Quarashi: Jinx

Quuarashi: Jinx
Label:
Release Date: 2002
Review Date: 2003

These guys are from Iceland and were in punk bands and now they make very American metal rap. 15 seconds into the lead off track and you get the first “Sucka MCs” reference. It’s all very, very slick and mostly, utterly forgettable. Where these guys get close to being memorable is when they start take an aural and stylistic cue form early Urban Dance Squad, another euro rap guitar hybrid that was original at the time and a lot more fun to listen to. Every time Quarashi approaches that vibe musically or lyrically, they slip into tired conventions, bravado, and blandness. I guess it’s not H√∂ssi (huh’-see) Olafsson’s fault that his voice sounds like a certain member of Rage against the Machine. “Tarfur” is sung in Icelandic. It may sound backwards, but it’s one of the most intersing and memorable tracks onthe record. These guys want to be like Americans and have succed in the worst way. It’s too bad because a lot of the arrangements are pretty good. They’ve got the creative power, but they’re using it for the Emperor and not the Rebellion. Just the kind of crap you’d expect from the juggernaut that is Sony Music. Hell, they’re really young though, and seem to have a good sense of humor. Perhaps something good will come of them.

Online Action: quarashi.net (Can you believe quarashi.com was taken?)
Online Action: timebombrecordings.com
Online Action: columbiarecords.com