Chances are when you think of Canadian music, the first thing that comes to mind isn't hip-hop. Arcade Fire? Sure. Neil Young? Of course! Alanis Morisette? Erm, why not? But in the underbelly of the Canadian music scene lies a strong hip-hop constituency, Factor being one of its main contributors. Since the late 90s, Factor has produced more than his fair share of music, from his numerous own albums to songs by emcees ranging from Aesop Rock to Xzibit. With his latest work, 13 Stories (A Prelude), the constantly busy Factor hopes to kick off a strong 2010, before releasing a follow-up to 13 Stories in May.

As exhibited and explained by opener “Sounds Good to Me,” Factor's production work throughout 13 Stories steers along the lines of traditional, “real” hip-hop. In doing so, it strikes a happy medium between hip-hop most readers are probably familiar with – the flashy, showy music heard over and over again on commercial radio, and the minimalist, hipster-approved artists that populate the Stones Throw and Def Jux labels. Factor's music is lush, layered, and nuanced unlike much underground hip-hop, but makes an effort to be more subdued and mellow than most of his mainstream brethren. The album's various guest rappers contribute to the music by providing lyrics that are, on the whole, more thoughtful than most hip-hop artists both in and out of popular culture's collective consciousness. This combination results in a listening experience that could best be referred to as pleasant, and 13 Stories is definitely an album to relax to rather than one to play at the club. There are times when this fresh take on the genre works, but more times when it doesn't – specifically, when the mellowness and calming qualities of the album work against it.

The record hits its peak early with “Don't Jock the Dead,” which is far-and-away the album's best track. It starts with a little humor – the song title is sung as part of a hook that the track's guest rappers, AWOL One and Sole, forget most of the words to and replace with mumble-jumble, sort of like what you do when you hear a song (probably a Journey song, let's be honest) that you like but don't know all the words to on the radio. After this instance of refreshing humor, the beat kicks in – simultaneously soulful and creepy, it sounds like the soundtrack to a zombie march, appropriate considering the song's subject matter. The track's lyrics use the examples of famous dead people (name-checking Elliot Smith and Michael Jackson) to help draw the conclusion that, hey, life can be kind of shitty sometimes - we need to support each other while alive in order to combat the urge to give up. When it comes down to it, the song is a shout-out to any person currently having a rough go of it, suggesting that at times, “A bullet in the brain is better than a 401K” while requesting we honor those we know who are still alive as well as those who have passed on.

As “Don't Jock the Dead” shows, Factor knows how to do darker, moodier, downcast music rather well. Another example of this is “Black Fantasia,” which features a haunting piano sample accompanied by quick-moving percussion. This song's guest rapper, Sunspot Jonz, manages to keep up with its fast tempo and his voice goes with the music like PB and J. At times he manages to keep up a little too well, trying to cram a few too many words into his lines and sounding like a hip-hop version of Photo Album-era Ben Gibbard in the process. However, like in that album, the result is more endearing than obnoxious – one gets the impression that Jonz has faith in what he's saying, providing another compelling reason to listen to the track.

After a few songs, however, a sense of tedium and monotony starts to weigh down on the proceedings. Sure, Factor's production is solid throughout 13 Stories, but aside from “Don't Jock the Dead” and “Black Fantasia” nothing really sticks out after several listens. While Factor and Co.'s more relaxed take is appreciated, any sense of excitement or danger is almost entirely absent throughout the album. The lack of edge is best displayed on “Tell Me,” where guest emcee NoCanDo tells the story of a guy who discovers his spouse of nine years and mother of his two children has been unfaithful via cell phone snooping. His final response to the betrayal? A very matter-of-fact “Life's a bitch and so are you.” When pushed into the role of the victim in such an unfortunate situation, a proportionate response (in this case, one of obvious anger) is not only warranted, but expected. Perhaps channeling anger and other strong emotions aside from a strong love for music might have resulted in a more thoroughly enjoyable listen. As is, 13 Stories consists of just a couple standouts and not much else.

Track List:
1. Sounds Good To Me (Hip Hop) (feat. Rifleman (Ellay Khule), Medusa, Joe Dub)
2. Don't Jock The Dead (feat. Awol One, Sole)
3. Batteries Not Included (feat. Onry Ozzborn)
4. Black Fantasia (feat. Sunspot Jonz)
5. Keep It On Track Now (feat. Sleep)
6. Money In The Bank (feat. Existereo)
7. In Through The Alley (feat. Cam the Wizzard)
8. Pulling The Wings Off Of Angles (feat. Nolto)
9. Vicious Cycle (feat. iCON the mic king)
10. Luck Ducks (feat. Def3)
11. Tell Me (feat. NoCanDo)
12. Sinking Ship (feat. Kay the Aquanaut)
13. Sacrifice (feat. Noah23)