Doomtree: "Beacon"

Today, Juke Box Hero brings home the bacon--er, beacon.

It can’t be easy being a musical collective. I mean, it can’t be easy being in any kind of creative group where there’s no defined leader and everyone contributes independently while creating art collectively. But music is especially difficult, because there are so many strong personalities; that’s why you mainly see solo singer-songwriters or groups with a distinct lead singer/lead creative. Or you see groups split up when creatives clash.

But the Minneapolis-based "alternative hip hop" ensemble Doomtree carries the "collective" banner as well as anyone. Though each of the members has a role, there is no clear leader, just contributors going in turn, making plenty of room for the others – a feat, given that the group is comprised of DJs and performers, many of whom run their own gigs on the side. The stage looks a little crowded, actually, but they share it effectively, and the overall sound you hear is the thriving product of all those minds working together.

Hip hop is not necessarily my thing, and it may not be yours either, dear Reader. But fear not: If you like a good, fatty beat, solid female vocals, intelligent (and fantastically articulated – more on that later) lyrics, and high-energy performance, you WILL like Doomtree. In the electronics-heavy "Beacon" and others, they’re able to fuse more genres like alt rock and R&B into a broader musical performance than many of their hip hop peers. Can you feel yourself crossing over yet?

They get me most of the way there – into their camp, I mean, not into a pure, unadulterated love of all hip hop – as their sound is quirky. It’s almost too good: too clean, the transitions too planned, the rap enunciations too immaculate and too pronounced. I’ve just started listening to them and I can’t tell if it’s something I’ll grow to appreciate more or less.

In a genre that’s characteristically slurred, slick, and grimy, these guys are crisp. You take notice, and maybe that’s a good thing. And with so many individuals throwing their weight around, to have such a well-organized execution should be considered pretty darn impressive. So let’s go with that.