Surprise (2006), was Paul Simon's first album in six years. It was also the first to feature Brian Eno, the father of ambient music, as producer.
In addition to the experimental music for which he is better known, Eno has also produced groups such as Talking Heads, Ultravox and U2.
Simon has not been that prolific of late. Graceland (1986) was probably his last decent studio album, with another three that followed: The Rhythm of the Saints (1990), Songs From the Capeman (1997), and You're the One (2000). None of those three were worth noting.
Eno's hand can be seen on the album, although he doesn’t dominate it. Who could get away with dominating as great a legend as Paul Simon?. But Eno brings a deeper expressiveness to the songs. Simon' can tend to be expressionless in his delivery.
Eno does well in getting the musical arrangements to match the lyrics, which are more topical than usual for Simon. “How Can You Live in the Northeast?” is a post-New Orleans/Hurricane Katrina song: “How can you live in the northeast? / How can you live in the south? / How can you build on the banks of a river / When the flood water pours from the mouth?”
“Outrageous” is odd. It has a happy feel to the music, but the lyrics are about lining pockets at the expense of the poor, the quality of food at schools and so on.
There are some more intimate moments that don’t deal with politics, with subjects including running away from a wedding to find another life (“Another Galaxy”), a biographical sketch (“That's Me”) and the love between a father and his daughter (“Father and Daughter”).
The lyrics of the latter are great: “And though I can't guarantee / There's nothing scary hiding under your bed / I'm gonna stand guard / Like a postcard of a golden retriever / And never leave till I leave you / With a sweet dream in your head.”
Surprise is a bit serious, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s not a bad album, but it’s no great shakes either. Although it won’t generate new fans, existing fans will want to give it a listen.
Great tracks: Outrageous; Father and Daughter
OK tracks: How Can You Live in the Northeast?; Everything About It Is a Love Song; Sure Don’t Feel Like Love; Wartime Prayers; Beautiful; I Don’t Believe; Another Galaxy; Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean; That’s Me
Weak tracks: None
Brit Jim Noir does all his own writing, composing, vocals, instruments and programming, which already sets him apart. But what really establishes his eccentricity is the fact that his music is almost a return to the the 1960s, with a sound not entirely unlike that of The Zombies and Herman's Hermits.
Even some of the song titles sound like they came from the '60s (compare "I Me You I'm Your" with The Beatles' "I Me Mine", for example).
Noir (whose real name is Alan Roberts) released three EPs, Eanie Meany (2004), My Patch (2005) and A Quiet Man (2005), before creating his first full-length CD, Tower of Love (2005). The debut is not really a debut in the true sense of the word, as it is merely a re-release of the nine tracks from the EPs, with only three new songs into the mix.
Noir's vocal delivery perfectly suits the psychedelic feel of the music, which has an ethereal, mellow feel to it. But it's generally an optimistic album, sometimes naively so. Just listen to “Turn Your Frown Into a Smile”, with harmonies reminiscent of some of The Seekers' work, while "Eanie Meany" sounds a little like The Byrds at their most psychedelic.
But at the same time, the songs are relevant. "Computer Song" is a case in point.
It's a quirky album, but in the enjoyable sense. Sometimes there's a bit of humour, as in "In the Key of C"
Great tracks: My Patch; I Me You I'm Your; In the Key of C; Turn Your Frown Into a Smile
OK tracks: Computer Song; How to Be So Real; Eanie Meany; Tower of Love; Turbulent Weather; A Quiet Man; Eanie Meany 2; The Only Way
Weak tracks: None
South African singer-songwriter Natalie Chapman is impressive. An independent artist, she self-released her debut album, Between the Lines (2006).
Three years of fund-raising and work paid off. Between the Lines is a pleasing CD with 10 original songs, mainly acoustic folk and rock ballads. Her single, “Are You Coming Home?”, reached the second spot on OFM’s Top 20 and was played on several stations
The single is an acoustic guitar-backed track reminiscent of Shania Twain, right down to Chapman’s voice, particularly on the chorus. It’s a song about splitting up: “And are you coming home? / Will I see you in the morning? / Can we make a new start? / And will you heal my breaking heart?”
Chapman has an exquisite voice. At times, like on “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”, her vocals are perfect jazz, while “For a Moment”, showcases the suitability of her voice for moving ballads.
When I was writing for a magazine, Chapman told me that her writing had been heavily influenced by “the soul that is Tracy Chapman”.
“I was brought up on everything from The Doors and Pink Floyd to Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder, Depeche Mode, Guns and Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Prince and many more,” she says. “I love to dance, but find that when I write my own songs, ballads just flow out of me.”
And beautiful ballads
they are. “I Dreamed of You Last Night” is delivered with a melancholy feeling
that is almost tangible. “I love to sing this song,” said Chapman. “It is very
dramatic and I love the Spanish guitar. It soars for me and the climax moves
me. It is also a great song to listen to when you are angry with your man.”
