Pitchfork

So fellas: what's cooler than ice cold?? How about a two-pronged wintertime multimedia blitzkrieg? The loveable Outkast, who've catapulted from dirty south party-starters to international, genre-defying, mega-party-starters, are poised to capture the hearts of whatever demographic of the American populace remains free-hearted in this post-"Hey Ya!" era.

Their one-two punch: Idlewild, a feature film and concomitant all-Outkast soundtrack, slated for release in the coming months and sure to hit harder than Lindsay Lohan's Mercedes Benz. And, we hope, not flop harder than Herbie: Fully Loaded.

Idlewild the record drops first on December 6, allowing Outkast aficionados ample time to learn all the words so that Rocky Horror-esque sing-alongs may ensue one month later when the film arrives in theatres. The new disc essentially follows up Speakerboxxx/The Love Below as an Outkast record-proper, and according to Big Boi, features "a little more piano or whatever." I'm not sure what "whatever" sounds like, but if Outkast is dishing it out, you'll dance to it.

Idlewild the movie infiltrates motion picture palaces January 6 and stars both halves of Outkast, Terrence Howard, Macy Gray, Ving Rhames, and Patti LaBelle, among others. The period piece situates Big Boi and Andre 3000 in a 1930s speakeasy, where the former portrays the club's performer/proprietor and the latter its pianist. The film's rising action will involve Dre, Boi & Co. overcoming such obstacles as "gangsters" and "relationships." Idlewild marks music video director Bryan Barber's ("Hey Ya!", "The Way You Move", etc.) feature-length debut.

Idlewild the band couldn't be reached for comment, but we reckon they're weeping over their pints right now.