Kidz in the Hall's strange niche as the alt-rap backpacker's party band continued on 2011's
Occasion, although this shindig is related to a cable television reality series and is conceptually hung on the feeling of celebration. That last bit is good, as these
Kidz are all the way live when it comes to popping bottles and smoking blunts in honor of
Notorious B.I.G. (the great "Pour It Up" with
David Banner and
Bun B) or shaking Polaroid pictures like they were
OutKast ("Walk on Air" could have fallen off either side of
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below). Add
Curren$y,
Freddie Gibbs,
Esthero, and others to the supreme guest list and there's plenty to do on this bright, lively
Occasion, but in the end it's a mood album more than a persuasive pep rally thanks to redundant numbers and no sensible anchor. ~ David Jeffries