If you’re like me and have a penchant for partaking in spirits, then undoubtedly you’ve become familiar with the phenomenon known as “liquid courage”. According to that bastion of colloquialism, urbandictionary.com, liquid courage is “a catalyst for bravery, particularly in a party or public setting and is best used in conjunction with moments involving violence or sexual acquisition.” Liquid Courage is also the appropriate title for the debut album of bi-coastal duo Wax & EOM. Wax is an L.A. cat with a rather large and devoted fan base and EOM (Elements of Music) is an East Coast producer who reached out to Wax after seeing his vicious lyricism on YouTube. Wax’s diverse lyricism and EOM’s equally diverse production come together to form an album that can probably be best described as “experimental.” Liquid Courage is a very solid debut, but the presence of plenty of minor blemishes prevents it from hitting that next level.
The album’s topics range from sex, alcohol, music, dysfunctional relationships, and all kinds of stuff in between. “The Adventures of Larry & Tina” paints a picture of a naïve 19-year-old stripper named Tina and an over-the-hill divorcee named Larry. The beat is equally dreamy and haunting as Wax tells the story of their relationship, from its beginning to its fiery, depressing end. The video (below) won the Enzian Theater Monthly FilmSlam Award in November, and this should be no surprise considering how much more it elevates the mood, theme, and content of the song.
Two of the big highlights from this album come with some monster beats from EOM. “Summer in the City” uses the sample from the Lovin’ Spoonful song of the same name and does it justice. Wax uses his storytelling skills once again, detailing an almost-robbery. But the granddaddy on this album is “Air Timpani.” EOM laces us with a choir sample from the 300 trailer backed by ridiculously hard hitting drums, cymbals, and ‘elements’ of music. Wax and guest D Pryde rip this song to shreds like Spartans going after the Immortal Army, with this beat as the backdrop.
Unfortunately, “Air Timpani” is also the site of a slip up on the album. The beat hits, gets the listener amped and then it stops after 19 seconds. Silence. Then a robot voice comes on telling us that the beat is fire. It kills the flow completely. The robot makes a few more appearances on the album, which gives the album a mixtape feel; not in a good way. In fact, it more or less contributes to the lack of preparation, organization, and polishing of the album, as it kills the flow of the songs themselves and the transitioning of tracks. “Tijuana,” whether on purpose or not, sounds terrible, and no, it’s not your volume settings. Fortunately, it fits in with the dirty, grainy feel that the city in Mexico perceives.
A similar subtle ‘glitch’ is found on the intro, “Liquid Courage”. The track starts in the middle of a sampled vocal, which is undoubtedly a mistake. The beginning of “Last Resort” begins with a weird opening with what seems to be the voice of Cleveland from Family Guy. I don’t see the connection. Two minor flaws, but subtle mistakes and slip-ups are what will stop Wax and EOM from hitting the next level of their potential as a duo, especially when making an album. Mistakes like this make LC seem amateur. The length is also a problem; it is simply too long. Listeners should hope that there is enough in the vault for a second LP.
Wax, while being a talented and descriptive storyteller and guitar player (that’s him on the acoustics), does have a tendency to be explicit… very explicit. Visit “Last Resort” or “Tongue Tied” for examples. However, he touches a wide variety of topics that would normally disrupt the flow and consistency of an entire album, but the beautiful and appropriate mix of back-to-back songs at points in the album contributes to the brilliance of Liquid Courage. More songs like the beautifully crafted “Music and Liquor,” which comprise the best of both worlds, heartfelt and honest rhymes from Wax and an emotionally provoking beat from EOM, would have made this album more thorough and serious. Regardless, Wax’s humor and fiery battle rhymes will keep listeners tuned in just as much as the ‘serious’ ones do. Dope freshman effort. You might want to get a little liquid courage in you before listening, but it’s definitely not required.
Overall Score: 77/100
Standout Tracks:
“Air Timpani”
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“Summer in the City”
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“Music and Liquor”
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“Ridiculous”
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BUY THE ALBUM
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Very thorough and very fair. Can’t hate on Freddie at all. Well done. Hopefully we’ll see another album from these two with the t’s crossed and the i’s dotted.
Wax did an amazing job on this album and I’m so proud of him. Everyone needs to buy this album.. it will blow your mind.
Great job guys!
