Wu-Tang Clan

Its been six years since Wu-Tang Clan's last album. There's no ODB this time, and along with him, less of that indelible machismo hype that put Wu-Tang on the map. Tracks like "Campfire," "Take It Back," and "Unpredictable" have a raucous sound synonymous with the RZA, GZA, Method Man, etc., but lyrically, they come off feeling flat. Even on "Life Changes," an attempt is made to pay tribute to ODB, but the kind of unity that once defined the group isn't there. RZA's beats are solid though, and to some extent, they save this disc. But, you have to wonder how George Harrison feels about the "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" sample on "The Heart Gently Weeps." It's not exactly an instant classic. In the end, 8 Diagrams is a fair album, but for a group that once proclaimed they'd last forever, the end is starting to look quite near.