Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth
Aug 6, 2021
85
I wasn't ready for the hyper genre-bending, hyper referential beast that is Smiling With No Teeth. That Neo-Soul tag, throw it out the window.

Owusu blasts out of the gate with a poppy Death Grips-y track ("On The Move!"), then proceeds to pummel you with cocktail of the following soundalikes: a Gorillaz-indebted burner ("The Other Black Dog"); a Goldlink-flow ("Waitin' On Ya"), a chiptuney 'Dancing In The Dark' by way of Young Fathers ("Drown"), House of Jealous Lover's with Prince guitar "Whip Cracker", and even Leonard effing Cohen on "A Song About Fishing". LEONARD COHEN!? Are you joking?!

And just when you think he couldn't reach any further into the recesses of your mind, he drops the FULL HOUSE theme song viber "No Looking Back" to send you on your way! The references are endless, I can't even list them all here!

You'd think that all of this mashed up together might be a little too strong a gumbo, or the sign of an artist without a direction, but Owusu delivers on all fronts. This thing is urgent, creative, and works incredibly well as a whole. He keeps you guessing all the way through, and perhaps more importantly, entertained.

Kill all genres, and eat your artistic heroes for breakfast, lunch & dinner. No looking back, Owusu is a star.

MUST LISTEN.https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/304735-genesis-owusu-smiling-with-no-teeth.php#

Favourite track(s): "Don't Need You" & "Waitin' On Ya" (but really ALL OF IT)

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