The Id Epic

Experimentation is, without a doubt, a good thing.

Without it, bands whose sound was once new and refreshing would quickly fall into a rut; lazily churning out the same old stuff on album after album - much like the tragically stable Travis.

Macy Grays new album, The Id, is proof she is not content to rest on her laurels and is constantly trying new things. Unfortunately, Ms Grays experimental sections (which normally take up the last 15 seconds of each track) have a tendency to be the worst parts of her songs.

Track 13 in particular is a terrible excuse for music. Fittingly entitled Blowin Ya Speakers, it sounds like a large, noisy machine going wrong, badly wrong. Experimental; yes. Good; no. It is a bad noise. Its neither big nor clever and no-one is impressed.

While Ms Grays attempts at pushing the envelope are to be applauded, she should make sure that what she comes up with is at least bearable before inflicting it on the rest of us. The annoying thing is that this is a fantastic album which is spoilt by about a minute and a half of scattered, discordant, misplaced and ill-judged nonsense. Songs range from the funky upbeat to the soulful, all propelled beyond the ordinary by Grays truly phenomenal voice. This album is sweet relief from the drudgery imposed on us by bands with limited horizons.

If Gray can bring herself to be a little harsher on her own work and cut when cutting is required, shell be able both to keep her audience interested and keep their fingers away from the skip button. Patrick Alexander