Track Listing

1. Outsider Intro - DJ Shadow
2. This Time (I'm Gonna Try It My Way) - DJ Shadow
3. 3 Freaks - DJ Shadow, Mistah FAB, Turf Talk, Keak Da Sneak
4. Droop-E Drop - DJ Shadow
5. Turf Dancing - DJ Shadow, The Federation, The Animaniaks
6. Keep Em Close - DJ Shadow, Nump
7. Seein' Thangs - DJ Shadow, David Banner
8. Broken Levee Blues - DJ Shadow
9. Artifact - DJ Shadow
10. Skullfuckery - DJ Shadow, The Heliocentrics
11. Backstage Girl - DJ Shadow, Phonte Coleman
12. Triplicate/ Something Happened That Day - DJ Shadow
13. The Tiger - DJ Shadow, Sergio Pizzorno, Christopher Karloff
14. Erase You - DJ Shadow, Chris James
15. What Have I Done - DJ Shadow, Christina Carter
16. You Made It - DJ Shadow, Chris James
17. Enuff - DJ Shadow, Q-Tip, Lateef The Truth Speaker
18. Dats My Part - DJ Shadow, E-40

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18559 in Music
• Released on: 2006-09-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 71 minutes

CD Description
Third studio album, following 2002's 'The Private Press', from Californian Josh Davis, revered as a pioneer of the trip-hop and instrumental hip-hop or "turntablism" genres. 'The Outsider' marks a move away from the signature style he established on his enormously acclaimed debut 'Endtroducing' andis more influenced by the gritty San Francisco Bay Area "hyphy" sound. Features guest vocals by Q-Tip, David Banner, Charalambides' Christina Carter and Serge from Kasabian and includes the single 'Enuff'.

Customer Reviews

No more 'Outsider' than purely conventional.
I've been a Shadow fan since his very first Mo' Wax releases way back in the early 90's. Unlike other reviewers I like both good west coast hip hop and the sort of sample based crate digging constructions for which Shadow became famous, yet I still can't comprehend this album.

The problem that Shadow obviously faced when making this album was how to be innovative and groundbreaking, (considering the weight of expectation on his shoulders from his previous work this is no mean feat), while showing that he can develop his sound without returning to the tested methods of his former glories. However, by going into the territory of Bay Area gangsta rap with an album laden with "Featured" artists (always a tell tale sign of lack of direction) he's added 2 + 2 together and come up with 5.

While the production on this album might be amazing, (as you'd expect from any Shadow release), good production alone doesn't make good music unless the songs themselves have something more. Apart from maybe track 2 which shows hints of Shadows musical knowledge, versatility and constructive expertise any other noteworthy elements of this album are drowned out by a barrage of mundane and predictable vocal offerings from the likes of David Banner et al.

I can only assume that many of the positive reviews of this album came from people caught up in the hype of the sort of mediocre west coast rap that's spewed out through the music channels on a daily basis, not the sort of Shadow fans that expect music a lot less one-dimensional than what you'd find on this album.

While many of the previous reviews claim that this album is innovative and progressive I completely disagree. Shadows previous album 'The Private Press' showed real progression and sophisticated experimentation that did much to abate the appetite of fans expecting the impossible feat of another 'Endtroducing'. In contrast 'The Outsider', by turning it's back on these developments in search of so-called 'innovation', does nothing but concede to the unimaginative status quo of contemporary hip hop culture.

Far from proving to be an 'outsider' of the inspirational genius kind we know he truly can be, the DJ Shadow on this album merely proves that he can cut it with the conventional and unimaginative hip hop crowd.

What a bizarre album
This album is really disappointing and I pretty much only bought it for the track "This Time". Its such a good track, almost soul, and expected the rest of the album to be like this, but it wasnt. That song was like a gem that somehow found itself on the wrong album. The album is a very odd compilation. It's quite in your face and noisy is the only way I can describe it. A real let down. If I could give the album no stars I would. If anyone has heard the song "This Time" and want to buy the album, like myself, because of this song, please don't be fooled. It is truly grim.

I'm fighting Shadow's' corner
To claim this album is 'dissapointing', as a few reviewers have, is to form a review based on your feelings towards Shadow's previous work. Your review of The Outsider, then, becomes act of comparison rather than an objective commentary. If you approach this album with an open mind then it's impossible to call it anything less than good.

As the name 'The Outsider' should indicate Shadow won't be confined to one genre by anyone. If he had been afraid then 'Endtroducing...' would never have been made. I'm not saying The Outsider is as groundbreaking as 'Endtroducing...' was, but I am saying that to be a pioneer is to change, constantly, and sometimes it won't work out as you planned, but that is the price you pay. He didn't ask for praise in the first place and he doesn't want it now.

I always think of the opening words on 'Building steam...' from Endtroducing:
"I'd like to just continue to be able to express myself as best as I can with this instrument, and I feel like I have a lot of work to do. Still, I'm a student - of the drums, and i'm also a teacher of the drums too"