Wu-Tang Clan
The W (Sony)
It's been a while, but the Wu-Tang Clan have returned just in time to save their necks.
The Wu have been a bit shambolic of late, with decidedly dodgy solo releases by Method Man, U God, Inspectah Deck and Raekwon, not to mention some trouble with the cops for ODB, who appears in one track on The W, presumably recorded during one of his many escapes from enforced rehab.
ODB's back inside now, but the Wu have been liberated - thanks largely to master of ceremonies RZA. He has amazingly managed to reassemble his motley crew and take the Wu back to their hard-edged New York roots.
This 14-track behemoth is full of the sniping lyrics, offensive language, catchy hooks and downright madness befitting the clan's legacy. Significantly, RZA relaxed the Wu's members-only policy for the first time by inviting cameos from Busta Rhymes, Junior Reid, Snoop Dogg and even Isaac Hayes.
Of those, Hayes shines superbly on the climactic ballad I Can't Go To Sleep, a tear-jerker replete with swirling strings. Other standout tracks are the shuffling Hollow Bones, with its incessant muscial ebb and flow, the infectious Gravel Pit which even samples Scooby Doo, and the emotive finale Jah World with Junior Reid.
Yes, the Wu are back; mad, bad and with some wonderfully absurd rhyming couplets.
