Music Review
Earplug
September 2008
Alias-heavy, stylistically omnivorous producer Madlib jumps between beats and styles like a blunted lothario hopping beds. While artists with such ADD-driven inclinations are often dismissed as radio-dial wanderers, WLIB:AM King of the Wigflip‘s silly, non-sequitur vocals coalesce into an inarguably glorious, if intentionally messy, transmission. A collage of R&B, soul, and funk, the record incorporates the spiritual depth and otherworldly sounds Madlib has been folding into Beat Konducta and Yesterday’s New Quintet releases — from the punchy brass and conga roll of “Blow the Horns on ‘Em” to the sweet interstellar coo of “Yo Yo Affair Pt. 1 & 2.” However, the occasional weak guest spot makes a rumored reunion with Doom, especially after the recent Madvillainy remix, more enticing; for all their virtues, these multi-dimensional beats deserve a crazy lyrical counterpart.
“Yo yo affair” and a few other tracks are nice, but this is a really uneven album — weird that it says “Madlib” on the front with his picture, because it feels far from a Madlib album. He’s got some amazing stuff out there.