Maine’s Desmo seems to have compiled years of reflection, anger, and hope into his latest effort, F*cked Up Kid: the record is filled with life stories, told to the beat of his tracks, exquisitely-produced to contrast against his somewhat crude vocals. The title track, like most in the EP, opens up with atmospheric instrumentation that plunges into an abyss of memories where a sustained bass rumbles on. Echoes, warm piano notes, heavy reverb, and more burst out of each track. From upbeat-yet-ominous songs like “Phantom” to a refreshing take on Puddle of Mudd’s “Blurry,” the record is a delicious alternative rap cocktail, prepped in Portland for all to savor. If the new record is something of a life story for Duncan Cook, the man known as Desmo, then it is well-executed poetry because from one track to the next, there is a feeling of genuineness, both tragic and uplifting. The vulnerable track “Come Home” from the new record is streaming below. – Rene Cobar
