Das Racist
Relax (Greedhead)
Ever since 2008′s catchy “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell” became a YouTube sensation, one question has loomed large regarding Das Racist: Are they kidding?
Like an ethnically mixed Beastie Boys, scruffy MCs Victor Vazquez, Himanshu Suri, and hardy-har-har hype man Ashok Kondabolu trade on inside jokes and oddball non sequiturs that pay homage to hip-hop and rap’s social ideals while satirizing the form. But on what side of the fence the rappers fall — giddy farce or serious commentary — is what makes “Relax” fascinating.
As they did throughout devilishly snarky 2010 mix-tapes “Sit Down, Man” and “Shut Up, Dude,” Das Racist’s first album is rich with recognizable samples, delectable melodies, and riveting rhythms. “The Trick” tips its (high) hat to Tom Tom Club. “Punjabi Song” benefits from a blend of Bhangra and electro. But it’s the sinister and silly singsongy voices — gruff, nasal, cloying — and the scripts they follow that make Racist exceptional.
– A.D. Amorosi, The Philadelphia Inquirer
SuperHeavy
SuperHeavy (Universal Republic)
The supergroup is a familiar concept for rock fans. But has there ever been one as random as this one? SuperHeavy is the unlikely collaboration of Mick Jagger, Damian Marley, Joss Stone, ex-Eurythmic Dave Stewart, and Indian film composer A.R. Rahman.
What should be a train wreck actually meshes in interesting fashion on songs like the reggae-meets-raga “Unbelievable.” All hands get a chance or three to pilot the ship.
As strong as Stone’s voice is, she’s better here as a backup than a front woman. And Jagger cagily picks his moments for maximum impact, prowling around the edges of songs such as “Miracle Worker” like an alley cat. Rahman would seem to be the most superfluous bandmember but he consistently adds the album’s most exotic moments.
Intriguing on first listen, SuperHeavy is a novelty act, slightly less than the sum of its considerable parts.
– David Hiltbrand, The Philadelphia Inquirer
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