Atmosphere has always felt like rapper Slug pouring his soul into the mic. It feels authentic and refreshing to hear his humble self-reflection. But after a few albums, it also kind of feels like overload. There’s such a thing as too much emotion and strife. That’s not a knock on Atmosphere’s art, but Atmosphere took a break from each other. I’m coming into So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously after a bit of hiatus from their recent work. And I took a couple records off from the band, Atmosphere in 2023 feels more vibrant and refreshing.
I don’t know what Atmosphere means to those outside of the Midwest, but from the opening lines, I’m going to say that the duo is the musical equivalent of comfort music, kicking things off with “It will be okay/ I think that needs to be established,” which quite frankly are words we need to hear in 2023. Combine Slug’s relaxed, parental tone with Ant’s chill beats and the result is relaxing, smooth and familiar. This record feels like a throwback/retrospective that takes the band’s catalog and modernizes it to fit two artists who are now in their mid-40s or so. It reflects their 20s-30s (with lots of Easter eggs), while adding perspective on both successes and failures, but without being too self-indulgent. The key to any personal lyricism is keeping it applicable to your listeners. A memoir isn’t just for the author, after all.
So getting into this record beyond the big picture: I already talked up the relaxed and reflective element but there are some pointed lyrics with hard-hitting beats too. “Dotted Lines” is a personal favorite, referencing the timeless Misfits shirt oversaturation, “Talk Talk” has some big bass distortion, and they even throw in some reggae elements with “Holding My Breath.” It brings a good balance of aggressive beats with chill lyrical flow, ultimately meeting in the middle. There are certainly pop culture references scattered throughout (I had to YouTube verify that the beat of “Thanxiety” wasn’t built off a Futurama key finder effect), and lots of Minnesota references you may or may not get, but also universal analogies about hardship, mental health, and maturation. A guest appearance from Sa-Roc gives some nice variety in the third act segment of the record when things are starting to feel a little long. Not only does the song revive the energy, but it makes me curious to hear more Ant collaborations. The whole record here is good and consistent, but the production really steals the show, blending legacy beats with new ideas.
Like any 20-track album, there are a few misses along the way; it’s just too many tracks to keep it moving on a steady trajectory. A few songs feel more like segues or mini-raps than full songs (a welcome alternative to only-fun-on-the-first-listen skits), and there are a few dud lines. “Sculpting With Fire,” at track #19, is a welcome discordant, experiment in sounds. The changeup helps the record flow, but it would hit a little harder if the record was 10-15 minutes shorter.
It seems that a little time apart can help a relationship sometimes, as I’m really enjoying So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously even if both title and record are a little bit too long. It presents a lot of balance and the best of Atmosphere’s unique style: great production with some thoughtful lyricism that puts you in another’s shoes for an hour.
