The W (2012)

In another sign that times have changed, the once-ferocious Wu-Tang Clan sound utterly mellow on their third album. The W forgoes innovation and simply revels in the Clan's strengths: the way their star rappers toss around rhymes as if playing catch; RZA's skulking, string-enhanced beats; all those mystical hip-hop words. Shifting easily from stark struts (''Chamber Music'' — good pun) to loose R&B (''Gravel Pit''), they're old pros, and they know it. Coasting at its best. B+