Sage Francis:
A Healthy Distrust

Release Date: 7 February 2005

Reviewed By: Oli Marlow

1. The Buzz Kill

2. Sea Lion

3. Gunz Yo

4. Escape Artist

5. Product Placement

6. Voice Mail Bomb Threat

7. Dance Monkey

8. Sun Vs Moon

9. Agony In Her Body

10. Crumble

11. Ground Control

12. Lie Detector Test

13. Bridle

14. Slow Down Gandhi

15. Jah Didn't Kill Johnny

Akon - Trouble
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Sage Francis has tirelessly proved himself to be probably the most talented lyricist of the millennium generation, battling emcees the world over. His first long player, ‘Personal Journals’, gained the critical acclaim he had sought for so long and his second release ‘Hope’, under the banner of the group Non Prophets, proved those critics who predicted he’d be a flash in the pan of the underground world of independent hip hop oh so satisfyingly wrong.

Moving from the underground indie label Anticon to the mainstream punk rock label Epitaph was a decision that may have caused some to raise an eyebrow, but failed to impact on any true Sage fans. Those who know his music know that his angst-ridden delivery has always been as punk rock as any release from NOFX… it’s just presented differently with a drum machine instead of a Marshall stack system.

His style and delivery of rapping hasn’t changed much; he’s still as tormented and outspoken as ever, only this time he has the full package behind him to back it up. That’s not to say that his debut ‘Personal Journals’ wasn’t a triumph because it really, truly was the runaway hip hop album of 2002, it’s just the production and attitude of the songs hit harder on ‘A Healthy Distrust’.

Production from Ninja Tune’s finest, Sixtoo, melds seamlessly once again with Sage’s fellow Non Prophet, Joe Beats, as well as Reanimator, Controller 7 and Dangermouse who all add their own stamp to Sage’s overtly eclectic musical backdrop.

Opening track ‘The Buzz Kill’ squeezes exquisitely palatable atmospherics from string samples, before exploding into a lyrical attack on the state of radio stations in America. ‘Dance Monkey’ sounds like an amalgamation of high pitched Prodigy-style vocals set amidst the anger and power of early Rage Against The Machine; whereas the first single ‘Sea Lion’, featuring the vocal and musical stylings of Will Oldham, permeates ear drums with a slightly uneasy feeling blend of melancholy vocals and big beats courtesy of Anticon aficionado Alias.

‘Product Placement’ eases its way into your life with sweetly reversed guitar loops, then when combined with a unification of open hats and snares stands out as one of the best tracks on the album. The tone then morphs into something more aggressive, as ‘Sun vs. Moon’ provides Sage with ample opportunity to vent frustration about the representation of religion.

This area of lyrical experimentation is where Sage Francis has always excelled; with his unique slice of intelligent rhymes and ‘do-it-yourself’ ethos, he’s produced some of the most powerful verses that force you to look introspectively at yourself, from the way you’ve acted right down to the way you think.

No one in the world of music is making the same waves as Sage Francis. If you want clever lyrics and sceptically beautiful music intertwined with some of the best hip hop that will be released this decade, then get a hold of ‘A Healthy Distrust’ and let Sage Francis work his magic fingers, taking over your mind.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Top 3:

2) Sea Lion
5) Product Placement
7) Dance Monkey

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