The Decemberists’ major-label debut doesn’t dare shy away from the band’s good, hearty concept in terms of instrumentation and theme. Colin Meloy’s astute tongue continues to deliver great rhyming schemes via twisting tales about a magical crane, murder and sweethearts. But the group abandons some acoustic sounds in favor of electric guitars, keys and […]
Monica’s seasoned pipes have always set her a cut above peers who get by on dance routines and/or barely there vocals. While “The Makings of Me” has its needless trend-chasing moments, her rich voice and prime subject matter are the main draw. The Swizz Beatz-produced “Raw” expertly blends her rolling alto with a spicy […]
“Why can’t everyone live out happily ever after,” Dears singer Murray Lightburn laments on the emotionally charged “Bandwagoneers” from the group’s new “Gang of Losers.” This sentiment is felt throughout each track on the set, as Lightburn’s Morrissey-tinged croon narrates struggles with everything from love and war to social stigmas and race. The sound […]
Thievery Corporation is one of the most unheralded yet consistent groups in electronic music, and its label, ESL, releases fresh, fun and relatively kitsch-free lounge music that adults can buy with their heads held high. “ESL Remixed” is a great primer for the uninitiated, showcasing the best work from the label’s best artists in […]
With Evanescence’s second album, we learn that singer/pianist Amy Lee was as much a part of the six-times-platinum sound of 2003’s “Fallen” as now-departed guitarist and songwriting partner Ben Moody. We also learn that Lee is no woman to scorn. “The Open Door” is full of blistering attacks on those who have betrayed her, […]
George Strait has been in a zone for 20 years, rarely experimenting with a formula that has yielded scores of hits. He slams a homer here with “Give It Away,” a leavin’ song that would’ve worked in any decade. If anything, Strait is more stone country than ever, with George Jones-esque jewels like “She […]
Phish’s former frontman has struggled to define his voice as a solo artist, bouncing between projects at a dizzying rate. This effort, made over the course of two long years, suffers a grab-bag-like fate as a result, veering from classically influenced, string-anchored ballads (title track) to stoner-blues rockers (”Mud City”) to reggae-tinged slow-burners (”What’s […]
Knight tries the classic-voice-sings-classic-songs approach on “Before Me,” reinterpreting songs by other icons whose talent influenced and inspired her own esteemed career. Tommy LiPuma and Phil Ramone’s production, coupled with Knight’s soulful vocals, lovingly reinvigorate songs initially associated with Billie Holiday, Lena Horne and others. Among the best are Knight’s quietly riveting turn on […]
Just when you think fretboard pyrotechnics are a thing of the past, an acoustic-guitar duo revives the genre with raw energy and endless elan. Mexican-born Rodrigo y Gabriela morph Latin styles and heavy metal into a wild fusion that sounds like the virtuoso work of a headbanging flamenco dancer. On groove-shifting originals like “Diablo […]
Right off the bat, Thicke has drawn comparisons to Justin Timberlake, making it hard for him to slice his own niche. Both are soulful, blue-eyed crooners with pleasant falsettos, but with very distinct musical approaches. Thicke’s sophomore effort is, like his 2003 debut, “Beautiful World,” a soul-driven session that highly contrasts Timberlake’s pop-centric style. […]
Chris Clark’s 2001 debut, “Clarence Park,” distilled all the electronica goodness passed down from Warp forefathers Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada and Squarepusher into a mighty tasty techno tour de force. Although 2003’s “Empty the Bones of You” failed to satisfy as much as its predecessor, “Body Riddle” returns with just the right recipe. […]
Aerosmith’s single “Devil’s got a new disguise” from an upcoming hits collection stands notably tall among the enduring band’s redwood-high stack of hits. Steven Tyler growls and teases with signature vim as he revels in the charms of a woman named Kay: “The girl’s so witchin’, my backbone’s twitchin’/ Cause down in Hell’s kitchen, the […]
The second single from Jewel’s effervescent “Goodbye Alice in Wonderland” shows yet another side of the versatile folk/pop/rocker, with an autobiographical yet identifiable lyric about searching out the positive in our daily lives. “Good Day” opens with a feather-light vocal musing of dissatisfaction (”It’s nice to see people can be/More messed up than me”) before […]
Scottish songstress KT Tunstall, who first charmed us with her smoky voice, edgy guitar riffs and novel blend of alt-rock and blues, surprises fans with a softer side. Latest single “Other Side of the World” is a beautifully crafted ballad that truly demonstrates her multidimensional talent. Influenced by the challenges of long-distance relationships, the heartfelt […]
