I’ve never really got into hip hop in a big way and with this album I still haven’t. It all sounds pretty familiar and maybe The Auditorium Vol.1 is the vanilla cheesecake of hip hop, a safe entry level commercial approach which despite some sweary bits (although I wasn’t really tuned into them) would be safe enough to be playing in the background at a family gathering. In fact, I may well listen again whilst cooking or checking emails. I won’t be totally engaging with the tunes but would enjoy it enough to keep it on – I admit to bobbing my head along at times, the same way I used to with De La Soul. But I don’t want a nostalgia sound, I want something fresh.
Common has a voice that is a bit monotonous and unfortunately I’m not a great fan of other work he’s done – especially the acting side of things. I’m sure he’s not too bothered about people like me!
I’d hoped this album would challenge and surprise me but it didn’t meet those marks. I had dipped into some hip hop last year and enjoyed the more complex approach of Lil Yachty and Aesop Rock, to the point where I was listening to their material daily for a month or so.
I will play The Auditorium Vol.1 again a few more times… maybe something will click.
Hard to choose standouts given that the formula is all the same, so I won’t.
A generous 6/10
