Russian Roulette - The Alchemist
Russian Roulette Image
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 4 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Alan Maman moves from the producer chair to the mic for his third solo album as The Alchemist that includes guest appearances from such artists as Action Bronson, Danny Brown, Guilty Simpson, Fashawn, Roc Marciano, and Schoolboy Q.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. HipHopDX
    Jul 23, 2012
    90
    Although it feels druggy and improvisational at times, the outcome is soberingly great.
  2. All Music Guide
    Sep 5, 2012
    80
    This cohesive piece is still dotted with stand-out moments.
  3. PopMatters
    Oct 8, 2012
    70
    Russian Roulette turns out to be less about stepping out from behind the velvet curtain, and more about the magic he can weave from behind it.
  4. Dusted Magazine
    Oct 12, 2012
    50
    For most of its runtime, highlights included, the album is mired in the same self-drowning-out that afflicts the best of its ilk.

See all 9 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. Wildstylus
    8
    A whirlwind tour through a diverse world of Russian musical samples and related soundbites mixed with banging Alchemist beats. Alchemist concocts a fast-changing musical soundscape accompanied by a range of decent rapping performances from various underground contemporaries. The short track lengths and brisk rate at which different samples come and go is a double-edged sword: some of the results are spectacularly good, verging on classic hip hop, and you wish they were given a bit more time to mature and sink in. Other parts are messy and uninteresting, but then you don't have to wait long till you're back onto the good stuff.

    To appreciate this work, it needs to be listened to as a complete album. Preferably several times in a row - and I haven't felt that way about a CD in years. This is not your typical run-of-the-mill hip hop album, and as such, will appeal to listeners looking for something a bit different from whatever else is around at the moment. Refreshingly good work from a talented producer/DJ.    … Expand

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