Pitchfork

Live by the Auto-Tune, die by the Auto-Tune, but for the love of Roger Troutman, never go halfway with the Auto-Tune. Outkast half Big Boi is in a tricky position, because his fan base presumably includes a lot of people who contrast rappers like him against so-called ringtone rappers like Soulja Boy and their kid-friendly ilk. But Big Boi can't worry about pleasing the "real rap" heads and aging post-college jam-band fans-- at least, not unless he wants to please only them. Besides, he already gave throwback-seekers last year's soulful current-events anthem "Something's Gotta Give" and lyrically nimble "Royal Flush". 

But "Ringtone"-- from Big Boi's apparently still-forthcoming solo album, Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty-- is no "Lollipop" or "Love Lockdown". The mediocre hook isn't even sung with T-Pain-style Auto-Tune, which comes up pretty much only as a call-and-response backing vocal, except for a brief, innocuous midsection. And touches of nylon-string guitar brush up against the Miami-spangled synths and West Coast bass lines, like a sop to the anti-ringtone contingent. All this would be redeemable if the song were clever (haven't individualized ringtones been around for, like, a while now?) or if Boi's verses were spectacular (they're fine, but not particularly memorable). If you absolutely must use as a song about ringtones as your ringtone, please allow me to suggest the Los Campesinos! We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed drunk dialer "It's Never That Easy Though, Is It? (Song for the Other Kurt)". No Auto-Tune, but at least it's all-out. (via OnSMASH)

MP3:> Big Boi: "Ringtone"
[from Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty; forthcoming on LaFace/Zomba]