N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo
By Nick Manteris · 0 Comments · Leave a Comment
N.A.S.A. (North America/South America) is a collaboration between Sam “Squeak E. Clean” Spiegel and DJ Zegon and The Spirit of Apollo features a nearly unbelievable selection of guest artists. (David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift of Gab, Z-Trip, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, Method Man, E-40, DJ Swamp, RZA, Barbie Hatch, John Frusciante, KRS-One, Fatlip, Slim Kid Tre, Karen O, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Tom Waits, Kool Keith, Kanye West, Santogold, Lykke Li, Sizzla, Amanda Blank, Lovefoxxx, Clinton, Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold, Nick Zinner, Kool Kojak, DJ Babão, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, DJ Qbert, The Cool Kids, Ghostface Killah, DJ AM, Scarface and Nina Persson.) The video for the first single, “Money,” is based on the awesome propaganda artwork of Shepard Fairey, who is probably best known for designing the Barack Obama “HOPE” poster.
Speigel and Zegon explain the goal of this project in the intro with a collection of samples that set the appropriate mood before the guests appear. Given the inordinate number of contributors, the songs here have the potential to either be exceedingly great or catastrophically terrible, but, for good and bad, neither extreme is represented on this release. “Way Down,” “Strange Enough,” “Gifted” and “Samba Soul” stand out from the rest of the pack, but none of them are exceptional. Most of the tracks are average (but still worth a listen) and the only weak links on the album are “There's a Party” and “O Pato.”
- Score
- 69%
The Spirit of Apollo would be an impressive release even if it were only based on the people that they managed to get to lend their talents to the album, but in addition to that, N.A.S.A. managed to craft some good songs…proving that Siegel and Zegon are a team to watch in the future. And imagine the guest stars they will get for their next release.
