Autobiography of Mistachuck

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineChuck D was always the driving force behind Public Enemy, so perhaps it should come to no great surprise that his solo debut, The Autobiography of Mistachuck, sounds like it is a Public Enemy album. However, there are subtle differences. The Autobiography of Mistachuck isn't as noisy as PE, and it has more overt soul, funk and R&B influences. Similarly, Chuck's lyrics have become more nuanced, which doesn't mean they're softer -- it just means that he has a richer template to draw from. While the album is a little too long and it contains a few weak patches, it's an excellent effort that follows through on the promise of Music for our Mess Age, while correcting its problems.