Sushi

Sushi (stylized as SUSHi) is a studio album by the American electronic musician James Ferraro, released on November 7, 2012, by the independent record label Hippos in Tanks. The electronica dance-pop record has a much more mainstream sound than Ferraro's past albums, continuing some of the trap, R&B and hip-hop underpinnings that were a part of Ferraro's two mixtapes Inhale C-4 $$$$$ (2012) and Silica Gel (2012), released under his Bebetune$ and Bodyguard monikers, respectively. Sushi garnered mixed to positive reviews upon its release, a common criticism being its lack of depth or indication of a main concept. Composition Described by Dazed magazine as a "modern take in leftfield electronica," Sushi is a dance-pop album that borrows some of the same trap, R&B and hip-hop styles present on Ferraro's previous two mixtapes: Inhale C-4 $$$$$ (2012), released under the Bebetune$ name, and Silica Gel (2012), issued under Bodyguard. Critic Josh Becker wrote that it also combines elements of some of Ferraro's previous releases and creates "dance-friendly" music out of them; for example, “Baby Mitsubishi” and “Jet Skis & Sushi” best showcase Ferraro's interest in consumerism which was also present on Far Side Virtual (2011) and Silica Gel, while “Powder” and “Jump Shot Earth” have chopped and screwed vocal samples similar to those on Night Dolls with Hairspray (2010). He also noted that every song on the album is dominated by a bassline, which was never the case of Ferraro's past works and strongly contributes to Becker's description of Sushi being "dance-friendly." Other genres that are touched upon in Sushi include footwork and house. Interpretations Dummy magazine noted that the album's hip-hop and dance influences, as well as track titles like "Power" and "Bootycall," suggest the album could be making fun of club culture. Becker analyzed the record may be about "a clueless white kid's conception of ghetto tropes," as the title of "Bootycall" as well as “Playin Ya Self” and “Condom” would indicate.