Depart from Me
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Depart from Me
| type = studio
| artist = Cage
| cover = Cage Depart from Me.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2009|07|07}}{{cite web|url=http://cagewm.bandcamp.com/album/depart-from-me-lp|title=Depart From Me LP {{!}} Cage|work=Bandcamp|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = *Horrorcore
| length = {{Duration|m=46|s=10}}
| label = Definitive Jux
| producer = {{flatlist|
- El-P
- Sean "F. Sean" Martin
- Cage
- Aesop Rock
}}
| prev_title = Hell's Winter
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title = Kill the Architect
| next_year = 2013
}}
Depart from Me is the third solo studio album by American rapper Cage. It was released by Definitive Jux on July 7, 2009. It peaked at number 133 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Production
Cage describes Depart from Me as being "an exorcism of sorts", stating that it is more personal than his previous albums.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmMuOZoMoUE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/RmMuOZoMoUE |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=CAGE INTERVIEW: New Album, New Direction|work=YouTube|author=Hip Hop Official|date=May 15, 2009|access-date=May 26, 2009}}{{cbignore}} Cage states that the album's lyrics do not focus on social commentary, but instead deal with life and "things that people can relate to". The album continues from the lyrical direction of Hell's Winter and distancing himself from the persona featured on Movies for the Blind. Cage felt that since becoming a father, he no longer wished to write the same type of lyrical content as he had in the past. Cage stated that "if people can't understand that, that's good, because I don't want to make music for assholes." While Hell's Winter deals with personal change, Depart from Me deals with the difficulty of implementing these changes.
Describing the recording process, Cage remembers that El-P had been working on a track, and Cage soon thought of a hook that would fit the song, and recorded its freestyle lyrics on the couch. El-P and Cage later decided not to record a studio take of the track "because it just had a vibe to it."{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.9398/title.cage-explains-lyrical-renaissance-on-new-album|title=Cage Explains Lyrical Renaissance On New Album|first=Sean|last=Ryon|work=HipHopDX|date=June 29, 2009|access-date=July 16, 2009}}
According to Cage, the music of Depart from Me does not rely on sampling, and instead features a guitar and synthesizer-oriented sound. Cage describes the album as incorporating pop influences while keeping an "indie sensibility". Cage states that he wanted to produce music that would appeal to a larger audience. Cage states that he did not intend to produce an album that would replicate early attempts to fuse rap and rock, or more recent, popular acts within the genre, but to incorporate elements of more diverse influences.{{cite web|url=http://www.shockhound.com/features/637-cage--the-dark-side-of-the-mic|title=Cage: The Dark Side of the Mic|work=ShockHound|date=July 9, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718202603/http://www.shockhound.com/features/637-cage--the-dark-side-of-the-mic|archive-date=July 18, 2009|access-date=July 16, 2009}} Cage describes the album's title track as being similar to Nine Inch Nails because guitarist Sean Martin had been listening to the band heavily during the production of the album.
Release
The first music video from the album, "I Never Knew You", debuted on May 18, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1611606/20090518/cage_rap_.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521083354/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1611606/20090518/cage_rap_.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2009|title=Shia LaBeouf-Directed Video Puts Cage's Dark Hip-Hop On The Map|work=MTV News|first=James|last=Montgomery|date=May 18, 2009|access-date=May 26, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015182094|title=Shia LeBeouf-Directed Music Video Debuts|work=All Headline News|first=Anthony|last=Jones|date=May 18, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521131808/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015182094|archive-date=May 21, 2009|access-date=May 26, 2009}} Directed by Shia LaBeouf, the video features actor Dan Byrd following a woman played by Scarlett Kapella. The video was shot on location in downtown Los Angeles on February 21 and 22, and featured cameos from LaBeouf, Alex Pardee, El-P, Aesop Rock, Chauncey, F. Sean Martin, and Yak Ballz.{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2009-05-07/music/the-actor-becomes-a-director-with-cage-and-shia-labeouf-making-the-quot-i-never-knew-you-quot-video/|title=The Actor Becomes a Director: With Shia LaBeouf and Chris 'Cage' Palko, Making the "I Never Knew You" Video|work=LA Weekly|first=Erin|last=Broadley|date=May 6, 2009|access-date=May 26, 2009}}
On the same day as the music video's release, Cage released the I Never Knew You EP as a digital download, initially for free, and then through digital stores.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/I-Never-Knew-You-Explicit/dp/B002DG1CL0/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306623475&sr=301-1|title=I Never Knew You [Explicit]: Cage: MP3 Downloads|work=Amazon.com|access-date=February 13, 2012}} The EP featured four exclusive tracks, as well as "I Never Knew You", which would also be included on the album.{{cite web|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/cage/i-never-knew-you-free-ep/29071/|title=Album Review: Cage - I Never Knew You (Free EP)|work=Prefix|first=Dave|last=Park|access-date=February 13, 2012}}
