On March 18th guardin dropped outsider, possibly one of my favorite tapes in the recent years. Although he’s been dropping music pretty consistently, the tape came without warning. Fortunately, it didn’t disappoint. guardin seems to have opted for a similar vibe on all of the tracks in the tape. Surprisingly however, the album doesn’t seem to have a trace of monotony in it at all. The sound of each beat is unique, while giving off a gloomy similar vibe. Perhaps it’s just myself, but every song on the tape feels like it has its place early in the morning somewhere in a forest shrouded in fog, with a few exceptions. His vibe on this album is reminiscent of the very early mornings or late nights, where the border between the two becomes grey.
The album begins with an intro that perfectly captures the scene of the music on the tape. The intro is immediately followed by his first track “cliffnote”. Ending just under two minutes, it is undoubtedly one of my favorite tracks on the album and he shows us exactly the guardin we know and love. The acid induced vibe and the low synth driven beat is perfected with his emotional vocals. Guardin raps about how he goes through his life and his decision to keep going. Considering this is such a short song, the lyrics beautifully portray the excitement, craziness, and business in his life as well as being phenomenally placed to set the tone of the album. To directly state my infatuation with this song would be an impossible task. However, hearing the classic guardin rap about the liveliness of his everyday life with such animation definitely hyped me beyond excitement for the following tracks. What guardin does beautifully compared to many artists is that he nonchalantly raps about his everyday life and what he goes through in such detail it leaves an image in your head after every song. I believe the similar subject matter and beats without being boring are not qualms anyone should have with his writing, but a testament to how good it is.
The sixth track on the album is “useless”. He seems to be rapping about a theme fitting of the album, but contrary to most of the rest of the album the sheer audible approach is new on the album. As one of my favorites on the tape, the subject matter, the guitar driven beat, the different vocal approach, and the emotion were executed perfectly as if guardin has been working on the song for years. He adopts a similar style his seventh track “shadow” as well. Although very similar to “useless” in lyric subject matter and vocals, he finds a medium between his two styles and runs with it to create another high quality song.
In the end, the album does not feel like a collection of just 10 tracks, but an experience. Every track beautifully transitions into the other creating a full experience rather than an individual track that carries the album. There are some tracks that are better than others, but overall the fluidity of the album is truly remarkable.
Granted the lyrics of all the songs on the tape are typical of a guardin album, he does manage to switch up his flow and style often enough to not be a problem. I am hopeful to see a guardin tour at some point, as well as more good music in the future. He is considered pioneer of a genre that has yet to be fully developed and is on the frontier of the new Soundcloud wave.
My favorite lyrics:
“I’m drowning’ in my headspace
Drivin’ shockpoint like I’m Isaac Clarke in Dead Space
Two gram cone to my dome, now I’m dead, wait
I feel fine, celebration’ poppin’ champagne.”
From “cliff note”
“Death is rollin’ through the wind
Hyperactive like a kid without the ritalin
Sip fortys ’till I sink into my seat
Transportation elevate so I can feel my feet, no”