Nice review! well thought out and you make some good points. I totally disagree with you about the computer voice at the beginning of “air timpani” though. that shit makes the beat drop even more dramatic! the computer voice throughout the album adds a sense of continuity and cohesiveness imo…
That’s true, there’s a two sided coin with the voice on Air Timpani. when the “music” hits.. and the bang starts… its pretty dope
wow i haven’t heard this album yet… but I’m wowing at Fred’s review… very thorough and somewhat scathing i think but thats what reviewers though lol!!! I’ll wait to hear the album and then i’ll get back 2 this!!!
what reviewers do***
That song ridiculous is tight, I heard you mention The Grilled Lincolns, and checked out their website….that band is tight as well, but who would of thought they can flow! Tight ass trax, all of them. This album should win some award for the best new artist! Keep doin what you doin!
dope album review…shouts to the extended fam
Does he sound like Eminem to anyone besides me?
The eminem comparison has been brought up, but I don’t see it that much.
I loved this album, I actually bought this one too.
the album is still getting spins…
Wax is a great artist. Eom’s beats are good but Wax deserves a band or a few peeps on his beats imo.
if u can afford a band, then i think everyone’s music would sound better
Deez you are right, but Wax plays a mean guitar and did used to have a gnarly band behind him (together they put out more than 3 jazzy hip-hop albums).
I have to agree with the computerised voice thing, I thought it was a bit weird and unnecessary at points in the album. But I’ve got gripe with a few points you make. For starters, since when is being “explicit” a bad thing? Everyone has their style and if you wanna say fuck then you do, I personally swear a lot on tracks and I have from the start, I didn’t even notice until a few people pointed it out to me as if it was obvious. It’s a subconscious thing and I don’t think someone can be criticised for having explicit lyrics as part of their style.
Also, comedy gets shitted on as an art. Everyone acts as if it is somehow degrading to an artist to be funny, that it is somehow less skilful than to tell a story or be meaningful. “Last Resort” is one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard in my god damn life. Fact. And I find it to be one of the better tracks on the album.
Anyways, props for the review and supporting them and whatnot. I know what you’ve written is your opinion and I just figured I’d add my 2 cents on the topic.
Also, you guys ever gonna post up the air timpani contest remix thingo? EOM mentioned it as part of the contest and i was just wondering lol.
I’m retarded, just saw the remix a few pages back lol.
I know I’m kinda late…but I’m feeling the album. The voice throughout the album feels like you guys are tagging your own album. That was weird. The first song starts off kinda weird as well in the middle of the vocal sample.
“Tongue Tied”, ‘Tijuana”, and “Solidified” were tracks that I thought don’t fit with overall feel of the album. The lyrics and beat are kinda like oil and water…just don’t seem to mix.
Production wise I think for the most part EOM comes up with diverse landscapes for Wax to spit his crazy rhymes.
Wax’s story telling ability is great. “Last Resort” is funny as hell. “Air Timpani”, “The Adventures”, and especially “Its All Love” are my favorites.
I know its your opinion and lord knows I couldn’t write a review, but 77 seems extremely high for an album with the numerous “flaws” point out in the review. It seems more like a solid 72 nothing higher.
Its a good first album. Will be checking for more from you guys.
*hands Thomas a late pass*
haha it’s all good
77 may seem like a high rating for a flawed album, but the “highs” of this album saved it from the low-70s. “Air Timpani” BANGS. “Summer in the City” BANGS. “Larry and Tina” will haunt you. A reader from HHLD4L mentioned that he “comes down from a high” when the album ends, which is definitely a good thing, and I experienced the same feeling. Quantifying those type of intangibles isn’t an exact science, but I feel that those type of things necessitated a reflection in the ratings
this dude is crazy, “The beginning of “Last Resort” begins with a weird opening with what seems to be the voice of Cleveland from Family Guy. I don’t see the connection. Two minor flaws, but subtle mistakes and slip-ups are what will stop Wax and EOM from hitting the next level” the beginning of the song the clevland sounding dude says eomwhere is there a mistake there… and in the beginning of liquid courage u think eom would just fuckin drop the album wit a mistake in the first 2 seconds come on he planed that, this guy better get his stuff straight nothin stops wax and eom from goin to the next level shit is hot the youtube shit is hot the live in hollywood wit da acoustic is hot and his comedic shit just make a nigga laugh and thats y i bought his cd last night
and the wax and herbal t cd is hot
andy milonakis is the man
apparently “Diddy” loves the album
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/08/diddy-gets-in-touch-with-rolling-stone-but-fails-to-mention-notorious-soundtrack/?rand=88047
Encrax seems like a big fan
http://rapcredits.com/wiki/Liquid_Courage
Yeah I dont think eom started Liquid Courage with a mistake. Listen to the words of the sample he uses its where it needed to start
I saw Wax/EOM and the Grilled Lincolns rip the 8 x 10 in Baltimore during Wax’s East Coast CD Release Party. Wax primarily played acoustic, and the G-Linx came on for the last few songs of his set. Ripped it. Check them both out if you get the chance.