Sage Francis: Human the Death Dance (CD on Epitaph Records)

Band: Sage Francis
Label: Epitaph Records
Title: Human the Death Dance

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Band:Sage Francis
Title:Human the Death Dance
Reviewed By:Daniel Cressey
Date Published:07/06/2007

Label:Epitaph Records
Format:CD
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In a scene as over-crowded as American hip-hop, Sage Francis’s off the wall references and undoubted talent with an unexpected rhyme mark him out. They mark him both as a cut above the average and as something more-than-slightly different. Even in a scene where the ‘alternative’ artists set themselves to radical agendas his idiosyncrasies are of another level. Many rappers condemned the knee-jerk patriotism that followed 9/11 – few did a matter of weeks after. The fact that he’s white, basically straight-edge and known to rhyme about his vegan tendencies ensures him cult status.

His music has always justified such a status – by turns ragged, uplifting, furiously angry and often completely unexpected. This album though sees him treading a more worn path. The beats over which Francis has chosen to set his rhymes appear childishly simplistic when set against those of some other leftfield hip-hop artists. And while he has always been willing to indulge in the hip-hop mainstay of "I’m a great MC – you’re a rubbish MC" songs, they seem especially prominent here.

But even this musical nose-thumbing is done with such aplomb it is hard to grudge it. And when he moves on to more autobiographical topics 'Human the Death Dance' comes alive. Detailing his college sports career and his musical progress Francis shows a deftness of touch and a wry humour that are rare in any form of art, let alone music, certainly let alone hip-hop. Closing track ‘Going Back to Rehab’ is especially stunning.

This may not be his greatest album to date; it is probably his most accessible. Anything that can bring a talent such as his to more people should be welcome.

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Latest album from the ever controversial Sage Francis, which finds him breaking out of the over-crowded American hip-hop genre with his most accessible record to date

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Human the Death Dance - CD
Latest album from the ever controversial Sage Francis, which finds him breaking out of the over-crowded American hip-hop genre with his most accessible record to date

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