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Various Survival of the Illest: Live From 125 N.Y.C. (Def Jam/BMG) Who knows why, but the concept of hip hop recorded live at showtime is still something that needs a little bit of work. While the stage is packed with ample talent for a memorable show, something is definitely lost in the recording of Survival.... Vocal levels dominate every track while beats are barely audible in the background. Onyx and Def Squad move the Apollo Theatre crowd with short versions of well-known jams, while DMX commands some serious audience participation. This would've been a great show to actually see, but listening to it here is kind of a teaser. 6.5/10 (Scott C) Jay Jay Johanson Whiskey (RCA/BMG)
Various Beretta 70: Roaring Themes From Thrilling Italian Policefilms 1971-80 (Crippled Dick/FusionIII) Another slab of funky fromaggio from the vaults, disco-dancin' with a ski mask, a sawed-off and a taped-up badge. Goblin (who scored Dawn of the Dead) open with the title track to La Via Della Droga. Then there's the fearless strut of "Blazing Magnum" and the chugging groove of the DeAngelis bros' "New Special Squad" from Roma Violenta. There are few slices of Limburger in there, but you still need this. 9/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) Pish Posh Up Jumps the Boogie (Raw-Kuts/St. Clair)
I think there's a general feeling that U.S. drum & bass producers just can't hack it when it comes down to the wire, and it was with this in mind that I opened my ears to Pish Posh. Coming straight from New York and sticking to a strict diet of jump-up, Pish hacks away at the aforementioned premise, delivering more than a few jewels for the massive. "Dead Men Tell No Tales" takes no prisoners, while "The Monsta" is a busybody out of control. So what if he's from N.Y., he makes sick tracks and remixed Reflection Eternal. 7.5/10 (Scott C)
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I get the feeling this scrawny little Swede (real name: Jäje) aspires to be the new Chairman of the Board. As golden as his pipes may be, I doubt the Rat Pack would approve. The brats in phat slacks, on the other hand, just might. Johanson's heartbroken crooning over dark, sparse, jazzed-out trip hop calls a somewhat less suicidal Portishead to mind. The kitsch quotient is remarkably low, but it's all so... sad. I think a certain somebody needs a hug. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)