Perceived by many to contain a subliminal shot at fellow rapper Method Man, "Anti" is a staunch declaration of a fearless warrior who will not be silenced. Always introspective, Budden's latest effort finds the rapper in an emotionally darker place: no party songs or radio friendly excursions this time around. With the release of Joe Budden's last album, "Padded Room" in February, and his group album with Slaughterhouse ("Slaughterhouse") this August, "Escape Route" is Budden's third full-length CD in eight months.
Geraud Blanks, s pecial to the Journal Sentinel If you prefer more tough talk and fewer sexy singles, you might need to purchase the original "J.O.S.E." Whether or not you like this album depends on how you like your Fat Joe. The Ron Bownz-produced "Winding on Me," guest starring Lil Wayne, and "Porn Star," featuring Lil Kim, are love-it-or-hate-it propositions. One-man party starter T-Pain comes through as always with a satisfying if predictable performance on "Put You in the Game," while Milwaukee native Rico Love and rising R&B crooner Pleasure P make the album's second single, "Aloha," a catchy four-minute homage to sun, fun and drinks that come with little umbrellas.Ī well-produced 12-song set with commercial appeal, "J.O.S.E 2" is not without its questionable selections. Drawing inspiration from Method Man's 1994 single "All I Need," Fat Joe borrows a line or two from the classic song to help craft an infectious, radio-friendly cut. However, the smooth bass line and timeless vocal sample from Willie Hutch's "Overture of Foxy Brown" make this bawdy romp a guilty pleasure.Īkon assists on the album's lead single, "One," a quintessential feel-good ode to that special person. "Ice Cream," featuring Raekwon and T.A., is the requisite misogynistic banter about sexual prowess. In its place are songs aimed at his sizable female fan base and that ever-elusive club market. With the success of recent album sequels from prominent rappers like Jay-Z and Raekwon, it seems that the classic album redo is becoming a trendy concept for aging hip-hop artists looking to revitalize their careers.įat Joe is doing far less of his signature gritty street rap these days. The release of Fat Joe's new album appears perfectly timed. On "The Life of the World to Come," the gospel of everyday life is soft, hesitant and discontentedly beautiful. Whether facing mortality through another's death ("Matthew 25:21") or slouching toward salvation ("Romans 10:9"), the music tends toward muted piano and acoustic-guitar arrangements. Much of this album finds Darnielle and the Mountain Goats casting about for a ray of light, or enlightenment, amid darkness. But Darnielle remains more a storyteller than a preacher, and he expresses much more doubt than any putative Christian singer-songwriter could. The dozen tracks are named for Bible verses and are inspired by the poetry and messages therein. "The Life of the World to Come" makes this attitude more explicit. There has always been something discontentedly spiritual in the Mountain Goats' music, and particularly in John Darnielle's voice, which often murmurs in an attitude akin to beseeching prayer. Gilbertson, s pecial to the Journal Sentinel Cash honors the tradition, but she doesn't quite fit herself into it. Her husband, John Leventhal, produces everything tastefully, and guests such as Rufus Wainwright and Bruce Springsteen provide excellent masculine frisson. Instead, she visits them, bestowing her elegantly earthy voice upon each and moving on to the next. Of course, Roseanne Cash doesn't try to destroy them nor does she totally possess them. The selections themselves - including "Long Black Veil," "Motherless Children" and "She's Got You" - are among the most indestructible in the American songbook. Twenty-six years later, the daughter has chosen 12 songs from that inventory and created "The List," her first covers record. He wanted her to learn them all, thus providing her a thorough education in the music to which he contributed so much.
In 1973, Johnny Cash put together a list of "100 Essential Country Songs" and handed it to his eldest daughter, Roseanne.
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