N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo

N.A.S.A. - The Spirit Of Apollo (**)
album review for the skinny

Picture the scene: two well-connected but unsung DJs meet at a Hollywood Hills party and find they share an ideological vision of, like, peace and love for all mankind, and no hatred between like, races and countries, y'know? So they search through their bulging contacts list for guest collaborators - David Byrne, Chuck D, Kanye, Tom Waits, M.I.A., George Clinton, half the Wu-Tang Clan, and more, who can't say no to such rock-solid ideals - and boom: The Spirit Of Apollo is born, like a celeb-stuffed Up With People album produced by Diplo's weird stalker friend. It's a classic case of trying too hard: so many cameos are great for publicity, but ticking off their appearances and wondering about their thematic deviations make them more a distraction than anything else; and that theme, loosely held but heartfelt, is just too trite if your perception goes no further than "money is the root of all evil".