RSSSkrillex and Diplo [extended]
- Florida [Big Dada, 2004] *
- Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites [Big Beat/Atlantic EP, 2011] B+
- Bangarang [Owsla/Big Beat/Atlantic, 2012] A-
- Express Yourself [Mad Decent, 2012] B+
- Leaving [Owsla download EP, 2013] A-
- Recess [Atlantic, 2014] **
- Random White Dude Be Everywhere [Mad Decent, 2014] A-
- Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü [Mad Decent, 2015] **
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Consumer Guide Reviews:
Diplo: Florida [Big Dada, 2004]
Unlike true turntablism fans, I'm glad Shadow casts such a shadow ("Big Lost," "Sarah"). *
Skrillex: Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites [Big Beat/Atlantic EP, 2011]
Having blown his scream fronting drama kings From First to Last, Sonny Moore dialed it down, launching a solo career that has endeared him to Lady Gaga and the Black Eyes Peas. True, he does enjoy turning synthesizers into doom dybbuks and hiring chipmunks to sing "I want to kill everybody in the world." But he also gets winning girlpop out of a sprite named Penny. This EP could use the two new songs on the all too accurately entitled More Monsters and Sprites EP, and Moore should stop milking that woman who goes "Oh my God." But when he swears rock n' roll will take you to the mountain, he's being sincere. B+
Skrillex: Bangarang [Owsla/Big Beat/Atlantic, 2012]
"The most hated man in dubstep" therefore isn't "in" dubstep at all, which allowing for a few wannabes is fine by the rest of us who aren't in dubstep, meaning 99 percent if not 99.99 percent of music consumers. If you're too smart or knowledgeable for this young goof and his damn Grammys that Robyn wouldn't have won anyway, by all means enjoy your cool. I'm not. But I know this much. This is a pop record because its shamelessly hedonistic barrage of proven dancefloor tricks will obviously be more fun at home than in a club, where it would blare forth at quadruple volume to young jerks who'd get just as excited about LMFAO. A-
Diplo: Express Yourself [Mad Decent, 2012]
It is a fate toward which all producers converge to be only as good as their frontpeople. So give it up to Sabi on "No Problem" and especially My Name Is Kay on the woozily provocative "Barely Standing"--both dubstep-identified, some would note, but I'm dubious--for lifting this six-song EP off its indubitably excellent beats. Of which the most self-sustaining are the moombahton "Butters Theme" and yet another in the long line of unclassifiable oddities that bear the title "Set It Off." B+
Skrillex: Leaving [Owsla download EP, 2013]
There aren't even three new songs on this for-fans-only EP--just two, totaling nine minutes, plus "Scary Bolly Dub," a reggae remix of "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," already available X3 on the debut EP of the same name. But messing with songs is what he does, and until that "Oh my God" hook he found officially displaces Gary Glitter in the American heart, I say he should keep on messing. Nor are the new compositions screwed-and-chopped liver. "The Reason" subjects that potentially pleasurable human faculty to the sensory scrutiny it deserves. And "Leaving" promises the vulgar new vistas chill-out ambience deserves. A-
Skrillex: Recess [Atlantic, 2014]
No longer going for the jugular, he risks missing pencilnecks like yours truly altogether ("Try It Out [Neon Mix]," "Stranger") **
Diplo: Random White Dude Be Everywhere [Mad Decent, 2014]
Seven proven bangers gussied up with five remixes--in short, the obvious shit his base long ago had enough of d/b/a music for normal people seeking a pick-me-up. I suppose we could do without the remixes, but hell, excess is why he's richer than he is famous, and they're certainly not painful. In fact, I'm glad I don't have to choose between the two versions of the objectively counter-revolutionary "Revolution" or the N.O. bouncy "Express Yourself." I'm also glad a prev unrel featuring the prev useless Waka Flocka Flame bears the fetching title "Techno." A-
Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü [Mad Decent, 2015]
Powerhouses sucker-punch hardest with help from 2 Chainz and Kiesza--not, hilarious idea and predictable profit-taker though it is, Justin Bieber ("Febreze," "Take Ü There") **