Mile High＜Red & Blue Vinyl＞

Not only do bong destroyers the Kottonmouth Kings release album after album (after album) of weed-loving rap-rock, but they stuff them, too, to the point where any release below the 15-track mark seriously harshes the mellow. Serious fans, "and there is no other," dive into outtake box sets that pass the 40-track mark like they can't get enough, so excuse the redundancy and overstuffed style of Mile High, because this is the way the pipe is always packed. Kottonmouth-friendly folks should know that the reggae and organic musics of their previous effort, the jam band-like Sunrise Sessions, have been blunted but not forgotten, and the rock has returned along with some slow-rolling electro, which figures into the highlight "Honey Dip," with the Kings and special guest Mickey Avalon getting off drugs long enough to rap about strippers. Since it's 2012 and the group is always up for what's poppin', dubstep figures into the trunk-rumbling "Boombox," and fans who miss the guitar-ripping old days can hop right to "This Addiction," a pop-punk roar against the empire that's got that Kelly Clarkson sheen. "Mr. Cali Man" is a worthy trip to Jamaica with original member Saint Dog back in dancehall action, and he's also back for "Get Out the Way," which combines dubstep and a heavy metal stomp possibly borrowed from Rob Zombie. That's a whole lot of strains spliced together for a too-busy hybrid that doesn't produce the expected complex buzz, but the Kottonmouth Kings' fans appreciate their quick growth from seed to flower, and with the yield as high as ever, this return to rock and random is needed after their brief foray into the land of the Dead. ~ David Jeffries