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Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All made a mark in 2011 that won’t be soon forgotten. The group rose from being every blogger’s darling to Internet superstardom, thanks to the exploits of the group’s de facto leader Tyler, the Creator and his controversial album Goblin. While Odd Future became known for its exploits, the group’s various members made it a point to display how strong they were individually. The group’s live DJ and lone female member Syd Tha Kid formed The Internet with fellow Odd Future producer Matt Martians, and the result is Purple Naked Ladies.
From the start of Purple Naked Ladies, it becomes abundantly clear that The Internet bears few similarities to anything else coming out of the Odd Future camp. Instead of Tyler, the Creator’s jagged, horror-themed imagery, The Internet offers up soulful, electronic compositions that aren’t all that challenging—aside from lyrics and song titles such as “Cunt” and “Cocaine.”
While the album sees Odd Future member Left Brain make an appearance, much of the record focuses on Syd Tha Kid and Martians’ respective production work. Sadly, there is not much of Purple Naked Ladies that truly stands out. It deftly recalls what a soul record should sound like, but it lacks the components that make that term hold any weight. Syd’s vocal work is impressive, but she fails to truly evoke anything.
Instead of pulling the listener in and allowing the sentiments to resonate, The Internet merely seems to compose this music because it is different from the rest of Odd Future’s output. It’s not so much that the duo isn’t adept at producing as much as it is a lack of heart that keeps Purple Naked Ladies from being effective.
Over the course of the 14 tracks that make up Purple Naked Ladies, there is little that differentiates one track from the next. As the album progresses it feels more like a vast collection of similar electronics bleeps than it does a cohesive record. There is no doubt that the album has its merits—the aforementioned “Cocaine” boasts strong production and a great vocal melody—but there is little variation from the formula that The Internet establishes at the album’s onset.
If The Internet is trying to prove that it can stand out from its associates, it is failing rather gloriously. However, if it were to integrate these soulful elements into future Odd Future releases, it could make for a much more interesting collective. As it stands, Purple Naked Ladies is nothing more than Syd Tha Kid and Martians’ attempt at branching out from the Odd Future tag. It may be a noble endeavor, but the execution is lacking in almost every way.
The Internet – Purple Naked Ladies tracklist:
- “Violet Nude Women”
- “They Say/Shangrila” (featuring Tay Walker)
- “She Dgaf”
- “Cunt”
- “Cocaine/Tevie” (featuring Left Brain)
- “Ode to a Dream” (featuring Kilo Kish and Coco O.)
- “Gurl” (featuring Pyramid Vritra)
- “Love Song -1”
- “Lincoln” (featuring Mike G and Left Brain)
- “Web of Me”
- “She Knows”
- “Fastlane”
- “Visions” (featuring Coco O.)
- “The Garden”