Great tracks: Are You Coming Home?; Nobody’s Fault But Mine; Living and Loving; I Dreamed of You Last Night; With You and Me
OK tracks: Between the Lines; For a Moment; The Other Side; A New Life
Weak tracks: Eshwin’s Song
Panic! At the Disco’s A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out (2005) was a stunning debut for the Las Vegas group. Of course, guitarist Ryan Ross and drummer Spencer Smith have been playing together since they were 12, which goes some way to explain why the playing is so tight.
The group sounds quite a bit like Fall Out Boy, especially when it comes to Brendon Urie's vocals, which sometimes (not all the time) remind me of Patrick Stump. It’s no coincidence. After all, it was Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz who discovered them and introduced them to their record label.
The extremely long titles of the songs on the album are eccentric. Just consider “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage”, “Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off” and “There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought Of It Yet”.
The humour also often appears in the lyrics, although sometimes the lyrics can be biting. In “I Write Sins, Not Tragedies”, where Urie sings: “'What a beautiful wedding! What a beautiful wedding!' says a bridesmaid to a waiter / ‘And yes, but what a shame, what a shame, the poor groom's bride is a whore.' / I'd chime in with a ‘Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?!'”
The songs are generally energetic and catchy, and the quirkiness
found throughout is refreshing.
Great tracks: The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage; London Beckoned Songs About Money Written By Machines; Camisado; Time To Dance
OK tracks: Nails For Breakfast, Tacks For Snacks; Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off; Intermission; But It's Better If You Do; I Write Sins Not Tragedies; I Constantly Thank God For Esteban; There's A Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought Of It Yet
Weak tracks: Build God, Then We'll Talk
Overall rating: 63% (The 0:37 “Introduction” was not included in the calculation)
Australian group Men At Work had a short-lived career in the 1980s, releasing only three studio albums. But their debut, Business As Usual (1981, 1982 in the US), generated some very popular international hits, some of which, like “Down Under”, are still well known today.
Business As Usual was not only the first of the group’s three albums, but also the best. Neither Cargo (1983) nor Two Hearts (1985) came close to the quality of this record.
The disc kicks off with “Who Can It Be Now?”, which was a smash hit for Men At Work. It’s a fun track that tells you upfront that this is not a serious group – it’s all about entertainment rather than cerebral material.
“Down Under” (see video below) is a tremendous track about a proud Australian travelling the world. It was so popular that several groups, including Pennywise and Funeral Dress have subsequently covered it. It’s a great song and no wonder that most people identify the group by it.
“Helpless Automation” is a fast-paced track that is another highlight if only because it is so unusual.
“Be Good Johnny” is also a fun song, about a strange boy who promises to obey “every golden rule” but doesn’t play cricket or football, preferring to dream “all the day long”.
“Down By the Sea” is a slow but interesting song, in terms of musical form and lyrical subject.
Overall, Business As Usual is a good album, and quite different from much of
the music of the time. It’s just a pity the group never managed to replicate
its quality on subsequent albums.
Great tracks:
Who Can It Be Now?; Down Under; Helpless Automaton; Be Good Johnny
OK tracks: I
Can See It In Your Eyes; Underground; People Just Love to Play With Words;
Touching the Untouchables; Down By the Sea
Weak tracks: Catch a Star
Personal note: This was the first original album I owned. At my request, a great aunt bought it for me for Christmas 1981 (I had just turned 13 that month). It was on a cassette, and I seem to remember the cassette cover being the same as the CD cover, but light blue. I don't know whether my memory is wrong on that. In any case, in later years I replaced the cassette with a CD.
I love Bob Marley’s music, and I also love mellow bossa nova, so when I received a copy of Bossa n’ Marley: The Electro-Bossa Songbook of Bob Marley (2005), I was intrigued.
The CD consists of 12 songs written by the reggae legend, but transformed, as the name implies, into bossa nova pieces performed by various artists including the likes of Amazonics, Urban Love, Michelle Simonal, and Anakelly, among others. One person you don’t hear is Marley himself.
The songs are mostly soft, gentle pieces, with lyrics that are seductively delivered in a half-whisper. The melodies are true to what Marley wrote, even though sung more slowly and over a bossa nova rhythm. Some songs, however, are a little more up-tempo and with a slightly harder electro beat, such as “Buffalo Soldier” and “One Love”, but these are few and far between.
Despite the different artists involved, there is a unity to the album’s sound that is pleasing. There is no detail in the liner notes as to whether the female vocalist on each track is the same person, but the vocals certainly sound like that is so.
Every track is enjoyable and the CD is a
fantastic way to wind down. But if you're a Marley purist and you don't like bossa nova, this isn't for you.
Great tracks:
Redemption Song; No Woman No Cry; I Shot the Sheriff; Stir It Up; Is This Love;
Could You Be Loved
OK tracks: Buffalo Soldier; Sun Is
Shining; Positive Vibration; Get Up Stand Up; One Love; Waiting in Vain
Weak tracks: None
Capercaillie, a Celtic music group from Scotland, recorded its first album, Cascade in 1984. The group is still extant, and is overdue to release its 14th studio album, Call It a Day.
Capercaillie has done much to popularise traditional Gaelic songs by giving them a modern twist. Much of the group’s popularity is also due to the great vocal performances of Karen Matheson.
