Quickies

New Pornographers, Challengers

Either they're losing their enthusiasm for the concept or I am. Most of these masterpieces of filigree beguile after the fourth listen, but in the end I'm left wondering why I bothered. Neko's Case deepening husk is even more beguiling (her work on the title track is the only keeper); too bad Carl Newman's more interested in gnarled song titles to notice.

Lil Wayne, Da Drought 3

On timbre and diction alone he's major. "Black Republicans" proves that he can adduce timbre and diction to support an uproarious analogy. Bless him for besting Ol' Dirty Bastard's attention span – he won't settle for court jester when he's clearly aiming for the throne, using tried-and-true methods: insinuation and flattery. Speaking of which, Ciara's inexhaustible "Promise" once again reveals itself to be a two-way street.