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LUDACRIS
"Word of Mouf"
(Def Jam South)
The Atlanta-based rapper Ludacris has had a whirlwind 24 months. He's gone from a local radio personality to the franchise player for the new Def Jam South imprint. Last year, he scored two hit singles from his debut, "Back for the First Time." This year, he guested on Missy Elliott's "One Minute Man," and his own "Area Codes" was one of those ubiquitous songs of the summer. On his highly anticipated sophomore recording, Ludacris creates a primer for the Dirty South style. Shondrae handles the production with a little help from Timbaland, Swizz Beatz and Organized Noize. The grooves range from hyper and edgy to laid back and soulful. His ribald lyrics will likely offend the politically correct, but they are delivered with humor and appealing nonchalance. -Martin Johnson
MARC ANTHONY
"Libre"
(Sony Discos/Columbia)
Anthony's commercial success has given him the freedom to record anything he wants to, and it's refreshing that he has returned to his salsa roots on this disc. Horns swoop and growl; congas and bongos go bonkers. Particularly punchy arrangements include "Viviendo" and "Celos." Anthony's vocals mesh perfectly with the busy backdrop, which merges salsa, jazz, a bit of classical lite and a dollop of pop. His soaring solo vocal riffs in response to his chorus are masterful, but he tends to over-emote at times, particularly on the slower numbers. Though there's not a word of English here, the groove is universal. -Marc Ferris
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
"Bootleg Series, Volume 1: The Quine Tapes"
(Polydor/ Universal)
Spread over three discs and made with a handheld cassette recorder in 1969, these recordings are interesting historical documents that contain inspired performances, but the sound quality is abysmal. "Some Kinda Love" and "I Can't Stand It" thrash like punk rock precursors, and the three extended versions of "Sister Ray" stand out as jam-band classics, though they inadvertently reveal Lou Reed's limited prowess on lead guitar. Rare tracks include "Follow the Leader" and the S&M anthem "Venus in Furs," which loses its punch live. Better to start with the two volumes of "1969: The Velvet Underground Live," recorded on the same tour, and determine whether or not to delve deeper. -Marc Ferris
MADONNA
"Greatest Hits Volume 2"
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