For those of you wondering if DJ Shadow existed before his 1996 breakthrough, Endtroducing, the answer is yes. And Preemptive Strike is the archeological expedition that proves there was always life in Josh Davis' scratchy little fingertips.

These 11 tracks document Shadow's evolution from just a kid with a turntable to a full-blown, steady-rockin' brother with soul. It compiles his old twelve-inch wax sculptures onto one shimmery, plastic compact disc. Now, you're probably thinking, "Hey. This sounds too damn good to be true. There's gotta be a catch." Well, friend, you're right. The catch is that you've heard similar versions of more than a few of these tracks on Endtroducing. Still, if you liked what you heard on the man's debut, Preemptive Strike makes a nice companion.

Though not as diverse as Endtroducing, Preemptive Strike really pulls through. Some of Shadow's best work can be found in tracks like the sultry soul of "Influx" and the b-horror funk of "Organ Donor (Extended Overhaul)." The record's centerpiece-- all four parts of one of Endtroducing's best tracks, "What Does Your Soul Look Like"-- manages to drag on a bit too long (23 minutes!), but redeems itself in its last 10 minutes with some of the album's best moments. But would I drop my hard-earned cash on Preemptive Strike? In a heartbeat.

-Ryan Schreiber