Prozzak Cruel Cruel World. Release Date : November 29, 2005. Label: UMI Entertainment. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. Well I pretty much can't believe this is happening. Prozzak! Remember them? In the late 90's this little all-animated side project cropped up from a couple of the members of the Philospher Kings. They had cute, endearing, yet dancey little tunes that you probably remember with some prompting ("Sucks To Be You" and "Strange Disease" and some song with ombalomasomething...), songs that raced up the charts and into the dance clubs. The little cartoon characters that became the band were seen on shirts and posters and TV, and all was well and good. They even went 'on tour' in the form of video screens behind live players - with opening acts and everything. But it didn't last for all that long. I guess cartoons can only be made into icons for so long. Well, the formula was of course met with success by the Gorillaz, and suddenly, boom, Prozzak is back for a second kick at the can. They appear to have abolished the umlauts fromt he name, and the characters themselves have undergone a new millenium makeover. The formerly brightly-coloured, simple, anime-style Simon and Milo have become neutral-coloured, track-jacket-wearing Brit-poppers with sad faces and stylish haircuts. Where once we had the diminutive, charity-case, sad, sobbing Simon and the ever-smirking burly blonde Milo, we now have two skinny boys, each equally-despondent looking and just Milo being taller. Pretty big transformation. Now what about the music? Separating this whole musical thing from the weird cartoon facade, it's a very viable pop album. Not nearly as garish and annoying as much of the former music could get, this sounds at times like selective less-chaotic Supergrass and at times vocally like Smashmouth and at times gets stuck with a light-hearted quick rap about paying cover at clubs and hanging out with chicks. sure there's some cheesy moments like int he cornball balled "Don't Love Me That Way," but considering it's a pair of cartoons singing to us, we shouldn't be surprised that this is somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I mean, really slow-motion running down the beach kind of thing. I like the vaguely James-Bond smoothsex of "Sweeping Romance." Oh scratch that, my 80's love sensibilities are getting the better of me with the retro vibe of "It's Not So Bad." on "If You're Ready," the liner notes state the female vocals are courtesy of Lydia Deets. I was expecting a sound byte from the Beetlejuice movie, but it's not. Is there actually someone named Lydia Deets, or is this another character mask for a ghost vocalist? Song of choice : "Sweeping Romance" I think is just cute. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Prozzak website Published : March, 2006.