May 8, 2008
Stephen Layton
French composer Francis Poulenc was once labeled “half hooligan, half monk,” said Joshua Kosman in the San Francisco Chronicle. No matter the genre—chamber music, boulevard songs, oratorios—his music always has a “breezy and devil-may-care” spirit. But only Poulenc would be so daring as to take this approach within “the context of the Catholic liturgy,” as he did with 1959’s “sexy, insouciant” Gloria. On this new disc. . .
French composer Francis Poulenc was once labeled “half hooligan, half monk,” said Joshua Kosman in the San Francisco Chronicle. No matter the genre—chamber music, boulevard songs, oratorios—his music always has a “breezy and devil-may-care” spirit. But only Poulenc would be so daring as to take this approach within “the context of the Catholic liturgy,” as he did with 1959’s “sexy, insouciant” Gloria. On this new disc. . .
May 8, 2008
Madonna
After a couple of spotty recent albums, Hard Candy proves Madonna’s still “master of her domain,” said Glenn Gamboa in Newsday. “Give It 2 Me” could’ve easily been on her debut. On “Voices” she asks, “Who is the master? Who is the slave?” But it’s clear the Material Girl is in charge. I’m not so sure, said Caryn Ganz in Rolling Stone. Though Madonna looks like a dance-floor dominatrix on Hard Candy’s cover. . .
After a couple of spotty recent albums, Hard Candy proves Madonna’s still “master of her domain,” said Glenn Gamboa in Newsday. “Give It 2 Me” could’ve easily been on her debut. On “Voices” she asks, “Who is the master? Who is the slave?” But it’s clear the Material Girl is in charge. I’m not so sure, said Caryn Ganz in Rolling Stone. Though Madonna looks like a dance-floor dominatrix on Hard Candy’s cover. . .
May 8, 2008
Santogold
At first, Santogold seems like an act you’ve seen before, said Leah Greenblatt in Entertainment Weekly. Santi White, who performs as Santogold, shares a few key traits with Sri Lankan pop star M.I.A: a loud wardrobe, a hipper-than-thou attitude, and genre-hopping, globe-trotting musical tendencies. This self-titled debut by the 32-year-old from Philly also features M.I.A.’s producers Diplo and Switch. . .
At first, Santogold seems like an act you’ve seen before, said Leah Greenblatt in Entertainment Weekly. Santi White, who performs as Santogold, shares a few key traits with Sri Lankan pop star M.I.A: a loud wardrobe, a hipper-than-thou attitude, and genre-hopping, globe-trotting musical tendencies. This self-titled debut by the 32-year-old from Philly also features M.I.A.’s producers Diplo and Switch. . .
May 8, 2008
Portishead
After 11 years, Portishead has returned with an album you didn’t even know you were waiting for, said Joshua Alston in Newsweek. Back in the 1990s, amid the grunge rock of Nirvana and saccharine pop of the Spice Girls, the U.K. band established itself with a “trip-hop” style invoking “hip-hop, ’60s film scores, and jazz torch songs in equal measure.” Those days—along with trip-hop’s fans—have all but gone. Yet Portishead’s unimaginatively titled third album, Third, is a welcome return. . . .
After 11 years, Portishead has returned with an album you didn’t even know you were waiting for, said Joshua Alston in Newsweek. Back in the 1990s, amid the grunge rock of Nirvana and saccharine pop of the Spice Girls, the U.K. band established itself with a “trip-hop” style invoking “hip-hop, ’60s film scores, and jazz torch songs in equal measure.” Those days—along with trip-hop’s fans—have all but gone. Yet Portishead’s unimaginatively titled third album, Third, is a welcome return. . . .
May 6, 2008
Can Swedish pop sensation Robyn conquer North America?
“If there were any justice,” said Chris Willman in Entertainment Weekly, “the divas who’ve been trading off the No. 1 slot—Mariah, Madonna, and newcomer Leona Lewis—would also be slugging it out with a platinum-blond dark horse from Scandinavia.” Well, Robyn's “arriving in North America amidst a nest of critical praise,” said Robert Ballantyne in PopJournalism.ca. Her music may not be for everyone, said Jason Anderson in AOL’s blog Eye Weekly. “North American listeners . . .
