Following in the footsteps of Jenny Lewis and Neko Case, Stars/Broken Social Scene vocalist Amy Millan makes her solo debut on the folk-inspired “Honey From the Tombs.” Millan’s sugary-sweet voice takes on a more hushed and melancholy tone as she sings of heartache and drowning her tears in a glass of whiskey. With help […]
As the title suggests, Gov’t Mule’s second album as a quartet captures the old-fashioned thrill of big guitar rock that is immediate, raw and real. While straight-ahead uptempo rockers like the title track deliver the familiar mix of mammoth riffs, passionate vocals and deep grooves, Warren Haynes uses the downtempo moments to launch new […]
Although Andre 3000 has gone out of his way to dispel rumors that OutKast is splitting, the soundtrack to its film “Idlewild” doesn’t do much to support the pioneering hip-hop duo’s unity. As on “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below,” Andre and Big Boi do their own thing without eaCH other on most tracks, and film-specific songs […]
In a career full of understated blues, frail folk and creaky country, M. Ward’s new set is the full-band record we’ve been waiting for. His drawl and sublime guitar work is buttressed with plenty of percussion and even a string ensemble. While he still relies heavily on old-timey melodies and washes every instrument with […]
Currently co-hosting “Rockstar: Supernova” on CBS, celebrity guitarist Dave Navarro shares what he has been working on while coaching aspiring rockers. The Panic Channel broadcasts energetic, radio-friendly post-grunge driven by the over-the-top vocals of one-time MTV VJ Steve Isaacs, who often seems more influenced by the throaty narcissism of Sebastian Bach than the creativity […]
With “The Makeover,” veteran R&B/pop artist Jody Watley treats fans to a collection of treasured classics (her own and those of others) and a couple of new jams. Lead single “Borderline” completely twists the Madonna classic into a chilled-out, pop-tronic gem, which explains why it has been embraced by tastemaking lounge DJs here and […]
Straight up with a few twists is what Barretto serves on “Standards Rican-ditioned,” recorded shortly before the jazz master passed away. This nine-song collection fulfills the conguero’s dream to assemble an all-star cast of musicians of Puerto Rican descent to caress and swing through standards sans weighty Latin spice. The fine session highlights the […]
Hard-to-find oddities from one of indie rock’s most iconoclastic groups abound on this four-disc set, none better than “Gamera.” The 12-minute epic crystallizes Tortoise’s signature approach to instrumental bliss (simple, repeated riffs that explode into a dubtastic, electronically enhanced groove), a style that has been ripped off by many bands in the past decade. […]
Tony Bennett, who just turned 80, becomes ever cooler as he matures. His latest album, “Duets,” aligns him with a dozen artists known for their vocal prowess and tests the versatility of Bennett and his partners, a la Bono, k.d. lang, Celine Dion and Stevie Wonder. “Just in Time,” his duet with newly crowned adult […]
The tender piano ballad “Take Me As I Am” reveals a woman who is not only secure in her own skin but within her place in a fickle music industry. This third cut from Mary J. Blige’s latest effort, “The Breakthrough,” finds the singer admonishing her critics (what critics?) and embracing her rocky musical journey. […]
Covering a song made famous during Celine Dion’s pop heyday is almost laughable in its audacity — but, of course, when it comes to Jim Steinman compositions, we all know that Meat Loaf was there first. Word is that “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” which Dion took to No. 2 in 1996, originally […]
From the U.K. garage/grime scene rises Lady Sovereign, a Jay-Z protege looking to rattle the hip-hop scene stateside. First single “Love Me or Hate Me” off debut album “Public Warning” finds the young MC declaring herself “officially the biggest midget in the game,” rapping about having hairy armpits, missing Shepherd’s pie and drinking Heineken beers […]
This terrific single is the second release from Church’s debut disc, “Sinners Like Me.” It kicks off with a thumping beat and wailing harmonica that demand immediate attention as Church paints a colorful tale of youthful lust and consequences. The two pink lines in the title are indicators on a home pregnancy test. Church and […]
Despite enough bad luck to make a sane man quit the biz, Art Alexakis is sticking his head into the lion’s mouth again with new Everclear album “Welcome to the Drama Club” (due September 12). Lead single “Hater” gets its name from modern slang, but the band’s sound hasn’t changed much since 1997, even though […]
