The Mighty Underdogs: Droppin' Science Fiction

Side projects benefit from the low expectations

that generally treat them as little more than one-off goofs. But Droppin'

Science Fiction, the

debut by The Mighty Underdogs (featuring Blackalicious' Gift Of Gab, Lateef The

Truth Speaker, and producer Headnodic of Crown City Rockers) doesn't need to be

graded on a curve: It's the rare supergroup that's actually super. Though it

dabbles in the blues (with the tellingly titled "So Sad" and "Escape"), the

overriding emotion is fun verging on joy. Gab and Lateef let their imaginations

run wild on trippy story-songs in which they pretend they're terrifying

beasties ("Monster"), head back to the Old West alongside noted varmint MF Doom

for an atmospheric spaghetti Western ("Gun Fight"), and hook up with Quannum

mate Lyrics Born to discuss wacky travel shenanigans on the infectiously goofy "Ill

Vacation." Headnodic crafts lush, melodic backdrops for Gab and Lateef's

flights of lyrical fancy, from the sinister space-alien synthesizers of "Science

Fiction" to the gorgeous '70s-style soul of "Folks." The album concludes on a

triumphant note with the ecstatic, celebratory "Victorious," a richly earned

victory lap from a top-notch trio that's simultaneously new and reassuringly

familiar.