New Music Reviews - 10/18/2011 - Brian Wilson, Jane's Addiction, and Nappy Roots

Brian Wilson In The Key of Disney - The legendary surf rocker and frontman of the Beach Boys releases a solo album with re-imaginings of classic Disney movie anthems.  The Disney songs covered on this disc range from the very old; a medley from Snow White, Disney's first feature film; to the more recent; a couple of songs from the Toy Story movies; with Wilson making intermittent choices from the various decades of music in between.  There are 11-tracks total on the disc with a bonus track of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Cinderella if you order the album from Amazon. 

Wilson's "re-imagining" of these songs basically means he is performing them in the Beach Boys-esque style he's been known for over the past four decades with tropical, surfer-influenced guitar-driven melodies and angelic-sounding 60's backup vocal harmonies.  The album opens with the uninspired cover of "You've Got A Friend" from the original Toy Story movie which adds a slightly more Country music style to the song that, unfortunately, doesn't bring anything new worth exploring.  In fact, the Spanish language version by the Gipsy Kings from the third sequel is a far more interesting and rollicking version.

Things pick up on the next track with "Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book which has a kooky xylophone intro and background accordion playing that add a lightness to the ditty that will appeal to both the young and old.  "Heigh Ho/Whistle While You Work" astutely creates a medley of multiple Disney songs beyond to two songs from Snow White listed in the title by working in lines like the "Yo Ho" chorus from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride song, among other Disney classics. 

Overall, In The Key of Disney is a so-so album better suited for family listening in the car when you're sick of hearing to the same Yo Gabba Gabba album for the umpteenth time in a row than it is for reminiscing about the classics you watched as a kid.  It gives you songs that both old and young will be familiar with in a more adult contemporary style.  Generally, this style works well with the older, Sherman brothers era and earlier songs (like "Stay Awake" from Mary Poppins) while the newer songs from the Alan Menken era and later (like "Kiss The Girl" from The Little Mermaid) don't translate as well.  One notable exception is "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas which sounds better and more contemporary without the orchestral backing from the original.

If you're a parent with kids, this is probably an album worth picking up as it gives more adult versions of classic Disney children songs that you can listen to with your kids.  Otherwise the re-imaginings of these songs aren't that imaginative and will leave you pining for the originals.

Score:  6/10
Song(s) to Sample:  "Bare Necessities" and "Heigh-Ho/Whistle While You Work" [sample it below]

Jane's Addiction The Great Escape Artist - The alternative hard rockers from Los Angeles with Perry Ferrel (vocals) and Dave Navarro (guitar) reunite to release a fourth studio album.  They are joined on this disc by Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio on bass although the band has announced that he is not a permanent addition to the band.  In fairness, I admit that I haven't really listened to the band's releases since their 1990 classic Ritual de lo Habitual album skipping their ditties when they first reunited about a decade ago.  That being said, I found this album to be a fun reintroduction to the band with some enjoyable tracks in the hard rocking style we expect from the boys with more modern musical sensibilities you might find on a Muse or Radiohead album with the further integration of electronic instruments into their music.  Some of the tracks seem overly heavy in the message they are trying to get across which makes the album too morose at times but the overall experience is one still worth checking out. 

Score: 7.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Curiosity Kills" and "I'll Hit You Back" [sample it below]

Nappy Roots Nappy.Org - The rapping quintet from the South release their fifth studio album.  This album was produced with help from legendary hip-hop producers Organized Noize (Ludacris and Outkast).  Nappy.Org is another first-class album from Skinny DeVille, B. Stille and the rest of group with silky smooth jams and well constructed raps.  In fact, there's excellent balance to the album as a whole with songs like the uplifting "Good and Evil" ("gotta keep my head high above the clouds/‘cuz when it’s slow it brings me down") acting as a nice counterpoint to the song that follows it, "Karma," which is a darker anthem talking about the payback that will eventually catch up with you one day.  The only problem with this album, and with any album the band releases in the future, is that they will never be able to top the awesome pun name of their last disc, The Pursuit of Nappyness!

Score: 8.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Easy Money", "Good and Evil" [sample it below] and "Karma"