Perfect Hair (album)

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Perfect Hair | type = studio | artist = [[Busdriver]] | cover = Perfect hair album cover.jpg | released = {{Start date|2014|09|09}} | genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] | length = {{Duration|m=46|s=55}} | label = [[Big Dada]] | producer = * Busdriver * Candy Claw * Greyhat * Great Dane * [[Isaiah "Ikey" Owens|Ikey Owens]] * [[Jeremiah Jae]] * [[Kenny Segal]] * Mike Gao * [[Mono/Poly]] * Riley Lake | prev_title = [[Beaus$Eros]] | prev_year = 2012 | next_title = [[Thumbs (mixtape)|Thumbs]] | next_year = 2015 }} '''''Perfect Hair''''' is the eighth studio album by American rapper [[Busdriver]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2014/08/29/busdriver-keeps-pushing-boundaries-more-than-anyone-in-hip-hop|title=Busdriver Keeps Pushing Boundaries, More Than Anyone in Hip-Hop|work=LA Weekly|first=Chaz|last=Kangas|date=September 3, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907100400/http://www.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2014/08/29/busdriver-keeps-pushing-boundaries-more-than-anyone-in-hip-hop|archivedate=September 7, 2014}}</ref> It was released on September 9, 2014, by [[Big Dada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30507/title.busdriver-perfect-hair-release-date-cover-art-tracklist-album-stream-tour-itinerary|title=Busdriver "Perfect Hair" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist, Album Stream & Tour Itinerary|work=HipHopDX|first=Soren|last=Baker|date=September 5, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906171716/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30507/title.busdriver-perfect-hair-release-date-cover-art-tracklist-album-stream-tour-itinerary/|archivedate=September 6, 2014}}</ref> The album features guest appearances from [[Aesop Rock]], [[Danny Brown]] and [[Open Mike Eagle]], among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/06/busdriver-ego-death-perfect-hair-danny-brown-aesop-rock-stream/|title=Hear Busdriver's Prickly Collab with Danny Brown and Aesop Rock – "Ego Death" heralds 'Perfect Hair' album, due September 9 on Big Dada|work=Spin|first=Colin|last=Joyce|date=June 16, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907095644/https://www.spin.com/2014/06/busdriver-ego-death-perfect-hair-danny-brown-aesop-rock-stream/|archivedate=September 7, 2014}}</ref> The cover art was painted by [[John Lurie]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/55576-busdriver-teams-with-danny-brown-and-aesop-rock-for-ego-death/|title=Busdriver Teams With Danny Brown and Aesop Rock for "Ego Death" – From Busdriver's new album Perfect Hair|work=Pitchfork|first=Molly|last=Beauchemin|date=June 16, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911133203/http://pitchfork.com/news/55576-busdriver-teams-with-danny-brown-and-aesop-rock-for-ego-death/|archivedate=September 11, 2014}}</ref> Music videos were made for "Ego Death",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/busdriver-ego_death_ft_aesop_rock_danny_brown_video|title=Busdriver "Ego Death" (ft. Aesop Rock and Danny Brown) (video)|work=Exclaim!|first=Josiah|last=Hughes|date=July 10, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914024033/http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/busdriver-ego_death_ft_aesop_rock_danny_brown_video|archivedate=September 14, 2014}}</ref> "Colonize the Moon",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/busdriver-colonize-the-moon-video-premiere/|title=Busdriver Heads Into Space to Rap and "Colonize the Moon"|work=Vice|first=Kyle|last=Kramer|date=July 23, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306075708/http://noisey.vice.com/blog/busdriver-colonize-the-moon-video-premiere|archive-date=March 6, 2016}}</ref> "Eat Rich"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imposemagazine.com/tv/busdriver-eat-the-rich|title=Busdriver, "Eat Rich"|work=Impose|first=Blake|last=Gillespie|date=September 15, 2014|accessdate=November 12, 2015|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010223028/http://www.imposemagazine.com/tv/busdriver-eat-the-rich|archivedate=October 10, 2015}}</ref> and "Motion Lines".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2014/10/14/busdriver-motion-lines-video|title=Dive into Busdriver's kaleidoscopic 'Motion Lines' video|work=Entertainment Weekly|first=Miles|last=Raymer|date=October 14, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605234242/http://www.ew.com/article/2014/10/14/busdriver-motion-lines-video|archivedate=June 5, 2016}}</ref>

