AZ Albums (12)
'A.W.O.L.'
Release Date 8/23/2005
Tracks 13
Label Quiet Money/Fastlife
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Over a decade into a career that has never propelled AZ into the commercial position the uniformly high quality of his music has deserved, A.W.O.L. is yet another quietly excellent slice of powerful hip-hop that deserves greater acclaim. "Never Change" alone is a small masterpiece, an evocation of the strong bonds of friendship that's set to a track that effectively uses a wailing R&B diva voice (think, believe it or not, of "The Great Gig in the Sky" by Pink Floyd!) without turning it into a cheap, distracting hook. Although several producers contribute to A.W.O.L., AZ (born Anthony Cruz) is commanding enough a focal point that the album hangs together as a whole. Tough without being thuggish, and clear-eyed and un-glamorizing about the gritty topics of songs like "Still Alive" and "Envious," AZ is at least the equal of better-known contemporaries like Nas, and A.W.O.L. is further proof of his talents. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Since teaming up with Nas on Illmatic, widely considered to be one of the greatest albums in hip-hop, AZ has been looked upon to do amazing things with his music. Has he lived up to those high expectations? On this album he has. From start to finish, the beats on this album are complex, inventive, and almost perfectly suited for AZ's style of rhyming. He's carefully crafted this album rather than slapped it together overnight to meet his quota, and it shows. It helps immensely that he's brought along people like DR Period, Az Izz, Nas, and Buckwild, but they don't outshine the younger AZ and he holds his own well. One problem that AZ has always had is that he lives in the shadow of his work in the mid -'90s. There's a new era of hip-hop fans who may not know him as well as the rest, but he's done well to reach out and offer the new generation something as well. There aren't just the thuggish tracks, but also some tracks suitable for the club and the ladies, such as "Take It Off." Lyrically, musically, and historically, AZ has come up with his best work in a long time on this album. The biggest complaint is the length of the LP, with only three songs going over four minutes. Why he would make such a great album and end it short is beyond comprehension. ~ Brad Mills, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Five years after the critical celebration surrounding his debut release, Doe or Die, AZ's name suddenly didn't seem all that familiar. Sure, Doe or Die had indeed been a quiet classic of sorts, but it never shook the cash register, and his subsequent efforts were even less successful from a commercial standpoint. Perhaps it was no surprise then that he encountered problems with his label after the indifferent response to his sophomore album in 1998. But three years later, AZ returned with a new label, Motown, and what he obviously feels is a comeback of sorts, 9 Lives. There are some problems with this comeback, though. First of all, Motown has never been known as a fostering environment for rap artists. Secondly, perhaps related to the first problem, there is a serious lack of big-money talent on 9 Lives -- no Pete Rocks or Jay-Zs for this album. Granted, these problems are purely commercial, but they're bad omens for any contemporary, commercial rap effort. No matter whether or not AZ actually succeeds with his unofficial comeback from a commercial standpoint, he's done an admirable job when judged purely on artistic merit -- his rhymes are obviously well written, he delivers them with enthusiasm, and his low-profile production team turns in some good second-rate DJ Premier/Pete Rock-style sample-laden beats. But "admirable performance" is about the best you can say about the album. It's been over five years since Doe or Die, and AZ has never blossomed in the way that Nas and Jay-Z did -- Doe or Die was his pinnacle and sadly remains so. He's not quite as wordy as Nas, not as grimy as Mobb Deep, and not as jiggy as Jigga. With a little more charisma or wit, he'd be a noteworthy talent, or with beats by Pete Rock he'd at least rival his performance on Doe or Die. But as things stand on 9 Lives, AZ remains second tier, lacking a unique identity in a game with few unclaimed niches and little patience. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
