Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned

長らく廃盤となっていた、ザ・プロディジーの4枚目のアルバム『Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned』(2004年)が発売20周年を記念してリプレス!

The Prodigy's main man, Liam Howlett, said in an interview that usual bandmembers Keith Flint and Maxim weren't on the new album because this is a back-to-the-core record, one to find the soul of the Prodigy (dancer Leeroy Thornhill left the band years ago -- losing your dancer, always crippling). For anyone rooting for the band, it sounded like a good deal. Howlett came off as a mad beat scientist of great genius on his goin'-it-alone CD The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1, rockin' the beats with mad style and blowing the dust off Babe Ruth's "The Mexican" just to prove how he was cooler than you. It was a sweet mix, but then nothing -- and then it got worse. But at least Howlett himself called 2002's dull "Baby's Got a Temper" single an F'n piece of S. Seems like he was well aware things were going wrong and has gotten himself back on the right track, so let's all go nuts for Prodigy again. There's an inspired list of guest stars on the album -- Princess Superstar, Kool Keith, Liam Gallagher, Twista, Juliette Lewis -- and Howlett is working hard throughout, twiddling the knobs and making noises fly every which way. "Girls" is a good electro roller, the surprisingly different and slinky "Phoenix" is proof Howlett hasn't lost it, and you're bound to fall for at least one of the generic fist pumpers, as they do have that whipping sting in the tail of which Howlett is the master. Unfortunately, Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned isn't the success 1997's Fat of the Land was. It's steps ahead of the "Baby's Got a Temper" single and worth it for the faithful, but not up to the old standards. ~ David Jeffries

プロディジーの新作と聴いて、なぜか笑ってしまいました。7年ぶりですよ、7年!　赤子も小学生になるし、凶悪犯も獄中から出てくる（?）、それだけの長いインターヴァルが、こういうダンス・アクトにとってどれだけ致命的か……って、もうそういう目で見ちゃいけないわけです。だから、ロック・メディアが〈新世紀のロックの～〉とか絶賛してた（してる?）ような、音数で威圧するようなバキバキ&前のめりなノリが貫かれた今作の音はハッキリ言って、（悪い意味ではなく）新しくはない。けれども、クソやかましいなあ!って感じで、やはり拳骨ブンブンで盛り上がります。ジュリエット・ルイスの下手な歌で退廃ムードを演出した曲とかは今っぽいし、オアシスとの合体も一回転していい湯加減。マイケル・ジャクソン“Thriller”のモロ使いにも爆笑!　プロディジーって聞いて、〈誰それ?〉と思う人には普通にオススメ。昔のファンには旨い肴になりますな。
bounce (C)高橋 玲子