New Jersey creatives, Orlando & Flee Jones, combine their talents as hip hop duo, The Peanut Gallery, to deliver a new album called “Tales From The Basement.” The 14 track project covers a vast range of styles & sounds…but ultimately suffers from a lack of cohesiveness necessary to make the collection memorable or buzz-worthy.
Despite that, there are a few standouts. “Go!” (Freestyle) flaunts bold club-ready production that will ensure a few extra spins while “Da Realest Pain” allows the artists to express vulnerability(even though the lyricists sometimes struggle to keep up with the beat). “Blessings” is more successful in that respect as it serves up a more laid back soundscape to vent frustrations that many will find relatable.
If anything, tracks like “Deep Thoughts” & “Dreams” showcase Orlando’s promise behind the boards. With a little more development his tracks have the potential to soar. The lyrical side of things is another issue altogether. The duo should go back to the lab & put in more work to reach the plateau they’re trying to achieve. I get the feeling they have it in them. All it takes is intense dedication and one day they’ll emerge as the respected icons they desire to become.
Check out the album on Spotify:
Available on iTunes
– Kevin Keith
