Posted on 09/02/2008
There is no denying the fact that the "true school" mentality has become as played out as "ringtone rap." And just like in any other genre, the acts that hold onto a classic style can sound like carbon copies of their musical forefathers. But in Twilight Sentinels' case, they pull it off. Although they aren't exact clones of past emcees and producers, they are certainly influenced by the hip-hop many heads refer to as the Golden Age.

This trio from Indianapolis consists of emcee Mic L. Night, producer-rapper Joe Harvey, and DJ Topspeed. And they pull no punches as they get right into it on Meanwhile with "Smoke Screen," a murky track that sets the tone for the rest of the album. Many of other songs on here aren't "dark" per say, but they definitely aren't sunny-day Top 40 anthems. For example, "Keep Up" swirls like cigar smoke, particularly because of that simple, yet perfect bass line. It might not be in the exact same vein, but "Move You" captures that early-'90s feel. In particular, there is a strong A Tribe Called Quest vibe, mostly thanks to the production.

It wouldn't be right to mention the production and not talk about the outstanding effort by Harvey on Meanwhile. By incorporating live instrumentation into his beats, Twilight Sentinels' music becomes organic – as heard on the somber and brilliant "I Got A…" Rather than sounding tinny or plastic, the drums on here are lush. That natural feel is a strong complement to the emcees, who are competent but not exemplary. They both ride the beat well and have some skills, but it's easy to lose them in the production. But when this trio fires on all cylinders, it's truly something to hear. "Obey The Fist" is easily this album's strongest. The rapping matches the stellar beat perfectly and the emcees just seem like they are having fun. And that feeling is infectious. The same goes for "Connect The Dots," which, in all its cheesiness, is a nice little pop number. It's also a welcome change of pace amongst the less glossy other tracks.

As the review score indicates, however, it's not all perfect. One of Meanwhile's weaknesses shows itself on "Boundaries of Reasoning." The song is solid enough, but something about it screams copy-cat. And it's hard to narrow down exactly who it sounds like because it draws from several areas. At times, it's akin to a Del Tha Funky Homosapien joint, while it also scratches the surface of sounding like Jedi Mind Tricks. But the missteps are far and few between.

Thanks in part to the moody production and the good-but-not-great rapping, Twilight Sentinels' Meanwhile won't blow you away after one listen. Instead, it burrows itself into your skull, growing more and more enjoyable as you play it over and over. And it doesn't hurt that this trio's laidback raps paired with the album's jazz-tinged production is made for the approaching cooler months.

- Andrew Martin