Classification is great sometimes, especially when trying to describe something in a few words. In some cases however, classification fails miserably, as is the case with Double Helix's DNA-lysis. These are some left coast underground heads, but if you assume you know what you're going to get just because of where it comes from, you're in for quite the surprise. Spontaneous (no, not the same one) and Jon?Doe deliver nothing less than a lyrical masterwork. This is not to take anything away from the production, but the lyrics are the centerpiece of this project.

Production is handled by Jon?Doe and Spon, with occasional help from Click Tha Supah Latin. The two bonus tracks are produced by Fader and Shu respectively. Even with this short list of producers, you'll never be bored or worried that beats sound too much alike. There is coherence, but never stagnation.

Lyrically, each song is strong, touching on a variety of topics, from people too caught up in the paperchase on "Fool's Gold" to one of the illest discussions of a life's journey that I've ever heard on "Riddle of the Sphinx," to an excellent analysis of different kinds of people on "Some of All Parts." There's a little something for just about everyone here.

Jon? and Spon maintain a wry sense of humour, even able to laugh at themselves (a true rarity in hip-hop these days it seems) while still sharing their commentaries on society with the listener. Hip-hop has been likened to a news network and I have a much better idea of what really goes on in the lives of the two strands of the Double Helix after listening to this album. One of the other strong points of this album is the lyricists ability to sit back and let other aspects of the music take centre stage for a while. Peep "The Power Of Thought," a jazzy track featuring a sax and turntable duet. It's this kind of exploration that sets this album so far apart from the mainstream.

The one major drawback this album faces is its relatively short length. There are only 15 songs on here, and two of them are "bonus goodies" by other artists. At least each of the songs in fairly long, giving them lots of time to explore the subject matter without sounding rushed. And quite frankly, I'd rather have 13 fat tracks than 30 wack ones or a whole bunch of filler.

Tracks to check for include "Slo To Toledo," which ably sets the stage for the musical masterpiece to follow; "Fool's Gold," "Riddle of The Sphinx," "2 Of The Illest," "Some Of All Parts," one of the most musical joints on here; and "Parallelograms," with a slightly off square beat outlining the lyrics. The entire album is banging though, so don't expect to be skipping tracks.

The final verdict: This album is WAY above average. So far above average in fact, that it's probably really hard to find because no major label will appreciate its genius. So, you'll have to order this one from the indiepennant records website at www.indiepennant.com. What are you waiting for? Go order it NOW!