Record Review - The Falcon Lords: Straight from the Center of Their Volcano Lair

The Falcon Lords have arrived to rescue entertainment from self-serious musicians. Certainly the idea of costumed superheroes dovetails nicely with the braggadocio implicit in a large swath of hip-hop. They boast about their underground lair, warning that if “you look in my eye, you might die/super villains are so shook they don’t even try.” Sadly, Falcon City’s saddled with a corrupt mayor who spends the public’s “dough on hoes/driving round in limos/wearing all those fancy clothes.” It’s an amusing, well-executed concept bolstered by strong beats, amusing rhymes and memorable melodies. In addition to their superpowers, the Falcon Lords rhapsodize about a lady who transforms from chopper into hot chick (“Metallic Vagina”) and their producer’s mad, booty-busting skills (“Wizzy Does It”). The 11-track, 30-minute album (which naturally features a comic book) traverses a variety of styles with enough wit and poise to transcend its gimmicky nature and stand up to repeated listening. 4 out of 5 stars.