“4:21 … The Day After,” Method Man’s first solo album since 2004’s poorly received and critically chastised “Tical 0: The Prequel,” marks the glorious return of Wu-Tang Clan’s wittiest MC. His debut single, “Say,” features Lauryn Hill singing Bob Marley’s classic “So Much Things to Say” on the hook as Meth turns the spotlight’s glare […]
Former Destiny’s Child member LeToya Luckett proves her solo potential with heart-wrenching first single, “Torn.” The topic is familiar — whether to stay in a trying relationship. Amid the singer’s laments (”A part of me wants to leave you alone/A part of me wants for you to come home”) are weeping strings and keys that […]
The latest single from Faith Hill’s “Fireflies” album is a peppy, uptempo cottonball, custom-made for the seasonal radio airwaves. Penned by John Rich, Rodney Clawson and Kylie Sackley, the lyric is chock-full of such summery images as barefoot ladies, cool Coronas and backyard parties. Production is light, breezy and happy, letting Hill’s vocal take center […]
Though the title might suggest a mushy romantic ballad, this song is the polar opposite. Teeming with attitude, it’s a tongue-in-cheek rant from a guy at the end of his rope. Ingram turns in a personality-packed performance that’s dripping with sarcasm and defiance. His last single, “Wherever You Are,” made it to the top of […]
While South Carolina-based rock act Crossfade has generated major motion on rock radio with “Cold” and “So Far Away,” the band has yet to tickle the mainstream airwaves. “Invincible” signifies the discovery track for a band that could be compared to Staind, Saliva or Nickelback with its ceramic wall of sound and big-ass hooks. This […]
Texas singer/songwriter/gonzo cowboy Ray Wylie Hubbard has enjoyed a career renaissance in the last decade-plus that has undoubtedly produced the most powerful music of his career. That streak continues with “Snake Farm,” a collection of down-and-dirty, superbly crafted gems quite unlike anything else. The title cut is a swampy peek into a bizarro world […]
There’s something charming about hearing the soft-voiced Sufjan Stevens sing an ode to famed Illinois democratic governor Adlai Stevenson. But charm alone can’t carry an album, especially one that’s 21 songs and 75 minutes long. As is Stevens’ norm, there’s plenty of window dressing to gloss up the tender arrangements of these outtakes from […]
With this dusky and starkly recorded collection, longtime Bad Religion howler Graffin becomes the second guy in recent months to temporarily trade in his rock ‘n’ roll pedigree for that of an old-timey troubadour bringing old folk songs back to life. But where Bruce Springsteen used his “We Shall Overcome” stage to make mostly joyful […]
The new disc from Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys is a gem of musical retrospection, featuring 14 original tunes with a pronounced emphasis on vintage rockabilly. Opener “The Power of the 45″ sets the mood for some fine hillbilly romance both hopeful (”Ruby Jane,” “I Know I’ve Loved You Before”) and forlorn (”Haunted […]
With this album tinged with nostalgia, Argentine pop/rock veterans Enanitos Verdes will surely see a positive impact thanks to their recent U.S. tour and live album. “Pescado Original” is Enanitos’ first studio set since 2002, and it sounds mellow and beautiful. More pop than rock, it finds the group collaborating with the likes of […]
With his heart broken and his health failing, Johnny Cash saddled up one last time with Rick Rubin for the final curtain on both a career and one of the most remarkable collaborations in music history. Cash’s swan song is uplifting and incredibly sad as he approaches his mortality with characteristic stoicism and courage. […]
Woven through with turntable wizardry, innumerable samples and a smattering of live instrumentation, former Jurassic 5 DJ Cut Chemist’s solo debut expertly navigates the line between old-school hip-hop homage and forward-looking experimentation. This aurally nutritious blend tastes best on the lilting “The Garden,” which imagines “Future Days”-era Can jamming with
Os Mutantes, and the hazy, […]
This is an album of cinematic scope — a mini-epic, really. Colorful head trips abound, with Marco Benevento’s evocative, spiraling organ, piano and synth excursions and Joe Russo’s propulsive yet elegant drum workouts tracking our two heroes across deep-space voids (the title track), Parisian street fairs (”Something for Rockets”), subterranean rock clubs (”Hate Frame”) […]
Skerik’s new album opens with what sounds like an ominous fleet of bombers approaching overhead, superimposed by a horn-layered lament. But then the tenor-saxophone leader and his hip, tight septet bloom into a lyrical, Hammond B-3-led rhythm with electronic effects and sauntering horn lines. Add to that such contrary descriptors as tradition-infused/ nonconforming, swinging/shredding, […]
