Stankonia [Bonus Videos]
OutKast |
 Released November 25, 2003
Stankonia was OutKast's second straight masterstroke, an album just as ambitious, just as all-over-the-map, and even hookier than its predecessor. With producers Organized Noize playing a diminished role, Stankonia reclaims the duo's futuristic bent. Keyboardist/producer Earthtone III helms most of the backing tracks, and while the live-performance approach is still present, there's more reliance on programmed percussion, otherworldly synthesizers, and surreal sound effects. Yet the results are surprisingly warm and soulful, a trippy sort of techno-psychedelic funk. Every repeat listen seems to uncover some new element in the mix, but most of the songs have such memorable hooks that it's easy to stay diverted. The immediate dividends include two of 2000's best singles: "B.O.B." is the fastest of several tracks built on jittery drum'n'bass rhythms, but Dré and Big Boi keep up with awe-inspiring effortlessness. "Ms. Jackson," meanwhile, is an anguished plea directed at the mother of the mother of an out-of-wedlock child, tinged with regret, bitterness, and affection. Its sensitivity and social awareness are echoed in varying proportions elsewhere, from the Public Enemy-style rant "Gasoline Dreams" to the heartbreaking suicide tale "Toilet Tisha." But the group also returns to its roots for some of the most testosterone-drenched material since their debut. Then again, OutKast doesn't take their posturing too seriously, which is why they can portray women holding their own, or make bizarre boasts about being "So Fresh, So Clean." Given the variety of moods, it helps that the album is broken up by brief, usually humorous interludes, which serve as a sort of reset button. It takes a few listens to pull everything together, but given the immense scope, it's striking how few weak tracks there are. It's no wonder Stankonia consolidated OutKast's status as critics' darlings, and began attracting broad new audiences: its across-the-board appeal and ambition overshadowed nearly every other pop album released in 2000. [A clean version was also available, as well as an edition augmented with video content.] ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
TRACKS 1. Intro
2. Gasoline Dreams
3. I'm Cool (Interlude)
4. So Fresh, So Clean
5. Ms. Jackson
6. Snappin' & Trappin'
7. D.F. (Interlude)
8. Spaghetti Junction
9. Kim & Cookie (Interlude)
10. I'll Call Before I Come
11. B.O.B.
12. Xplosion
13. Good Hair (Interlude)
14. We Luv Deez Hoez
15. Humble Mumble
16. Drinking Again (Interlude)
17. ?
18. Red Velvet
19. Cruisin' in the ATL (Interlude)
20. Gangsta Sh*t
21. Toilet Tisha
22. Slum Beautiful
23. Pre-Nump (Interlude)
24. Stankonia (Stanklove)
25. B.O.B. [Multimedia Track]
26. Ms. Jackson [Multimedia Track]
27. So Fresh, So Clean [Multimedia Track]
28. What Is Stankonia? [Multimedia Track]
29. Photo Gallery [Multimedia Track]
30. Lyrics [Multimedia Track]
31. Weblinks [Multimedia Track]
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 |  | Idlewild (explicit) (2006) | Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (explicit) (2003) | Stankonia (enhanced CD-ROM) (explicit) (2000) | Aquemini (explicit) (1998) | ATLiens (explicit) (1996) | Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994) |  | Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik EP (1994) | Git Up, Git Out [EP] (1994) | Players Ball [EP] (1994) |  | Idlewild Blue (Don't Chu Worry Bout Me), Pt. 1 (2006) | Idlewild Blue (Don't Chu Worry Bout Me), Pt. 2 (2006) | Morris Brown (2006) | Mighty O [Single] (2006) | Ghettomusick/Prototype (2005) | Roses [Australia CD] (enhanced CD-ROM) (2004) | Way You Move, Pt. 1 (2004) | Way You Move, Pt. 2 (enhanced CD-ROM) (2004) | Way You Move [Germany CD] (enhanced CD-ROM) (2004) | Hey Ya [7"] (2004) | Roses [7"] (2004) | The Way You Move [7"] (2004) | Roses (2004) | Way You Move [Canada CD] (2003) | Hey Ya! [Australia CD] (enhanced CD-ROM) (2003) | The Way You Move/Hey Ya [DVD Single] (2003) | The Way You Move/Hey Ya (2003) | Ghettomusick [US 12"] (2003) | Land of a Million Drums (2002) | Whole World [Australian CD] (2002) | Whole World [UK CD] (2002) | The Whole World [US 12"] (2002) | So Fresh, So Clean [US CD] (2002) | Whole World [Germany CD] (2002) | So Fresh, So Clean [UK CD] (2001) | So Fresh, So Clean [Import CD] (explicit) (2001) | So Fresh, So Clean [US 12"] (2001) | Ms. Jackson [Import CD] (2001) | B.O.B. (Bombs over Baghdad) [Import CD] (enhanced CD-ROM) (2001) | Ms. Jackson [US CD5] (2001) | Ms. Jackson [US CD/12"] (2001) | B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) [US DVD Single] (2000) | B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) [US 12"] (2000) | Da Art of Storytellin', Pt. 1 (2000) | Rosa Parks (1999) | Jazzy Belle [Remix Clean] (1997) | Jazzy Belle [Remix #1] (1997) | Jazzy Belle [Remix #2] (1997) | ATLiens [CD Single #1] (1996) | ATLiens [CD Single #2] (1996) | ATLiens [12" Single] (1996) | Elevators (Me & You) [Single #2] (1996) | Elevators (Me & You) [Single #1] (explicit) (1996) | Git up Git Out [Cassette Single] (1994) | Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik [Cassette Single] (1994) | Players Ball [Vinyl Single] (1994) | Players Ball [Cassette Single] (1993) |  | Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik/Stankonia (2005) | Greatest Hits [Japan Bonus Track] (2002) | Big Boi and Dre Present...Outkast (explicit) (2001) |
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© 2006 All Music Guide, LLC