Keep Your Heart Three Stacks

UGK featuring Outkast “International Players’ Anthem” – Andre 3000’s verse on “International Players’ Anthem” may not be the very best of his recent flurry of guest appearances, but it is the one attached to a song that doesn’t totally fall apart immediately after he disappears. (In fairness, the remix of Lloyd’s “You” also features a strong verse by Nas, but the pleasant lite R&B tune with the super-obvious Spandeau Ballet sample separating their verses makes it feel as though you’re being put on hold between rhymes.) It certainly helps that 3000 is in the company of peers — Bun B and Pimp C of UGK may not have the overwhelming charisma of either Andre or Big Boi, but they can hold their own in their company, especially when they are riding a subtly dynamic track composed by Three Six Mafia that shifts its beat to play up the strengths of each rapper. If you can get over the novelty of hearing Andre 3000 rap again, it becomes rather clear that the highlight of the track is actually Big Boi’s verse, which slows down to a screwed crawl and springs back to regular tape speed twice over to great effect. (Click here to pre-order it from Amazon.)

Kathy Diamond “Between The Lines” – Maurice Fulton’s compositions for Mu always evoked a sense of permanent panic and agitation — “the music of the future, provided something terrible happens to all of us,” as I put it back in 2004. His work with Kathy Diamond pushes in the opposite direction with slinky, rhythmic tracks that unfold gently as airy vocals lull the listener into an eerie calmness. It’s chilled out, but also chilling — Fulton can’t help but infuse his music with a feeling of menace and discomfort, and so most of the songs with Diamond feel as though you’re drifting off to sleep only to have a very anxious nightmare. (Click here to pre-order it from Amazon.)

Elsewhere: Here’s a few album reviews that I’ve written recently for Artistdirect: Nine Inch Nails, Avril Lavigne, Macy Gray, Mika, and Tracey Thorn.