Tracklisting:

1. Little Houdini
2. Three Sheets to the Wind
3. I Was Zero
4. Slow Man
5. Diamonds and Pearls
6. Polterzeitgeist
7. The Baby Stays
8. 16 Years
9. Worry Not
10. London Bridge
11. Love The Lie
12. The Best of Times

Li(f)e is a marked evolution for Sage Francis. The celebrated agent-provocateur of hip hop brings his signature wordplay to a setting complimented by a talented band consisting of producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine) and cohorts Jim Becker and Tim Rutili of the acclaimed Chicago outfit Califone. Along for the ride are some of indie rock’s most prestigious songwriters. Take album opener “Little Houdini,” a stirring Steinbeckian tale of prison break, with music written by ex Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle. “We specifically sought out songwriters who had never worked with a rapper,” Francis explains. “I didn’t want them to write music they thought they should for hip-hop. The music for ‘Little Houdini’ was a long epic instrumental piece Jason had jus