No Mercy
's appearance is rather deceptive. After slipping off a stark wraparound sleeve bearing nothing but the ominous title, there's the album's proper cover, a black-and-white portrait of
T.I.
looking downward, alone and pensive.
does offer some revealing and poignant moments, as on the lyrically deep title track, otherwise a perplexing collaboration with
the-Dream
and
Tricky Stewart
that deploys churning guitars and a quasi-
Evanescence
chorus. However, they are significantly outnumbered by party tracks, as well as a string of high-profile guest appearances. ~ Andy Kellman