4/5
Do you have any idea of the chaos you have caused around here? Nobody knows what you’re doing!’ No truer words could unleash K-OS’ newest foray into, well, whatever he feels like. ON Yes!, Canada’s hip-hop prince swings back to B-boyism over pop-culture pickings. Sound strange? It gets better.
K-OS proclaims: ‘I am not indie rock/ I am West-indie hip-hop’ (whatever that means) on ‘Zambony.’ A club-heavy bass and handclap beat fiercen the opera trills, and violin staccato frames a flippant chorus.
‘I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman’ boldly samples ‘mdash; wait for it ‘mdash; Phantom Planet’s ‘California.’ Guitar riffs slice through piano chords as Greenwald’s voice is playfully modified atop a bass ‘n’ snare thump.
‘4, 3, 2, 1’ returns to the ’90s, sampling Pharcyde’s ‘Soul Flower (Remix)’ spliced with K-OS’ countdown (a la Feist) while a subtle piano smoothes the flow. But ‘FUN!’ is the album’s kingpin, mixing a classic drumbeat with distorted guitar/keyboards with a racing string orchestra. On ‘The Avenue,’ love muscles flex for a pseudo-reggae brew of cymbals and side drums. ‘And I don’t need you to say you don’t love me/ If you don’t/ ‘Cuz I love you anyway,’ he purrs.
Yes!’s only downfall is ‘Mr. Telephone Man,’ a drippy mash of phone beeps between a boring 1-2-1 bass beat (maybe he’s phoning Soulja Boy). Otherwise, K-OS proves, once again, that nothing can cramp his style ‘mdash; even when sampling pop’s shiniest stars.