Musings of a Punk Rock Father

Public Enemy is back. That's right, no more messing around. "Muse Sick N Hour Mess Age" had some fantastic tracks, but as a whole the album didn't live up to what PE was capable of. "He Got Game" was a good soundtrack, but not necessarily a good Public enemy album (I actually haven't listened to this one in quite a long time). "There's a Poison Goin On" was okay for a little while, at least to hear Chuck D's voice, and the tracklist on "Revolverlution" looked lacking, what with the live tracks and remixes filling in around the few new songs. So it is so good to hear this new album.

"New Whirl Odor" is the best Public Enemy album since "Apocalypse 91." This a huge statement, I know. But the writing and production certainly hearken back to the good old days of the Bomb Squad and the layering of beats over hard rock guitar over all manner of scratching and sirens and noise that all seem to coalesce into a completely listenable, enjoyable and meaningful album.

I can't say I agree with Chuck D all of the time (or even necessarily most of the time), but he says what he says with such profundity and artful articulation that I want to listen to what he has to say. When his lyrics are presented with infectious sounds that cause your head to bob up and down and your foot to start tapping, it's all the better.

I love their early trio of albums, "It Takes a Nation of Millions..." "Fear of A Black Planet" and "Apocalypse 91," and this album not only reminds me of those groundbreaking records, it also opens up a new chapter for the group with another set of songs to challenge the popular culture.