86
I like this album, but it isn't one of the best of the '90s.
Taking a complete 180 from their debut, 'ATLiens' is the absolute opposite of the southern feel. Fueled by the public backlash received at the 1995 Source Awards, the duo's sophomore project takes a much more stripped-back, cold vibe. Andre and Big Boi's rhyming has improved ("Wheelz of Steel," "Jazzy Belle"), their storytelling is richer ("Babylon," "13th Floor / Growing Old"), and their thoughts have gotten deeper ("Elevators (Me & You)," "Mainstream"). The production isn't as funky, instead taking a futuristic feel. While this ultimately harms the album, Outkast try to do as much as they can to fill in the gaps.
Some songs on 'ATLiens' are straight boring, with "E.T. (Extraterrestrial)" and "Decatur Psalm" being the main offenders. This project doesn't manage the capture the magic of their debut, but contains some of the duo's best moments in isolation.
Track Ratings
| 2 | Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac) / 90 |
| 3 | ATLiens / 100 |
| 4 | Wheelz of Steel / 90 |
| 5 | Jazzy Belle / 95 |
| 6 | Elevators (Me & You) / 95 |
| 7 | Ova da Wudz / 90 |
| 8 | Babylon / 85 |
| 9 | Wailin' / 75 |
| 10 | Mainstream / 90 |
| 11 | Decatur Psalm / 65 |
| 12 | Millennium / 75 |
| 13 | E.T. (Extraterrestrial) / 55 |
| 14 | 13th Floor / Growing Old / 90 |
| 15 | Elevators (ONP 86 Mix) / 70 |
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