A.W.O.L.

Over a decade into a career that has never propelled AZ into the commercial position the uniformly high quality of his music has deserved, A.W.O.L. is yet another quietly excellent slice of powerful hip-hop that deserves greater acclaim. "Never Change" alone is a small masterpiece, an evocation of the strong bonds of friendship that's set to a track that effectively uses a wailing R&B diva voice (think, believe it or not, of "The Great Gig in the Sky" by Pink Floyd!) without turning it into a cheap, distracting hook. Although several producers contribute to A.W.O.L., AZ (born Anthony Cruz) is commanding enough a focal point that the album hangs together as a whole. Tough without being thuggish, and clear-eyed and un-glamorizing about the gritty topics of songs like "Still Alive" and "Envious," AZ is at least the equal of better-known contemporaries like Nas, and A.W.O.L. is further proof of his talents. ~ Stewart Mason

10年のメジャー生活中、常に〈ナズのツレ〉という惹句に縛られていたAZ。で、自主レーベル発となった今作では、ヒートメイカーズやディスコD、DJプレミア、ベイビー・ポールといった新旧ビート職人と組み、臆せず時流にもトライ。お蔵入りの『Final Call』からCL・スムースとの共演曲を収録したり、バウンティ・キラーとガチンコ合体したり、“Top Billin'”をやったり、こういう吹っ切れた無節操さは好きです。意外にも佳作。
bounce (C)出嶌 孝次