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Artist Atmosphere Type Album Released April 22, 2008 Rating 3.52 from 535 ratings Ranked #238 for 2008 Genres Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop < Previous Next > Strictly Leakage They Lied

2008 When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold [Alternate Cover] Rhymesayers 2008 When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold CD Rhymesayers RSE-0096 2008 When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold [Alternate Cover], [Bonus DVD], [Deluxe Edition] CD Rhymesayers

andSometimesY7 Oct 21 2009 [Rating25647176]	First of all, I do not like rap. Second of all, this is the only Atmosphere album I have ever listened to, and I loved it. I am a very harsh critic of music, hence the 3, but this is probably the best hip-hop album I have ever heard. "Yesterday" and "The Waitress" were my favorites. This album was actually well thought out, having intelligent lyrics rather than "F*** those b****es and smoke that weed cuz we straight up gangstas!". Also, the instrumentation was very well done. I need to listen to some more Atmosphere.
superball9 Oct 14 2009 CD [Rating25485463]	great lyrics.  very, very talented guy.  minneapolis hip-hop ... who knew?!
HipHopLinguistics Oct 03 2009 [Rating25275821]	There’s a lot I can say about Atmosphere’s “When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.” But the first thing that comes to mind is that this album exactly what I hoped to get from Slug and Ant this time around. In my review for the duo’s last major release, “You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having,” I had just two complaints. One, I felt that maybe it was time for Slug to get off the whole self-abusive anger kick; and two, maybe it was time for Ant to try a different sound – something like the live band feel they were touring with at the time. Well, I am happy to say that Atmosphere accomplished both with the release of “When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.”   Production The live band feel makes a huge impact on this album. Over half of the songs contain live instrumentation, mainly piano and guitar-based rhythms, and a couple drop the beat completely to let Slug flow a capella with the help of a stand alone piano, guitar and/or simple snare beat. Like the Rest of Us, Puppets, and my personal favorite Yesterday all feature soft piano and singing on the choruses – which often creates more of a gospel-ish feel to Slug’s rhyming. On the other hand, You, Guarantees, and my other favorite Me all revolve around guitar strums for a more punk-ish sort of vibe. Overall, Ant did a great job incorporating new sounds into the production of this album. Lyrics But as always, the lyrical content of this album was what really caught my ear. Most of Atmosphere’s past albums have been based on Slug rehashing his past hardships, including the familial troubles, heartache, and alienation of his youth. This project, however, presented his life in a more positive light. As represented in the title, Slug took the lemons he was given and painted them gold – and that positive vibe is demonstrated throughout the course of the album. Yesterday is a great song that basically forgives Slug’s dad for any issues they had while he was alive (click here to listen to the track and read along with the lyrics). Wild Wild Horses show’s Slug’s increased understanding of the relationship drama he has experienced, and encourages women to “go ahead and chase your dreams and your freedom.” And Me is a brilliant one-verse song that pretty breaks down Slug’s psychiatric thought process about love. The following lyrics show how he’s been able to step back and look at his past and how it influenced his mind state: The child in the mirror was homely/ So he learned early on how to switch into low key/ Little person observant and accurate/ Grew the skills to argue and the passion to back it with/ Kick over the blocks just to rebuild them/ ‘Cause mom and pops used to pop – sound familiar?/ Daddy had to leave, but mama kept hurtin’/ So he stepped up to help be an anger and a burden/ And right around the same time/ He started noticing girls, but they wouldn’t pay him any mind/ And if they ever did he got nervous/ You shoulda seen him practice on his hand for his first kiss/ Even though he was too young to hunt and gather/ Hungry puppy had to learn how to front and swagger/ It didn’t matter, it was all self-esteem/ At sixteen you only needed one on your team/ And mom and dad was never getting back together/ So he was on some ‘Baby we gon’ make it last forever’/ The other thing that made this album great for me was the storytelling. Slug has always been a great storyteller, but always dedicated the majority of his verses to his own stories. “When Life Gives You Lemons” features many more stories about other people, and makes for a very entertaining listen. The Skinny is a story about a crack addict told metaphorically (misinterpreted – see comments!). Your Glass House is the story of an alcoholic who wakes up in a strange place, only to find out that she is in her own apartment. In Her Music Box is the story of a little girl forced to witness a dysfunctional relationship between her parents. And Dreamer is a well-articulated song about a woman who remained positive despite the hardships she faced as a mother and woman. The following verse gives a great depiction of the decisions she was faced with: Two years later – two months pregnant/ Same daddy, same broke ass situation/ This time the doc said her heart might break/ Praise God that the job got her health benefits straight/ She believes in the right to choice/ But she loves baby girl and she wants a boy/ Makes more nowadays on the day shift/ Balance that with night classes/ Take some time and space and make it all fit/ The apartment they now live in is overcrowded/ Raised her voice and made her point/ Told that boy ‘Go get employed’/ He put on his best shirt/ Said he wasn’t coming back ‘til he gets work/ She knew what that part meant/ So she swept every piece out that apartment/ Peace out, keep out – take the scenic route/ Rather only have to feed three mouths/ She adapts to everything now/ And nobody asks what she dreams about/ Whether in terms of lyrics or production, Atmosphere’s “When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold” is a major accomplishment, and definitely one of the must have albums of the year. I highly recommend picking up a copy. Peace. Album Track Listing: Like the Rest of Us Puppets The Skinny Dreamer Shoulda Known You Painting Your Glasshouse Yesterday Guarantees Mesmorized (B Rock Remix) Wild Wild Horses Can’t Break The Waitress In Her Music Box
DouglasBlue Aug 31 2009 [Rating24696320]	This album has some wonderful tracks ("Yesterday" being a strong highlight) but like many rap albums, if you trimmed the excess tracks ("The Skinny") the album would be much improved. I really dig some of the production here, although there are times when it's a little questionable. Regardless, highly recommended.
