Just when we thought he was out, they pulled him back in.

OK, maybe not. After all, the latest instalment in Jay-Z's on-again, off-again "retirement" from rap ended up lasting all of 11 months. Still, it's good to have Hova back -- especially with an album as good as American Gangster.

Supposedly inspired by an advance screening of the new Denzel Washington-Russell Crowe drama about the rise of a '70s drug kingpin, Jay-Z's ninth studio album is part alternative soundtrack, part concept album and part period piece. With its intoxicating cocktail of old-school grooves, classic samples and lush orchestrations -- not to mention lyrics that directly reference scenes in the movie -- this album evokes the spirit (and sometimes the sound) of Curtis Mayfield, making American Gangster a Superfly for the new millennium.

If he can get all that out of one trip to the movies, the next flick is on us.

Intro 2:00

Movie dialogue from Crowe and Washington is layered with a spoken-word female vocal and a contemplative, flamenco-tinged soundscape to create this stylized intro montage. Not bad.

Pray 4:24

Our story begins -- "a tale of lost innocence," as Jay says. A stomping bass drum and bombastic chords underscore his words, while a gospel chorus and vibrant strings soar above.

American Dreamin' 4:47

Hova samples Marvin Gaye's Soon I'll be Lovin' You Again for this fittingly dreamy soul groover about a young drug dealer on the rise.

Hello Brooklyn 2.0 3:56

A Beastie Boys sample, a Lil Wayne cameo, a booming bass and a clattery beatbox are all Jay-Z needs to pay homage to the mean streets of this New York borough.

No Hook 3:13

"I don't need no hook for this s--t," brags Jay on this moody slow-burner. Maybe not -- but he doesn't mind using a sample from Barry White's Love Serenade to help make his point.

Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)... 4:12

Driven by a celebratory groove and topped with triumphant Rocky horns, this buoyant ditty might be the happiest song ever written about crack. In Jay's words: "It's a celebration, bitches!"

Sweet 3:26

Jay channels the spirit of Curtis Mayfield with this dark slice of bongo-flecked soul-funk. Oddly, the sample comes from Rudy Love's Does Your Mama Know.

I Know 3:42

A few bars is all it takes to know The Neptunes are behind this perky beatbox-and-synth pop ditty -- and to know you dig it.

Party Life 4:29

"Break out the red light," suggests Jay, setting the scene for this mellow, late-night chillout decorated with guitar curlicues and strings.

Ignorant Sh*t 3:41

Over a lazy flowing groove, Jay spews profanity to make some sort of point -- though whether he's dissing hip-hop's low standards or its opponents' moralizing is kinda fuzzy.

Say Hello 5:26

Another Mayfield-style Philly soul sweeper -- this time featuring a Tom Brock sample and a refrain that seems inspired by Scarface.

Success 3:30

Nas and Juan Perez drop by to help out -- but the real stars here are the bluesy, howling B3 organ licks that have been lifted from Larry Ellis's Funky Thing Pt. 1 and set to a fatback funk beat.

Fallin' 4:00

What goes up must come down -- and "damn, gravity's ill" proclaims Jay over this downward-spiralling track built upon a sample from The Dramatics Fell For You.

Blue Magic 4:08

Bonus track No. 1 is another typically quirky Neptunes production, complete with a loose, wobbly drum beat, a singsongy synth line and backup vocals from Pharrell.

American Gangster 3:41

Jay finally gives Curtis his props, sampling Mayfield's Short Eyes for this big, bombastically funky title cut.