The popularity of R&B and hip-hop has skyrocketed in the past decade thanks to brilliant artists like the Black Eyed Peas and Timbaland bringing an energetic heartbeat rhythm to the club-going demographic. Hip-hop duo Jupiter Rising is part of this movement. Its newest and third album release “The Quiet Hype is further evidence that the genre has not run out of originality and is still climbing in popularity.
Jupiter Rising is comprised of Jessie Payo and Spencer Nezey . The Quiet Hype is the duo’s most full-bodied record yet. It is an electro/dance pop album that uses programmed electro tracks and live instruments to give it a raw power that delivers a pleasurable jolt. It’s a compilation of unique tracks that inspire the listener to cast off the burdens of the day and fling oneself into the carefree nightlife.
Falling Away” is the first track on the album and the intro crescendos into one of the best original songs on the album leaving the listener enthusiastically swaying to the beat. “Over Again” seamlessly blends a punk-rock guitar riff with hip-hop lyrics and is pumped full of energy making this song a favorite. However “Guarded” is a more traditional R&B song resembling a Beyonce or Britney hit and effectively uses a simple piano underlay.
One of the better-known tracks on the album is “L.A. Girls which was featured on the hit television show The Hills.” It’s a shout-out to the duos fashion-obsessed hometown with the memorable refrain “Prada Bag Gucci Shoes Louie V Jimmy Choos.” “Tres Cool however, is a flop. It’s repetitive and annoying as it attempts to remix voices into a beat that just comes off as gibberish.
While the music is generally spectacular, the lyrics fall a bit flat. Few stanzas relate to one another, leaving close listeners in confusion with arched eyebrows. Indeed the purpose of the album is mainly great dancing tunes, but some lyrical polish would accelerate The Quiet Hype” from good to great.
The cover art resembles an 11th hour throw-together something done in basic photoshop by someone with little investment in the band. One would think that an artist who put so much into the tracks would want the cover art to mirror its passion and dedication. With a simple blue crisscross design it looks like something out of TRON an attempt at being futuristic only results in a joke.
The inspiration for the album according to Spencer was everything he wanted to get off his chest. Spencer was able to exercise full creative license on “The Quiet Hype as distractions between band members are resolved. These distractions aside, he, with help from Jessie, has full creative license, and it shows in The Quiet Hype.”
Jupiter Rising has come a long way since its debut in 2006 rising in the popular eye and keeping true to its fans and turning out singles rapidly and consistently. The versatile duo has yet to make it to real mainstream stardom but is well on its way. “The Quiet Hype” boasts a wide breadth of style which is refreshing in a hip-hop album and can be easily classified as a collection of soon-to-be hits.