Rza Digi Snacks [PA]

Some might wonder how Wu-Tang impresario the RZA has aged in the skin of his familiar retro-futuristic alter-ego Bobby Digital. A line from DIGI SNACKS' opening intro gives a hint, as he devilishly assures listeners that he's still got that "old Jack Nicholson grin, I stay sinister." He also stays subtly diverse, segueing from smooth funk guitar (swimming in entrancingly murky production) to the choppy, Southern rap-inspired "Straight Up the Block," which taps Mississippi maestro David Banner as guest producer. The weird generation-less ambiguity of the Bobby Digital character gives RZA license to skip between eras and genres, sounding like either a bold innovator or an intelligent emulator. And on "No Regrets," he comes close to downright genius, creating a creepy anti-atmosphere that lurks beneath an aggressive call-and-response hook, bringing Wu-Tang's minimalist aesthetic well into the 21st century. RZA has had an up-and-down solo career, but on DIGI SNACKS he forges ahead with a true feast of aural weirdness that will delight his loyally blunted fanbase.

• Format: CD
• Genre: R&B