Prodigy - Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned CDs • Vinyl Records • LPs • Music Albums

Howlett's trunk-slamming beats, depth-charge bass, Eighties-rap references ("Girls" leans on a Funky 4 + 1 quote) and wobbling synths -- are here, essentially untouched. Kool Keith returns for a guest spot, and as with Fat's cover of L7's "Fuel My Fire," Howlett again tips his hat to a garage-fuzz howler: "Phoenix" is essentially a cut-up of Shocking Blue's "Love Buzz." And "Spitfire," one of two songs featuring vocals from Juliette Lewis, baldly rips off their 1996 hit "Firestarter." The problem is that with the occasional exception -- such as "Memphis Bells," which sounds like a crunked-up slot machine -- Outnumbered plods along with little purpose beyond proving that Howlett can still wage sonic warfare. Doing something interesting with those weapons is something else altogether -- and it's not like Howlett didn't have seven years to try.

Liam Howlett promotes a fierce boxing match between rock and electronica, and positively salivates as they duke it out in a bloodbath of blustery beats, dueling synthlines and up-to-no-good vocals. Keith Flint and his bratty snarl are out, replaced by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Princess Superstar, Kool Keith and actress Juliette Lewis. A polarizing comeback.