For Ear Sake

Skream - Outside The Box (2010)

Genres: Drum n Bass, Dubstep

Outside The Box is the second and most recent release by the British Dubstep producer Skream. Not only is he one of Dubstep's first and most prominent producers, he's also played a major role in the development of the genre. Even though Skream fans anticipated the classic Dubstep sound he's popular for, Outside The Box dwells in more of a mainstream territory. The album has a pretty conventional lineup of featured artists. Featured artists such as Murs, Sam Frank, Freckles, and La Roux helped Skream change his image from an underground Dubstep god, to a Dubstep producer in pursuit of reaching an array of people musically.

An abundance of fans felt as though Skream moved into the mainstream realm at an accelerated pace; which drastically moved him away from the sound he's known for. Others claimed he walked upright into pop-friendly terrain in a respectable manner, and supported his transformation. Being on the supportive side or the non-supportive side pertaining to Skream's musical modification is trivial; because I'm quite sure individuals from both parties walked away with at least one positive gain from the album.

There comes a time where becoming mainstream is a must if an artist wishes to touch a wider audience. I personally have no issue with artists moving from an underground tier to more of a mainstream tier, as long as they can do it while staying true to themselves as well as their craft. Outside The Box didn't rub me the wrong way until I heard the track "8 Bit Baby" which features the Californian rapper Murs. "8 Bit Baby" played a major part in why the album received such bad reviews. The song is awful to say the least. However, I didn't allow it to deter me from the rest of the album. Tracks like "Perforated", "Where You Should Be", and "The Epic Last Song" were all personal high points of the album. Outside The Box isn't powerful enough to be titled a masterpiece, or even bright enough to stand tall in a roster of greatest albums released in 2010. Inspite of that, it's still worth a listen.

True Skream fans will remain loyal to his material whether they entirely adore it or not. So, if you happen to be a fan of Skream, Outside The Box is worth a try; especially if you're not hung up on his change in sound. However, if you're not aware of who Skream is, but enjoy genres such as Drum n Bass and Dubstep, this album is recommended. The album can be found for purchase via Amazon (here). Be sure to support the artist by purchasing yourself a copy if you're fond of the material. I've also included one of my favorite tracks from the album below, so be sure to check it out!

Skream Where You Should Be feat. Sam Frank