| Play with Toys | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1992 [1] | |||
| Genre | Alternative hip hop | |||
| Length | 40:59 | |||
| Label | Imago | |||
| Producer | Michael Ivey | |||
| Basehead chronology | ||||
| ||||
Play with Toys is the debut album by American alternative hip hop group Basehead. It was voted one of the top 50 albums of 1992 in Q magazine, [2] and listed as number 43 in NME 's top albums of 1992. [3]
The music style of Play with Toys fuses elements of rock, blues, [4] [5] funk, [6] hip hop, [7] pop, [7] psychedelic [8] and reggae, [9] and was described as an alternative hip hop "cult favorite". [7] David Jeffries described Play with Toys as "slacker rap". [1] According to Michael Ivey, "There are hip-hop elements in there, but if a hardcore hip-hop fan bought it, they might be disappointed". [9] Ivey also stated that Basehead's music "doesn't have the expected samples and sounds." [10] The lyrical themes of Play with Toys focus on diverse subjects, including alcohol and marijuana use, [5] depression, [1] philosophy, [4] politics, [4] and relationship breakups. [4] Francis Davis wrote that Ivey's lyrics "[subvert] both rock music and gangsta-rap conventions." [5] The instrumentation of Play with Toys was created largely with live instruments rather than samples, which differentiates the album's sound from that of mainstream hip hop. [10] Instruments were altered with studio techniques for effect, [10] and Ivey altered the pitch of his voice for sketches in which he voiced the friends of the album's protagonist. Ivey's vocals mix singing and rapping. [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Chicago Tribune | [11] |
| Christgau's Consumer Guide |  [12] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [13] |
| Q | [14] |
| Rolling Stone | [4] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10 [15] |
Rolling Stone reviewer Kevin Powell wrote that "Without being preachy, Basehead's unconventional style challenges listeners to get beyond their basic instincts and open their minds, search their souls." [4]
All tracks are written by Michael Ivey
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | 1:02 |
| 2. | "2000 BC" | 4:15 |
| 3. | "Brand New Day" | 4:52 |
| 4. | "Not Over You" | 4:38 |
| 5. | "Better Days" | 3:09 |
| 6. | "Ode to My Favorite Beer" | 3:42 |
| 7. | "Hair" | 3:48 |
| 8. | "Evening News" | 4:37 |
| 9. | "I Try" | 3:53 |
| 10. | "Play with Toys" | 4:03 |
| 11. | "Outro" | 2:56 |
| Total length: | 40:59 | |
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