Distortion
Without trying to sound like I'm damning with faint praise, this is better than you'd think, especially given how poorly received the last Run DMC album (Crown Royal) was. WithThe Distortion, Rev Run does away with the pretense of keeping Run DMC alive and, instead, just focuses on what he's always been pretty good at: himself. True, Run hasn't really updated his flow since 1984--but all things considered, this album is surprisingly effective. It helps that the aggressive, thunderous beats backing Run go well with that rugged Hollis flow he's always been known for. AlthoughThe Distortioncan't help but sound a little anachronistic, it also isn't trying too hard to be contemporary. Instead, it finds Run rapping over an efficient 9 tracks (the entire album clocks barely half an hour so it's literally a quick listen) with that puffed-chest bravado he's legendary for. Worth a listen--and it might surprise you.--Oliver Wang