Looking past the mouthful of words that make up the title of Atmosphere’s fifth studio release, the listener comes across an above-average effort from a socially conscious rap duo. From beginning to end, Atmosphere’s latest work is rife with well-executed rhymes and well-assembled beats.

So yeah, the music is good, but what is it good for? Well, that’s a totally different ballgame. Don’t think you can slap on this CD at a party, then expect people to start bumpin’ and grindin,’ When Life Gives You Lemons… is nothing like that. Rather, the album really needs to be listened to if you are going to fully appreciate how good it is. A casual listen won’t pick up any sense of heartbreak, any regret, or any loss that play such a big role in the work; it’s music that the listener has to learn to appreciate and enjoy.

Still, once that commitment has been made the album is gravy, just know that going into it. Atmosphere isn’t like most anything you’ve heard before, and that isn’t always a bad thing.

Download:
Can’t Break, Yesterday, Shoulda Known

Sounds like:
The Roots, Dilated Peoples

Listen to it when:
You have a long car ride with nothing else to think about.