Idlewild
Despite its title title, this is not a soundtrack for theIdlewildmovie--almost no songs appear in the film. Instead, the tunes seem inspired byIdlewild's narrative themes. Outkast extends the eccentric streak that began onStankoniaand continued throughThe Love Below/Speakerboxxx. Fans of that last album may enjoyIdlewild'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, butIdlewildis 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--Idlewildis 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