D-Sisive - Vaudeville (2010)

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D-Sisive - Vaudeville (2010)

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Derek Christoff (a.k.a. D-Sisive) has quickly established himself as the nation's pre-eminent MC, dropping three albums in the last 18 months alone, not to mention numerous singles and EPs. His latest, Vaudeville, comes a mere half-year after Jonestown, and sees the Ontario artist continue to reinterpret '90s boom-bap beats through his dark and twisted mind. Christoff continues to weave obtuse pop-culture references into his rhymes, checking Lady Gaga ("Ray Charles (Looking For A Star)") and Britney Spears ("The Riot Song") in the process.

Canadian rapper D-Sisive makes for an interesting case study, particularly with his latest full-length project, Vaudeville. For one, he is a remarkably unique rapper as he proved on his 2009 efforts, Let The Children Die and Jonestown. D-Sisive has a particular cadence and energy that exude confidence. Furthermore he has a knack for crafting catchy tracks; his music is at once accessible and smart, which is a great sign for an artist in any genre.

However, for every bit of brilliance on Vaudeville there is at least one more bout of mediocrity begging for the skip button. Various tracks seem rather out of place, such as the gun-touting “Shotgun Wedding” and “The Riot Song.” It’s understandable that D-Sisive may want to step out of character to tackle new rap personas, but the reality falls just short of his vision.

Part of what is so captivating about D-Sisive is his expansive vocabulary that leaves listeners wondering what sort of rhymes he can possibly come up with. But at times, D-Sisive’s vocabulary actually gets him in trouble as it seems as if he’s rhyming for the sake of outlandish rhymes rather than for the sake of actually say something. Of course there are exceptions such as the irresistibly noir-ish “Ray Charles (Looking For A Star)” despite the questionable Lady Gaga reference (there is also a rather distasteful Britney Spears reference earlier).

Vaudeville’s conceptual structure and story-like songs are for the most part highly engaging and interesting. So even when the rhymes seem a bit contrived, the stories tend to hold up for the most part. And did I mention that D-Sisive can be catchy? Tracks like “Liberace,” and the bonus cut “West Coast” (which reworks the Coconut Records track of the same title) both work with pop and rock sensibilities that connect intelligent melodies to the rhymes and hooks. The former uses a sinister set of keys and purposeful vocals from Ron Sexsmith to create an absolute gem of a track.

From start to finish, D-Sisive has put together a good album. Unfortunately there is too much fat that should have been trimmed from this 15-track ordeal. The low points are low (did I say he references Britney?), but the high points are so high that it is undeniable that D-Sisive is onto something special. Vaudeville is still a worthy project for those interested in the true up-and-coming talent in hip-hop.

1. D-Sisive - Vaudeville (Friends Forever) (3:36)
2. D-Sisive - The Riot Song (3:38)
3. D-Sisive - Shotgun Wedding (2:43)
4. D-Sisive - Just an Ostrich (2:43)
5. D-Sisive - Ray Charles (Looking For a Star) (4:08)
6. D-Sisive - The Night My Baby Died (2:54)
7. D-Sisive - Percocet (6:06)
8. D-Sisive - Never Knew Me (3:32)
9. D-Sisive - Liberace (3:18)
10. D-Sisive - Scaredy Cat (3:42)
11. D-Sisive - Wichita (2:29)
12. D-Sisive - I Love a Girl (3:04)
13. D-Sisive - Aeroplane (3:07)
14. D-Sisive - West Coast (3:36)
15. D-Sisive - West Coast Rmx (3:44)