Wu-Tang Clan

The W (Loud/Columbia)

Following up their multiplatinum 1997 release Wu-Tang Forever may have seemed like a daunting challenge. Doing it without the incarcerated Ol' Dirty Bastard may have seemed impossible. But the Wu-Tang Clan's new release, The W, does not disappoint.

On The W, the Wu-Tang return to their hallmark minimalist, sample-based sound, la Enter the 36 Chambers. Refreshingly, the synthesizer is used more discreetly on The W than Wu-Tang Forever. Instead, the clan's talented producer RZA injects '70s soul (including "I Can't Go To Sleep", which features Isaac Hayes), reggae and even spy-movie themes into the tracks. ("One Blood Under W," one of The W's gems, begins with a memorable sample of the James Bond theme.)

The other members of the Wu have their moments. Method Man, as always, is witty ("In a room full of crackers I might cut the cheese," he says on "Redbull") and his delivery is impeccable. Even the ODB finds a way to contribute, making an appearance on "Conditioner," a duet with Snoop Dogg. Sadly, the quality of ODB's recorded voice is so bad it sounds like he phoned in his rap from prison, and pairing the explosive ODB with the smoked-out Snoop Dogg is like mixing oil and water.

Make no mistake, the star of The W is the RZA. For most of the album, the producer's musical innovations overshadows the raps. It's true that the album lacks the oomph that the ODB's unpredictable delivery gave to their earlier albums. Still, The W shows that you can spell Wu-Tang Clan without ODB. A- -William Lee