Review: Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful
By Travis Boswell, Staff Writer
[Atlantic; 2015]
Rating: 4/5
Key Tracks: “A Light In the Addict,” “Baby Blue,” “Galactic Love”
Action Bronson has been an independent hip-hop favorite for a few years. He's released a handful of albums on the underground circuit and collaborated with nearly every big name in the scene. And instead of changing too much for his major label debut, he doubles down on everything that makes him unique.
Mr. Wonderful sounds like a project Bronson wanted to create since major labels started paying him some attention. It's meticulously crafted but full of his typical manic energy and bounces effortlessly from goofy punchlines to soulful introspection. If he's toning down any aspects from his independent career, it's impossible to tell.
Bronson's infectious charisma is the best part of Mr. Wonderful. Although his voice and rhythm are reminiscent of Ghostface Killah, a 400-page dictionary of rap slang isn't necessary to follow along with Bronson. Even on slower songs he raps with such force that it almost sounds like he's yelling, but it draws attention as opposed to repelling the listener.
Action Bronson is the guy at parties who has a really loud voice, but he's also got great jokes, so it's okay. There are many examples, but one standout is a classic “yo mama” joke that cuts the tension in the middle of the moody “A Light In The Addict.”
“Dog, what the fuck is wrong with your mother? / She got one leg longer than the other.”
The other highlight of Mr. Wonderful is the live instrumentation. “A Light In The Addict” closes with a lovely piano and guitar duet, jazz guitar pulses through the mellow “Terry” and a guitar solo closes album-ender “Easy Rider” perfectly. Bronson clearly has a great deal of creative control over this project despite being tied to a major record label, as it sounds as if he's mixing the music he loves with traditional hip-hop. Hopefully this kicks off a trend of rap albums with live bands, because the combination of hip-hop, rock and blues on Mr. Wonderful makes it immediately stand out from other releases.
The flaw of Mr. Wonderful is Bronson's tendency to ramble, making a few songs fall short of their full potential. “City Boy Blues” is an interesting concept, but Bronson doesn't rap at all on it, making it one of the few skippable tracks. “The Passage” has the same issue, as it meanders on for too long and has no rapping. Finally, “Easy Rider” almost works as a stream-of-consciousness finale, similar to Madvillian's “Rhinestone Cowboy,” but lacks cohesion as Bronson trails off in the middle of verses instead of ending them definitively.
However, these barely dent the quality of the record. Action Bronson has razor sharp wit and unbounded energy through all of Mr. Wonderful. The live drums and guitar enhance each track, and the brief diversions into full-on blues songs or guitar jams somehow fit perfectly. Many of the tracks are seamlessly tied together with subtle transitions, making them enjoyable to listen to in order.
Since he debuted in 2011, Action Bronson is still relatively new to the rap game, but Mr. Wonderful shows so much talent and potential that his next release might be the classic every artist strives for.
