On a paper trail but no paper thin tracks here (Paper Trail - TI)

Member Name: davey_26

Product:	Paper Trail - TI
Date:	17/09/09 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Introspection in a deep thoughtful intelligent manner, well structured production

Disadvantages: A few filler tracks, some of the club tracks

T.I has always been one of those individuals who has made a lot of money, won a lot of acclaim and yet had always left me puzzled as to just how his own talent supported this high status. He has always been something of a controversial figure and in fact this album was made while a heavy prison sentence hung over him for instructing his bodyguard to buy him an arsenal of guns. However in truth it is this flirting of criminality or past criminality which adds a compelling air to some of these rappers especially those who are able to articulate and paint vivid pictures of the life they once walked within. Therefore it was fair to say that I wasn't exactly holding out too much hope for this album but I am always happy to be proved wrong.

Proved wrong was indeed what I have been with this album. T.I has really taken the time to really focus upon his songs and craft songs that are both compelling, intelligent and intriguing. There are of course the quota of club oriented songs which bring with them, a bouncy beat and simple almost sing along lyrics. In truth though these are relatively few and indeed even for the few club songs, most of them strike a good balance between substance and instant radio songs.

At his best on this album, T.I conveys his own feelings towards the charges hanging over him, his regrets, his conviction to turn away from the troubles, with an effortless artistry of sharp focused and deep lyricism which I had not witnessed before. What really tunes the listener into this album is the fact that he has chosen to be so introspective and really provide the listener with a window into his mind. As a result of this personal album, guest appearances are kept at a minimum so the album does not threaten to lose it's focus. The music chosen for this album seems to sit very well with the theme of the individual songs, therefore creating a harmonious backdrop. An undeniable aspect of T.I's talent though has always been his his ability to get perfectly in sync with any beat and this is also fully present on this album.

There are quite a few excellent songs on this album but my standout tracks are:
Ready For Whatever
No Matter
Dead and Gone

I still don't consider T.I to be one of the standout rappers but this has certainly been his best effort by some distance. There are a few songs which really feel like fillers but that is not to detract from an overall very good album.

Summary: An excellent album and the first T.I album I have genuinely liked