It’s hard for me to nail down a write up on how much I love Atmosphere.
I think it’s easier for me to just show people tracks and was for them to hit me with that “Oh dang” look. Listening to the impeccable duo of Slug (Sean) and Ant (Anthony) drastically evolve since their genesis, it’s clear they have no intent of ever stemming their growth. While their sound has certainly been refurbished over the years, Slug still delivers his powerful personable poetry, and Ant continues to give his all into curating the perfect soundscape for Slug’s content.
On their previous release (Southsiders), Atmosphere was criticized for not being as dark and heavy as their back catalog. That criticism might be carried over to this song as well. Frankly it’s one of the silliest points of critique I’ve ever heard. Fans are essentially complaining that this artist who they love is too happy for their enjoyment. “This Lonely Rose” may have a tinge more sorrow than Southsiders had. However it’s a happy kind of sad, a recognition of the joy in occasional solitude, and Blueprint’s cold but reassuring singing on the hook drives that theme home. Aesop then brings in a standard Aes verse which is to say, excellent by all means. It’s a great track and I’m very excited at the possibility that the next Atmosphere record is on the horizon.