The sophomore album from Chicago quartet Crucial Conflict shows considerable growth from their debut, The Final Tic. Producer/MC Wildstyle has taken more time creating the beats, creating a more textured and musically sound style that the sometimes innovative ("Hay") rodeo sound on the first. Unfortunately, it also is more monotone, as Good Side, Bad Side seems to have no immediate breakaway hits.

"Crucial" is a slang term used throughout the midwest indicating that something is (depending on your geography) "all that" or "the bomb." Unfortunately, Good Side, Bad Side is anything but. Songs like "Scummy" or "Raw Dope Anthem" seem to go for an edge early on, but you soon realize it's just the sound of the group's voices, mostly high pitched fast past lyrics. Comparisons of this group to Bone have always existed, but the Cleveland quartet has a clear advantage on the basis of the different tones of voice and speech.

There are admirable cuts on this LP, including the swinging sounds on "Safari," which doesn't exactly make sense but sounds very pleasing. "Hustlin" is also a minor gem, with a more distinctively smooth beat compared to the nondescript smoothness around it. Playing off Quincy Jones' "Secret Garden" on "Come On" is a great idea on a great track, but the slowed down lyrics (done for radio penetration?) don't hold up under inspection.

Overall, this is a hometown album meant to play in the background, in cars rolling down the 294 or the Chicago Loop. If you're already a fan of rapid-fire styles, this is definitely something to peep and dissect. However, the monochromatic production (a plague in hip hop) and lack of a standout hit like "Hay" hinders this album's ambitions outside the Big Illinois.