So unless you’ve been living under a rock, then you know Skrillex released his debut album a few weeks ago. It swept through the Dance Music community causing everyone to marvel at its excellence. Skrillex is my personal favorite DJ and producer so I took the time out to give it the full album review. Check out the song by song breakdown below and enjoy!
1. All Is Fair In Love And Brostep
When songs started to release through Sonny’s Alien Ride App, this is the first one we got. He starts the album off with a bang and goes back to his heavy bass days of Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites. We all know Skrillex is very precise with every move he makes, so putting this as the first track on Recess was no mistake. This track gets you immeditaly hooked and draws you in, thirsting for more bass, more Sonny, more perfect Dubstep. Also this won’t be the only time you hear Ragga Twins on this journey. GUESS WHO’S BACK!
2. Recess
Ahh now we get the title track of the album! While the whole LP may be packed with massive collaborations, this one stands out more so than the others. Kill The Noise AND Fatman Scoop!? Talk about casting an All Star lineup. If you had seen KTN anytime before the release of Recess then chances are you heard him tease this song but had no idea what your ears and mind were receiving. The melody, the theme and of course the enticingly unique breakdown are all impeccable. Add a little Fatman Scoop vocal drop on top of that and boom, title track of Sonny’s debut album. BASS DROP!
3. Stranger
Here’s something I bet most of you didn’t see coming. The first two tracks indicated that Sonny was back with all bass heavy Dubstep tunes, but “Stranger” challenged that perception and really changed the course of Recess. “Stranger” provides more of a groove and vibe while still maintaining an upbeat and unique synth. If you’re a true Skrillex fan (or obsessor in my case) you saw this get released on The Divergent Movie Sountrack and got it a week earlier than everyone else. This is one of those tracks that proves Sonny doesn’t pigeonhole himself and is extremely diverse in his production. Killagram and Sam Drew play a big role in production and vocals as well.
4. Try It Out (Neon Mix)
The original “Try It Out” was one of Skrillex’s biggest songs a few years ago. Then, late last year we got 3 very hard hitting remixes from Sonny and his prodigy, Alvin Risk. They were all released at random and drew great attention to these two professors of bass. It was almost like Sonny was stating “I’m still here, and this is a little taste of what I’ve been working on.” Turns out that after brushing through his mixes, Sonny is favoring the “Neon Mix” as being Recess worthy. Not necessarily a new track to fans but nonetheless an amazing tune.
5. Coast Is Clear
Sonny seemed to be extra excited about this collaboration with Chance The Rapper. The two musical weirdos have combined for quite the duo that fans would not have expected if it weren’t for Instgram and Twitter. Basically, if you paid attention to your social media, you saw that these two were working on a track together but most likely assumed it was bass heavy. WRONG! Sonny again shows us that he is one of the most versatile producers and brings us a record with jazzy Drum & Bass vibes. The obvious Biggie reference in Chance’s lyrics are undoubtedly catchy as well.
6. Dirty Vibe
Time to breakdown what is probably the most beloved hit on the album. I got that Dirty Vibe! Continuing the impressive streak of collaborations on Recess, Sonny recruits the legendary Diplo and the Korean music stars G-Dragon and CL. While most Americans may not be familiar with the people taking over the vocals, there’s no doubting that “I don’t Pop Molly I rock microphones” is about to become some of the most referenced lyrics in Dance Music. Speaking of dancing, it’s impossible to sit still during this catchy and upbeat track that contains not only bass but a heavy Moombah essence that will make you shake your ass and get down. If this is any indication of what Jack U has coming, we are in for quite a treat.
7. Ragga Bomb
Dialing up the Ragga Twins for a second track on Recess, Sonny and his two star vocalists bring back a little more bass to the LP. Even though you might not be able to fully understand what the Ragga Twins are saying, their vocal infliction is infectious and key to the the final product. The instrumentals themselves highlight on yet another genre in Dance Music, this time Drumstep. The combination of drums with an ear screeching, wobbly breakdown, make this one of the hardest hitting, yet most underrated, tracks on Recess.
8. Doompy Poomp
And now for the track that everyone is making the “WTF?” face about, “Doompy Poomp.” If you recall to probably a year or so ago, Skrillex really changed up his website. It looked like a crashed computer that you had to navigate your way through just to find the merch store. While you navigated through this bizarre maze of uncertainty, a song would play…or at least what we thought was a song. That song turned out to be a rougher version of what you hear today featuring Mishka. The best way to describe this would be an acid trip through the illustrious mind of Sonny Moore. While some may see this as a waste or filler track, I for one am enthralled by the versatility of Skrillex’s musical genius.
9. Fuck That
Here is the track that a lot of Dance Music enthusiasts are obsessed with at the moment. It’s not necessarily bass heavy, it’s not a banger, it’s…deep! Keying in on yet another genre, Sonny now takes his talents into the deep end with “Fuck That.” While it’s not a typical Skrillex track, it’s got an insane vibe to it and still highlights a certain Skrillex synth/sound that we’ve come to love. It’s pretty much the best of both worlds for those who love Skrillex and those who prefer Deep House. The second breakdown on this track will make you weak in the knees.
10. Ease My Mind
Now for my personal favorite track. What was originally supposed to be a remix, turned into one of the best collaborations on the planet. Sonny had teased “Ease My Mind” with Niki & The Dove a lot at his recent shows and takeovers. It has become the new “Cinema Remix” if you will. The beautiful and soothing, not to mention relatable, vocals are the catchiest ones on Recess. It would shock me if everyone hasn’t already memorized these words by now. The breakdown will warp you while the build up and melody entice you. Turn this one all the way up and let the music work its magic. And if you haven’t heard it live yet, mentally prepare yourself.
11. Fire Away
Sadly, all good things must come to an end, as we have reached the final track on Recess. While the LP took us on a musical journey through bass, funk and vibes, it ends with a more soothing track that will calm the nerves and help you relax. “Fire Away” featuring Kid Harpoon, is yet another track that we may consider to be outside of Sonny’s comfort zone. It’s not a head banging track that’s designed to wow crowds. This one strives to elicit emotions and captivate your thoughts. The lyrics may also be relatable to some and hit close to home. While it may not be for everyone, it is a proper ending to this historic album.
Boom! That’s my album review, spent a lot of time writing it and getting it ready for you guys. Hopefully you liked the song by song breakdown and if you haven’t already grabbed Recess you can below!
Skrillex – Recess | iTunes |
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