| Atmosphere's fourth official studio release, Seven's Travels, has been re-packaged and re-issued on vinyl for the first time in over 6 years. Historically speaking, this album marked where the group first saw commercial success. Originally picked up and distributed by Epitaph records, Seven's Travels saw Atmosphere's reach extend beyond the brick & mortar shops and message boards, all the way to Target store shelves and MTV2. Coincidentally, the album also saw them taking a more humorous and light-hearted look at themselves than their previous release, God Loves Ugly. Comparing the album to its predecessor, Slug was once quoted as saying "God Loves Ugly had no silly moments, whereas most of Seven's Travels could probably be defined as silly moments." Between the jokes and laughs, though, it's obvious these songs still echo of homesickness from too many nights on the road. Much like the fictional Gulliver, Slug's second self, Se7en, had also been to many strange places, from which he'd found a better understanding of home. Each song plays like a separate entry in our narrator's journal, yet the album is tied together by a common thread which is the outlook he has built as a result of these adventures. Seven's Travels features some of Atmosphere's most lauded works, including "Trying to Find a Balance", "Always Coming Back Home to You", "Reflections", "Cats Van Bags (feat. Brother Ali)" and more. With bonus cuts like the popular "Say Shh" as well as unsung gems like "DMFD", this release is a must for even the most well-traveled hip-hop fan. "Atmosphere finally made a good record. Yeah right, that sh*# almost sounds convincing." |