The concept behind
Handsome Boy Modeling School
-- if you separate it from its origins in a
Chris Elliott
sitcom -- can be taken as a subtle parody of
hip-hop
's player affectations: two geeky producers masquerading as jet-set male models. Given that framework, and the fact that those two producers are eccentric geniuses
Prince Paul
and
Dan the Automator
, you might expect
So...How's Your Girl?
to be a goof from top to bottom. And that isn't the case. The album ends up as more of a showcase for their eclecticism, tailoring productions to their collaborators and creating a colorful universe where classicist
rap
,
turntablism
trip-hop
, and
electronica
all get along comfortably. Parts of the album are surprisingly atmospheric, and rely more on the texture of the sound than the star power of the guest -- which makes sense for a producer's album. The finished product does lack some of the sheer craziness one might have anticipated, but the meatiness of the best music also keeps the
Elliott
-centered comedic interludes from turning the project into a mere novelty. The DJ cuts -- the duo's own
"Rock n' Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This)"
and the
DJ Shadow
/
DJ Quest
team-up
"Holy Calamity (Bear Witness II)"
-- are some of the most exciting tracks on the album, and of the rappers,
Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Brand Nubian
's
Grand Puba
Sadat X
turn in the most memorable performances. The
electronic
collaborations range the farthest afield, and provide some of the most intriguing highlights -- especially the bluesy
of
"The Truth,"
featuring
Moloko
crooner
Roisin Murphy
. Meanwhile,
Alec Empire
El-P
-- each arguably the most abrasive experimentalist in his field -- live up to their billing on the massively distorted
"Megaton B-Boy 2000."
It's true that a few of the quirkier experiments never quite get off the ground, but by and large,
is packed with imaginative, intriguing music. ~ Steve Huey