This week's hip-hop CDs reviewed

THE KNUX
Remind Me In 3 Days
Interscope
★★★★

You can understand the fuss about these New Orleans brothers when you take the measure their debut album. While Kintrell "Krispy Kream" and Alvin "Rah Amillio" Lindsey are keen to party like a pair of old- school fools, they're sussed enough to know that while people will always wave their hands in the air to a stonking blend of electronica and rock, that audience will respond even more to the good stuff, and Remind Me In 3 Daysis flush with that commodity. The sharp hooks and party-hearty beats will remind you of several who have passed their way before (including Goats, OutKast and the Beastie Boys), but the pair also possess enough talent to stand tall in their own high-tops. Their unerring ability to knock out head-nodding anthems such as Cappuccino, Bang Bangand the dirty-south blues of The Trainmake this an album made with end-of-the-night highs in its sights. www.theknux.com

Download tracks: Cappuccino, The Train