bars: A Review by Rhythmer, Part 2

Even within similar sounds, each track paints a different scene. "Modern Art" features a somber synthesizer that subtly echoes Nas's "N.Y. State of Mind" behind the rap. "ROCK RIGHT NOW" injects vitality into the rhythm by placing a voice sample front and center. "Nostalgia," with its synthesizer intermittently spreading over mellow keys, creates the song's flow by following small changes in sound. This arrangement maintains a retro texture while preventing the nine tracks from sounding monotonous. Paloalto's rap flows flexibly over these beats. He naturally transitions from one story to the next, maintaining his rhyme scheme, and even without distinct moments of emphasis, the verses remain engaging until the end. The uninhibited monologue in "ROCK RIGHT NOW," the self-statement in "Under Rapper," and the long retrospective in "511" offer both the pleasure of following the lyrical narrative and the enjoyment of listening to the rap itself. Without relying on a single standout technique, he leads the entire song persuasively.