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By
Monica Levette Clark
On-line Forty-Niner
"World
Wide Underground"
Erykah Badu
****
Mama's
got a brand new bag, and the contents of
it are very dangerous, like the new single
"Danger," off of her soon to be
released third studio album suggests, "World
Wide Underground," suggests.
With
past album titles like "Baduizm"
and "Mama's Gun," you can bet
that soul sister, Erykah Badu's newest offering
is sure to be fresh, original, funky and
a whole lot more. The forthcoming nine-track
album includes songs such as "The Grind,"
"Think Twice" and "Love of
My Life Worldwide," but I only heard
the breakthrough single off of the new album.
A single that was strong enough in lyrical
content, and bold enough musically with
maddening bass lines and horn riffs to last
me until the album drops Tuesday.
The
single opens with an introduction where
a lovesick jailbird calls up his faithful
girl from the pin collect, and she willingly
accepts. The first verse, heavily rock influenced
busts through wide open, with Badu leading
listeners into a tale of ghetto love that
stands the test of time. While homeboy's
in jail, his baby's mama was keeping "the
block on lock, the trunk stay locked/ glock
on cock, the block stay hot."
Judging
from the single, Ms. Thing's new album is
sure to be hot, and like her award-winning,
critically acclaimed albums of the past,
is destined for Grammy status.
By
Mandy Wright
On-line Forty-Niner
"Before
Everything and After"
MXPX
***
The
latest album from these punk veterans is
a delicate balance between growing up and
selling out. While it is somewhat of a departure
from their earlier albums, it is still distinctly
MXPX. The band's sound has gotten slower,
cleaner and more mature, especially on such
tracks as "It's Alright" and "Play
it Loud." The catchy "Kings of
Hollywood," reminiscent of the Beach
Boys, is a look back at the band's younger
days in Hollywood. The love song tracks,
required of every band, are incredibly well
done on this album, especially the almost-acoustic
ballad "Quit Your Life," which
allows lead singer Mike Herrera's vocals
to shine through. Experienced MXPX fans
will be pleased with the band's faster,
more signature tracks such as "Brokenhearted"
and "The Capitol," but even those
who have yet to discover this trio will
find something they can enjoy.
By
Porschia Baker
On-line Forty-Niner
"Here
Comes the Fuzz"
Mark Ronson
***1 /2
Funky
hip-hop DJ Mark Ronson, on Elektra Entertainment,
has a fat resume that includes working with
Outkast, Jay-Z and Moby. "Here Comes
the Fuzz" is his debut album.
Nowadays,
this British born New Yorker, is better
known as a producer and songwriter. The
album opens with a cartoon-like, introduction,
with head-knocking beats that give listeners
a spicy taste of what is to come. Track
three, "Ohh Wee," featuring Ghostface
Killah, Nate Dogg, and Trife. This song
has a nasty beat with a few disco lights
looming in the background.
The
title track opens with a Hendrix-like, guitar-strumming
beat. Nikka Costa and Freeway intertwine
their tongues on this rock-infused track.
As
debut album's go, "Here Comes The Fuzz"
sounds more like a sophomore album.
"Perfect
Timing"
Boo & Gotti
***
New
York seems to continuously give birth to
funky hip-hop artists that add more flavor
to its already steaming music scene. But,
a new state is emerging on the music map.
That state is Chicago, and it is time for
Chicago natives and Universal/Motown Records
duo, Boo and Gotti to break through on its
own.
"Perfect
Timing" their debut album, consists
of artists now returning the favor and pouring
rhythmic verses into their first release.
The
heavy, night-crawling beats set the mood
for an album that is full of lyrical stories
told via the Chicago duo.
While
"Perfect Timing" is a head-nodding
album with street cruising beats, the lyrics
are just as worthy of open ears. It was
about time for Boo and Gotti to release
an album and it seems to be perfect timing.
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