The 53-year old pop diva releases her twelfth studio album and her first since 2008's Hard Candy.
Out this week is the deluxe version of the album which comes with two discs; the first being the actual album while the second has five additional songs including LMFAO's remixed version of the already released single "Give Me All Your Luvin'." Digital versions of the album only include the 12-track first disc.
If you've heard one or both of the already released singles from the album, you already know that long gone are the days of the thought provoking pop music that made her popular in the 80's and 90's and, instead, we are presented with club ready dance songs with thumping house and trance beats.
Song construction seems much stronger on this album than on "Hard Candy" with (mostly) better written lyrics and more thoughtful melodies although the songs themselves are less catchy in general. It's better than, say, the last Britney Spears album but even as short as a decade ago it seemed ridiculous to even consider Madonna's music seeming less original than artists like Spears or a Katy Perry.
While I was hoping for an album that showed this powerful woman's post-divorce return to the spotlight, instead we get an album of songs that, other than Madonna's still distinctive warbling, could have been produced by any club-ready female artist including two songs where she shares the stage with the ubiquitous Nicki Minaj.
If you do get the album, I would definitely spring for the deluxe version as the second disc includes two tracks that are better and more original than what can be found on the first disc: the short but poignant "Beautiful Killer" and the delightfully introspective "I Fucked Up."
Score: 5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Girl Gone Wild" [sample it below] plus "I Fucked Up" from the bonus disc
The raspy voiced Grammy Award winning R&B artist from Ohio releases an album of cover songs.
Ms. Gray covers a wide breadth of mostly Rock artists including Metallica, Arcade Fire, Sublime and My Chemical Romance on this 16-track disc that includes four 'skit' tracks.
There's no doubt this is the most curious release of this week with Gray taking her typical R&B approach to the covered Rock songs which, as you expect, matches some songs better than others.
Gray does give us fun and original takes on a number of songs on the album. My Chemical Romance's "Teenagers" is the best example with a carnival-like energy brought to the angst-y song that really flips the meaning of the lyrics. Another is Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Maps" which turns the tortured cries of "Wait!" from the original into a fast-tempo rant rather than a heartfelt plea.
However, while the slowed down version of the Eurythmics' "Here Comes the Rain Again" would seem like an ideal match considering Gray's distinctive vocal timber but her take on the songs eliminates the impending tension that gives the original its flare. A similar case can be raised with Radiohead's "Creep" which sounds decent coming out of Gray's mouth but the deeper meaning to the song is lost.
Unfortunately for this album the song choice is more interesting that the songs covered. While in some cases Grays vocals are the superior version, the larger meaning to a lot of these songs are lost in this translation.
Score: 6.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Teenagers" [sample it below] and "Wake Up"
The Prog-Rocking quintet from San Diego release their sophomore studio album.
The feel of this album is a throwback to rock albums produced in the late 70's by bands like Rush, Yes and Pink Floyd where experiments in music led to lengthy tracks that take you on a musical, and sometimes trippy, journey where sounds make a bigger impact that lyrics.
Black Chord only has six tracks and lyrics are sparse if they are present at all. What's not in short supply is the immersive electric guitar refrains and encompassing keyboard licks that harken to the glory days of rock.
While the highs on the album can't match those from the albums of the classic rock bands mentioned above, it takes you back to those days while still managing to sound modern. The album is beautifully crafted with many layers and features top-notch production work to create a disc that will leave a lasting impression.
Score: 8/10
Song(s) to Sample: "The Black Chord", "Bull Torpis" and "Barefoot In the Head" [sample it below]
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