albums and tracks

Editor's rating

Imagine being 23 and needing a comeback album. That's essentially the problem that faces Dylan Mills, aka Dizzee Rascal.

2003's Boy In Da Corner - a brilliant, wailing headache of an album - was greeted with critical hysteria, a Mercury Prize and limited sales.

Showtime, released a year later, was greeted with a shrug from the public. What can Dizzee do now to arrest the decline? Like any good youngster he decided to face his problems in the best possible way: ignore them and have a party.

And it's a superb bash he's throwing. Maths + English is so good that even when it's bad, it's excellent. Itbegins with 'World Outside', an uplifting "open your mind" message thatshould hit all the listener's cringe buttons - but with Dizzee rappingover the sound of knives being sharpened, coughing and swirlingkeyboards, he carries it off easily.

'Pussyole' (supposedly aimedat Dizzee's former pal Wiley) takes the over-used, clichéd sample fromRob Base and DJ E-Z Rock's 'It Takes Two' and twists it into amagnificent pop song that would damage the charts, were it not for atruly awesome amount of bad language.

'Suk My D**k' sees Dizzee'sfirst attempt at singing. He's no good but he takes on the task withsuch relish that it is impossible not to smile. Similarly on 'Where'sDa Gs?' probably only Dizzee would include the line "Liar, liar, pantson fire" during a swear-filled dis of a lesser rapper.

The ShyFX-produced 'Da Feelin' has an unoriginal drum'n'bass beat and a lyricabout how nice summer is. And yet, despite itself, it's a winning sliceof sunshine.

Add cameos from Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turnerand Lily Allen, a classic single ('Sirens') and Dizzee's wit andbrilliant delivery, and you have a sensational record.

Dizzee doesn't deserve a comeback, he deserves to be made king.

Jon Horsley