Brick Body Kids Still Daydream pays tribute to Open Mike Eagle’s housing project, the Robert Taylor Homes, which he grew up in on Chicago’s South Side. Amidst the album Open Mike Eagle subtly navigates the dynamics of that upbringing– the hopes, the dreams, the bruised reality of living in a housing project filled with violence. The album’s sonic palette reflects those dichotomic realities– it’s experimental and spacy at times, uneven and disorienting in others, but ultimately an honest and straightforward album no matter where it floats off to in the atmosphere. The blended elements of indie hip-hop, electronic music, and alternative R&B are complemented by an atmospheric background that feels expansive in every bar. And it all works due to Eagle’s effortless flow that remains conversational and introspective every step of the way. It’s a distinct journey deserving of the life journey being told across each of the 12 songs.
Standout Songs: “(How Could Anybody) Feel at Home”, “Happy Wasteland Day”, “Brick Body Complex”
