In the beginning were Public Enemy. And they were good. Razor sharp cutting-edge purveyors of apocalyptic, political and intelligent rap, PE's monolithic sound was more threatening and establishment-rocking than a whole posse full of gangstas. Lost in the wilderness for a few years, in the midst of wranglings with record companies and internal squabblings, now they're back in classic original flavour (flav), complete with Professor Griff. "Do You Wanna Go Our Way???" is priceless, the sound of America spiralling downwards into a quagmire of pre-millenial chaos and
anarchy, whilst Chuck D preaches his sermon on the state of the nation, interjected with Flav's clown prince chorus and shot through with Terminator X's heat-seeking anti-bullshit missiles. Sample-free and bass-heavy, this is the sound of a band who have been waiting all their lives for 31st December 1999 - now it's nearly here their muse is at its height.
"I" is the extra track, a mellower but just as hard-hitting rap about homelessness and poverty - heavy-handed it would be in an other group's hands, but moulded by PE's mighty fists it is both sincere and effective. The video to "Go Our Way" completes the package, and with its dark sci-fi tone, suits the song perfectly.
Both these tracks are lifted from forthcoming LP "There's A Poison Going On", and a better advert for going out and buying a record never existed.
Rating: 10/10
Lit had a hard job trying to follow-up the dumb-ass class of "My Own Worst Enemy", and "Zip-Lock" tries oh so hard, but just falls short. Indeed, it tries to follow exactly the same formula, with a fairly quiet verse interrupted by a riff-laded chorus, dripping attitude and hair oil. What's missing though are the crack-addictive tune and the brilliant lyrics, here replaced in both departments by something far more pedestrian.
A shame, cos now Lit seem to be just another bunch of low-aiming blokes with guitars, sights set no higher than Speedo from Rocket From The Crypt's quiff.
The LP version of "Zip-Lock" follows, presumably different from the radio edit due to a sweary word somewhere I couldn't spot. Then comes "Quicksand", which sets its sights somewhere around Speedo's kneecaps.
Rating: 5/10
People that tell you Tom Jones is cool are part of a government conspiracy whose aim it is to convince the kids that some old Welsh bastard your mum likes is in some way "ironic" and "post modern". Consider the evidence.
Ploy #1: Tom covers Prince's "Kiss" with Art Of Noise.
Fact #1: Prince and the Art Of Noise are shit.
Ploy #2: Tom appears as himself in Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks".
Fact #2: Mars Attacks is shit.
Ploy #3: "The Ballad Of Tom Jones" by Cerys and Tommy.
Fact #3: Cerys, Tommy and their respective bands are shit.
Can you see a pattern emerge here?
Guess what this collaboration with the Cardies is like?
Correct, well done. As are the three uninspiring remixes on the b-side (though the third instrumental one is ok, as it doesn't have Tom on it).
(I still like The Cardigans though - they were obviously drugged. Why, why, why Nina?).
Rating: shit/10
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