tensionandtheterror Jul 30 2009 Good [Rating24085347]	For the most part this album is smooth, clever, and entertaining. It slips a few times, like when track 3 begins rambling about skinny white pimps - but when the album avoids this territory it succeeds. Favorites: Puppets, You, Your Glass House, Yesterday, Like the Rest of Us
TomGreenhalgh Jul 25 2009 A Great Album Digital [Rating23988343]	A great hip hop album - Atmosphere's finest to date.  Ant's impressive production and willingness to experiment with different sounds perfectly compliments Slug's storytelling, and in turn elevates the record as a whole. FAVORITE TRACKS: Puppets Shoulda Known You
rap_about Jul 17 2009 [Rating23830078]	Brimming with the clever lyrics and colorful production we've come to expect from Slug and Ant, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That S**t Gold is Atmosphere at its radical apex. You might want to break out the headphones for this one, but I'll get to that in a moment. Allow Slug to Reintroduce Himself Slug feels tangibly less-irritated on Atmosphere's sixth go-round, a mood-shift that’s left him comfortably exploring new ideas. This is best exemplified on the solemn opener "Like the Rest of Us," in which Slug calmly emphasizes the art of controlling the uncontrollable: "You gotta let people be hypocrites. Count your blessings and mind your business." You've probably heard the album's single, "Shoulda Known," a torrid narrative about drug addiction. Lemons is split into three acts: Us, You, and Me. A slaphappy tune titled "You" kicks off the second section. Not too far behind is the album's most personal song, the reflective "Yesterday" where Slug shares distant memories of a lost relative (it'll make more sense when he reveals the identity of the person at the end). "We can sit and reminisce about the ol' school, maybe share a cigarette cause we're both fools," he grieves, but not without finding the slightest ray of light in his misery, "I can't even get mad that you're gone. Leaving me was the best thing you ever taught me." It's a brief reminder that contrast is Atmosphere's bread and butter. After all, their last album was titled You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having, yet the cover featured a glum-looking Slug with his left hand clasped on his head. Headphone Music Indeed, Atmosphere's new work is headphone music at its peak. Whereas Slug's been preoccupied with conflict in the past, Lemons reflects his newfangled obsession with optimism and resolutions. The rhymes are honest, hopeful, rich with mesmerizing oratory (often delivered with a minister-esque cadence), and sure to keep you hanging on every line. Sorta like an Obama speech. Colorful Production As he did on Brother Ali's Undisputed Truth, Atmosphere producer Ant gives musical form to rage, desire, candor, ultra-realism. Every song takes on its own unique identity. The guitar solo on "Guarantees," for instance, adds drama to a sense of escapism. After a rough day, Slug arrives at his favorite pub in search of company. He finds the bar empty, so he resorts to monologue. "I don't want to go home yet. So I'mma talk to my cigarette and that television set. It doesn't matter what brand or station. Just anything to take away from my current situation." Notice how the guitar plucks get increasingly louder as the tension in his voice rises. Juicy From Start to Finish Loaded with all the elements that define a great rap album (but rarely move units) -- compelling storytelling, experimental production, and unbridled vulnerability, Lemons will keep playing even after you turn off the music. When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade; just listen to Atmosphere. Outstanding Tracks: "Shoulda Known" "Wild Wild Horses" "You" "Yesterday" "Guarantees"
ltobin01 Jun 06 2009 Digital [Rating23012726]	So in 2008 Slug feels he has to reach the kids and show them what hip hop is really about, so he tones himself down a bit. Still, this album is pretty good. "Dreamer", "Your Glass House", "Guarantees", "Me" and "yesterday" are the highlights. But man, Slug is a lifetime away from God Loves Ugly.
