The Audience's Listening in Bloomington, MN

Cut Chemist
's first non-mix full-length CD has been long awaited by the legions of turntable nuts and
hip-hop
fans who think he's
DJ Shadow
's heir apparent, and while it's not the mind-blower that
Brainfreeze
or
Live at Future Primitive Sound Session
are, it is a well-crafted, highly enjoyable effort that overcomes the "all samples cleared" challenge all big-label turntablist albums must face.
Chemist
's diverse background -- having worked with or been a member of
Ozomatli
,
Jurassic 5
Unity Committee
, and
Less Than Jake
-- pays off on this incredibly diverse album that tempers scratch-heavy feats of skill -- the robot-obsessed
"(My 1st) Big Break"
and the crazy
"Spat,"
which finds a
Laurie Anderson
sample exchanging pleasantries with Jamaicans and records from the '50s -- with more musical numbers that offer plenty of substance once the "wow" factor has played itself out. Best of the latter is the luscious,
Astrud Gilberto
-borrowing
"Garden,"
which falls somewhere between
Zero 7
and
Bill Laswell
's
worldbeat
mashing. Perfect for cool backpackers,
"What's the Attitude,"
with rapper
Hymnal
, has that catchy hook you can sing, while
"Storm,"
with
Edan
Mr. Lif
, gloriously rips through the speakers with
William S. Burroughs
, '80s
electro
, and underground lyrics kicking it in perfect harmony. Add
"Spoon"
and the closing
"Theme,"
and you've got the tracks that warrant repeat listens for everybody, but the rest of the herky-jerky mayhem and clever, often humorous manipulation is more for the
/
Steinski
devotee who will sit back and marvel at
's skill. Necessary if you like that wikki-wikki-scratch; recommended if you enjoy impossible
pop
from the fringe. ~ David Jeffries