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• December 11, 2006
• Reviews

Music 12/12/06

Clipse—Hell Hath No Fury
You can count on one hand the number of classic hip hop albums that have been released in the past five years, but most people agree that the Clipse's first album Lord Willin' is one of them. While greater commercial success have eluded Clipse, due in no small part to the record label drama that has kept them from releasing an official album for four years, they have built a strong following by self-releasing two celebrated mixtapes. Now, their latest album finally sees the light of day, and it's more than worth the wait. The wordplay employed by the duo, usually about the joy and pain of selling cocaine, has only gotten tighter since their last record, and the beats, produced entirely by the Neptunes, are a constant revelation, dark and futuristic percussion that's virtually everything we want from a new hip hop album.

White Magic—Dat Rosa Mel Apibus
White Magic is a Brooklyn-based folk outfit that has been building considerable buzz on the strength of their first EP released in 2004 and their incredible live performances. Their debut album plays to all of their strengths—sparse and lovely arrangements, the weird and wonderful voice of singer Mira Billotte, and their willingness to take chances, such as starting the album with "The Light," a song without words. Gang Gang Dance's Tim DeWitt is featured on the album, no doubt adding to the strangeness that sets this album apart from the rest of the Freak Folk pack. This is a perfect winter album, so pour yourself a cup of Darjeeling and enjoy.

Anonymous—Inside the Shadow
Privately released in Indianapolis in 1977, Anonymous was a studio project recorded in a converted garage with a sound that transcends these humble origins. The band comes off like a less druggy Jefferson Airplane at times, eschewing sloppy jamming in favor of meticulous harmonies and impeccable guitar solos. Our pick from the album is "Up To You," a beautiful ballad that sounds like CSNY covering a Big Star song. Yeah, that good. The album is available only from Anthology Recordings, a new music label that re-releases rare and out-of-print music exclusively in digital format.

Anonymous—Inside the Shadow