(Raymond)

This time around, we got a concept album! This one has been described as loosely based on the character ‘Raymond K. Hessel from Fight Club!’ Which is one of my favourite movies, so that alone got me hyped to try this one out, so let’s talk about it!

This Tokyo Cigar record has 13 tracks with one skit, and the entire production is done by August Fanon and mixed and mastered by Donnie Grogan.

Firstly, I want to point out how badass it is that this is the character he gets inspired to make a record about! Not Brad Pitt’s character or Edward Norton’s, but a cashier who gets threatened to be a veterinarian! I don’t know why, but when someone goes against the grain like that, it really makes me happy!

Although being my first time hearing a Tokyo Cigar album, he’s really impressed me with how he raps. He has this smooth yet complex style of rhyming that really captures your attention. Similar to how a man like ‘Open Mike Eagle’ raps! Composted yet passionate at the same time, and I really dig it.

This album has no features, which is another thing I can respect to hold his own over the 13 tracks. His penmanship was on point, his crisp flow, and his well-done lyricism to construct a concept album of this magnitude is definitely big props!

As far as the production goes, we get more of a Jazz influence by August but less smooth/soft Jazz and more Thriller 80’s ‘Lethal Weapon’ type music, which features levels of intensity, grit, and suspense woven into every note and key. This production helps elevate Tokyo’s vocal performance and makes them feel theatrical and movie quality, which I fucking love! 

Overall, another dope album produced by August and a fantastic showing by Tokyo for depicting a great conceptual album, and from now on, will definitely be in my radar for new albums!

https://tokyocigarmusic.bandcamp.com/album/raymond