May 1, 2008
Bennie Maupin
For the past 35 years, Bennie Maupin has been a faithful foot soldier of progressive jazz, said Mark Stryker in the Detroit Free Press. His “sinewy” bass clarinet playing helped to define Miles Davis’ landmark Bitches Brew and he later worked with Herbie Hancock on the keyboardist’s early forays into jazz fusion. Early Reflections finds the multi-instrumentalist in his element, wonderfully expressive and free to delve into the “lush avant-gardism” that makes his playing unique. This album isn’t just a chance for Maupin. . .
For the past 35 years, Bennie Maupin has been a faithful foot soldier of progressive jazz, said Mark Stryker in the Detroit Free Press. His “sinewy” bass clarinet playing helped to define Miles Davis’ landmark Bitches Brew and he later worked with Herbie Hancock on the keyboardist’s early forays into jazz fusion. Early Reflections finds the multi-instrumentalist in his element, wonderfully expressive and free to delve into the “lush avant-gardism” that makes his playing unique. This album isn’t just a chance for Maupin. . .
May 1, 2008
Tokyo Police Club
Elephant Shell is a “first album that feels an awful lot like a second one,” said Nate Chinen in The New York Times. Indie-music fans and bloggers have been buzzing for nearly two years about a full-length album from the Ontario-based post-punk foursome. The long-awaited result lives up to expectations but doesn’t exceed them. As expected, the “driving beats, chiming keyboard. . .
Elephant Shell is a “first album that feels an awful lot like a second one,” said Nate Chinen in The New York Times. Indie-music fans and bloggers have been buzzing for nearly two years about a full-length album from the Ontario-based post-punk foursome. The long-awaited result lives up to expectations but doesn’t exceed them. As expected, the “driving beats, chiming keyboard. . .
May 1, 2008
Frightened Rabbit
With its U.S. debut, Frightened Rabbit tries to pick up the pieces of a broken heart, said Jonathan Trew in the Edinburgh Scotsman. Even the cover art for The Midnight Organ Fight features a sketch of said bodily organ by frontman Scott Hutchinson, whose unabashedly earnest songs try to understand love gone awry. The album is “grounded in the emotional, story-telling ethos” of folk music. . .
With its U.S. debut, Frightened Rabbit tries to pick up the pieces of a broken heart, said Jonathan Trew in the Edinburgh Scotsman. Even the cover art for The Midnight Organ Fight features a sketch of said bodily organ by frontman Scott Hutchinson, whose unabashedly earnest songs try to understand love gone awry. The album is “grounded in the emotional, story-telling ethos” of folk music. . .
May 1, 2008
Billy Bragg
“Gas prices are out of control, the war in Iraq seems endless, recession looms,” and Britain’s most infamous radical rocker responds with a collection of love songs, said Steve Knopper in The Washington Post. Billy Bragg, who built a career as a “Woody Guthrie descendant with a Cockney accent,” breaks a . . .
Apr 30, 2008
Has Madonna become irrelevant?
Warner Bros. released Madonna’s 'Hard Candy' on Tuesday, her 11th studio album. But some critics wonder if the 49-year-old pop icon can maintain her success in today’s youth-dominated music industry. Madonna “must fear irrelevance,” said James Hannaham in Salon, “but if so, her distress signals remain in the subtext.” 'Hard Candy' “actually sounds youthful,” said Steven Mirkin in Variety. Madonna was smart to . . .
Apr 29, 2008
Is Scarlett Johansson’s music video any good?
Actress Scarlett Johansson’s debut music video was released online Tuesday and is receiving mixed reactions from critics. Johansson’s version of “Falling Down” might have been better, said April Macintyre in the blog Monsters and Critics, if “her producer had stepped up the tempo." This video “confirms what we’ve been saying for a while: The album sounds good, people," said Dan Kois and Lane Brown in New York magazine’s blog Vulture. "Of course . . .
Apr 24, 2008
Foals
Antidotes is a “really good” first album but not a great one, said New Musical Express. Britain was buzzing about this quintet from Oxford even before the disc hit the streets: Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis helped things along with preposterous claims that Foals would . . .
Apr 24, 2008
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey has “discovered a formula that works” on E=MC2, said Margeaux Watson in Entertainment Weekly. The pop diva, “whose career was all but dead” less than 10 years ago, has put together “a largely enjoyable mix of flirtatious club jams, midtempo love songs, and emotional ballads.” Gone are the “ridiculously saccharine” titles (Daydream, Butterfly, Rainbow, Glitter) of her past. This album’s feel is most reminiscent of 2005’s Emancipation of Mimi. . .
