Praise for Elemenal Zazen's
The Glass Should Be Full
"Zazen's flow sets a fearlessly tight example for countless indie rhymers...3 Stars"
Hip Hop Connection
"Zazen is...a top caliber lyricist, a rare treat in a genre where being thoughtful and insightful is often treated like a sinful vice instead of a saintly virtue."
RapReviews.com
"Electrifying...Clean as a surgical scalpel and just as sharp...(The Glass Should Be Full) is what a nervous system would sound like if it were plugged into an amp." The Weekly Dig
"Given the pain that moved his pen at such agonizing angst-addled angles, his sophomore release is as hardcore an opus as Tupac’s Me Against the World... certifies that honesty, vulnerability, and introspection make for better hip-hop than masked insecurity and bullshit"
Boston Phoenix
"Tracks like "Disappear" display an existential flair from this skilled MC. The production, courtesy of a bunch of different producers, is hard and banging, matching Zazen's forceful flow throughout."
Lost At Sea
"In these trying times, hip-hop needs cats like Elemental to help convey these messages of fear, struggle and pain from deep within the American Dream, as well as on a more global level. Pump this in your jeeps while you are plotting your next public disturbance, or peace rally." Rock The Dub
"Whether you’re in the market for a new favorite artist or looking for a soundtrack to supplement your daily fight against The Man, this album is definitely one to give a chance."
Daily Evergreen
Press Reviews of
Elemenal Zazen's
The Glass Should Be Full
The Weekly Dig published a glowing review of Gnotes' new record, which Chris Faraone describes as "a local should-have for all imaginative hip-hop fans who repel cornball rap with the same zeal that they loathe the bling boys." Read the full review.
"Gnotes mixes different styles, delivers masterpiece with Rhymes and Beats... Gnotes blends lush production and thoughtful lyrics to form some of the best hip-hop in the world."
-- Ben Conant @ The Equinox
"Rhymes and Beats is a series of songs that exposes the diligent work of a man that raps like he's been waiting for this album his whole life... Few are shining brighter than gNotes right now."
--
PM Masterson @ Audiversity
"Musically it is innovative and pleasing, [with] care and effort put into virtually every bar in every verse, in each and every song - you can tell that Gnotes burns with a passion to be the best that he can be"
-- Jesal 'Jay Soul' Padania @ RapReviews
"With flowing lyrics that mirror Beck, and drumbeats that parallel Quest Love, Gnotes brings together revolutionary ideas and a revolutionary feel to his music."
-- Matt Fulone @ Le Provocateur
"When bohemian indie rapper Gnotes album Rhymes and Beats drops Oct. 9, it will unleash his unique style and sound that won't be found anywhere in the mainstream rap world."
-- Evan Tanguy @ Scottsdale College Campus News
"The strong guitar riffs and enjoyable trumpets on 'Samba Tryst' make the track stand out as one of my favorites... gNotes is an acquired taste, but Rhymes and Beats is one of the more unique albums I've heard recently. "
-- Justin Pacheco @ University of Rhode Island
"It's not quite like any other hip hop record I've heard before. The instrumentals are more vibrant and alive than a lot of albums these days. There are clearly a wide range of musical influences at play here, and it makes for a unique sound."
-- Adam Snider at Ink Slinger
"His flow is controlled but with a certain, appealing looseness, his lyrics are informed, bordering on the didactic, and his beats are well constructed and melodic, easy to follow without being boring, proving that he's able to keep up with any of the bigger indie names out there."
-- Marisa Brown @ All Music Guide
Re:
CD release show: "Not only did gNotes dazzle the crowd with his lyrical prowess, but he showed his diverse musical talents rocking the guitar with Elemental Zazen. All in all, gNotes proved himself to be a multi-talented, multi-faceted musician worth leaving your house on a crappy-ass rainy night."
-- Jess Pye @ Planetary Group.
"Gnotes seems to be truly interested in expanding the art, so check for this one for something a little different."
-- Jonah Flicker @ Lost at Sea
"It's all a mix of samples and live instrumentation, which blend seamlessly and force neck muscles to contract and heads to bob."
-- What It Is
@ TreeBeats
"His Northwest roots are evident throughout the album, from the underlying political message in his lyrics (not unlike Seattle's Blue Scholars) to the beats, often built around guitar samples, that he produces."
-- Fresh @ 33Jones
"Gnotes - also known as Sean Dwyer - has matured into a fine emcee and producer of cerebral, melodious hip-hop."
