P.O.S. – Never Better

Band: P.O.S.
Album: Never Better
Genre: Rap
Label: Rhymesayers

Tracks:
1. Let It Rattle
2. Drumroll
3. Savion Glover
4. Purexed
5. Graves
6. Goodbye
7. Get Smokes
8. Been Afraid
9. Low Light Low Life
10. The Basics
11. Out Of Category
12. Optimist
13. Terrorish
14. Never Better
15. The Brave and The Snake

After a 3-year period in which he embarked on a nationwide tour with Gym Class Heroes and RX Bandits, held down a slot on the Vans Warped Tour and had his van broken into and gear stolen, Doomtree/Rhymesayers artist P.O.S returns with his third album, Never Better.

On Never Better, P.O.S continues the process of essentially creating his own genre; seamlessly fusing hip-hop, punk rock and hardcore into one definitive sound. Opening with an unaccompanied, free flowing rhyme that builds into a heavy beat with a solid hook, “Let It Rattle” summarizes what the record can be: calm, frenzied, catchy, abrasive – and all around addicting.

What keeps Never Better fresh is the sonic diversity of the album: no two songs are alike. The frantic snare drum and grinding guitars on “Drumroll” invoke thoughts of circle pits, while the simplicity of “Savion Glover” sounds like an ode to late 80’s break dance tracks. “Purexed” showcases P.O.S’s ability to blend dynamics, featuring a minimalist verse before blasting into a hectic snare and cymbal driven chorus. “Goodbye” and “Low Light Low Life” are classic, polished (dare I say, radio friendly?) hip-hop tracks, while “Graves (We Wrote the Book)” and “Terrorish” sound grimy enough to make Trent Reznor jealous. Vocally, P.O.S proves that he is not only capable of spitting with machine gun like accuracy (“Get Smokes”), but also being able to vary his flow to adapt to the beat (“Never Better”).

What’s even more unique about this record is its underlying message. Never Better is motivating. In a society where youth musically idolizes either the over glamorous or the ultra emo, P.O.S speaks with an honest, realistic, confident voice. The record carries a theme that, no matter where you are, or who you are, you can do better, and you deserve better. It encourages perseverance and never settling for anything less than what makes you the most content.

With Never Better, P.O.S further establishes himself as an infectious new breed of hip-hop artist, and one that won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. If you invest in one hip-hop record this year, make it this one. Words on a screen absolutely can’t do it justice; you just have to hear it.

Oh, and if you don’t buy this album, a loophole in a bill passed through Congress last year will allow George Bush to enter back into office.

Go buy it kids, for America.

*Written By: Drew Behringer*
Score: 9.5/10

James Shotwell
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