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Reviewed

Foxy Brown

Brooklyn's Don Diva (Black Rose Entertainment/Koch)

By Ben Westhoff

Published: May 21, 2008

Naturally, Foxy Brown is the object of Ali G's affections. With her foul mouth and short skirt, she epitomizes the fake gangstaism he parodies. At least she has the track record to support it...

Music

Jamie Lidell sings from the heart, riffs on the absurd

By Ben Westhoff

Published: May 21, 2008

The blackest-singing white man since Rick Astley, Jamie Lidell is as delightfully inscrutable on his albums as he is charmingly unhinged in person. In between sips of a champagne cocktail at a...

Reviewed

The Roots

Rising Down (Def Jam)

By Ben Westhoff

Published: May 21, 2008

If the recent Smirnoff showcase in New York — at which Common, Q-Tip, and KRS-One disconcertingly sold their skills to the vodka company for some quick stacks — is any indication, the...

Music

Atmosphere paints self-effacing shit gold

By Ben Westhoff

Published: May 7, 2008

On one hand, it shouldn't be surprising that rapper Slug is insecure, considering he has a song called "They're All Gonna Laugh at You," and another that tells the fantastical story of a woman who...

Reviewed

Gnarls Barkley

The Odd Couple (Atlantic)

By Ben Westhoff

Published: April 9, 2008

We expect a lot from our indie-ethos crossover pop stars nowadays, even from a duo as inspired as Gnarls Barkley, aka DJ Danger Mouse and rapper Cee-Lo. We expect guilt-free yet radio-worthy...

Music

Mike Relm: From "Back in Black" to Blue Man Group

By Ben Westhoff

Published: March 26, 2008

DJ Mike Relm is the Outback Steakhouse of turntablism. He entertains great gobs of people via tried-and-true musical recipes that inflict heartburn upon those who are sick of AOR radio. He's best...

Music

Saul Williams Teams with Trent Reznor, Bucks Industry

By Ben Westhoff

Published: March 19, 2008

Ater the November digital release of Saul Williams' latest album, The Rise and Inevitable Liberation of NiggyTardust! , producer Trent Reznor was disheartened. Reznor had masterminded the...

Reviewed

Gary Louris

Vagabonds (Rykodisc)

By Ben Westhoff

Published: March 19, 2008

Jayhawks and Golden Smog alum Gary Louris has a knack for crafting heartbreaking yet inspiring pop songs. At his best — in Jayhawks tunes like "Save It for a Rainy Day," "I'm Gonna Make You...

Music

Bob Mould: No love lost for Husker Du days

By Ben Westhoff

Published: March 19, 2008

"It's pretty easy, actually; it just took a while to figure out," Bob Mould says, explaining how, after years of personal discontent, he finally grew comfortable with himself. "I stopped putting...

Reviewed

Why?

Alopecia (Anticon)

By Ben Westhoff

Published: March 5, 2008

The press release for Alopecia claims that Why? ringleader Yoni Wolf was inspired "as much by MF Doom and Lil' Wayne as J. Newsom and Big Dylan." I don't hear any of that, although the disc...

Reviewed

Lenny Kravitz

It Is Time for a Love Revolution (Virgin)

Ben Westhoff

Published: February 27, 2008

Lenny Kravitz hates it when critics call him retro, contending that love, revolution, and smooching should belong to every generation. But the problem with his new album, It Is Time for a Love...

Music

The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting takes the oral history format too far

By Ben Westhoff

Published: January 23, 2008

The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting: An Oral History is probably essential reading for serious Replacements fans, but man, it's a slog. Author Jim Walsh, a onetime buddy of Paul...

Music

Lupe Fiasco hints at music retirement

By Ben Westhoff

Published: January 9, 2008

"I just don't think I have that much to say," Lupe Fiasco says over the phone, explaining why he plans to quit recording music soon. "A lot of the stuff that I want to say musically, it has a...

Music

Young vet Bow Wow bestows advice on adolescent rappers

By Ben Westhoff

Published: December 26, 2007

Bow Wow, the pint-sized novelty act who made preteen girls swoon with his 2000 debut, Beware of Dog , has somehow evolved into an elder statesman in the hip-pop genre. Now 20, he has split with...

Reviewed

Wu-Tang Clan

8 Diagrams (Loud/SRC/Universal)

By Ben Westhoff

Published: December 5, 2007

Wu-Tang Clan's fifth album comes at a time of group strife. Ghostface Killah and Raekwon have laid into ringleader and beatmaker RZA for the album's creative direction; calling Wu a sinking ship...

Music

Band of Horses Fend Off a Critical Backlash

By Ben Westhoff

Published: November 21, 2007

Few bands received more attention at this October's CMJ than Band of Horses. The increasingly-hippie-sounding indie band from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, by way of Seattle was featured in...

Music

Jay-Z's New Title: Most Overrated Rapper Ever

By Ben Westhoff

Published: November 14, 2007

Rap's Grateful Dead? Hova? Young? The No. 1 MC of all time? None of the above. Jay-Z's most appropriate title is currently Most Overrated Rapper. Ever. American Gangster , his reactionary new...

Reviewed

Little Brother

Getback (ABB)

By Ben Westhoff

Published: November 7, 2007

"I came back from New York, nigga lost his deal/Felt sick to the stomach, almost lost his meal," raps Phonte on Getback 's first track, "Sirens." He's referring to his duo Little Brother's exit...

Hear This

Legendary Oddballs Ween Paint the Town Brown

By Ben Westhoff

Published: November 7, 2007

A case could be made for San Francisco's American Music Club being a truly American counterpart to Britain's Joy Division. Although they're sonically different, the two groups share common...

Music

Is Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah as Dumb as He Sometimes Acts?

By Ben Westhoff

Published: October 31, 2007

Ghostface Killah is a brilliant storyteller and lyricist, and is the only Wu-Tang Clan member still making relevant solo albums. He's a prolific and increasingly media-savvy artist who nonetheless...