CD Review: Ultraklystron’s “Opensource Lyricist” is truth set to rhymes

I don’t usually review music, at least, so I thought.  Then I realized, I critique the music in games, what’s different?  Well, aside from it not necessarily having to fit a mood, not much.  And thus I dive into Karl Olson’s new CD: “Opensource Lyricist”.

Let me get this out of the way now: the CD’s title track, and second track, just didn’t do it for me.  The title track felt almost forced, the lyrics sounded rushed to fit the music.  Like the artist wanted to say a lot, but it didn’t really fit the tempo of the song.  Track two (”Earn It”) just felt a bit… bland.  But most people will find that on every single CD, there are one or two tracks you just don’t feel, but that doesn’t make the CD any less awesome.

Which is what the rest of the CD is: awesome.  After a rocky start, our nerdcore MC (known as “Ultraklystron”) finds his pace and begins to rock the mic, specifically the song about Anime Destroyer 4Kids.  That’s one song I could, and did, listen to repeatedly.  It’s truth set to rhyme, and that’s always cool.

But there is, sadly, one more problem: it all sort of blends together.  Aside from the track slamming 4Kids, nothing really stood out.  It was all good.  It flowed, it was awesome.  But nothing jumped off the CD as “Yes.  This could be a hit single.”  Do I recommend the CD?  Highly.  It’s enjoyable to listen to, but it won’t be one of those CDs that stays stuck in your player for more than a week.  You’ll switch it in and out, especially to unleash your inner hip-hop nerd, but you won’t use it as background music during your favorite MMO.

Karl Olson’s CD “Opensource Lyricist” can be purchased at his website.