After a two-year hiatus that saw the release of several group members' solo projects, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are back to present their Thug World Order. Unfortunately in the absence of the imprisoned Flesh-N-Bone, the remaining quartet falters. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get into this album.

The starting theme of Thug World Order might best be described as "thugs meet the ice capades". Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's sampling of Phil Collins' 'Take Me Home' (on 'Home') and The Angels' 'My Boyfriends Back' (on 'Guess Whos Back') are questionably feeble choices. The light and fluffy feel-good essence of the sampled songs just don't play out well in a Thug World Order.

However, the Bone Thugs do escape doom with the amazing second single, 'Money, Money,' which features a scintillating sample from Nova Scotia's Dutch Robinson. They also impress on the R&B gem 'If I Fall.'

Despite the fact that Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is a legend in the making, Thug World Order forces them to take two steps backwards. Their hectic schedules (4 solo albums released in the past two years), and their bickering with record labels and group members, has cost them their focus. This is Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's weakest album to date and is best suited for only their die-hard fans.

Click here to buy the album or read CDNow's album review.