Stand Up

Album Review

For once a press release gets things right. The one giving notice of this fine effort from Orlando-based Superiority Complex sums up the album quite nicely, calling it "lyrical, melodious, witty, hard-hitting, and just plain fun." While there would seem to be a contradiction in the statement, regarding the labels of hard-hitting and just plain fun, it's this very contradiction that makes Stand Up so interesting. Emcees Iron Monk and Poisoned Fetus offer up weird, often artsy, and sometimes ultra-violent wordplay in the finest tradition of Kool Keith and MF Doom. Underneath, Monk and Blackology's cool beats and warped samples ground and then elevate the album into the stratosphere. Like so many of their peers, Superiority Complex smack down lots of other artists while proclaiming their own prowess, but it's done in a tongue-in-cheek manner. One song has them seething with hatred at the entire world, with a final shout-out at the end of "I love you Mom" and some giggles. Elsewhere, unexpected transfigurations of Phil Collins and Vince Guaraldi gurgle melodically, adding depth and twisted glee to the proceedings. Smart, confident, and subversive, Stand Up is a promising early highlight in the careers of its participants.