Whiskey Blanket

In the age when the Roots released their eleventh studio album, the epic How I Got Over, all bands intending to use live instrumentation with hip-hop vocals and elements had better come correct. With the release of No Object, Whiskey Blanket, three vocalists who blend the live sounds of cello, violin, beatboxing and turntables with rhyming lyrics, have done just that. No Object is sharp, clear alternative sound accompanied by acoustic adornments that embolden the meaning behind the spoken words. Although not the typical boom-bap required by many hip-hop purists, those who enjoy the live-band element and the art of wordless sound will appreciate this work. "Ubiquitous Wavescape of the Re-upholstered Mind" exemplifies the act's instrumental cohesion, and "Give Up the Ghost" is the best example of the artists fusing their individual talents to create a soul-stirring performance.