-- Michael O'Brien @ The Heights (Boston College)
"In his third solo outing, Rhymes and Beats, the enlightened rapper also known as Sean Dwyer reaches beyond poetic rap and backpack boundaries... Don't just buy the new gNotes disc. Watch Boston rap's new intellectual pride kick it live." 80108 Media
"Similar to Immortal Technique and Sage Francis [...] something to spice up the indie scene."
-- Shastud @ Ear It Now
"It's got a classic sound — on-point rhymes, punchy flows, and hints of vinyl dust and well-worn samples amidst tasteful live licks."
-- Wayne Marshall @ Wayne and Wax
*full disclosure: wayne = gnawledge bredren
"gNotes' combination of lyrics and real instrumentation places him amongst the bohemian MCs like Mos Def, Madvillan, or RJD2."
-- AJ Meyer @ HipHoosier
...plus even more Rhymes and Beats at Soul Bounce, Dumpin, Soundamentals, Contrastream and EfficiencyOne
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"For The Love of the Beat"
By Michael O'Brien
Published in The Heights
Seeing Sean Dwyer for the first time is deceiving. Slightly taller and more soft-spoken than most people, you wouldn't expect to see him decked out like a "gangsta" along with 50 Cent. But after listening to one of Dwyer's songs, it is quite possible that he could out-rhyme 'Fitty' any day.
But, Dwyer isn't purely focused on rap - quite characteristic of today's neo-alternative hip-hop scene, particularly the one in Boston. His music draws vast influences, ranging from hip-hop to jazz to funk and blues. He subconsciously eschews the title "rapper" and simply settles for "musician" - being a talented guitarist and capable bassist and drummer. In addition, Dwyer's "rhymes" are rhythmic and poetic in the tradition of creative lyricists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Slug (from Atmosphere), among many others.
Dwyer first started experimenting with music at a young age while living in Seattle, Wash. - initially influenced by the region's famed grunge scene.
He transferred after his freshman year from Gonzaga University, intending to play football at Boston College. He then transferred out of BC into a study abroad program and then came back to BC for his senior year.
That year, Dwyer met Canyon Cody at an open mic. The duo immediately sensed their shared interests and things clicked. They eventually started their own record label called Gnawledge Records.
Since then, Cody has acted as producer and Dwyer as Gnawledge's primary musician.
"We both started Gnawledge, but Canyon is more of the brains behind the operation, while I focus on the music."
Dwyer signed in 2004 and Gnawledge subsequently released his solo debut Broken Spoke. In 2005, he contributed to Gnawledge's spoken-word poetry compilation, Flow from Above.
After touring with the hip-hop collective Noc Rage as a guitarist, Dwyer put out an album titled Inthrumental under the moniker Gnotes (pronounced "notes" with a silent "g") in 2006. The tour acted as an impetus to explore the instrumental side of hip-hop.
"I think music without vocals and lyrics is so timeless."
Inthrumental is his best album yet - combining Cody's top-notch skills at the mixing board with Dwyer's clever live instrumentation and an array of influences ranging from Miles Davis' fusion experiments to RJD2's and DJ Shadow's innovative collage sampling. The Davis effect is corroborated by trumpet solos from Afro DZ ak, a member of the Eclectic Collective; making tracks like "Beautiful Story" genuinely beautiful. Other notable tracks include "A Cloudy Day in Cambridge," which features the rapper Kabir, "Gift of Prophecy," and "Guitars in the Trunk."
As most musicians do, Dwyer promotes his music through live shows. He has a big one coming up on March 28. Altogether, he believes Boston has an influential underground scene.
"When you think of Boston, you obviously know there are a bunch of college kids who are only interested in the Top 40, but there are cats like Audible Mainframe that I think of when I think of the indie scene," said Dwyer. "It's focused hip-hop."
Despite its obvious difficulties, Dwyer enjoys being an underground musician.
"People dismiss how much of an occupation music really is. I work a nine-to-five in order to pay the bills and get benefits, but every other moment is spent in the studio."
"I love it," he said. "It's the best feeling in the world to go off the stage after a show."
Dwyer is currently working on a new album that combines the elements of his previous endeavors: poetic rhymes along with emotive music.
"On this new album, everything is organically done," he said. "It's planned to drop in the spring - I'm really excited for it."
A graduate of the [Boston College] Lynch School of Education, Dwyer is also interested in meshing his academic pursuits with his musical ones.
"I like the idea of musicians as educators."