sk8tripr Apr 02 2009 Digital [Rating21717723]	Just not my thing.
reysantoya Feb 24 2009 CD [Rating20983694]	Atmosphere have been known to be one of the most known underground rap groups in the Midwest or wherever. Hearing their sounds on "When Life Gives You Lemons", it might sound like a toned-down version of the Beastie Boys mixed with Mister Rogers' Neighborhood when you hear it. But as you hear this album over and over again, you get a "plane arrival" feeling (which means the moment where you finally like a song or item after you didn't for some time). Tracks on "Lemons" that really bring out the maturity usually contain piano loops and slow singing. Yet it was a great move, especially "Like the Rest of Us" where Slug shines with his calm, chilling voice on a slow piano beat that says: "Hey. Calm down, homey". Then as soon as that song is done, Ant comes with the hard hitting, morning-awaking jammer known as "Puppets" with Slug talks about a man who struggles with life and hasn't change as a metaphor. "The Skinny" is a dark tale of Slug's lyrical content to tell the listener to get on the grind. "Dreamer" is a reminder to stay ahead of your game. It reminds me of the song "Stay True" by 2Pac and Thug Life where it contains a fast beat with the rapper keeping up the flow, singing about the grind. An excellent production by Ant as if you were hustling, you want it fast and quick; just like this beat. "Shoulda Known" is probably the best produced song on the album, due to the fact that it sounds like Q-Tip mixed with the 90's version of Dr. Dre, along with Slug rhyming like Eminem. The song talks about drug addiction and he even gives a shout out to the 7 deadly sins as addiction is one of them: "I got a restrainin' order/against satan's daughter". Surely, this song would keep you working at the gym. "You" speaks as one of the most inspiring, memorable, and stepped-up songs that talks about our inner self respect and self control. The chorus is hella-addicting: "You love the people that love you/you hear the music they move to/you give your ode to the fall through/but you don't know you". In the quick downlow, "Wild, Wild Horses", "Painting", "Your Glasshouse", and "Me" give good instrument performances with hard hitting instrumentals and twisting, author like lyrics. "Guarentees" and "Can't Break" are other rockers that get help from the electric guitar. Both are good lyrical performances while these to tracks talk about your self strength and the rest of everybody's too.  "The Waitress" is the bomb song which starts off slow with a piano number then blasts off out of nowhere with Slug singing his feelings to a metaphored girl while flute numbers bring out the street sense to the song. And with the badass piano loop, "In Her Music Box" mixes the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and Hip Hop into it's nature. It's truly a weird yet bumbing song once you get into it. While that, Slug must be talking about his daughter waiting at home while he goes on "work" while she listens to the radio (which appears to be her "music box") with her daddy's songs. Last but definitely not least, "Yesterday" speaks that old piano loop. But the only difference between the other piano loops is that "Yesterday" shines out as the present day version of "T.R.O.Y. (They Reminisce Over You)" by Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Slug talks about a dead relative of mistakely (or not) seeing them walk by while he was walking on the streets. The lyrics to the song are touching especially the intro ("I thought I saw you yesterday/but I didn't stop cuz you were walkin' the opposite way/I guess I could've shouted out your name/but even if it was you, I wouldn't know what to say") and the chorus which was touching enough: "Was that you? Look just like you/strange thangs my imagination might do/Take a breath, reflect of what we been through/or am I just goin' crazy cuz I miss you?". At the end, he comes out with a heart-crying assumption: "I thought I saw you yesterday/but I know it wasn't you cuz you passed away, Dad". Truly, touching. Touching. LYRICS: 9.75/10 BEATS:  9.25/10 PASSION: 9.5/10 ORIGINALITY: 10/10 INFLUENCE: 8.5/10 STRENGTHS: Original, instrumental, touching, mature WEAKNESSES: None TOP TRACKS: "Like the Rest of Us" "Shoulda Known" "You" "Yesterday" "The Waitress" "In Her Music Box" BOTTOM LINE: "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold" is inspiring, mature title that a hardcore, lyrical fan of Hip Hop should enjoy. If you wanna hear true Hip Hop and a different taste of music, try this Minnesota-bred album.

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