So... How's Your Girl?

• Artist: Handsome Boy Modeling School
• Rating:
• Release Date: October 19, 1999
• Total Time: 60:30
• Genre: Rap

Review

The concept behind Handsome Boy Modeling School -- if you separate it from its origins in a Chris Elliott sitcom -- can be taken as a subtle parody of hip-hop's player affectations: two geeky producers masquerading as jet-set male models. Given that framework, and the fact that those two producers are eccentric geniuses Prince Paul and Dan the Automator, you might expect So...How's Your Girl? to be a goof from top to bottom. And that isn't the case. The album ends up as more of a showcase for their eclecticism, tailoring productions to their collaborators and creating a colorful universe where classicist rap, turntablism, trip-hop, and electronica all get along comfortably. Parts of the album are surprisingly atmospheric, and rely more on the texture of the sound than the star power of the guest -- which makes sense for a producer's album. The finished product does lack some of the sheer craziness one might have anticipated, but the meatiness of the best music also keeps the Elliott-centered comedic interludes from turning the project into a mere novelty. The DJ cuts -- the duo's own "Rock n' Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This)" and the DJ Shadow/DJ Quest team-up "Holy Calamity (Bear Witness II)" -- are some of the most exciting tracks on the album, and of the rappers, Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Brand Nubian's Grand Puba and Sadat X turn in the most memorable performances. The electronic collaborations range the farthest afield, and provide some of the most intriguing highlights -- especially the bluesy trip-hop of "The Truth," featuring Moloko crooner Roisin Murphy. Meanwhile, Alec Empire and El-P -- each arguably the most abrasive experimentalist in his field -- live up to their billing on the massively distorted "Megaton B-Boy 2000." It's true that a few of the quirkier experiments never quite get off the ground, but by and large, So...How's Your Girl? is packed with imaginative, intriguing music. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Rock n' Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This)	Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Handsome Boy Modeling School	(4:21)
Magnetizing	Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Handsome Boy Modeling School	(6:11)
Metaphysical	Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Mike D, Miho Hatori, Handsome Boy Modeling School	(3:24)
Look at This Face (Oh My God They're Gorgeous)	Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Handsome Boy Modeling School	(1:59)
Waterworld	Dan the Automator	Encore, Handsome Boy Modeling School	(5:22)
Once Again (Here to Kick One for You)	Willie Dixon, Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Grand Puba, Sadat X, Handsome Boy Modeling School	(4:01)
The Truth	Paul Huston, Dan the Automator, Róisín Murphy	Roisin, Handsome Boy Modeling School, J-Live	(5:35)
Holy Calamity (Bear Witness II)	Paul Huston, Dan the Automator, Josh Davis	DJ Shadow, Handsome Boy Modeling School, DJ Quest	(4:01)
Calling the Biz		Biz Markie, Prince Paul, Handsome Boy Modeling School	(:50)
The Projects (PJays)	Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Handsome Boy Modeling School	(4:28)
Sunshine	Money Mark, Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Father Guido Sarducci, Money Mark, Sean Lennon, Paula Frazer, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Josh Hayden	(4:09)
Modeling Sucks	Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Bob Elliot, Chris Elliot	(1:02)
Torch Song Trilogy	Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Handsome Boy Modeling School	(3:55)
The Runway Song	Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Kid Koala, Handsome Boy Modeling School	(4:48)
Megaton B-Boy 2000	Paul Huston, Dan the Automator	Alec Empire, El-P, Handsome Boy Modeling School	(4:57)
Father Speaks		Father Guido Sarducci	(1:27)

Credits

Father Guido Sarducci (Vocals), Father Guido Sarducci (Performer), Del tha Funkee Homosapien (Vocals), Del tha Funkee Homosapien (Performer), Grand Puba (Vocals), Grand Puba (Performer), Biz Markie (Performer), Mike D (Vocals), Mike D (Performer), Money Mark (Guitar), Money Mark (Keyboards), Money Mark (Vocals), Money Mark (Performer), Prince Paul (Producer), Prince Paul (Performer), Prince Paul (Mixing), Howie Weinberg (Mastering), Paul Huston (Keyboards), Paul Huston (Vocals (Background)), Sean Lennon (Vocals), Sean Lennon (Performer), Paula Frazer (Vocals), Paula Frazer (Performer), DJ Shadow (Programming), DJ Shadow (Producer), DJ Shadow (Performer), Sadat X (Vocals), Sadat X (Performer), Alec Empire (Performer), Dan the Automator (Violin), Dan the Automator (Keyboards), Dan the Automator (Vocals), Dan the Automator (Producer), Dan the Automator (Mixing), Kid Koala (Turntables), Gordon Shumway (Koto), Miho Hatori (Vocals), Miho Hatori (Performer), Róisín Murphy (Vocals), El-P (Performer), Handsome Boy Modeling School (Producer), Handsome Boy Modeling School (Main Performer), Kevin Wolahan (Art Direction), Kevin Wolahan (Design), J-Live (Vocals), Josh Hayden (Vocals), DJ Quest (Performer), Nathaniel Merriweather (Turntables), Brandon Arnovick (Guitar), Chest Rockwell (Horn), Chest Rockwell (Turntables), Toni Isabella (Executive Producer), Bob Elliot (Performer)

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