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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 24, 2008

AIMEE MANN:

@#%&*! SMILERS

(SUPEREGO) ***

It's not that Aimee Mann lightens up so much on "@#%&*! Smilers" - you wouldn't call them "@#%&*! Smilers" if you were going to become one of them, would you? - but she brings a little more sarcasm and a little less misery to her new album, along with a bit of cautious optimism.

Black-is-how-we-feel types shouldn't fret too much, though. There are plenty of life crises and broken hearts here. But gleeful or gloomy, Mann has come up with her best batch of songs since 2000's "Bachelor No. 2." Horns, strings and synthesizers help highlight the hooks, and Mann's drowsy, insinuating vocals make even the most despondent lyric agreeable.

Alternate title: "Thursday Afternoon Existential Crisis Club"

Download this: "Borrowing Time"

Curtis Ross

LIL WAYNE:

THA CARTER III

(CASH MONEY) ***

Biggie didn't write down his lyrics, Jay-Z doesn't, and T.I. gave up the practice.

All three have claimed to be the king of hip-hop, so it's fitting that Wayne, the self-dubbed greatest rapper alive, would also rap off the top of the head.

Although Big and Jay are known for smart, straightforward metaphors, many of Weezy's scattershot lines come off as nonsense at first but make perfect sense upon repeated listens.

Self-indulgent, bizarre and vulgar, Weezy takes the listener on a meandering journey that's always interesting, even when he's rambling while using words like "informate."

If only more rappers dared to be so different.

Download this: "Mr. Carter"

Joinville Michel

JEAN GRAE:

JEANIUS

(Blacksmith) ***½

Jean Grae's "Jeanius" is, simply, genius.

This bad boy was first leaked in 2004 but was officially released in July by Blacksmith Records (co-founded by rapper Talib Kweli and run by Warner) and produced by legendary 9th Wonder of Little Brother Fame.

Jeanius is both comical and vicious, something of a cerebral thriller, proving that female emcees are deeper than their lip gloss.

Tracks are explicit and real - whether it's talk of suicide on "My Story" or bouncing along with original beats and '70s samples such as Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra on "This World." Her delivery is direct and sounds more like a conversation set to music than studio work.

Grae reveals herself as an artist and is refreshingly transparent. "Jeanius" is hip-hop pure and simple.

Download This: "This World"

Sarah Hoye

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