Search - Quarashi :: Jinx

The Best Beastie Boys Album in Years:

B. Erwin | 09/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hailing from the land of Bjork and Vikings, Iceland's Quarashi mix one part Beastie Boys (circa "Paul's Boutique"), one part guitar-laden techno and one part quirky Icelandic eccentricity on their amazing debut "Jinx."

While the current rap-rock, nu-metal ilk rely heavily on the ignorant hip-hop guise of thug life, pimpin' and drugs Quarashi sidestep all of that in favor of liberal doses of intelligence, wit and actual creativity (a rare breed in today's musical climate).

Making allusions to the likes of J.D. Salinger, Charles Manson, Star Wars and their unconventional roots, the three emcees in Quarashi appear far more concerned with lyrical content and clever rhymes and subject matter than "bling-blingin'." The group also manages to avoid rap-rock cliches of bitter, pilfered ennui and ranting perpetrated by the likes of Fred Durst and the horde of bands he has spawned.

Tracks like the eclectic mishmash of samples and live music on "Mr. Jinx" and the thumping and appropriately titled "Bassline" ring with a uniqueness the likes of the (current) Beastie Boys and Linkin Park can't touch.

Dabbling in tasteful and unconventional samples coupled with heavy guitar lines, tacks like "Jinx's" first single "Stick `Em Up" and the angsty "Weirdo" are a breath of fresh air in a musical climate laced with unrightfully angry artists without any penchant for originality whatsoever.

Even on what I can only presume is the world's first rap record in Icelandic, "Tarfur," the emcees in Quarashi sound lyrically tight and catchy despite the fact that I have absolutely no idea what any of them are saying.

As a whole, "Jinx" is ancredibly catchy and original and proves that Iceland has far more to offer than hearty meade and horribly pretentious, swan-wearing pop artists."