P4M ALBUM REVIEW: Nightmare On Wax Carboot Soul

As far as I'm concerned, my bumpy years since 1995 have been made bearable by Smokers Delight, the awesomely chill LP by Nightmares on Wax, which is basically producer/musical wizard George Evelyn. Hazy and soul-drenched, like a tranquilizer and a stimulant mixed, Smokers Delight reveals the bluntiest, sexiest side of hip-hop the way an Dionysian oracle reveals the meaning of life. A little "Ah-hah!" mixed with a whole lotta "Ahhhh...."

Now there's no way I could ever review, in a responsibly journalistic way, NOW's new album, Carboot Soul. I can tell you that I love it; I can tell you why-- basically, because the beats, basslines, and melodies pulse with the inevitability of a hot summer romance. I can tell you how the new album fits into NOW's career trajectory-- it's an album recorded live, because live is what Evelyn is feeling right now. ("What I want to do is merge soul and hip-hop," he says. "That's why I'll bring in the live aspect..."). And I can certainly recommend you go buy Carboot Soul (which derives its name from the vinyl that Evelyn used to stalk while prowling car trunk sales).

But review a follow-up to the album that gives you reason to draw breath? Uh-uh. Nope, I'm just giving thanks for an artist who can produce this much sheer musical jizflow. Get back to me, if you want, when I'm, like, 60, and I'll tell you which of Evelyn's albums looks best, journalistically.

The Opinionator on... Craig Kilbourn

TV'S MOST ANNOYINGLY SMUG WHITE GUY REPLACES TV'S MOST HARMLESSLY OUT-OF-TOUCH WHITE GUY

Craig Kilbourn, host of Comedy Central's "Daily Show", is taking over for CBS's "Late Late Show" host Tom Snyder, when Snyder retires next year. Sure, that's gonna bring a whole new dimension of unwatchability to the "Late Late Show," but who's going to deaden the "Daily Show"? Is it true that Comedy Central is talking to TV's most dishearteningly unprogressive white guy, "Loveline"'s Dr. Drew?