On June 20, 2014, "Ego Death" was chosen by ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' as one of their Top 10 Songs of the Week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2014/06/top-10-songs-of-the-week-620/full-post/|title=Top 10 Songs of the Week (6/20)|work=Consequence of Sound|first=Michael|last=Madden|date=June 20, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907100414/https://consequence.net/2014/06/top-10-songs-of-the-week-620/full-post/|archivedate=September 7, 2014}}</ref>

==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | ADM = 7.1/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/6681/Busdriver-Perfect-Hair.aspx|title=Perfect Hair by Busdriver reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=November 11, 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112142500/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/6681/Busdriver-Perfect-Hair.aspx|archivedate=November 12, 2016}}</ref> | MC = 74/100<ref name=metacritic>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/perfect-hair/busdriver|title=Perfect Hair – Busdriver|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=November 23, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211033953/http://www.metacritic.com/music/perfect-hair/busdriver|archivedate=December 11, 2014}}</ref> | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/perfect-hair-mw0002697317|title=Perfect Hair – Busdriver|work=AllMusic|first=David|last=Jeffries|date=September 8, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116094429/http://www.allmusic.com/album/perfect-hair-mw0002697317|archivedate=November 16, 2014}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' | rev2Score = 7/10<ref name=clashmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/busdriver-perfect-hair|title=Busdriver – Perfect Hair|work=Clash|first=Grant|last=Brydon|date=September 16, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916164346/http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/busdriver-perfect-hair|archivedate=September 16, 2014}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' | rev3Score = B−<ref name=consequenceofsound>{{cite web|url=http://www.consequence.net/2014/09/album-review-busdriver-perfect-hair/|title=Busdriver – Perfect Hair|work=Consequence of Sound|first=Adam|last=Kivel|date=September 12, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721204004/https://consequence.net/2014/09/album-review-busdriver-perfect-hair/|archivedate=July 21, 2015}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[Exclaim!]]'' | rev4Score = 7/10<ref name=exclaim>{{cite web|url=http://www.exclaim.ca/Music/article/busdriver-perfect_hair|title=Busdriver Perfect Hair|work=Exclaim!|first=Matt|last=Bauer|date=September 8, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722071152/http://www.exclaim.ca/Music/article/busdriver-perfect_hair|archivedate=July 22, 2015}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[musicOMH]]'' | rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=MusicOMH>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/busdriver-perfect-hair|title=Busdriver – Perfect Hair|work=musicOMH|last=Dutton|first=Jack|date=September 8, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505074611/http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/busdriver-perfect-hair|archivedate=May 5, 2015}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[PopMatters]]'' | rev6Score = 7/10<ref name=popmatters>{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/185543-busdriver-perfect-hair/|title=Busdriver: Perfect Hair|work=PopMatters|first=Nathan|last=Stevens|date=September 9, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911023243/http://www.popmatters.com/review/185543-busdriver-perfect-hair/|archivedate=September 11, 2014}}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[Tiny Mix Tapes]]'' | rev7Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=tinymixtapes>{{cite web|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/busdriver-perfect-hair|title=Busdriver – Perfect Hair|work=Tiny Mix Tapes|first=Jackson|last=Scott|date=October 6, 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009160059/http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/busdriver-perfect-hair|archivedate=October 9, 2014}}</ref> }} ''Perfect Hair'' received generally positive reviews from critics. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an [[weighted arithmetic mean|average]] score of 74, based on 10 reviews.<ref name=metacritic/>

