Wu-Tang Clan
The W
Loud Records

How many dope songs on an album make it the bomb? I'd say if there's a 2:3 dope to dooty ratio the album has the probability of bomb status. Well, kiddies, I'm sorry to say the Wu went boo on this album, The W (4:13 ratio and only a 1 1/2 day bump in the rizide).

The Wu start out strong with a classic old school karate clip (the only one) which runs into "Chamber Music" reminiscent of their first album 36 Chambers. The next song, "Careful," is a straight song to ride to, with one hand on the wheel and your head so far over it might as well be hangin' out the window (gangsta style)! Then comes the letdown period of songs with shady beats from the Rza and Ah Yo, Ah Yo, Ah Yo's from the chef Raekwon, or should I call him the lunch lady, his skills 'r so sloppy!

The Wu-Tang Clan must have known this album was not up to par so they provided cameos from superstars such as Redman, Junior Reed, Isaac Hayes, Nas, Busta Rhymes and Snoop D O double G. Even having them on the album didn't turn it out, although Busta is kinda nice. The song "Conditioner," featuring Snoop and Old Dirty (his only appearance on The W) seems like the worst clash of eastcoast westcoast styles in the history of rap. Don't get me wrong, I love Dirty and I sipped on Tanqueray, but this duo has got to go."Gravel Pit," is the last good song on the album and I predict soon to be totally played out. This is followed by a weak ending to the album.

I give The W a big thumb down due to their prodigious amount of talented artists and history of dope albums. Oh yeah, Free ODB! -Michael Geneve

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Raw Power

It's loud, it's fast, you can understand about every third word. These are the things you might get as an answer to the question "What does an Italian hardcore/speed-metal band sound like after 19 years?" Raw Power, however, doesn't fit all of these generalizations since their enunciation has improved dramatically over the years.

When you listen to Trust Me, you will find it is a blend of social commentary on drug and alcohol abuse, police prejudice and brutality, mis-directed revenge on the innocent, and natural catastrophe. Tracks like "Give Me a Drink" and "Don't Blame Me" make one think of giving this band the dreaded label "straight edge" due to their intense anti-alcohol and drug message, but that's soon forgotten when you hear "We Hate You" or "Take Your Hands Off Me!" and get the feelings of helplessness and outrage that they induce. "George" is a straight from the gut reminder of what horrors a hurricane can bring to the population in general.

Not all of these songs are written so eloquently and esoterically that it takes days or even weeks to figure out the hidden messages within, but then again, do you really buy speed-metal just for these qualities? So what this really means is that if you are already an initiate to Raw Power or speed-metal in general, you will enjoy and understand this album as if it were an old friend. -Fuj-E

Kasey Chambers

From the first song to the last, the latest album by Australian country music artist Kasey Chambers catches your ear and never lets go.

With a refreshing sound of solid country music, Chambers croons lyrics related to hard times and life in general. Her fresh sound, which has captured audiences around the globe, is a welcome one in the world of pickup trucks and basset hounds. Her voice mimics those of classic country yesteryear while capturing younger audiences with her musical freshness.

The title track, "Captain," is a ballad devoted to life's hard knocks: the one's that leave you in the gutter one day and you stare in the face the next. "Southern Kind of Life" is another track that tells a story; this one of growing up deep in the South (South Wales in her case) and holding fast to her roots as she ventured out into the world.

Her last track on the album "We're All Gonna Die Someday" captures the bitter truth to life and celebrates that fact even down to the line: "Momma's on pills and daddy's over the hill/ We're all gonna die someday." The toe-stomping beat lends a perfect end to a great album.

The Captain serves up a new dose of country and delivers knee-tapping, ear pleasing tunes just the way music was intended. Chambers' entrance into the world of country brings definition to a dying art and has roots deeply planted in classic country of days gone by. In short, this album is for anyone who enjoys crisp tracks that go beyond the typical country stereotype and render real soul back into music.-Jason Headrick

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