Skizzy Mars

Young New York-based rapper Skizzy Mars cites indie rock acts such as Death Cab for Cutie and Animal Collective as influences. Not that you can really hear those influences on his latest effort The Red Balloon Project The album opens with “Like This,” a narrative-heavy track that finds Mars adopting a sluggish delivery style as he intones, “like this/like this/like this” over a slow-motion groove. The loopy “The City” has a good beat to it and recalls old school jazz-inspired acts such as Digable Planets. (Niesel)