Rating: **** (4 out of 4)

Availability: Cut-Out

This album is one of the glorious tragedies of the Cut-Out bin. A tragedy that it never made it on the market, and glorious that it's quality work for $1.99.

B.Y.O.B was the first album on the Rykodisc/13Records label, "the new black alternative label that hopes to expand your mind and your ears without blowing anything up."

The mind behind the production of B.Y.O.B is Basehead's Michael Ivey, who also delivers his beat-poetry rap vocals in "Ramifications of Shaking One's Ass" and "Ramblifications of getting and saying hi gh."

B.Y.O.B is a simulated house party, complete with live rap and jazz. Guests are invited to "Bring Your Own" bottle, brain, or butt. The slow pop R&B of the opening track, "Too Good to Let Go," quickly gives way to a descending bass line laid under a phone conversation which, in turn, leads into an invitation to "come on inside, y'all."

The hosts of the party quickly dismiss the standards of Gangsta Rap, discarding guns and knives, because everybody sees value in everybody else. From Ivey's beat-rap "Ramifications of Shaking One's Ass," the listener moves into "Change It," a satire on Gangsta Rappers featuring M.C. Real Nigra ("I talk about shootin' but I never shot a gun, I talk about killin', ain't killed no one...."). On "Go Jazz Go," the listener is treated to a touch of acid jazz, while "A Day Off In The Life" shifts to two girl rappers and their feelings about the Fourth of July.

B.Y.O.B is more than just a creative album, it's a happening on CD. Just sit back and enjoy it, as you're lead down a hall of trip-hop, R&B, go-go, jazz, and more.

The opinions expressed in the above reviews are those of Glen Williams and may not represent the views of slac.com or any of its members. Compliments, complaints, and comments should be addressed to gandalf@tricon.net

Reproduction or transmission of the reviews in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.