Blowback [ECD] by Tricky (CD, Jun-2001, Hollywood Records)

Now don't get me wrong- I like Tricky. I think the man probably still has talent lurking somewhere in that brain of his, but it hasn't really translated into art over the past ten years. The last worthwhile thing he did, "Angels With Dirty Faces", got a lot of mixed reviews, and many trip-hop purists seem to agree that nothing since "Maxinquaye" has really sounded right. "Blowback" came out in 2001, and could've been the album that really brought Tricky back into the arms of the public. After all, he got the opportunity to open up for Tool (a concert that I was fortunate enough to witness-...

British MC Tricky, he of the uber-dark subject matter and the gruff voice who brought us the shamelessly haunting Maxinquaye, decided to lobby for commercial success with 2001's Blowback. With such a goal in mind, Adrian Thawes--- nom de plume "Tricky"--- enlisted a Santana-worthy roster of guest stars. The result? Tricky's most accessible album to date. Which, really, is saying a great deal. Guest stars aside, there are two ever-presents--- aside from Tricky himself--- throughout the album. Unfortunately, both acid-jazz neo-hippie Ambersunshower and reggae protege Hawkman are hit-and-miss....

It s time to take another step into the slightly warped world of Tricky with the release of his new album Blowback . Although still the man who remains a little left of centre in his work, there is a definite commercial flavour to this body of work which has often being absent from his previous offerings. In this instance though it s not necessarily a bad thing. This isn t one of those albums where the purists can start shrieking sell out from the rooftops. It s an album of quiet collaborations and Tricky hasn t been afraid to let his musical partners in and let their influence blend with his.

"Feeling like not feeling right:"Tricky s Tricky Use of Pop Music Tricky "Blowback" Is Tricky being up-front with us, or is he being, well, Tricky? The cover of "Blowback" shows a woman seductively blowing smoke into Tricky s mouth while he looks utterly taken by this somewhat erotic moment. Eyes closes, lips parted, and his head tilting upward toward his partner could be a blowback, or shotgunning smoke from one person to another. However, the term "blowback" also refers to the "chickens come home to roost" theory behind CIA secret bombing campaigns wherein those who were victims in the...