Tricky "Mission Accomplished" Anti 6595-2 2000 (16:23)
Mission
Accomplished (3:13)
Crazy
Claws (4:20)
Tricky Versus Lynx (Live) (2:43)
Divine
Comedy (6:07)
Remember Tricky? The former music media darling amicably parted ways with Polygram/Island/Def Jam in 1999 and now calls Epitaph branch Anti home alongside Tom Waits and Merle Haggard. Mission accomplished? This UK EP (also due out February 6th in the States) gives us a little over 16 minutes with 3 new songs and 1 previously unreleased old one. The sound is similar to the live guitar/bass/drums band setup of the preceding albums "Juxtapose" and "Angels With Dirty Faces". The title track centers around a heavy guitar riff and Peter Gabriel's "big time, I'm on my way I'm making it big time" lyric sung by Tricky and another male vocalist, ad nauseum. Halfway through the 3 minutes it becomes apparent that this is all the track has to offer. "Crazy Claws" begins promising with a lively snare loop, sexy bass line, and Tricky's whispered poetry about a certain female. Unfortunately, a few minutes in two other rappers take over (the first possibly being Mad Dogg from "Juxtapose", judging by the heavy British accent) and ruin it. "Tricky Versus Lynx (Live)" must be 'live in the studio' and I'm unsure of Tricky's involvement as the only one rapping is someone other than Tricky. It's the weakest of the 3 new songs. Why Tricky relies on these guys is beyond me ... their vocals pale in comparison to Tricky's and their braggadocio rhymes are tired and unnecessary. "Divine Comedy" was originally released as a white label 12" in 1998 as reaction to racist comments made by a Polygram executive and later became the more polished and superior "Money Greedy" on "Angels..". Altogether the EP is very disappointing with half-assed outtake quality ideas and only small glimmers of Tricky's lyrical and musical potential. Hopefully the debut album for Anti out this summer will reclaim some of Tricky's past glory ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Amazon.