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Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines
by
Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

  • Summary: One of two concept albums released on the same day for the hip-hop duo of Ishmael Butler and Tendai "Baba" Maraire about a being from another world named Quazars was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Sunny Levine (grandson of Quincy Jones).
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. The Line of Best Fit
    Aug 7, 2017
    85
    Both albums [Quazarz: Born On A Gangsta Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines] deliver uneasy commentary on modern times, and the music that supports it is as equally challenging.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Jul 14, 2017
    83
    Both albums create worlds unto themselves. The gauzy, sensual Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machines highlights the duo’s more melodic side, moving from lust and consummation to a film-noir spy flick, pursued by nebulous internet drones.
  3. Uncut
    Jul 7, 2017
    80
    A sweltering sun-baked quality. Lyrically, meanwhile, the concept--of discomfort with technology--comes a little more into focus here. [Aug 2017, p.31]
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  4. The Skinny
    Jul 10, 2017
    80
    This uncompromising obscurity will turn off some, and understandably so. Beneath that, the band are writing songs that make floating into oblivion sound appealing.
  5. Prefix Magazine
    Jul 20, 2017
    80
    The tensions on the second record take on new, fascinating layers as you go back to the perspective laid out on Born on a Gangster Star. The two also clash musically, sometimes echoing one another, sometimes conflicting. But both albums reward repeated listens.
  6. Pitchfork
    Jul 14, 2017
    79
    This time around, the edges of the Quazarz universe feel smoother, the ride less jarring. The low end is still intense, but it feels more like a deep tissue massage than a trunk-rattling rumble.
  7. The Quietus
    Jul 21, 2017
    50
    The album is by no means horrible, just disappointing and repetitive, chock full of revamped old school rhythms that don’t have the gratifying content to match. A good handful of songs--‘When Cats Claw’, ‘Since C.A.Y.A’, ‘Fine Ass Hairdresser’, ‘Julian’s Dream’, ‘Moon Whip Quäz’ and ’30 Clip Extension’--deserve to be judged independently.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. ZXQaos
    Jul 26, 2017
    7
    In contrast to its somewhat underwhelming counterpart, The Jealous Machines makes for Shabazz's most cohesive project since their debut.In contrast to its somewhat underwhelming counterpart, The Jealous Machines makes for Shabazz's most cohesive project since their debut. Between Butler's focused lyricism and Maraire's dense, but not indulgent, synthetic production, the two make a solid return to form as one of hip hop's most abstract experimental artists.… Expand