Rustie – Glass Swords (2011) [Warp] // Grade: A-

If you’ve been a fan of bass music and any producer who thinks outside the box for the last five years, no doubt Russell Whyte, aka Rustie, has definitely been on your radar. As early as 2007, we’ve heard some out there, colorful cuts with his EP “Jagz The Smack,” which first introduced the world to his loose, smacking and neon production style. Since then he’s done out of control, memorable remixes for Modeselektor and Zomby, a collaboration with Joker and an outrageous EP on Warp last year. Known for quality over quantity, any fan of his work thus far has been begging to hear a full length effort from him. After much anticipation, Glass Swords, the debut album from Rustie, has finally arrived.

Just like any of his tracks and previous releases, Glass Swords lives up to the hype. With every release, he’s capable of flexing his skills not only with his melodic sensibility, synth modulation expertise and over the top hair metal-esque drum fills, but every cut has an unpredictable yet rewarding arrangement. If someone was reading your Tarot cards and you were dealt the Hierophant Rustie card, it’d probably depict him sitting on a thrown on dead jellyfish from Super Mario 3 while he’s shredding on a purple Prince symbol guitar and lasers shooting out of his eyes. You’d say “well shit, I wasn’t expecting THAT, but that’s pretty sick.” That’s the feeling of every song on Glass Swords.

Speaking of Super Mario Bros. 3, Glass Swords feels like a lifetime of beating every single SNES game in your collection while unlocking all the secret characters without needing to use Game Genie. Some songs like the opening track “Glass Swords” and the intro to “City Star” sound like lost pause screens for Legend of Zelda, while Ultra Thizz — my favorite song on the album — reminds me of the ending sequence of Kirby’s Dream Land on (even more) acid. It’s epic beyond belief, and I’ve never heard anything else like it… in the club or any version of Mario Party.

While the album by fellow “wonky” peer Zomby sounds like a collection of sketches, Glass Swords feels like a proper album. Not a collection of singles, not a collection of club tracks all in the same tempo. No sir, a good ol’ fashion, solid album. Not restricted to tempo, genre, arrangement or not afraid to use a VST version of a Seinfeld slap-bass and make it work, Rustie knows how to make a group of innovative songs all fit together.

What more can I say? Glass Swords not only defied my expectations but far surpassed them. It’s better than any rave on Rainbow Road on Mario Kart or after party in Bowser’s dungeon. And if you don’t like the song “All Nite,” well then you’re a grouchy jerk who probably only listens to Semisonic and Spin Doctors or something. Lose the ponytail and get with the times, fictional hater! Anyway, I’m going to get back to my game of Katamari Damacy and blasting “Cry Flames” on a loop.

- Rx