Prefuse 73: Security Screenings

Context is everything. I realize this about mid-way through Prefuse 73's album Security Screenings. Not that this is something of which I was completely unaware, but y'know, I tend to forget it at times.



I had started writing what I thought to be a very fair, albeit negative, review of the album.

"He's had the solid debut of Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives, the stellar follow-up with One Word Extinguisher, and the subsequent let-down in Surrounded by Silence. Just where has the prolific Mr. Scott Herren taken himself now?"

So I am half-heartedly writing, and also looking for other things to do, noting that my LPs are vastly out of order, and I think, "damn, this Prefuse 73 record doesn't even come close to the brilliance of some of these records."

Then I look up on the top shelf, where i've thoughtlessly placed my iPod Shuffle that is in disrepair, well not just disrepair, I accidentally kicked the thing, and it's broke-ass. I can still listen to highlights from the Rhino Girl Group box set, but that's only until this final charge holds on. Anyway, that's not important right now. What's important is that i'm looking at my iPod, and track 9, "Creating Cyclical Headaches" comes on, and in the midst of thinking to myself, "when would I ever listen to this Prefuse 73 album?" it hits me—this shit is epic. This is huge. Thisis technology that has been perfected, broken, eulogized, and reassembled. This is the song that would play at my iPod's funeral, if I were to have a funeral like that.

And in that moment, the entire album shifts for me—it's no longer the same retread of old stuff I thought it to be—it's really good. And it gets better. Track 12, "No Origin" is a definite highlight, hitting the same highs, (and in some cases the same samples) as One Word Extinguisher. It ends well too; the guest spot on the last track surprises me... it's Babatunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio. I hadn't expected their vocal harmonies to mesh so well with the densely chopped layers of Prefuse 73's work. But they do. And it seems to me that it isa perfect song to put on my iPod and listen to on my way to work.

But I can't.

posted by brettish @ 5:39 PM