Slice of Life

As issues like environmental degradation, blatant racism and horrifying sexual misconduct continue to plague our world, it is harder and harder to look at life through rose-colored glasses. While this is a completely natural and understandable feeling, it is important to not lose hope in the world. There are some truly beautiful people and places on this planet. You have to allow yourself to acknowledge the good along with the bad. Being on top of this change is attainable, as evidenced through the many social advancements made in our world in just the last ten years alone. Developments like the legalization of same-sex marriage have made it clear that things can and will get better if we, the people, fight hard to enough. This message may seem completely unrelated to this review, but I assure you, the words and timbres that make up Lyrics Born’s new record thoroughly represent this social commentary. It is important to take the good with the bad in life. Celebrate when things are going well, but also acknowledge and fight when things can be better. Despite many of the trials and tribulations, Tsutomu Shimura goes through on this record, he always crafts songs that showcase his strength and aptitude for life. In this day and age of negativity, this is something to marvel at.

Right from the get-go, Lyric hits it off with the exuberantly joyful cut “Chocolate Cake.” This song is definitely not the most lyrically dense track on the project, but its infectious groove really draws the listener in. The silly atmosphere is definitely a good way to start the project, as it strays from what would typically be expected from an opening track. Where artists usually try to grab you in with impressive and all-business opener, Lyrics Born has no desire to do this. With a track like this, he lets you know that celebration is important from time to time. This similar attitude is carried over to tracks like “Clap Your Hands.” The brash confidence of this track paired with the funky vocal inflections on the hook pair to make something that is equal parts bizarre and catchy.

While the lightheartedness of the instrumentals on this album continues, the subject matter does get a bit darker as it draws in. Lyric’s cover of  James Brown’s “This is a Man’s World” shines through hard. His voice holds up surprisingly well for someone who had been mostly rapping up until this point. Not only this, but Lyric’s additional lyrics reflect on how society has changed. The progress we’ve made towards women having more of a voice is commendable, but with some of the disgusting issues that still plague society, women really deserve a lot more of a voice than they have currently. “Can’t Lose My Joy” is perhaps the most central track on this entire record. The track details the narrator and his wife’s life as they attempt to battle her cancer. This story seems destined for heartbreak when suddenly things start turning around for the wife. This track is yet another reminder that you cannot give up in the face of adversity. Things can get hard, but you never know when things will turn around. You never know when the universe will surprise you.

There is a bit of every emotion on Lyric Born’s latest record. Quite a Life showcases a man who is in touch with society and his personal emotions alike. To the casual listener, it is an album full of delicious grooves that hit hard. To the more serious ear, there is a surprising amount of heart latch onto. With this record, Lyric proved that there is often more to a record than meets the ear. This same philosophy applies to life. While situations may seem dire, things can always be improved through dedication or who knows, maybe even some luck.