SAGE FRANCIS Li[f]e (2010 UK 12-track vinyl LP - 'Li[f]e' is a marked evolution for Sage Francis. The celebrated agent-provocateur of hip-hop brings his signature wordplay, a dazzling mix of sardonic humour and biting social commentary, to a setting complimented by a talented band consisting of producer Brian Deck [Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine] and cohorts Jim Becker and Tim Rutili of the acclaimed Chicago outfit Califone. Along for the ride are some of indie rock's most prestigious songwriters. Take album opener 'Little Houdini', a stirring Steinbeckian tale of prison break, with music written by ex-Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle. With collaborations with Chris Walla from Death Cab for Cutie, Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse, Calexico, and DeVotchKa, Sage is pushing the envelope of a genre he helped create, with a confrontational tongue and wit to match Shepard Fairy's iconic album artwork. The record's title says it all: a deliberate amalgamation of the words life and lie)