Idlewild

Stars of the HBO film Idlewild, Andre Benjamin and Antwan Patton--the dynamic, multi-platinum, Grammy-winning duo who comprise the group Outkast--have unleashed another album that is bound to revolutionize mainstream music. Their colorful songs, "Mighty O", "Morris Brown", and "Idlewild Blue" will have you listening and dancing for hours.

Despite its title title, this is not a soundtrack for the Idlewild movie--almost no songs appear in the film. Instead, the tunes seem inspired by Idlewild's narrative themes. Outkast extends the eccentric streak that began on Stankonia and continued through The Love Below/Speakerboxxx. Fans of that last album may enjoy Idlewild's continued eclecticism, especially from Andre 3000, who seems to be moving further away from "rap" every moment toward some bizarre love child of Prince and Melvin Van Peebles. A song like "Mighty O," which actually features both Outkast members rhyming, is a refreshing throwback to the duo's earlier days, but Idlewild is mostly divided between songs from Andre and Big Boi, with few points of intersection. By far the strangest Outkast album they've ever released--and this is saying a lot--Idlewild is a heady, dizzying trip. Awkwardly disjointed at times, it undeniably certifies the group as one of the most adventurous that hip-hop has ever seen. It's not easy to love but it's hard not to respect. --Oliver Wang