Busdriver – Perfect Hair

Album Full of Supercuts

Many artists never reach their tenth album. However, on Perfect Hair Busdriver proves that can be an attainable goal. With the vocabulary of a Scrabble champion and the vocal delivery of a cattle auctioneer, Busdriver is an artist who stands out among his contemporaries. Perfect Hair is the culmination of over a decade of determination. Never sacrificing substance for filler or compromising principles for profit, Busdriver has the type of artistic integrity that makes him a force in hip hop.

Perfect Hair starts off with “Retirement Ode,” which contains not only some memorable lines on the album such as  “I used to wake up at noon /to punch the moon /and fuck my life in her puncture wound,” but interjected between verses, Busdriver states the production cost of the album enlightening the listener to how much an ordeal such as this actual costs. “Ego Death,” featuring Aesop Rock and Danny Brown, is Busdriver at the top of his game.  Lyrics like “Down time is never met with an overjoyed grin /because sleep and death have always been conjoined twins,” paired with the distinct dark, spacey beat produced by Jeremiah Jae, create a tune that will be stuck in your head for days.

“Motion Lines” shows a softer more emotional side of Busdriver.  Lyrically, this is one of the best songs on the LP, and its rawness creates a feeling of melancholy not present much else on the album.  This glimpse into the heart of the artist displays an interesting introspective side of Busdriver that sometimes gets overshadowed by his social commentary and wit. Perfect Hair is an instant classic, never repetitive or boring. Song after song, Busdriver never lets his foot off the gas, and by the end you have reached a destination you didn’t necessarily plan on going to but you enjoyed the ride anyway.