Universal Mind Control can be described as having a synthesised 80s electro-pop-techno-hip-hop Dizzie Rascel-esque OutKast party sound. Common’s 8th album has him teaming up with the make-that-money super producers The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo). It sounds both strange and exciting to have Common’s introspective rhymes mashed with the dance flavour of The Neptunes, who have previous worked with pop icons Britney Spears, Madonna, Justin Timberlake and a host of other hip-hop artists. I’m a fan of good ol’ Commons wholesome preachings and not so big on The Neptunes rump shaker beats. So does this kaleidoscope of musical styles work? Yes and no. It’s kind of cool and kind of whack at the same time.

 

The heavily 80s dance influenced production can sometimes overpower and make Common’s old-skool rhyming sound uncomfortable - particularly on ‘Sex 4 Suga’ and ‘U.M.C.’. But while saying this he lights it up on the Obama-inspired ‘Change’ and ‘Inhale’, where the production slows down to his level and the words flow from his soul. ‘Make my day’ with Cee-Lo is refreshing upbeat tale of love but plays too much like a track from a Gnarls Barkley album.

 

Universal Mind Control ends up being 'just ok', with Common lost somewhere in between electronica, pop and hip-hop. Also, at only 10 tracks running under 38min, you're not left with much.