Glue

Catch As Catch Can

(Fat Beats)

Record Review by Adam McKibbin

It will be interesting to see what happens if Glue blow up.  They’re certainly making progress, as September finds them hitting the road with SoliLLaquists of Sound.  The hardscrabble, DIY ethic informs much of Catch As Catch Can, leaving the listener with the impression that the retro hip-hop trio (Adeem, djdq, and Maker) wants to make the most of their time on stage—or on record.  It’s packed pretty tight, production-wise and certainly verse-wise, as frontman Adeem shows off the skills that propelled him to two victories at Scribble Jam.

The trio is old school to the core, and upfront about their intentions to appeal to both the hip-hop crowd and the rock crowd.  They bear some resemblance to fellow Midwesterners (and past tourmate) Atmosphere, and, as such, won’t appeal to those weaned on grittier street rap.  Like Rivers Cuomo, Adeem is tired of sex with “Glupies,” and encourages those lusty ladies to look for a home instead of a bed.  That sums up the attitude on Catch As Catch Can, which is more about overcoming obstacles than flaunting triumphs—again, what will become of the trio when they are able to shower themselves in ice?

Adeem commands a lot of attention, so much so that it can be easy to neglect what’s going on behind him—and it’s usually a lot.  On “Glupies,” for instance, there’s a dense soul stomp behind him, complete with a live horn section.  A number of other songs cast a broader net, like the self-explanatory “State of the World” and “A Lot to Say,” and Glue generally succeed in making message songs without preaching.  “Beat Beat Beat” is another highlight, featuring an extra blast of urgency from both Adeem and Maker. Maker throws down a heavy dose of funk throughout the album, and keeps Catch As Catch Can moving forward; a few songs don’t distinguish themselves, but it’s not long until Maker & Co. are off onto the next idea and the next beat.