November 13-19, 2003

musicpicks

Atmosphere

Hip-hop

At a time when current fashions in indie hip-hop suggest that you have to sacrifice clever lyrics and substantive subject matter for accessible production and fun beats, Atmosphere remains a refreshing, eminently more listenable alternative that takes a thoughtful route through the proven paths of rhythm. Like many of his peers, (Sage Francis, Sole, et al.), Slug ruminates about personal matters, thus earning Atmosphere the dreaded emo categorization, but he never suffocates the listener with humorless angst. In fact, on Atmosphere’s third full-length, Seven’s Travels (released on the punk label Epitaph despite offers from majors), even the heaviest moments of self-reflection are tempered with engaging, complex rhymes and tasty clusters of dance-inspiring samples. They can also re-create it live: The big-money interest in Atmosphere and its steady following is the byproduct of incessant touring and an energized stage performance -- another attribute that sets them apart from the scores of well-meaning but mumble-mouthed MCs vying for indie glory. One more reason to check out their appearance in Philly on Thursday is tourmate, fellow Minnesotan and sometime collaborator Brother Ali, whose recently released Shadows on the Sun has generated deafening amounts of buzz.

Thu., Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m., $15, all ages, with Brother Ali & BK One, Micranots and Oddjobs, First Unitarian Church, 22nd and Chestnut sts., 800-594-TIXX.

—Elisa Ludwig

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