Mariah Carey has “discovered a formula that works” on E=MC2, said Margeaux Watson in Entertainment Weekly. The pop diva, “whose career was all but dead” less than 10 years ago, has put together “a largely enjoyable mix of flirtatious club jams, midtempo love songs, and emotional ballads.” Gone are the “ridiculously saccharine” titles (Daydream, Butterfly, Rainbow, Glitter) of her past. This album’s feel is most reminiscent of 2005’s Emancipation of Mimi. . .
Apr 24, 2008
Measha Brueggergosman
The solo debut of Measha Brueggergosman truly is a delightful Surprise, said Geoff Brown in the London Times. With her “megawatt smile” and teased coiffure, the 30-year-old soprano looks like an early Roberta Flack. But her sound is less soulful than shimmering and bell-like, “even at the highest extremities.” On Surprise, her “splendidly upholstered” voice and magnetic personality come through on 20th-century, cabaret-style songs from such composers as. . .
The solo debut of Measha Brueggergosman truly is a delightful Surprise, said Geoff Brown in the London Times. With her “megawatt smile” and teased coiffure, the 30-year-old soprano looks like an early Roberta Flack. But her sound is less soulful than shimmering and bell-like, “even at the highest extremities.” On Surprise, her “splendidly upholstered” voice and magnetic personality come through on 20th-century, cabaret-style songs from such composers as. . .
Apr 22, 2008
Are the Replacements reuniting?
Original members of the alternative rock group the Replacements—Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson—hinted recently that the band might be considering a reunion after 17 years apart. Now might be a good time for them to do it, said NME.com. Even if the Replacements do reunite, said David Marek in Paste, “it’s impossible to get the original lineup back together. Drummer Chris . . .
Apr 17, 2008
The Breeders
“Among the Breeders’ charms,” stability has never been their strong suit, said Joan Anderman in The Boston Globe. Ever since the Pixies disbanded and Kim Deal started a new band with her twin, Kelley, the two have been in and out of rehab, and . . .
Apr 17, 2008
Pavel Haas Quartet
A younger generation pays respect to its musical ancestors on this collection, said Peter McCallum in the Sydney Morning Herald. Although this burgeoning Czech string quartet only debuted in 2005, the Pavel Haas Quartet demonstrates a mature knowledge of its country’s 20th-century classical repertoire. The quartet performs the works of its namesake composer along with his mentor, the renowned Leos Janácek. . .
A younger generation pays respect to its musical ancestors on this collection, said Peter McCallum in the Sydney Morning Herald. Although this burgeoning Czech string quartet only debuted in 2005, the Pavel Haas Quartet demonstrates a mature knowledge of its country’s 20th-century classical repertoire. The quartet performs the works of its namesake composer along with his mentor, the renowned Leos Janácek. . .
Apr 17, 2008
Los Campesinos!
Hold on Now, Youngster … encapsulates everything that’s right and wrong with today’s youth, said Jill Menze in Billboard. Fast and frenetic, the debut album from Los Campesinos! races like their information-overloaded minds. A “byproduct of the quote-unquote MySpace Generation,” these kids from Cardiff University in Wales. . .
Hold on Now, Youngster … encapsulates everything that’s right and wrong with today’s youth, said Jill Menze in Billboard. Fast and frenetic, the debut album from Los Campesinos! races like their information-overloaded minds. A “byproduct of the quote-unquote MySpace Generation,” these kids from Cardiff University in Wales. . .
Apr 17, 2008
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
The funereal Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is a morbidly comic sermon with Nick Cave as the dark, demented preacher, said Chris Nashawaty in Entertainment Weekly. The “doomsday prophet in a black three-piece suit” has tweaked the biblical story of Lazarus—whom Cave calls “Larry”—and created a deliciously deviant concept album that is “‘sacrilicious’ comedy gold.” In Cave’s twisted parable. . .
The funereal Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is a morbidly comic sermon with Nick Cave as the dark, demented preacher, said Chris Nashawaty in Entertainment Weekly. The “doomsday prophet in a black three-piece suit” has tweaked the biblical story of Lazarus—whom Cave calls “Larry”—and created a deliciously deviant concept album that is “‘sacrilicious’ comedy gold.” In Cave’s twisted parable. . .
