No-Holds Bard

The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust, the newest, Internet-only album by Saul Williams, may not be what fans expect from the accomplished writer, star of the 1998 movie Slam, and poet/musician. It’s more gritty, electronic-based, and, at times, even more pissed-off.

For that, we can thank Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails – who lends an anger-fueled production value to the effort. Effects such as funked-up guitar distortion and moody keyboard licks make the urban lyricist sound even more peeved. This is quite a feat, considering what the always outspoken Williams once said about the Bush administration: “I think that we have been misled by men with heartless agendas for way too long as a species.”