New Album Reviews - 4/10/2012 - Monica and The Black Seeds

Monica New Life

Monica Brown, better known to the world as the Grammy Award winning R&B singer Monica, releases her seventh studio album.

Jeez, has it really been 17 years since Monica first released Miss Thang, the album that skyrocketed her to stardom?  It must be true since Ms. Brown is now in her 30's and her music does have a more adult sound to it.

After a quick throwaway intro that completely wastes Mary J. Blige's guest appearance, the album really opens up with the first official single off the album, "It All Belongs To Me" (with Brandy), that you've probably already heard on the radio.  It's a sweet and satisfying break-up song where Monica and Brandy's vocals compliment each other well although the melody is a little too sweet for a song about having "a fit and slam[ming] the door." 

That album has a consistent adult contemporary R&B sound--no small feat considering that there are over a dozen producers credited on the album (the most famous being Jermaine Dupree and Missy Elliott).  If anything, the album is almost too similar with many of the songs seeming to blend together on repeated listens.  

It's a quality release from the R&B songstress whose weakest point is that there is very little variety in the album overall.  But what Monica does give us is more mature and in-depth than what can be found in her past releases.  It is definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre but this won't be a crossover hit for the lovely Monica.

Score: 6.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "It All Belongs To Me" (with Brandy) [sample it below] and "Cry"

The Black Seeds Dust And Dirt

The Black Seeds is an eight member dub & funk band from New Zealand that Bret McKenzie (The Flight of the Concords) used to be a member of and is the only band I know of that regularly uses a wood block in their music.

For those of us who aren't Kiwis, The Black Seeds aren't as well known but their previous four studio albums all went Platinum in NZ.  Now let's find out if The Black Seeds are poised to sprout growth in other countries as well.

The album opens with the dark but beguiling "Out of Light" that balances a thumping beat, a spooky melody and restrained vocals to create a very atmospheric track that is more downtempo industrial than pure dub on a track that is easy to be seduced by.

From there the album ventures into a more standard dub music with slightly sinister overtones until the middle of the album when songs like the instrumental jam "Loose Cartilage" bust loose with its 70's style keyboard work, funk guitar riffs and peppy feelings. 

Dust And Dirt ends up being a highly enjoyable and praise-worthy album from the New Zealanders that has it feet firmly planted in dub music but that doesn't prevent the band from expanding their sound into other genres on some tracks.  Hopefully this album helps them grow their audience outside of their home country.

Score: 8.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Out of Light" [sample it below], "Loose Cartilage" and "Cracks In Our Crown"

New Album Reviews - 4/3/2012 - Paul van Dyk, Wilson Phillips, and De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2

Paul van Dyk Evolution

To celebrate twenty years of being one of the best known DJs in the biz, PvD releases his sixth studio album.

Jeez, I really feel old now with the realization that PvD has been around for twenty years.  I remember seeing him live back in mid-to-late 90's when he and DJs like Oakenfold and Tiesto were bringing trance to a more mainstream audience.

This release features guest vocalists like Adam Young (from Owl City) and Plumb, among others, on all but one or two tracks of the disc.  All of the tracks, as you would expect, feature tunes falling mainly in the trance genre.

Overall, it's a decent album from the DJ that will bring bouts of pleasure to both longtime fans and newer ones that are just getting into trance music.  Some of the tracks don't bring a lot of freshness to the genre but the beats are solid, the samples are lively and the guest vocalists are a welcome addition. 

Score: 7.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "I Don't Deserve You" and "A Wonderful Day"

Wilson Phillips Dedicated

Chynna Phillips and Carnie and Wendy Williams are back with an album that covers the hit songs their parents recorded back in their The Beach Boys and The Mommas & The Poppas days. 

Even before listening to the album, I found the concept behind it to be one that was long overdue.

As the daughters of Brian Wilson or of John and Michelle Phillips, I can understand trying to get out from under the long shadows of their famous parents especially in the band's earliest years.  But it has been nearly a quarter of a century since the band began and the ladies are no longer spring chickens so it seems like an apt time to release an homage to their parents' prestiges works.

The band's still sunny vocal harmonies really shine on the majority of the album although the concept of the album is far greater than the execution of it.  Their arrangements of the songs (when the arrangements vary from the originals') show little imagination and turn the tunes into fluffy folk-pop songs.

