When you align G. Love’s ragged, gentle blues-funk with Jack Johnson’s Brushfire label, the only possible result is a summer-themed backyard party, one well worthy of its cold beverage title. G. Love’s billed solo here, but has called out the cavalry — Special Sauce appears as do Blackalicious, Lateef the Truth Speaker, Ben Harper, […]
Argentine star Diego Torres became an international sensation with 2001’s “Un Mundo Diferente,” an album that included the anthemic “Color Esperanza.” “Andando,” his highly expected new studio set, picks up on the rousing, feel-good themes, most apparent in the single “Abriendo Caminos,” featuring Juan Luis Guerra, which sounds like a blend of “Color Esperanza” […]
On her sweet and sassy self-titled debut, 19-year-old Cassie offers sexy, laid-back tunes, dainty ballads and midtempo dance jams. Typical is lead single “Me & U,” a mellow and inescapable summer tune. Cassie masks her glaring lack of vocal range and depth by showing versatility on tracks like “What Do U Want” and second […]
Mahavishnu Orchestra maestro John McLaughlin reinvigorates the jazz/rock/ world music sphere with this startling eight-tune display of high-velocity guitar virtuosity and shape-shifting adventure. One of the progenitors of ’70s fusion mentored by Miles Davis, McLaughlin has traversed jazz throughout his career. But he’s at his most vibrant reinventing what came to be known as […]
Stone Sour was obviously anxious to reconvene since its debut arrived four years ago. Sophomore album “Come What(ever) May” is a vigorous workout that’s too rough to be called hard rock but not harsh enough to be metal. Either way you slice it, it’s an intense, taut piece of work where every song could […]
The recordings of French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg ooze world-weary sophistication, but beneath their lounge-music sheen, they’re strikingly difficult to classify. So it’s fitting that a new Gainsbourg tribute, marking the 15th anniversary of his death, contains everything from such slavish reproductions as Cat Power and Karen Elson’s “I Love You Me Neither”) to freewheeling […]
