The Money Store
Now here is some amusing, candy-coated anarchy. For the blown-out punk-rap act’s second record and (somehow!) their major-label debut, Death Grips fuse abrasive techno with shouted and amped-up hip-hop and crazed distorted backing loops. The Sacramento, Calif.–based group brings together producer Zach Hill of the avant-metal act Hella with vocalist Stefan Burnett and coproducer Andy Morin. Lyrically, there’s a bit of the Rage Against the Machine problem at work here. Songs like “I’ve Seen Footage” and “Get Got” icily remark on the proliferation of violence and the way it desensitizes youth. It’s also easy to see how desensitized youth would just think it’s cool. Two of the least venerated forms of the \'90s—electroclash and digital hardcore—are resuscitated in a way that will cause parents the world over to politely ask that that music be turned down. Yet it\'s undeniably good—always layered and frequently strange.
Death Grips are angry. It's unclear why. But on their major label debut, the Sacramento noise group's monomaniacal desire to rain down fiery destruction on the powers-that-be is crystal-clear, even if nothing else is.
Never let it be said that major labels don’t take chances anymore. Thanks to what must be the gutsiest A&R rep in the business, ear-brutalizing Sacramento noise-rappers Death Grips are now proud members of the Epic Records family. Though Death Grips’ anarchistic rage makes them unlikely labelmates with easier sells…
The Money Store is incredible, and if you don't get you'll be left in the musical dark ages. David Newbury comes over all fanboy for his album of the year.
A confusing band from the get-go, Death Grips' first release, Exmilitary, was maybe a mixtape, maybe a debut, or maybe both, but there's little doubt that the freely downloadable monster was a headline release in the underground hip-hop renaissance of 2011.
The anticipation surrounding the major-label debut of Death Grips is fevered, to say the least. The Money Store does not disappoint. The significant change from last year's Exmilitary is the lack of recognisable samples. Melodically, The Money Store's sonic palette is synth-driven, much like the standout tracks from their first album
You wanna hear what the burning skies of LA’s decaying empire sounds like? Sign your soul over to Death Grips and climb inside their charred ribcage for a journey straight down into sonic hell.
Experimental hip-hop types Death Grips tone down the aggression a bit for their major label debut – but it's still hard work, writes <strong>Alex Macpherson</strong>
Death Grips - The Money Store review: Well at least there's no dick on the cover