Handsome Boy Modeling School

Prince Paul and Dan the Automator assume the respective roles of Chest Rockwell and Nathaniel Merriweather, the founders of the Handsome Boy Modeling School, for this offbeat project. Based on an episode of Chris Elliott’s short-lived Fox sitcom, Get A Life, the duo have gathered an eclectic list of co-conspirators for the rather loose, jocular concept. Del tha Funkee Homosapien, DJ Shadow, Sean Lennon, Cibo Matto’s Miho Hatori and Dave from De La Soul are among the motivational speakers conveying the duo’s curriculum. The strength of the unlikely collaborations is drawn from the assumption that they are perfectly logical. By not taking themselves too seriously, Prince Paul and the Automator produce sonically compelling and divergent results in a thankfully uncontrived approach. Relatively low-profile MC Encore acquaints himself quite nicely on the suitably fluid beat of “Waterworld,” while DJ Shadow and DJ Quest tear up the decks on “Holy Calamity.” Some sonic ventures are more successful than others, but given the hilarious image the duo have constructed for themselves, not to mention humorous samples from Get A Life itself, they have covered any intention of appearing as in the least bit serious. Of course, there is plenty of evidence to prove otherwise, “The Truth” featuring Roisin of Moloko and a resurfaced J-Live gradually swells to a soulful crescendo proving that these boys aren’t just handsome.