Boy" lifestyle. In the mid-70's he split from the group and he embarked on a solo career with the pro-marijuana album Legalize It. Unfortunately, in 1987, Tosh was gunned down during an incident at his home in Kingston, ending the life of a reggae innovator.  (less)

posturing. His vocals are stronger, more confident, and expressive. While his musical edge is modern, the occasional addition of steel and fiddles hasn't hurt. He believably conveys a wide range of emotions and moods: renewal on "You Won't Be Lonely Now," wistful nostalgia on "Southern Rain," the passion of "Everywhere I Wanna Be," romantic desperation with "Love You Back," and excruciating loneliness on "Without You." He ably delivers the acerbic, satirical "Burn Down the Trailer Park" and the roadhouse rockabilly tune "Crazy 'Bout You Baby." With all this, he can be forgiven the smarmy "Hey Elvis" and "We the People," a potential advertising jingle masquerading as a patriotic number. Rough as the late '90s were for Cyrus, they brought the BRC of 2000 ...  (less)

of diverse textures where the big beats come straight from the heart. What stands out here is Punk-Roc's playfully warped sense of humor. The tantrum of a spoiled child looping through "I Hate Everybody" gets layered between James Brown sound bites and dialogue from '60s youth-culture films. The staccato dance groove of "All You Ladies" has the commercial viability of Daft Punk's "Around the World." "No Meaning" mixes scratching with sampled jazz-lounge piano, producing something like Grandmaster Flash meets Combustible Edison, and "Far Out" announces "hardcore beat-box action" over a frenetic urban rap infused with electronic dance beats. DeeJay Punk-Roc clearly had a great time making ChickenEye , and the proof is in ...  (less)

and more. Rajon.  (less)

, which makes strategic nods toward a hero of JE’s Atlanta hometown (OutKast’s Big Boi, who guests on "Car Show") and the currently reborn dancehall craze ("Girls Gone Wild" features toasting by the fabulously named Major Damage) but mostly just sticks to showcasing the quartet. In fact, the title track doesn’t boast about the guys’ relative street toughness, instead noting a nearly lost opportunity for love. Most of the tracks here fit into 2 or 3 slots: happiness in love, love lost, or clubbin’. That, as well, seems like an echo of an era passed. --Rickey Wright  (less)

Ric Menck (formerly the drummer and leader of Chicago's Reverbs) and Paul Chastain (a respected guitar-pop solo artist) don't break any new ground. Their songs are strongly influenced by the Beach Boys, Big Star, and Gene Clark (they cover his "Why Not Your Baby"), and producer Mitch Easter recaptures the jangly sounds of Lets Active and early '80s R.E.M. But like their buddy Matthew Sweet, Menck and Chastain have enough enthusiasm, wit, and hooks to keep things fresh. --Jim DeRogatis  (less)