Jesus guys, I knew that 'Baby's Got A Temper," the single you released a few years ago was a piece of shit, but this is getting ridiculous. For those that are unaware, beat maker and name owner of The Prodigy Liam Howlett, sent other group members/vocalists Keith Flint (The firestarter himself) and Maxim on shore leave for a paid holiday, after the worldwide flop of said released single. They haven't been kicked out of the group mind you, but have been told that their services wouldn't be needed for the duration of Always Outnumbered in favor of guest vocalists that, in Howlett's mind, would rejuvenate himself and The Prodigy back into the good graces of the buying public once again. Well Liam, at least with this royal fuck up you'll have no one else to blame but yourself because Always Outnumbered is quite the embarrassing flop.

Juliette Lewis (yes that Juliette Lewis) starts the guest vocals off with a resounding thud on the opener "Spitfire." After creating past songs such as "Fire" and "Firestarter," one can only pray to the good lord that Howlett is done mining whatever pyro fetish he has buried deep within his psyche. Actually I shouldn't bag on Juliette Lewis too much. She does give the best vocal performance of all on a later track called "Hot Ride," which also has one of the only decent beats around with a kick ass flute jam near the end. But most of the beats Howlett has laid upon us here are as fresh as a week-old doughnut. If you've ever heard a Prodigy album, chances are you've heard this recycled drivel before. Or you could swear you've heard it done better which is the case of the huge Basement Jaxx rip off "Girls," which also boasts terribly dull vocals from the Ping Pong Bitches.

Kool Keith's rapping abilities are squandered on not one but two songs here, the tepid "Wake Up Call" and the achingly repetitive "You'll Be Under My Wheels." Speaking of squandered rapping abilities, man of the year Twista sounds like he couldn't possibly be any more bored on the ho hum "Get Up Get Off." But the biggest head shaker of all has to go to album closer "Shoot Down" with Liam Gallagher's vocals not even sounding remotely like him at all, with all the layers of synth programming and dubbing being so heavily applied. It's laughable that even though I know it says Liam Gallagher in the liner notes, I swear on my fragile ears that it's really Scott Weiland singing, no lie.

It honestly took seven years to make THIS? If anyone knows the whereabouts of Keith Flint and Maxim please let them know stat that Liam Howlett is in critical condition, because after Always Outnumbered, The Prodigy are on serious life support and appear to be permanently burned out.