Ringo Starr-Liverpool 8 (Capitol)
Only thing different about this album is that Ringo has return to the
great EMI and made this so so effort. We all like love songs but this
tends to even try one's patience. Ever since hooking with Mark Hudson,
the albums tended to get more mundane but they had a big falling out and
Dave Stewart came in to remix and juice up the sound. A bit more
darker than what we come to expect from Ringo but like most of the
Hudson collerbations, more blah than beautiful. Best song, a song about
death (RU Ready).
Grade B minus
Queen Latifah-Travelin' Light (Verve)
She's come a long way from the black rapper that she used to be when
Motown had her, the Queen tackles some jazz and blues and some soul
standards with varied results. Ron Fair tends to overdo things as
producer, this is no exception. So Tommy LiPuma comes to balance things
out with a bit more empasis on the jazzier and slower tunes. Does a
super version of Phoebe Snow's Poetry Man and steps all over the Pointer
Sisters' How Long (Betcha got a chick on the side) which is just as
long as their version. And the only time that you hear the Queen does
any type of rapping. Have to give her credit for at least attempting to
do something different than the usual R and B rhythm box method must
movie stars or black artists do nowadays. And I still find the Queen to
be one of the more beautiful looking plus sized actress around.
Grade B
Teddy Thompson-A Piece Of What You Need (Verve Forecast)
Last time he did a almost straight country album of weepers, he's now
back to the pop rock he's getting to be known for. Already on number
three in as many years on Verve, Teddy keeps popping them out and
although we don't have a clue who plays on this album (you have to
access his website to see who does, bright idea--especially if those
still living in the dark ages that don't have internet) a couple tracks
does feature his dad Richard and perhaps Dave Mattacks is playing drums
on others too. Some interesting arrangements are done by producer
Marius De Vires, which uses oddtime horns on the title track. I perfer
Thompson when he's more uptempo but I think he's getting too close to
Rufus Wainwright territory with the falsettos, then I don't perfer him.
Never been much into Wainwright myself. Four albums onward, I have a
good idea of what to expect from Teddy, he's got part of his singing
voice from mom Linda and a slight off the wall humor that's not as
biting as dad Richard. A good combination of both but so far hasn't
translated into record sales except for the cult following like both his
parents have. But so far, he's been worth more as finding decent songs
to sing like his last album did. Something to think about for the next
album. But it is dotched a notch for lack of credits on the CD.
Grade B+
Alejandro Escovedo-Real Animal (EMI)
Another cult hero whose critics love but at times I find him
frustrating to listen to. He's been in great cutting edge bands (Alt
rock pioneers Rank And File to which Alejandro helped Chip and Tony
Kinman make their classic Sundown and his own True Believers whose 1985
album for Rounder is hard to find although Rykodisc issued it for about a
year) and survived a near death to hepitisis and made the critics'
favorite Boxing Mirror from two years ago. I found that album too
eccentric for my liking and perhaps having John Cale produced it had
something to do with that. On this album, Alejandro decides to rock out
a bit more with the help of Tony Visconti and having co writing help
from Chuck Prophet. And the album is the day to Boxing Mirror's night, a
better combination of rock and roll and a bit of Springsteenisms to
boot. He even pays homage to the Kinmans on Chip N Tony and even
revisits his Nuns roots with his brother who used to play in The True
Believers. The only time the album bogs down is on the ballads
Hollywood Hills and Shallows Of San Juan to which at the end weeping
cellos bird like solos bring the song up to a code that you have to got
to listen to be believed. Which leaves us back to the uptempo songs
that you can listen to over and over again. Message: People (We Only
Gonna Live So Long), we still got time, but never quite as much as we
think. Well said
Grade A minus
Supergrass-Diamond Hoo Ha (EMI)
Road To Rouen was a dark and melodic effort which kinda blew part of
their fan base away to other things so Jaz and company have returned to a
more familar territory of glam rock and attempt to reclaim their past
glories and they enlisted Nick Launay to get them back to the radio.
Doesn't quite work all that well with this selling out, although they do
have moments with Diamond Hoo Ha Man and Whisky And Green Tea. Upon
further listening I think I perfer Life On Other Planets and even Road
To Rouen myself. I tend to favor the darker pop music myself. Unlike
you Grade B
Mudcrutch (Reprise)
A rare album indeed, something that sounds better on vinyl than it
did on the compressed CDs that Warner stuck out in crappy digipaks to
which Tom Petty decided to remix the album to comply with analog
standards. Even more rare, when you buy the vinyl album, you get a
bonus CD, of the same mix that was with the album. Of course they
should get you something extra for the 29.99 price I paid for the vinyl
piece. As for the album itself, it's still a Tom Petty project, he
switches over to bass and lets Tom Leadon play guitar alongside Mike
Campbell and Ben Tench on the keys. A bit more country sounding than
the Heartbreakers and a nice groove to boot to which key cut is the 9
and half minite Crystal River to which Petty reveals the inner jam
groove he had inside of him. Plus nice covers such as Shady Grove, Six
Days On The Road and Lover Of The Bayou to which Petty would like you to
know that Roger McGuinn was a big influence on himself. Probaly the
best album that Tom has made up since the overplayed Full Moon Fever.
Grade B plus
Joe Cocker-Hymm For My Soul (Fantasy)
A Joe Cocker album is basically what you see is what you get. Some
good covers and some not so good but Ethan Johns does more to help JC
this time out then the assorted producers who gummed up 2005s Heart And
Soul. Some soul covers of Percy Mayfield (River's Invitation), Stevie
Wonder (You Haven't Done Nothing) even old Daniel Boone (Just Pass It
On, you remember Daniel Boone of Beautiful Sunday fame? Perhaps you
don't, most of you weren't born yet). Does a cool make of a Dylan song
(Ring Them Bells which might even beat Bob's), a so so George Harrison
number (Beware Of Darkness, still done better by brother Leon Russell),
and obscure stuff from Andy Fairweather-Low (the title track). Reminds
me of the days of Mad Dogs and Englishmen era Joe. Worth a few more
spins I do believe
Grade B plus
P.O.D-Where Angels And Serpents Dance (Columbia/INO)
Hard to figure that these guys have been around for 10 plus years.
Not exactly the Christian Metal Rappers they once were, they have kinda
soured on things in life like you and me and at times they do rock out
and cameos by Page Hamilton and the Marley Girls help out a lot,
especially I'll Be Ready. This is their best since Satellite but not as
inspired as Satellite was and perhaps that album will be their high
water mark. Sounding quite like the Chili Peppers towards the end of
the album to which it goes on a bit too long. Mostly for them that's a
bad thing.
Grade B minus
Switches Presents Lay Down The Law (Interscope)
Another tax write off by the Universal folks but this band has that
Franz Ferdinand/Nine Black Alps vibe with lots of backing vocals that
owe to glam and Weezer at times. Really, this album is quite fun with
Franz knockoff Drama Queen with a easy to sing along chorus. Likewise
Snakes And Ladders. I'm sure the masses would perfer Maroon 5 or Metro
Station but I perfer this band's Franz vibe and popness. Sounds good on a
Saturday Night cruise but chances are you probaly won't remember this.
Kinda like Franz Ferdinand and Nine Black Alps, whose second album
didn't see a US release.
Grade B
