Buffalo Daughter
WXBD
Grand Royal
This Japanese group likes to get retarded with the funk. As an extension of last year's brilliant New Rock disc, Buffalo Daughter has enlisted a hardcore cast of remixers to cut up their best songs and slap on some thick-ass beats. Both Kut Masta Kurt and Cornelius have a go at the psychedelic "Great Five Lakes" with dramatically different results, while Panda turns "Super Blooper" into a disco 2000 jam and Jopolo kicks "Sky High + Down Sea" straight in the shin.–Aidin Vaziri
Destination 2000
Love As Laughter
Sup Pop
I haven't listened to this CD, but I decided to review it anyway 'cause it's got a few things going for it. The colors of the album cover are kinda dope: army green and orange. If someone sent me a T-shirt that color, I'd wear it. The band guys are on the cover, too, just standing there in a diagonal line spacing out into the distance. They don't really look as destined as their name claims, but that's all right 'cause their album name is good: Love As Laughter. I laugh at love, too. It can be pretty stupid. Last and probably least, there're a few good song titles. "Margaritas." Good drink, good title. Based on the title, "On The Run" might be a good song, too. But "Freedom Cop" is too much of an ironic contradiction, and it probably sucks.–Tania
Aphrodite
Gee Street
V2
Imagine the history of American hip-hop - the Pharcyde's "Passing Me By," Schooly D's "P.S.K.," 45 King's "900 Number," Pumpkin All-Stars' "King of the Beats"–compressed into a funk bullets and loaded into a fully automatic bop gun, and you begin to get the sense of junglist Aphrodite's mission. "Spice," "Woman That Rolls," "Rincing Quince," and "BM Funkster" incite seismic ass-shaking, punctuated by happy horn stabs, throbbing bass-rubs, two-step pelvic thrusts. Stripped free of menace, it's all about exhilaration. And it's all in your pants faster than you can say, "Rhythmotorbooty, baby!"–Zen
Ol' Dirty Bastard
N***a Please
Elektra
There's a fine line between homelessness and genius, and the Old Dirty Bastard is walking it like a skilled high-wire acrobat. On his second solo album, N***a Please, the Wu's drunken uncle laughs, growls, threatens his entire listening audience, breaks into lengthy nonsensical thank-you lists, and chaotically improvises for the better part of an hour. The album's dozen tracks–with names like "Gettin' High," "You Don't Want To F–k With Me," and "I Want Pussy"–sound unscripted, unedited, and under-produced, but in a hip-hop world where songs are remixed and recreated a thousand times a night in dance clubs in every corner of the globe, the ODB may be a prodigy in a bum's stained T-shirt.–JZA
Beck
Midnite Vulturez
Interscope
Something has happened to Beck since he released his major label debut, Mellow Gold. Mainly, he has forgotten how to spell. Just look at the album title. What kind of second-grade crap is that? Good thing his music has gotten better. He's ditched the mumble-jumble folk-rap in favor of speaker-bumping booty jams ("Get Real Paid") and sleek funk ballads ("Debra"). Stick around long enough and you'll get an untitled bonus track full of animal noises, cartoon sound effects, and massive instrument demolition.–Aidin Vaziri
Luna
The Days of Our Nights
Cello
For those expecting Luna to reinvent itself with its latest, much-delayed album, The Days of Our Nights, prepare to be disappointed. Frontman Dean Wareham's Velvet Underground obsession is simply too strong to shake with time alone. Homeboy needs therapy. Instead, the new disc is steadfast in its ambition. Dark chord progressions and sublime melodies dominate wistful songs like "Hello, Little One" and "Seven Steps To Satan," while surprise comes in the form of an unexpectedly rich cover of Guns ‘N' Roses' "Sweet
Child O' Mine."לAidin Vaziri
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Xtra Acme
Matador Xtra Acme collects fourteen outtakes from the various recording sessions for Acme as well as five remixes from Acme. The majority of outtakes come from the Steve Albini sessions and are without a doubt some of the best tracks the band has done to date. Other contributors include Moby, Money Mark, Calvin Johnson, Andre William, Jill Cunniff, and others. If you've missed the raw-powered rock ‘n' roll that you love, and maybe expect, from the JSBX, then Xtra Acme won't disappoint. Very consistent and arguably as good or better than Acme. –Tom Minarchic
Mos Def
Black On Both Sides
Rawkus Those people at Rawkus are pretty damn cheap, sending us a tape instead of a CD. Mighty Mos Def on the other hand, he's got his shit together. Evolving too quick to classify, Mos Def takes you through an audio array of hip-hop and then some. Why stop with original beats and lyrics when he can rock and roll or flip a mellow track with some smooth vocals? Mos Def teases you with his many talents, then focuses on his hip-hop foundation. He even takes a heartfelt moment to joke Limp Bizkit and give props to Bad Brains and Fishbone. Not your average MC, not your average album–Mos Def is steps ahead of the game. As for Rawkus, you best send me the CD, you cheap-ass penny pinchers!–Shad
Pharoahe Monch
Internal Affairs
Rawkus
In his press-release photo, Pharoahe Monch is on the beach looking hard as nails, kickin' some dog tags and a dirty torn-up white T-shirt. I thought he was tough until I saw his one fatal flaw–uncontrollable back-hair growth. Pharoahe's going to get joked by all the ladies if he tries to break off his shirt and rock it like DMX. That's why Paroahe Monch is so dope, though, he doesn't care. He breaks it off with his own style and doesn't even think about reaching for the Nair or duct tape. In fact, I bet he put Rogaine on his back just to prove how hard he really is. So go out and buy Internal Affairs, it's a hair-raising album.–Shad