Depart from Me was initially announced as being scheduled for a June 29 release, but was delayed. The album was released as a digital download, and in deluxe editions on CD and vinyl.{{cite web|url=http://www.departfromme.com/|title=Depart from Me|work=Definitive Jux|access-date=May 26, 2009}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 69/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/depart-from-me/cage|title=Depart From Me by Cage|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/depart-from-me-mw0000823638|title=Depart from Me - Cage|work=AllMusic|first=David|last=Jeffries|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev2 = The A.V. Club
| rev2score = B+{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/cage-depart-from-me-1798206506|title=Cage: Depart From Me|work=The A.V. Club|first=Nathan|last=Rabin|date=July 7, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev3 = Robert Christgau
| rev3score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm1}}{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Cage|title=Cage|work=Christgau's Consumer Guide|first=Robert|last=Christgau|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev4 = Electronic Musician
| rev4score = 4/5{{cite web|url=http://www.emusician.com/gear/cage-depart-from-me-definitive-jux|title=Cage, Depart From Me (Definitive Jux)|work=Electronic Musician|first=Max|last=Herman|date=May 18, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev5 = HipHopDX
| rev5score = 2.5/5{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.1211/title.cage-depart-from-me|title=Cage - Depart From Me|work=HipHopDX|first=Edwin|last=Ortiz|date=July 6, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev6 = Now
| rev6score = 3/5{{cite web|url=http://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/cage/|title=Cage|work=Now|first=Andrew|last=Rennie|date=July 8, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7score = 4.7/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13309-depart-from-me/|title=Cage: Depart From Me|work=Pitchfork|first=Jayson|last=Greene|date=June 30, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev8 = PopMatters
| rev8score = {{Rating|5|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/107271-cage-depart-from-me-2496045982.html|title=Cage: Depart From Me|work=PopMatters|first=Matthew|last=Fiander|date=July 6, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev9 = URB
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.urb.com/reviews/cd/feature.php?reviewid=1219|title=Cage :: Depart From Me|work=URB|first=Thomas|last=Quinlan|date=June 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707135434/http://www.urb.com/reviews/cd/feature.php?reviewid=1219|archive-date=July 7, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| rev10 = XLR8R
| rev10score = 7.5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/cage/depart-me|title=Cage: Depart From Me|work=XLR8R|first=Zoneil|last=Maharaj|date=June 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907062637/http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/cage/depart-me|archive-date=September 7, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
}}
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 69 based on 10 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Thomas Golianopoulos of Spin called it "the most seamless, compelling union of hip-hop and modern rock since the two genres first collided."{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2009/07/cage-out-shadows/|title=Cage: Out of the Shadows|work=Spin|first=Thomas|last=Golianopoulos|date=July 17, 2009|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Nothing Left to Say
| extra1 = El-P
| length1 = 4:28
| title2 = Beat Kids
| extra2 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length2 = 3:32
| title3 = Dr. Strong
| extra3 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length3 = 3:19
| title4 = I Found My Mind in Connecticut
| extra4 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length4 = 4:20
| title5 = I Lost It in Havertown
| extra5 = El-P
| length5 = 1:36
| title6 = Teenage Hands
| extra6 = Cage, El-P
| length6 = 1:47
| title7 = Eating Its Way Out of Me
| extra7 = El-P
| length7 = 3:57
| title8 = Kick Rocks
| extra8 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length8 = 2:09
| title9 = Captain Bumout
| extra9 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length9 = 2:55
| title10 = Strain
| extra10 = Aesop Rock
| length10 = 3:39
| title11 = Fat Kids Need an Anthem
| extra11 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length11 = 2:19
| title12 = Look at What You Did
| extra12 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length12 = 3:03
| title13 = Depart from Me...
| extra13 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length13 = 4:49
| title14 = I Never Knew You
| extra14 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length14 = 4:17
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = iTunes edition bonus track
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title15 = Hugs and Kisses
| extra15 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length15 = 2:10
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Deluxe edition bonus track
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title15 = Worm in Her Vein
| extra15 = Sean "F. Sean" Martin
| length15 = 3:25
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
{{Div col}}
- Cage – vocals, production (6)
- Sean "F. Sean" Martin – guitar (1, 6), production (2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- El-P – production (1, 5, 6, 7)
- Red Bank Kids Choir – vocals (2)
- Tero Smith – drum programming (3)
- Phil Caivano – guitar (9), recording
- Allyson Baker – guitar (10)
- Aesop Rock – production (10)
- Joey Raia – mixing (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12)
- Dave Ogilvie – mixing (9, 13, 14)
- Michael Sarsfield – mastering
- Alex Pardee – artwork, design
{{Div col end}}
Charts
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|161723|Depart from Me}}
- {{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=2e32f145-218e-4f78-99d5-35e033e1fc4b|name=Depart from Me}}
{{Cage}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Definitive Jux albums