The latest releases reviewed

OUTKAST Idlewild Sony-BMG ***

The last time OutKast were in the ring, the demarcation lines were strictly in place. While Big Boi delivered the bangers on Speakerboxxx, André 3000 had the length and breadth of The Love Below to show off his Prince tearjerkers. This time, on the soundtrack-that's-not-a-soundtrack to a flick starring the pair as sharp-suited jazzers, the lines are blurred a little and that's good news. After all, two heads are better than one, and Mighty O, with the kind of space and bounce not heard since Stankonia, and the slithery funk of Morris Brown are fantastic bellwethers for what Atlanta's million-sellers can do. When they're left to their individual devices, however, they quickly revert to type. Big Boi knocks out booming thumpers (Peaches and N2U, both featuring Sleepy Brown and dripping with radio-friendly hooks as Boi shows off sharp MC skills), while André throws out one quasi-vaudeville moment after another (Life Is Like a Musical and the short, sweet Chronomentrophobia). It's hot, but OutKast are capable of generating much more heat. www.outkast.com Jim Carroll