Fantastic Damage Explained

Fantastic Damage
Type:studio
Artist:El-P
Cover:ElPFanDam.jpg
Recorded:2000–2001
Genre:Underground hip-hop, experimental hip-hop
Label:Definitive Jux
Producer:El-P
Prev Title:El-P Presents Cannibal Oxtrumentals
Prev Year:2002
Next Title:High Water
Next Year:2004

Fantastic Damage is the first solo studio album by American hip hop artist El-P. It was released through Definitive Jux on May 14, 2002.[1] It peaked at number 198 on the Billboard 200 chart. Music videos were created for "Stepfather Factory"[2] and "Deep Space 9mm".[3]

Fandam Plus: Instrumentals, Remixes, Lyrics & Video was released through Definitive Jux on October 1, 2002.[4]

Production

The majority of Fantastic Damage was made after the breakup of El-P's previous group Company Flow.[5] El-P recorded the album in his bedroom in Brooklyn using turntables, an Ensoniq EPS-16 Plus sampler, a Kaoss Pad and an Oberheim OB12 synthesizer. According to El-P, he primarily used a DA-88 and "barely touched ProTools".[6] It took over a year and a half to record the album.[5]

Public Enemy was a big influence on El-P's production style on the album.[5] The album contains references to Philip K. Dick and George Orwell, who El-P credits as influences on his worldview and lyrics.[5]

Critical reception

Steve Huey of AllMusic wrote, "Fantastic Damage constitutes some of the most challenging, lyrically dense hip-hop around, assembled by one of the genre's true independent mavericks." Kathryn McGuire of Rolling Stone called it "a heavy, turbulent affair".

Pitchfork placed Fantastic Damage at number 11 on its list of the top albums of 2002,[7] while Spin placed it at number 27 on its list of the year's best albums.[8] In 2015, Fact placed it at number 21 on its "100 Best Indie Hip-Hop Records of All Time" list.[9]

Although interpreted as a "post-9/11 record" which channeled the feelings of New Yorkers and Americans after the September 11 attacks, the album was written and largely recorded before September 11, 2001.[10]

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: El-P's Fantastic Damage turns 15 today—too bad you can't find it anywhere. The A.V. Club. Clayton. Purdom. May 14, 2017. September 6, 2018.
  2. Web site: El-P Wakes the Dead. Wired. Scott. Thill. April 10, 2007. September 6, 2018.
  3. Web site: 9/11 Rewind: El-P's "Deep Space 9mm". Wired. Scott. Thill. September 10, 2008. September 6, 2018.
  4. Web site: EL-P: Fandam Plus: Instrumentals, Remixes, Lyrics & Video. PopMatters. Dave. Heaton. February 4, 2003. September 5, 2018.
  5. Web site: El-P. Pitchfork. Sam. Chennault. August 1, 2002. September 6, 2018.
  6. News: Classic album - El-P on Fantastic Damage: "I was throwing everything I had at these tracks - anything could become a bassline if you pitched it down" . 16 May 2022 . MusicRadar . 10 November 2020 . en.
  7. Web site: Top 50 Albums of 2002. 4. Pitchfork. January 1, 2003. September 5, 2018.
  8. Albums of the Year. Spin. 19. 1. January 2003. June 24, 2019. 70–73.
  9. Web site: The 100 best indie hip-hop records of all time. 81. Fact. Alex. Piyevsky. Geng. John. Twells. Son. Raw. Jeff. Rascobeamer. February 25, 2015. September 5, 2018.
  10. News: Ducker . Eric . Thank God For Drugs And Drums: El-P Revisits His Solo Debut . 16 May 2022 . . 15 May 2020 . en.

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