Any album featuring guest turns, either behind the knobs or at the mic, by DJ Premier, Macy Gray, De La Soul, Mos Def, Les Nubian and Wyclef Jean will have some moments that smoulder, and at least a couple that burst into full flame. Then again, such a strategy may ultimately call more attention to the ragged seams marring Kravitz's cobbled-together fake Hendrix bullshit than anybody wants. But surely pop music has always sucked, and only geriatric ex-cheerleaders could ever insist Ricky Nelson was somehow more of a Serious Musician than Ricky Martin. In other words, N'Sync minus 10 years in the cheese-pop continuum. So next time the Backstreet Boys make you feel like ripping out your fingernails and stuffing them down the nearest mallboy's gold-chained throat, remember Color Me Badd.
All boy bands fall into the void soon enough.
Vengeance will be ours.