Mos Def
“The Ecstatic”
Three and a half out of four stars

Newsflash: Mos Def is a really talented dude. His 1999 debut Black On Both Sides remains a classic of alternative hip-hop and his NYU degree in experimental theatre has come in handy for films like “The Italian Job” and “Cadillac Records.”

His first solo record in three years is another helping of daring, culturally relevant hip-hop that’s being hailed as his best work since his debut. It’s a left-brained, staggeringly creative effort that’s often hard to pin down. Mos Def is a rapper who is seldom a slave to his beats or a specific song structure; his flow isn’t afraid to spill over into the margins or go off on a tangent. Fortunately, he’s a highly skilled MC, so it all works more often than not. Guest spots include Madlib and his brother, Oh No.

Disappointed in the last Common record? The new Mos Def is here to save the day.

Key Tracks: “Pretty Dancer,” “Casa Bey”
-CP
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Chairlift
“Does You Inspire You”
2.5 stars out of 5

It took me a while to realize where I had heard of Chairlift before. On top of Last.fm listing them as a recommended band for me for the past few months and their tours with like minded electro pop bands such as MGMT and Yeasayer, I finally realized that I, like the majority of the television watching population, knew them by their song “Bruises” which was in the most recent iPod nano commercial. You know the song, about love and handstands and frozen strawberries? With the packed resume Chairlift has put together over the past six months, it’s hard to believe that this is the Brooklyn trio’s debut LP.

To be honest, I would have been happier to leave my familiarity with Chairlift at the iPod commercial. Does You Inspire You is a strange, strange journey through a crazy world of synths, the 80s and Bjork inspired vocals. Then again, what can you expect from a band whose initial purpose was to perform live music for haunted houses.

Aside from “Bruises,” the most listener friendly song here is “Evident Utensil,” a song about…pencils? Why not.

Key Tracks: “Bruises,” “Evident Utensil”
-MV