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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 7, 2008

SAUL WILLIAMS:

THE INEVITABLE RISE AND LIBERATION OF NIGGY TARDUST

(niggytardust.com) ***½

Taking a slightly different tack from Radiohead, hip-hop artist Saul Williams' "Niggy Tardust" originally was available either gratis or - with a higher bit-rate and 33-page color PDF booklet - for $5.

The free option was for the first 10,000 downloads, so you missed out. But good grief, this is well worth five clams.

The album is in part about the exploitation of artists by the same label system Williams is working around. Fellow label foe Trent Reznor produced the album with a deft touch - pillars of noise make way for haunting, spacious textures, keeping the listener off-guard but always intrigued.

Williams' lyrical skills are a perfect match for the music, making "Niggy Tardust" a dense, powerful work.

Download this: "Raised to Be Lowered"

Curtis Ross

JACK JOHNSON:

SLEEP THROUGH THE STATIC

(BRUSHFIRE) **½

Jack Johnson plugs in his electric guitar for a few songs on his fifth CD, but don't expect an amped-up sound. It's the same ol' Jack.

Lyrically, Johnson mostly stays to his usual themes of relationships and the environment, but on the title track he ventures into politics, a territory he doesn't often visit.

The song spotlights the limits of Johnson's rigid commitment to his mellow persona. Though the lyrics are pointed, Johnson's languid delivery takes the heft away from the antiwar material.

There's a fine line between pleasant and boring. Jack Johnson has his big sandy toe on it.

Download this: "If I Had Eyes"

Joinville Michel

SIA:

SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS

(HEAR MUSIC) ***

Australian pop singer Sia isn't afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve.

She is who she is and makes no apologies for it - just check out her face covered in colored marker on the album cover.

Her voice is milky smooth, she penned her own songs and the sound is comforting instead of melancholy - she's chill like Norah Jones. The album is perfect background music for a bath or during a talk with your significant other.

Besides, you know the kid is doing her thing when Beck lends his vocals on two tracks.

Whether you dig death metal or Southern rap, we all need some mellow moods. Get with it.

Download this: "Death by Chocolate"

Sarah Hoye

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