This might come down to personal preference, but I definitely think the band's unique vocal harmonies work a lot better on The Mommas & The Poppas' songs than on The Beach Boys' songs.

Unfortunately, the overall bland feeling this album leaves you with makes it hard for me to recommend it despite the brilliant and long overdue idea behind it.  If you are interested in picking up a disc of new cover songs, go with the Macy Gray album released last week over this one unless you plan on sharing the album with your own momma and poppa. 

Score: 5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "God Only Knows" and "Monday Monday"

De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present... First Serve

I'm not sure what Maseo (aka Plug 3) has been up to but the other two members of De La Soul, Pos (aka Plug 1) and Dave (aka Plug 2), get back together to release their first collaborative work since the band's 2004 album, The Grind Date.

The album contains 16 topical tracks, three of which are interludes.  At times the progressive hip-hop duo will sample or play homage to bands they have collaborated with in the past like A Tribe Called Quest but this only enhances their sound rather than making it seem dated or derivative.

The overall theme of the album is two musicians whose partnership and friendship are being torn apart by the heartless music industry.  This is actually a giant step of growth for the band whose past albums (specifically Prince Among Thieves) seemed to focus more on the standard ganster-turned-rapper scene and the melodrama that involves rather than telling an overarching opus like they do on this release.  

First Serve is a silky disk that keeps the listener enthralled from start to finish. The two bandmates blend hardcore raps with upbeat piano loops, soaring horns and even the odd harmonica and they manage to make it all sound wonderful.  Even Kanye West would be impressed. 

Score: 8.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "The Work", "Must B the Music" [sample it below] and "Pop Life"

New Album Reviews - 3/27/2012 - Madonna, Macy Gray and Astra

Madonna M.D.N.A.

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

Macy Gray Covered

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"

Astra Black Chord

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]

New Album Reviews - 3/20/2012 - The Shins, The Hunger Games Soundtrack and Esperanza Spalding

The Shins Port of Morrow

The indie pop/rock band from Albuquerque, New Mexico finally release their followup album to 2007's amazing Wincing The Night Away that reached as high as #2 on the U.S. charts. 

Frontman James Mercer takes a break from all of his side projects like Broken Bells to give us a new The Shins album after a nearly five year wait.  Thankfully all his time away from the band hasn't altered his musical sensibilities any giving us an album that is instantly recognizable as a The Shins album.

This 10-track album starts off with a bang with "The Rifle's Spiral" which is a fast tempo ditty full of discordant synthesizer sounds and lyrics that come across as beautiful poetry (You were always to be a dagger floating/Straight to their heart./Listen, now, we won't tell anyone/But you're gonna tell the world) to create a song that immediately draws you in.  

That is followed by the spectacular first single from the album, "Simple Song," which has a super catchy hook that will be a staple on radio stations for months to come. 

The album does lose its direction briefly towards the middle of the disc with a couple of songs like the woeful "September" that are more monotonous and do not showcase the same imagination and creativity as the songs that precede and follow it.  

Overall, Port of Morrow is a fantastic album that can easily stand side-by-side with their 2007 hit album.   The few speed bumps that are present on the album don't prevent this release from being a most delightful ride and one of the highlights so far this year.  

Score: 9/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Simple Song" [sample it below], "Fall of '82" and "Port of Morrow"

Various Artists (Soundtrack) The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond 

The soundtrack to what many are expecting to be one of the biggest movies of the year is released a few days prior to the film's opening.   

I have read Suzanne Collins' fast paced and gripping book that the movie is based upon but not having seen the film yet this will probably be my only chance to give an impartial view on the songs presented to us on the soundtrack since I can't wait to see the movie.  

The film's traditional movie score is released on a separate disc next week while this disc features original songs from the movie featuring a wide range of modern artists like Arcade Fire, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5 and Kid Cudi.  

The album was produced by the legendary Americana musician T-Bone Burnett who won one of his dozen Grammys producing the soundtrack for O' Brother, Where Art Thou? His choice makes more sense for this youth-oriented movie soundtrack once you know the main characters from the book come from the Appalachian area where Americana folk music is still prominent.   

Of the songs presented to us, most have a folk pop sensibility like Neko Case's sweet but somber "Nothing to Remember" and Taylor Swift's beautiful and haunting "Safe & Sound."  Even the normally fast tempo Maroon 5 take a subdued folk approach on their contribution that Adam Levine's vocals handle competently although the melody seems totally out of character for the band.  

