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Apr 21, 2011There are some tracks on this record I don't appreciate much now as a college student in my early 20s, but I can guarantee as I get older and more mature, I will find this album more relatable and more enjoyable.
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Apr 12, 2011The best songs are like these-sad, minimal, and instrument-driven.
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Jun 21, 2011The Family Sign is a strong continuation and addition to a powerful series of modern rap albums. It's bigger than past records and heavier, a nice combination that genuinely puts the listener into an emotional flux.
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May 13, 2011The album still possesses enough of the classic Slug and Ant material that the underground has come to love that it will prove a welcome addition to their catalog.
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Alternative PressApr 12, 2011"You outgrew the sum of your parts," he raps at one point; that line describes the mature and masterful The Family Sign, as well. [May 2011, p.92]
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Apr 11, 2011The Family Sign is a heavy, moody album. There's not nearly as much humor here as with Atmosphere's previous two releases, but that doesn't make it any less of a quality addition to the group's catalogue.
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Apr 26, 2011You have to be a fan of either or both men going in, and IF you are, then the sheer force of their persona and their political viewpoint won't be off-putting to you. Newcomers beware, this album is not the place to start.
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Apr 19, 2011As the album's title suggests, Slug primarily concerns himself here with matters of home and family, but it's hardly a Hallmark affair.
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Dec 7, 2011Anyone intrigued by the idea of emo-rap at its most introspective will find this a well-crafted and moving effort, while returning Atmosphere fans get the satisfying usual with some extra maturity and growth.
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Jun 13, 2011It's difficult to ignore that a significant amount of The Family Sign emits a passing impression that Slug plucked several emotive subjects from a hat, then challenged himself to use them as a writing framework.
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Apr 18, 2011While Sean Slug Daley's heartfelt lyrics, reflecting humorously on fatherhood, love and loss, are given full vent by producer Ant, the addition once again of keyboardist Erick Anderson and guitarist Nate Collis brings Atmosphere's trademark sound to another level.
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Apr 13, 2011The Family Sign finds Atmosphere back on his old level of sharp self-criticism, but the album is also a step forward for the whole group.
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Apr 11, 2011It has already been proven that serious topics are not beyond Atmosphere's grasp, and The Family Sign takes a second or third listen to fully absorb, but this album is certifiable proof that the dark side has a melody.
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Aug 3, 2011The Family Sign commits a few of hip hop's cardinal sins and doesn't provide nearly enough justification for doing so.
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May 20, 2011The Family Sign could break your heart, but you'll be happy it did.
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Apr 12, 2011The Family Sign is mature in its way, soured by age and wisdom, but it's no fun.
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Apr 11, 2011It's still a decent addition to Atmosphere's discography, but if you're expecting something on the level of GodLovesUgly or When Life Gives You Lemons..., you may want to look elsewhere first.
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Apr 13, 2011While the instrumentation of When Life Gives You Lemons signaled a wealth of potential new directions for Atmosphere's production, The Family Sign runs almost entirely on gloomy ballads heavy on maudlin piano chords and keening guitar riffs.
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Apr 12, 2011Eschewing the dynamic pop and soul flourishes that made Lemons something of a crossover vehicle, The Family Sign is simply flat.
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Apr 7, 2011No longer the self-obsessed antihero, Slug continues his shift to serious storyteller, but the narratives here lack coherence and detail, while the music - ominous piano, lonely guitar - feels sketchy, like partial demos.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 15 out of 17
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Mixed: 2 out of 17
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Negative: 0 out of 17
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Jan 8, 2016
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Dec 23, 2012
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May 2, 2011