The Pirate Signal

On Pirate Signal's 2004 debut, Norma(l) Hugh Manchild's American Revolution(s), the band placed much of its focus on production and penning impressive lyrics, and not enough time working on its cadence and flow. Subsequently, the album made for a tough listen. On its latest self-titled effort, the crew has simplified...

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno

October 26, 2006

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On Pirate Signal's 2004 debut, Norma(l) Hugh Manchild's American Revolution(s), the band placed much of its focus on production and penning impressive lyrics, and not enough time working on its cadence and flow. Subsequently, the album made for a tough listen. On its latest self-titled effort, the crew has simplified things and injected more soul into its raps. The growth is most evident on tracks like "An Emergence of Black Heroes," featuring Dow Jones and D.O. the Fabulous Drifta. A riot-starter that takes sellout rappers head-on, the cut is one of the finest to come out of the scene in the past year. Elsewhere, Signal MC and producer Yonnas gets funky on the '70s blaxploitation-groove-inspired "You Will Get Dirty" and adds sing-song flow over the brass-punctuated strains of "I Can't Wait." With the exception of the rap-rock-inflected "All I Know IsŠIt Was an Accident," Pirate Signal is an outstanding piece of work.

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