If you had no context about RJD2 going into his latest album, "The Colossus," then you wouldn't be sure exactly what to make of the newest stylings of the DJ gone rocker. For any fresh listener, it might even be hard todefine what genre the album even fits in. Several different conventions of music are lodged into the 13 tracks; it is an album where jovial, tap-along pop songs such as the finisher, "Walk With Me" are preceded by hauntingapocalyptic choirs and the gothic instrumentation of songs like "The Stranger."
In many ways, "The Colossus" embodies the fusion of the past and the future of the producer, who took a turn from producing more hip-hop inspired instrumentals to start recording with live instruments and a changingsound in his last album, "The Horror" in 2007. The only thing that really sews "The Colossus" together is the fact that RJD2 is its sole mechanic, and his particular flavor of funk and beat sensibilities offers a certain amount of cohesion.
The album kicks off with "Let There Be Horns," a loud, energetic sojourn that sounds like it took a whole orchestra to record. While the song takes different twists, it still holds strong and keeps the listener engaged in theparty atmosphere reminiscent of past anthems such as "Ghost Writer." In the midst of the overlapping barrage of brass and synth, RJD2 leaves no space for silence and it becomes clear as to what he is trying to showcase throughout the whole the album: production.
The next track is a slow, somber tune called "Games You Can Win (featuring Kenna)." The smooth R&B quality of the song doesn't match its predecessor, and this conflict exemplifies the other facet of the record. While thetracks "Let There Be Horns" and "Small Plans" are odes to the type of sound that has projected RJD2 to where he is today, "Games You Can Win" looks toward the producer's ability to compose songs that won't likely befound in another DJ's mix any time soon. The detail to production is still apparent, however. On the track, bells and chimes lightly glide over wompy bass clips and RJ makes the listener anticipate what bleep or bloop will come next.
"Games You Can Win" is RJD2's stab at injecting soul into electronica and the rest of the album is not without other musical experimentation. The biggest one of all however, is the fact that RJD2 sings on the songs "The Glow" and "Gypsy Caravan" mark someone who is very conscious of the importance of writing catchy melodies.
Not all of RJD2's tracks are knockouts, though. Over-production seems to hamper the songs "Giant Squid," where the beat struggles to establish itself over the layers of guitar and keys. And the only rap song on the album,"A Son's Cycle (featuring The Catalyst, Illogic, and NP)," feels more like a small reminder that RJD2 hasn't lost his hip-hop instincts than a stroke of ingenuity.
In many ways, "The Colossus" demonstrates an artist trying to navigate between the three-minute pop song and the rigid structures of electronica and hip-hop production. It is a collage of styles that ultimately yields to justbeing RJD2 as he is today. But just because he is stuck somewhere in this musical minefield doesn't mean that the album is incomplete or lacking. It may not be as awe inspiring as its title suggests, but "The Colossus" is no sleeping giant.
BOTTOM LINE: RJD2's "The Colossus" is a kaleidoscope of musical approaches that is crafted into an enjoyable listening experience that has a little something for everyone.