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100

Alternative Press

An album that's for neither hardcore hip-hop fans nor punk rockers, but for everyone. [Nov 2005, p.224]

RapReviews.com

The first overwhelmingly happy Atmosphere record.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

This all could have been a drag in the hands of a rapper with less self-awareness or sense of humor, or without access to the deft production skills of Atmosphere beatmaster Ant.

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Billboard

[Atmosphere] has never sounded as pointed and focused as it does here on its fifth album. [8 Oct 2005]

Blender

The struggles to get over energize [Slug] far more than the perks of minor celebrity. [Nov 2005, p.131]

Urb

Both a return to form and a major step forward. [Dec 2005, p.94]

Spin

At times, it seems like mid-level fame yields too many tour-based gripes for Slug. [Nov 2005, p.103]

cokemachineglow

But despite the hit-and-miss subject matter you can’t ever get mad. [Slug]consistently does a fantastic job with his (underrated) delivery, which has improved drastically over the last three records.

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Splendid

Slug hasn't grown a whole lot.... Still, his lyricism and delivery are generally smart and entertaining, and Ant's production goes even further toward making You Can't Imagine... a thoroughly enjoyable record.

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Prefix Magazine

At this point in his career, Slug seems fully aware of his own routine, and he’s either embracing it with a cheeky self-confidence (read: he’s getting boring) or he’s run out of interesting things to say but still feels like he’s somehow controversial in his honesty.

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PopMatters

You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having is proof that even in the world of indie hip-hop, you don't need to make a statement album to make a solid album.

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Dusted Magazine

It's not as good as Ugly, but it's not as bad as Travels, and it's a welcome step in the right direction.

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Pitchfork

Like Blackalicious' recent The Craft, it displays a real hard-earned competency, something a decade of recording together will get you. But the lyrics lack transcendence or resonance.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

Unfortunately, the focal point of the album is not on the music, but instead on Slug's lyrics, which have matured at a much slower pace than Ant's slick production.

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Stylus Magazine

The result may be, in a manner of speaking, the most consistent Atmosphere album to date. That is, You Can’t Imagine is consistently okay.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mar gave it a9:
I don't normally like rap, but I made an exeption for a few and I make an exception here. Smart lyrics, great warm sound, anger and emotion. Love.

Richard M gave it a10:
One of the most exciting albums, Ive been a listener since I hard the bad dub album that my step sis had. Since the show that I saw last night. There is so much energy going through and where he plays. Its pure genius how he get everything going. No matter what happens to ant and slug, il be right behind them.

stephen h gave it an8:
best album yet!

Doug B gave it a10:
I have been a fan of Atmosphere since The Lucy Ford LP, and I can definitely attest to the fact that this is the group's most streamlined release since Lucy Ford. It was in my cd player when I initially bought it for nearly a month, and I still cycle it into rotation every week. Slug seems more elated than he has on previous EP's... But his lyrical delivery and sense of connection with his listers have never been more on point. I rate this album a 10 due to the solidity of each track, and Ant's beats are so dead-on that any fan of Atmosphere would definitely not hold back on agreeing on that note alone. Kudos to everyone who makes Atmosphere the group that they represent to their fans.

T Fieldy gave it a10:
Songs, swarm around your head and leave you with a solid neck ache. Classic album which reaches into the past to show us the future.

sasha l gave it a9:
dope. took a couple listens to hit the movement of slugs verbage. ant shines, and we get some ALMOST mainstream style beats and tracks, like arrive and musical chairs, with some non-mainstream lyrics and thought. if you didn't really feel this, give it another try.

Bronx Bob gave it a9:
Excellent album, far more consistent than previous outings.

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