indielaunchpad.com ok cobra review...

Album - OK Cobra - OK Cobra
Band / Artist : OK Cobra - mySpace
Genre : Hip Hop / Alternative
Sample Track Download : N/A
Buy CD : URBNET
Buy Digital Download : iTunes
Rating : 8 out of 10

Hip hop, rap and reggae are not the usual fare in my CD player, so it generally has to be something fairly special to get me interested enough to want to play. I heard OK Cobra many, many months ago on the CBC Radio 3 podcast. I got the album in and just as I was about to review the album, I sent the band an email to confirm a few things. Anyway, the band let me know that they'd signed to a record label and that a review should hold off until the album was available in the usual places. So hold off I did and promptly forgot about the album. Upon looking through some unread email, I found one from URBNET, the record label and wouldn't you know it, there was OK Cobra and that proved enough of a jolt, to get me to dust of the album to finally get the review out of the door.

As I've said many times, I don't know my hip hop from my elbow, but I do know good music. Fast paced lyrics, fused with drum, bass and many other audio elements like audio sound bites keep you aurally stimulated. Yes among the stimulus are a few of the more colorful words, but that is very much in the culture of this style of music, so goes by pretty much unnoticed.

The first track "Intro" gently draws you into the album and then comes the bitch slap with "Time Flies", an assault on the senses, but a pleasant one at that. "Child in Rhyme" is the track for me that defines the overall sound of the band and one that is just a joy to listen to. It's repetitious, mellow sound bed is in stark contrast to the lyrics and lyric delivery, but it really works well.

With 13 tracks there is much to like, even if this genre of music isn't your usual cup of tea. Certainly a band that can introduce hip hop to a whole new legion of fans, as De La Soul did, in their own inventive way before them.

Conclusion : However you want to define the genre of this music, it's inventive, engaging and very listenable.