Blowout Comb - Underrated?

Jonathan Hurwitz (witz@slip.net)
Mon, 4 Dec 1995 13:55:14 -0800


It is very interesting to me that SO many people on the AJ list think
"Blowout Comb" was underrated. When it came out, there was a huge push
behind it, Digables were on the cover of URB and a few other hip hop
magazines, and every review I read applauded it as a hip hop breakthrough.
"Blowout Comb" even did respectable sales.

Is it because this album didn't have as big (or as white) as an audience as
"Reachin"? It is an incredible album and, at least in the circles I run in,
nobody could shut the fuck up about it when it came out.

Underrated? Hardly.

- Jonathan

>Re:Digable Planets "Blowout Comb"--
>
>I was on of those who listed this as the most underrated records of 95
>(well, technically it came out in 94...) and I think rightfully so. It
>is a nice combination of funk jazz hip hop and politics. If you are
>familiar with their first record "Reachin.." with the hit "Rebirth of
>Slick" (the "I'm cool like dat.." song) then you'll be very surprised at
>first. The record sheds much of the pop sensibilities of the group and
>shows a more consciously urban view. The samples are mostly the jazz/funk
>sound we all know and love that have been moulded into some really
>interesting rhythms. My favorite is "For Corners" which was almost my
>vote for the Easy Like Sunday Morning track of 95. I suggest you
>pick it up and give it a try. If you don't like it you can always flame
>me...
>Keith