The Third Hand

Catapulted to fame and serious hip-hop credibility with 2002's Dead Ringer LP, Philadelphia-based DJ/multi-instrumentalist RJD2 has enjoyed a prolific career, following that debut with 2004's critically acclaimed Since We Last Spoke. His third effort seemingly abandons all the notions and titles that have been placed upon him over the past five years. This is a cohesive pop album in the most classic sense, a sound more akin to Phoenix than Prefuse 73. In essence, this is RJD2's entrance into the continuum of enigmatic songwriter/producers (such as Jon Brion, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder), capable of creating a record full of rich songwriting, complex arrangements, and clever production that transcends genre.