Taylor Hicks’ victory in the fifth season of “American Idol” presents a mighty challenge for label J: How do you take a charismatic physical presence who wowed voters and convert his unexceptional vocal talents into mass-appeal hitmaking? Hicks’ long-term prospects seem preposterously slim (29? Purple velvet?) and first single “Do I Make You Proud” […]
Pharrell and Kanye West’s first musical alliance is as unexpected as one would anticipate from the rapper/producer innovators. This midtempo groove is the fourth single that may be on Pharrell’s extensively delayed solo debut “In My Mind.” Here, the Neptunes’ more recognizable half inscribes his signature off-key falsetto over otherworldly keys and bells, though his […]
Color us surprised. We assumed the third single from Madonna’s No. 1 album, “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” would be the highly catchy pop number “Jump.” Instead, we’ve been served the hypnotic space-age thumper “Get Together” as the follow-up to “Sorry.” The latter track was woefully ignored at U.S. radio (though it was a smash […]
Con Hunley’s smooth, soulful voice was a staple on country radio in the 1980s. Last year, after a lengthy, self-imposed hiatus, he made a welcome return to recording. This frisky uptempo number, culled from his recent “Shoot From the Heart” album, is all about setting priorities and enjoying life while that old clock ticks. There’s […]
After charting with three rock-outs from double-disc “In Your Honor” — and while single “No Way Back” is still doing decent business at modern rock — the Foos deliver “Miracle,” the first single from the full-length set’s acoustic side. The guys unplug with grace. No earth-shattering prose, just straight-shooting sentiment, as lead Dave Grohl’s low-key, […]
Here’s one more insta-soaring, hard-rock anthem delivered with emo urgency. A ballad at heart — and leadoff to upcoming “Liberation Broadcast” — “Rooftops” opens with atmospheric guitars and mellow-dramatic vocals. The big bang comes when the midtempo track crescendos into a cathartic high-rise chorus that loads a powerful image: “Standing on the rooftops/Everybody scream your […]
Talk about peculiar. We know Def Leppard’s upcoming album of cover tunes, “Yeah!,” is a tribute to the band’s musical heroes, so its tracks were dictated by the heart instead of an A&R man. Still, it’s odd to hear one of Britain’s greatest metal bands perform a sparse, atmospheric ditty like “Rock On” — a […]
Former Grant Lee Buffalo frontman Grant-Lee Phillips applies country and roots flourishes and soul to the New Wave candor of the Psychedelic Furs’ 1983 classic “Love My Way.” With the arrangement slowed to half time, his sad howl and quiet vocal harmonies splay over strings and upright bass, turning the former dance track into a […]
Though Costello’s band the Imposters form the entirely capable rhythm section (and Steve Nieve is the standout second keyboardist), the dominant sound on “The River in Reverse” is the familiar sophisticated strut of Toussaint’s elegant piano fillips and filigrees. There are five new Costello/Toussaint compositions here, seven wonderful, mostly obscure Toussaint tunes and Costello’s […]
On “December- underground,” AFI is comfortable whether flaunting minimalist hardcore attire (”Kill Caustic”) or donning poppier modern threads (”Summer Shudder”). The California quartet tightly knits genres together, keeping the sonic patterns from becoming too busy. “Miss Murder” meshes Green Day’s “Minority” with the bouncing tempo of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” “The Missing Frame” is […]
This is an album of melodic songs that deal with love, lost love and simple happiness. The follow-up to Venegas’ 2004 breakthrough, “Si,” it has its award-winning predecessor’s line of almost innocent simplicity — which is not to say that “Limon y Sal” is a simple album. Rather, its clean, well-crafted melodies can stand on […]
On their second time out, Tribbett and the 18-voice ensemble Greater Anointing deliver one of this year’s most adventuresome albums. With formidable command of gospel, R&B, jazz, pop and rock, Tribbett & G.A. forge a spine-tingling musical mix that is staggeringly original and exciting. “I Want It All Back” puts hard-edged rock guitars over […]
What’s most surprising about the new Cracker album is how focused, tight and rocking the 14-song collection is given co-leader David Lowery’s bleak overarching theme — a regrettable past mired in booze/dope/hangovers and marred by heartbreak. “Greenland” opens with its best song: the country-twanged “Something You Ain’t Got,” the sole, apropos cover penned by […]
Created from drummer Bobby Previte and guitarist Charlie Hunter’s Groundtruther project, this highly charged jazz set reveals a radically different facet of their collaboration. Instead of full-blown improvisations, here Previte, as leader, supplies tunes to spotlight Hunter’s Telecaster prowess. Although renowned for his eight-string mastery playing bass and lead simultaneously, this is Hunter’s first […]
