerges as a surprisingly cohesiveness listen, remarkably avoiding any awkwardness that could have resulted considering its mash-up of styles.

There is certainly no shortage of socially conscious underground rappers, but while anyone can be angry, it takes much more than emotion to effectively convey a message, and too many rap artists fall into simplified, generic rhetoric. Not Alexander; he stays sharp at every turn, struggling with political issues, family matters and the ills of society in a way that offers a great deal more than just fancy wordplay (though there's plenty of that, too). P.O.S.’s unique background combined with his talent as a rapper and musician makes Never Better a record unlike anything I've heard before. It's gripping, fascinating and challenging; an album that pushes boundaries and explores new territory with exciting results.

Last Word:

P.O.S. returns with Never Better, a rap album loaded with stellar rhymes, fantastic production, and an intense, punk-rock attitude that makes this a record worth hearing regardless of your genre preferences.

Review By:
Chris Nowling, Staff Writer

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