Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines
by Shabazz Palaces
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
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  1. Magnet
    Jul 18, 2017
    60
    Gangster Star features a much stronger single (the idyllic "Shine A Light"), while Jealous Machines waders a bit further into the narrative forest. [No. 144, p.59]
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  2. Under The Radar
    Jul 18, 2017
    60
    The Jealous Machines, in contrast [to Born on a Gangster Star], strikes less of a balance. It's wordier, with no strictly instrumental tracks, and its conceptual bent is more instrumental to the essence of the LP.
  3. DIY Magazine
    Jul 14, 2017
    60
    There’s a deep hip hop pulse to many of the tracks, which sometimes transform themselves into jungle beats, usually accompanied by galactic synth stabs and waves of sound that transport the listener to a cosmic plane.
  5. Record Collector
    Jul 7, 2017
    60
    While the concept may be suitably unhinged and the music boundary pushing, little of it ultimately sticks in the mind.
  6. PopMatters
    Jul 31, 2017
    50
    The two albums fail to cohere both sonically and conceptually. Throughout, Butler’s approach begins to wear a bit thin.
  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.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  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.… Full Review »
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