EAR DRUM - TALIB KWELI
If there’s any criticism to be made of Talib Kweli’s fourth full-length set, it’s the length — 20 tracks crammed to capacity on a single CD, not uncommon in hip-hop but still a stultifying amount of material that does something of an injustice to the best stuff. Much of that is frontloaded, at least, including the trance-y social commentary “My Weather Report,” the quick-spitting “Hostile Gospel,” the Will.i.am-produced club track “Say Something” and the lushly woven “Country Cousins” with UGK. But there are more killers later on, including the soulful, Pete Rock-helmed “Holy Moly,” Norah Jones’ smooth cameo on the come-on “Soon a New Day,” the socioeconomic treatise “More or Less” and the churchy “Oh My Stars” with Musiq. There’s enough variety to dazzle listeners with Kweli’s dexterity, but some judicious editing could have produced something even more impressive. (Blacksmith/Warner Bros.)
