(BMG)
Over the past couple of years, countless mainstream hip hop albums have been successfully released, enjoying widespread acceptance and financial success. Many have been sonically amazing, showcasing hot, catchy beats by the likes of Timbaland and Dr. Dre. Unfortunately, not many have been albums of actually interesting or meaningful music.
But in November of 2001, things switched up a bit: The Dungeon Family, the Atlanta-based crew of the groundbreaking group Outkast, released their first fully collaborative effort Even in Darkness. As a crew, the DF consists of two \generations."" The first consists of veterans Outkast and Goodie Mob, the second features proteges like Slimm ""Cutta"" and Freddy Calhoun (formerly Cool Breeze).
Like many of its mainstream peers, Even in Darkness sounds great. Longtime Outkast production groups Organized Noize and Earthtone 3 incorporate live instrumentals on most tracks to create horn-driven, snap-tight hooks that remind listeners of a thicker, darker version of their previous work with Outkast and TLC.
Lyrically though, Even In Darkness is thankfully not much like some other major label albums. Instead of becoming a clich?? novelty compilation like many other group efforts, the Dungeon Family understands that exposing their differing personalities, weaknesses, styles and ideas doesn't make an album weaker, it makes it stronger. A contrast between forceful group boasting and introspective cleverness defines Even in Darkness. For every blunt Witchdoctor line'""Hit me, I'm working off my hip/And I keep a box of extra clips, cause hater-ism is a trip/I come out the blue like a Crip/And believe me asses will get whipped""'there is a confusing ""Every time I meet a girl, she's putting her hand in her purse/And when my next record drop, I ain't wearing no shirt"" from Freddie Calhoun. As explosive as any individual Outkast album, the strong group dynamic on ""Even in Darkness"" is refreshingly unforced.
As expected, the verses of Big Boi and Andre 3000 from Outkast stand out, but they don't dominate. Stealing more than a handful of tracks with some of the most vibrant and energetic lines of the album, Cee-Lo of Goodie Mob alternates between nasal gospel wails and sharply intricate staccato rhymes. And while the songs written and anchored by the older, more polished MC's are probably the most consistent, the rest of the Family never lets the level of intensity slip.
Make no mistake, Even in Darkness does not have the lighter, bouncy giddiness of Aquemini or Stankonia. But clever references to violence and sex aren't made to sensationalize. Instead they work to construct a dark and funky reality where overcoming adversity with group creativity is a reason to brag, following in the tradition of their idol George Clinton. Maintaining the street credibility of their requisite hard gangster edge without coming off as bloated, tracks like ""Crooked Booty,"" ""Follow the Light"" and ""6 Minutes"" are lyrically pointed while staying both ridiculously funky and danceable at the same time.
(A&M Records)
In the wake of recent events, many musicians have taken the opportunity to perform at benefit concerts or release charity albums with various patriotic themes. It seems that Sting, as one of rock's elder statesmen, should be no different, with his recent release of ...All This Time, a live album recorded Sept. 11 and ""respectfully dedicated to all who lost their lives on that day.""
What sets this album apart, however, is the element of celebration'not of the usual clich??s, but of Sting and his contribution to music over the past decades. Unlike Paul McCartney's hasty ""Freedom"" anthem, Sting thankfully chooses to resurrect the songs'if they were ever truly dead'he is best known for in this jazzed-up set.
One song on the album, ""Fragile,"" truly resonates with the events of that day, but instead of clubbing the audience with blunt messages of peace, it instead treads the relevant subject of human frailty. In doing so, he manages to express personal sorrow with his poetry instead of simply offering a rehash of comments in the news.
Interesting as ""Fragile"" is, the biggest surprise on this disc is Sting's'and thereby the listeners''rediscovery of his music. Hits like ""All this Time,"" ""Fields of Gold"" and ""If I Ever Lose My Faith In You"" are slowed down, jazzed up and presented with simple backing. It gives them new life in a time when so much music is simply an exhibition of new technology.
Sting even digs back further for his early hits as frontman of the Police, with ""Roxanne"" and ""Every Breath You Take."" Although the presentation here is void of the tense emotions present with their first recording, what replaces them is Sting's joy in singing them'a fond and welcome reminiscence.
With this newfound delight come original takes on old songs'especially ""When We Dance,"" which may actually be better than the original.
Throughout the set, Sting reminds his listeners of his talent before a live audience, as well as the reasons he was popular in the first place. His songs are still beautiful and resonant'still truly withstanding the test of all this time.
