The Blacksheep Online | CD Review: k-os-Yes!

CD Review: k-os-Yes!

March 2, 2010 - 2:28 pm | Posted by: Brendan

Grade: A-

In popular music every multi-platinum rapper like Jay-Z has an equally popular counterpart like Green Day. For every pretty boy John Mayer there's Drake, and for every push-the-envelope mainstream success like Lupe Fiasco there's the rock counterpart in Vampire Weekend. These comparisons bring to an end the rap-rock mainstream similarities though. Rock is teeming with easily-identifiable subcultures from emo to punk to classic to new wave. Rap doesn't. There's gangster, there's popular and there's everything else. Sadly k-os, a talented Canadian emcee slips through the cracks. For shame, eh?

Yes! , k-os' latest release, is an album that exemplifies what the artist does best: it fuses catchy pop hooks with sentimental music and happy backing beats. The music isn't cheesy or cheap and it's not meant to appeal to the lowest common denominator, it's simply a fun way for one dude to convey his thoughts and feelings to a larger group. Yes! isn't pretentious or preachy, it's full of emotion, and upbeat enough to keep a party going when the gangster rap runs out.

No song on Yes! conveys these ideas as well as "I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman," a track featuring fellow Canadian Nelly Furtado that actually samples Phantom Planet's "California," made famous as the theme song for The O.C.On the track k-os changes things up, using the song for a catchy but seriously introspective moment that far outshines the track from which it samples from.

If lyrical honesty isn't your bag, then don't sweat it, k-os can write a mean chorus as well. Again, like the rest of his music it's fun and uplifting but not stupid. Sure, he may want you to listen to what he has to say, but he wants you to shake your ass while you're doing it.

It's a shame an album like Yes! is bound to fall by the wayside because of insufficient marketing and a lack of a brand name. Given a shot, k-os is accessible and fun enough to be popular. Maybe if someone sent the CD to Natalie Portman...

Sounds Like: A smart guy having fun making music.

Download: "I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman," "1 2 3 4"

Listen to it When: Spring finally rolls in.