“New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War” – Erykah Badu

Rating: 7/10

“New Amerykah” is a mixed bag at best. The funky style is so entrancing that it overshadows the songs themselves.

Then again, it is uncommon to see albums this funky get so much press.

The album is the most effective as a whole, not as a collection of songs. They are just not that great individually. But the album as a whole outshines its flaws because it is a decent funk effort that sounds like it is 1972 in 2008.

Not to say that there aren’t some truly noteworthy songs. Opening track, “Amerykahn Promise,” combines Badu’s signature funk with some flow-enhancing distorted guitars. Long jams such as “Twinkle” and “Master Teacher,” both just under seven minutes long, slowly groove to almost epic proportions.