Quit to Play Chess

On his second album, Quit to Play Chess, singer/songwriter and producer Cola Boyy takes a step away from the shimmering retro-disco and soft rock sounds that made him a sensation and instead branches out into all sorts of genres, including R&B, hip-hop, retro-dance music, reggae, and funk. Sadly, its also his final album; he passed away on the same day he approved the final mastering. Theres no sense of sadness found in the music, though; its a buoyantly joyful expression of Matthew Urangos musical vision and philosophy of life that is meant to move feet and stir hearts. It succeeds on both fronts. Urango recorded the album in his hometown of Oxnard, California, with the help of a batch of collaborators including co-producer Jared Solomon and MGMTs Andrew VanWyngarden, and the mix of genres reflects what he listened to growing up. He unsurprisingly proves adept at crafting pitch-perfect songs in every style he attempts. The cartoon hip-hop of "Homegirl" is bubbly and sugar sweet with Urango putting a Cola Boyy spin on rapping; "Busy" bumps like a lush new jack swing ballad; the pop-ska "Heroes and Villains" rocks and grooves quite nicely; and "Top of the Class" swerves off into a lo-fi indie rock direction to show Urango was a wiz at that style too. Every song is topped with production that fills every nook and cranny with a record scratch, a stray backing vocal, a synth blip, or some other sound that shoots the record right to the pleasure center of the brain, giving technicolor jolts of happiness. Of course, Urangos heartfelt vocals are the cherry on top, and its impossible not to feel the aching humanity in his voice and words. Especially on songs like "Walk Again" or the funky "Blame the Beret" where his worlds of music and activism coincide. It would be very easy to shed tears when listening to Quit to Play Chess for the first time, and thats okay. Theres no denying there is a gaping hole at the center of the experience. What further spins will bring back are the joy and warmth that colored Urangos life and music. Its impossible to hear songs as beautifully constructed and sung as "Babylon," as confidently laid-back as "Crushin," or as much fun as the big beat-inspired "Wave" and not break out in a big fat smile. No doubt thats the reaction Urango was hoping for, and its exactly what fans of Cola Boyy will have after hearing and falling in love with this inspired farewell of an album. ~ Tim Sendra