It is an odd choice of folk-heavy songs given the age group this type of soundtrack would typically appeal to even though that makes sense in terms of being faithful to the book.  While there are artists that will appeal to the younger set, the music presented won't be to their liking.   

I would recommend this album to fans of artists like T-Bone Burnett but the fans that are most likely to be waiting for the midnight showing of the movie won't find a lot to like on this soundtrack. 

Score: 5.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Safe & Sound" by Taylor Swift (ft. The Civil Wars) [sample it below] and "Rules" by Jayme Dee

Esperanza Spalding Radio Music Society

The bassist and singer who was the first ever jazz musician to win the Best New Artist Grammy just last year (take that Justin Bieber!) releases her followup to that award winning album. 

Before I get into the music itself, one cool thing about this album is that all twelve tracks have accompanying conceptual music videos that are available by digital download or as a separate DVD on the deluxe version of the album.   

The music itself is a jazzier versions of songs you might expect from artists like Jill Scott or Erykah Badu but with blastier horns and more free flowing guitar refrains.  Her vocal tenor and singing style can draw direct comparisons to Scott's. 

Radio Music Society is a solid followup to her breakthrough album although I found it less engaging overall even though there are similarities between the albums.  But her lyrics seem more repetitive on this going and her incorporation of the jazzy touches that made her last album standout so brightly are less original the second time around.   

Score: 7.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Crowned & Kissed" and "Endangered Species"

New Album Reviews - 3/13/2012 - Ting Tings and Brass Bed with Allison Bohl

The Ting Tings Sounds From Nowheresville

The male and female British dance-punk duo finally release the followup to their hit debut album from 2008 that went Platinum in the UK and Ireland.  The album was released in the UK two weeks ago and is available to U.S. customers today.

The band's sophomore release was originally slated for 2010 but after disagreements with their label they trashed that supposedly dance-heavy followup and released this version of the album instead.  Katie White again handles the lead vocal duties in her double-dutch style of warbling while Jules de Martino doing the majority of the instrumentation.

Unfortunately, the band doesn't exhibit much growth on album number two.  While the sound is mostly similar to their debut album; the hooks are less catchy, the guitar riffs are louder but less engaging, and the melodies have a generic 80's new wave feel which makes the tunes seem more dated than fresh.

Interestingly, one of the dance influenced tracks, "One by One," leftover from the original configuration of the album is one of the brightest highlights from the disc while the distinctly lo-fi, chamber pop-sounding "Day to Day" being the other surprising, atypical track.   

Nowheresville ends up being a mostly disappointing followup that frustratingly provides a brief glimpse of the greatness that could have been but instead we get weak sounding tracks that recall their first album but without any of the shine or creativity.

Score: 5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Hit Me Down Sonny" and "One by One" [sample it below]

Brass Bed with Allison Bohl On Nilsson (EP)

The rock quartet from Louisiana had so much fun covering Harry Nilsson songs in concert that they decided team up with Allison Bohl to release an EP of four songs by the great singer/songwriter.

First up on the album is the well known "One (Is The Loneliest Number)" which has a stripped down melody to create a dark, industrial version of the song similar to Trent Reznor's recent cover of Led Zepplin's "Immigrant Song," but with less of the excessive guitar feedback Reznor seems to have fallen in love with in recent years.  

The real gems are the next two songs, "He Needs Me" and "He's Large," both of which were first sung by Shelly Duvall on the Popeye original movie soundtrack and this time around are the two tracks featuring Bohl's vocals whose timber is eerily similar to Duvall's.  The melodies stay pretty true to the original with slightly more post-production work to give the tracks an even greater ethereal feeling. The album's closer is a song Neko Case originally released and made popular titled "Don't Forge Me" which is toned down with lumbering guitar riffs and a slower tempo that turns the song into a depressing country ballad.

The first three songs on the EP are all worth the price of admission (which shouldn't be that costly given the EP barely lasts 15-minutes) although I would have loved if "Don't Forget Me" were replaced by another Nilsson hit like "Everybody's Talking" or "Coconut" as their version of the Neko Case song doesn't really bring anything new to the table while a modern version of "Everybody's Talking" seems long overdue.

The originals are still the better versions but never in my life did I think I would be enchanted by songs with a singer doing her best Shelly Duvall imitation as I was on this release.

Score: 7/10
Song(s) to Sample: "One" and "He Needs Me"