Though at this point in his career John Cale could put out any sort of crazy recording he wants (see Lulu as evidence), he has opted instead to release EP: Extra Playful. The EP is a pretty straightforward record, maybe the most pop release of his output. Opening track “Catastrofuk” is the most mainstream track on the album with buzzing synths, “do-do-dos” and handclaps – just try to forget about that title. It’s a really great song, mostly unhindered by the weak, heavy-handed (but socially conscious) lyrics. The weak lyrics continue in the next track “Whaddaya Mean by That,” which rhymes “that” with “that,” but demonstrates Cale’s ability to write a focused, contemplative pop song. These two tracks, released as a single, would have been a great way to renew his musical career. Unfortunately the next tracks are less consistent. “Hey Ray” is a quasi-hip hop song with heavy beat, spoken word in the style of William Shatner. Though similarly processed beats work on the next track, “Pile a l’Heure,” the unnecessary inclusion of autotuned vocals detracts from the song. In the end, the title is appropriate. It certainly sounds like Cale is having fun, but sometimes it seems like fun at the expense of quality. With further time, it would stand to reason that Cale will showcase himself as one of the most enduring creative acts of his generation. (Double Six Records, doublesixrecords.com) Devin King