:: Gym Class Heroes - Papercut Chronicles

Gym Class Heroes

The Papercut Chronicles, the first full-length album from Geneva’s Gym Class Heroes. The follow-up on The Papercut EP, these eighteen songs have built on what was laid down there, but it still keeps you wondering. Rather than relying on loops and samples, Gym Class Heroes use live instruments for their brand of hip-hop. It would be the assumption of most that this could give the album welcome variety. But it doesn’t quite work out satisfactorily. The instrumentation tends to be fresh at first, but it drags on by the middle of the album because most of the guitar and percussion sounds similar to what we’d heard previously. There are times where the bassist lays down some tight grooves but it gets lost in the background. The potential that might have been there isn’t truly demonstrated. The main focus, however, is on the MC, Schleprock. He has a wily, witty sense about him and it translates well into his rhymes. While Schleprock’s wit is quite evident, his lack of energy on some tracks really do hurt the flow, as it can give the listener the distinct impression that the band is doing nothing other than going through the motions. This album is definitely something different. If you’re looking for a rap album with synthetic beats, forget it. At least the listener has a chance to hear something new, but still the hip-hop band hasn’t progressed like it indicated before. We’ll wait for the next package.