88 Keys

Seasoned producer 88 Keys makes his debut as an MC with a concept album built on the hilarious premise of a would-be nice guy's sexual disappointment, resulting bitterness, reckless debauchery, and, finally, unexplained death. Keys keeps regular company with Kanye West, who guests on one of the best tracks—dropping the immortal "I know a guy who got drunk and claimed a fat girl raped him"—and is credited as "executive producer" on The Death of Adam.

No matter who is ultimately responsible for the sound of the record, its expectedly solid beats, keyboard leads, jazzy piano and horn samples and smooth soul backing vocals are run through the gamut of tempos and moods in perfect accord with the wildly lurching narrative. It's all anchored by organ, strings and a surprising amount of over-driven rock guitars on a couple of tracks, including, "The Friends Zone," which makes use of indie-rock band Shitake Mushroom, but is even more notable for some of Keys' funniest rhymes, including "I love talkin' about your ex all night/We can stay up all night listenin' to your life" and "I've seen the twin peaks/And I've climbed them in my dreams."

Another inspired idea is the use of a girl-from-the-neighborhood figure as dead-pan Greek chorus, commenting on the action of each track, as Adam's story descends further toward its—not even tragic-comic—call it comi-tragic end. The Death of Adam is risky, catchy, nearly unprecedented, and totally fun. 88 Keys has arrived.

—Nate Cunningham
11.20.08