Adam Kivel of ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' said: "Wild, insanely ambitious, and a bit inconsistent, ''Perfect Hair'' encodes and decodes the ideas, opinions, and deconstructions that can only come from Farquhar's brain."<ref name=consequenceofsound/> David Jeffries of [[AllMusic]] said, "''Perfect Hair'' contains all the usual reasons Busdriver is wonderful, just with a little more sugar baked in."<ref name=allmusic/> Grant Brydon of ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' said, "The rollercoaster ride of his delivery makes it an enjoyable experience rather than a textbook headache."<ref name=clashmusic/> Matt Bauer of ''[[Exclaim!]]'' said, "A few duds abound, like the wearisome "Eat Rich", but the album ends strongly with the sci-fi-flavoured "Colonize the Moon".<ref name=exclaim/> Jack Dutton of ''[[musicOMH]]'' said, "Although this album is at times a difficult listen, you can't help but admire Busdriver for his innovation and general wackiness."<ref name=MusicOMH/> Nathan Stevens of ''[[PopMatters]]'' said, "''Perfect Hair'' is no doubt a great album, but its tendency to fidget between ideas leaves it the idea of cohesion in a shallow grave."<ref name=popmatters/>

==Track listing== {{Track listing | extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Retirement Ode | extra1 = [[Busdriver]] | length1 = 3:19

| title2 = Bliss Point | extra2 = Busdriver | length2 = 3:35

| title3 = Ego Death | extra3 = [[Jeremiah Jae]] | note3 = featuring [[Aesop Rock]] and [[Danny Brown]] | length3 = 6:00

| title4 = Upsweep | extra4 = [[Mono/Poly]] | length4 = 4:28

| title5 = When the Tooth-lined Horizon Blinks | extra5 = Great Dane | note5 = featuring [[Open Mike Eagle]] | length5 = 4:09

| title6 = Motion Lines | extra6 = Busdriver | length6 = 5:12

| title7 = Eat Rich | extra7 = [[Kenny Segal]] | length7 = 3:08

| title8 = King Cookie Faced (for Her) | extra8 = Busdriver | length8 = 4:05

| title9 = Can't You Tell I'm a Sociopath | extra9 = Mike Gao | note9 = featuring VerBS | length9 = 3:10

| title10 = Colonize the Moon | extra10 = {{hlist|Riley Lake|Busdriver}} | note10 = featuring Pegasus Warning | length10 = 9:49 }} {{Track listing | headline = ''Perfect Hair'' bonus tracks | extra_column = Producer(s) | title11 = Joyce 1 | extra11 = Riley Lake | length11 = 4:17

| title12 = How Your Sprinkler System Work | extra12 = {{hlist|Busdriver|Candy Claw}} | note12 = featuring [[Del the Funky Homosapien]] | length12 = 2:56

| title13 = Go Hard or Go Homogenous | extra13 = Kenny Segal | note13 = featuring [[P.O.S (rapper)|P.O.S]] | length13 = 3:36 }} {{Track listing | headline = Vinyl and Japanese edition bonus track | extra_column = Producer(s) | title14 = Octagon | extra14 = {{hlist|Busdriver|[[Isaiah "Ikey" Owens|Ikey Owens]]}} | length14 = 4:22 }} {{Track listing | headline = Bandcamp bonus track | extra_column = Producer(s) | title15 = King Cookie Faced (for Hellfyre) | extra15 = Greyhat | note15 = featuring Open Mike Eagle and [[Milo (musician)|Milo]] | length15 = 6:08 }}

'''Notes''' * "Retirement Ode" features uncredited vocals by [[Sister Crayon|Terra Lopez]] * "Bliss Point" features uncredited saxophone by [[Ben Wendel]] * "Colonize the Moon" includes a bonus track at 5:13, called "Bone Structure" featuring Open Mike Eagle * "Joyce 1" features uncredited vocals by Joelle Le and Riley Lake * "King Cookie Faced (for Hellfyre)" features uncredited vocals by Terra Lopez and Joelle Le

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Discogs master|728258|Perfect Hair}} * {{SoundCloud|bigdadasound/sets/busdriver-perfect-hair-1|Busdriver – 'Perfect Hair' Selections}}

[[Category:2014 albums]] [[Category:Big Dada albums]] [[Category:Busdriver albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by Mono/Poly]] [[Category:Albums produced by Kenny Segal]]