Apr 17, 2008
Akon’s bogus rap sheet
Hip-hop star Akon fabricated details of his criminal past, according to the website The Smoking Gun. “Akon has overdubbed his biography with the kind of grit and menace that he apparently believes music consumers desire from their hip-hop stars.” He isn’t exactly a saint, though, said FoxNews.com. “Last year . . .
Apr 15, 2008
Will Jay-Z ruin Glastonbury?
Hip-hop superstar Jay-Z has been invited to headline England’s Glastonbury Festival this year, and some critics—including Oasis front man Noel Gallagher—aren’t happy about it. “This is nothing Glastonbury has not faced before, said Emily Eavis, co-organizer of the festival, writing in The Independent. But a lot of people still think that the Glastonbury Festival is all about rock, said Rema Rahman in the blog CinemaBlend. “Legions of . . .
Apr 10, 2008
The Raconteurs
The Raconteurs is “a side project that has more intensity and commitment than most proper bands,” said Keith Phipps in The Onion. Considered somewhat of a supergroup—though Jack White is the only “superstar”—the Raconteurs initially seemed like his diversion from the White Stripes. Performing without White Stripes bandmate Meg, Jack could let loose musically. . .
The Raconteurs is “a side project that has more intensity and commitment than most proper bands,” said Keith Phipps in The Onion. Considered somewhat of a supergroup—though Jack White is the only “superstar”—the Raconteurs initially seemed like his diversion from the White Stripes. Performing without White Stripes bandmate Meg, Jack could let loose musically. . .
Apr 10, 2008
Van Morrison
Keep It Simple is at once “nothing special and extraordinarily wise,” said Ben Ratliff in The New York Times. At 62, Van Morrison has mastered his craft. His gruff yet inviting voice remains untarnished and ever expressive, his musicianship impressive. . .
Keep It Simple is at once “nothing special and extraordinarily wise,” said Ben Ratliff in The New York Times. At 62, Van Morrison has mastered his craft. His gruff yet inviting voice remains untarnished and ever expressive, his musicianship impressive. . .
Apr 10, 2008
R.E.M.
With its reputation in doubt, R.E.M. decided to “crank up the amps,” said Hugo Lindgren in New York. R.E.M.’s 14th studio album, 'Accelerate,' finds the band putting the pedal to the metal in the “name of self-preservation.” After drummer Bill Berry left the band in 1997, R.E.M. . . .
Apr 10, 2008
Prince booked to save Coachella?
Pop icon Prince recently signed a $4.8 million deal to headline day two of the ninth annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, according to the blog PerezHilton.com. Supposedly, festival organizer's called on the “Purple Prancer” at the “last minute” to “help bolster flagging ticket sales,” said Metro.co.uk. Well, whatever the reason, it was a smart move, said Jeffrey Mitchell in HollywoodToday.net. “Promoters and fans . . .
Apr 10, 2008
Thomas Adès
Composer Thomas Adès has established a “distinct and indefinable voice” for himself, said Vivien Schweitzer in The New York Times. The 37-year-old composer, who has “long been trumpeted as the next messiah” of British orchestral music. . .
Composer Thomas Adès has established a “distinct and indefinable voice” for himself, said Vivien Schweitzer in The New York Times. The 37-year-old composer, who has “long been trumpeted as the next messiah” of British orchestral music. . .
Apr 3, 2008
Music: Gnarls Barkley
The Odd Couple couldn’t be a more appropriate title for Gnarls Barkley’s second album, said Leah Greenblatt in Entertainment Weekly. Even after their song “Crazy” domineered the airwaves in 2006 and their album St. Elsewhere earned a Grammy, the curious pairing of Cee-Lo Green and DJ Danger Mouse seemed like a lark. This odd couple, however, have “proven surprisingly well-matched.” Their new album doesn’t boast an infectious hit, but it’s “compulsively listenable.” Where St. Elsewhere sneakily planted ruminations about paranoia amid catchy pop music, this album “goes all-out apocalyptic.” The Odd Couple is somber, often haunting, and at times unsettling, said Brett Johnson in the Associated Press. On “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul,” Cee-lo’s . . .
