Review: Cypress Hill – Rise Up

Bret reviews Cypress Hill’s impressive new release, ‘Rise Up’.

Artist Name: Cypress Hill
Album Name: Rise Up
Year: 2010
Genre: Hip Hop

Some six years since their last release, Cypress Hill have finally released a new album for their eager fans. No strangers to success, Cypress Hill have sold over 18 million albums worldwide, and have generated a massive crossover following in hip hop and hard rock circles. On receipt of this album, we were interested to see how it would hold up to past successes… and are pleased to report that we were pleasantly surprised. This isn’t exactly ‘Rock Superstar’, ‘Insane in the Brain’ or 2001′s ‘Stoned Raiders’, but it measures equally well.

Cypress Hill’s albums have all had a strong element of ‘playfulness’, often confused with juvenility after repeated listens. ‘Rise Up’, although still very-much Cypress Hill, is a slight step in a new direction. Cleaner production to complement beats, stronger guitar focus, and a general lighter sound and song structure are sure to attract new fans. While this may read like a watered-down Cypress Hill, don’t worry… Herbal homage, rib-crunching beats, smart lyrics and instinctive head-bobbing are still the order of the day.

I’m generally not a fan of albums with many collaborations, as they often feel like pseudo-compilations, but this album is an exception. The track, ‘Rise Up’, featuring Tom Morello is a brilliant listen. So, too, is ‘Pass the Dutch’ and ‘It Ain’t Nothin”. While these tracks are some of the best listens of the album, ‘Get it Anyway’ is by far the best track of the album. It Provokes a rare trip into introspection, and reminds me of why I liked Cypress Hill so much as a teenager.

Nice words aside, two critical flaws hold ‘Rise Up’ back. First and foremost, it lacks the ‘catchy’ edge which made earlier albums so memorable. Secondly, and perhaps equally problematic, is the excessive lyrical dedication to cannabis. Once ‘K.U.S.H’ spoke its message, I was pretty much ready to have a bad case of the greenies. I’m not hating. I’m just bored of your lyrics.

Best Tracks: ‘Get it Anyway’, ‘Rise Up’ and ‘It Ain’t Nothin”

79/100

- Bret Dugmore
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