Not all of the songs are sung in Gaelic, however. Many are in English, and the group often also includes instrumentals on the albums.
The Blood is Strong (1988) was Capercaillie’s third studio album. It was reissued in 1995 with six additional tracks. The version I have is the 1995 reissue.
The CD is different from others in that it has no English songs, which is partly why this is my favourite Capercaillie album. I think if you are going to do Celtic music any justice, it has to be sung in a Celtic language. Not that I mind the English songs – it’s just that Gaelic suits this genre better.
Most of the songs are soft and slow, the music quite haunting. And Matheson’s voice is at its best too, just beautiful – you simply have to hear her on “An Gille Ban”, “An t-Eilean Mu Thuath” and “Aignish”. Exquisite.
It’s a more atmospheric album than most Capercaillie CDs. This is because it consists of tracks written specially for TV series, namely “The Blood Is Strong”, “A Prince Among Islands” and “Highlanders”. As a result, there are also many more instrumentals – 11 out of 25 tracks – than on other albums.
If you buy just one Capercaillie album, let
it be this one.
Great tracks:
An Gille Ban; An t-Eilean Mu Thuath; Gun Teann Mi Ris Na Ruinn Tha Seo
(Remembrance); Aignish; Oh Mo Dhuthaich; Cumha Do dh'Uilleam Siosal; Alasdair
Mhic Cholla Ghasda; Lordship Of The Isles; 's Fhada Leam An Oidhche Gheamhraidh;
Fear A Bhata
OK tracks: Domhnall
(Black Donald); Fagail Bhernaraidh (Leaving Berneray); The Lorn Theme; Moladh
Bdearnaraidh (In Praise Of Berneray); The Hebrides; Arrival Theme; Iona Theme; Calum's
Road; Dean Cadalan Samhach; Grandfather Mountain; Arrival Reprise; An
Ataireachd Ard; Downtown Toronto; Maideanan Na h-Airidh
Weak tracks: Callinish, Picts, Celts; Colum Cille
Cream’s reunion concert at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2005 was a highly significant event, one that might be underestimated by a younger generation unfamiliar with one of the icons of 1960s psychedelic rock.
Cream existed for a very short while – from 1966 to 1968, to be precise – and yet it sold more than 15 million albums and had a profound influence on the progressive rock and metal groups of the 1970s. Of the three members of the group – Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce – Clapton is the best known, having had a very successful post-Cream career.
For those of us who could not be at the 2005 reunion concert, the double live album, Royal Albert Hall, London May 2-3-5-6 2005 (2005) is a good consolation.
Even though the group disbanded 37 years before the concert, the trio’s performance was still up to par. Just listen to Baker’s eight-minute drum solo on “Toad” to be convinced. Aged 65 at the time, he performs with a skill and energy that many 25-year-olds would be hard pressed to imitate. And Clapton, despite disappointing with some rather mediocre guitar-playing on recent albums recently, displays his old form, especially on tracks like “Sunshine of Your Love”, “N.S.U.”, “Sleepy Time Time” and “Crossroads”.
The memorable hits, “Spoonful”, “Sunshine of Your Love”, “White Room”, “Badge” and “Crossroads” are all here. So are more obscure songs, including the very odd “Pressed Rat & Warthog”, recited by Baker. Strangely absent are “Tales of Brave Ulysses” and “Strange Brew”. Why they were excluded is beyond me.
That flaw aside, the
double disc is brilliant.
Great tracks:
Spoonful; N.S.U.; Badge; Rollin’ and Tumblin’; Deserted Cities of the Heart; Born
Under a Bad Sign; Crossroads; Toad; Sunshine of Your Love
OK tracks:
I’m So Glad; Outside Woman Blues; Pressed Rat & Warthog; Sleepy Time Time; Politician;
Sweet Wine; Stormy Monday; We’re Going Wrong; White Room; Sleepy Time Time
(Alternate)
Weak tracks:
None
Californian rapcore group P.O.D. has certainly gained a large following over the years since its formation in 1992. And its success is evidenced by the fact that P.O.D. is a multi-platinum group.
Testify (2006) was the group’s sixth studio album, if you exclude excluding the two EPs, The Warriors EP (1999) and The Warriors EP Volume 2 (2005). It was also the fourth major-label album.
Testify was the first P.O.D. major-label album not to be produced by Howard Benson, and was also the last to feature guitarist Jason Truby, who left the group at the end of 2006.
The album is notable for the collaboration with Jewish reggae and dancehall musician Matisyahu on two songs, “Roots in Stereo” and “Strength of My Life”. Matisyahu adds a great element to the tracks.
Other guest appearances include Boo Yaa Tribe and Psycho Realm.
But the best song on the CD is “Lights Out”, a heavy rapcore song with forceful guitar chords and aggressive vocals. Another highlight is “Sounds Like War”, a song in the vein of the first mainstream album, The Fundamental Elements of Southtown (1999), which begs to be played very loudly.
But not everything on the album is rapcore. P.O.D. was experimenting with different things on the CD. “Goodbye For Now”, for example, starts off like a hip-hop song before moving to an orchestral finale with powerful vocals from Katy Perry. “On the Grind”, which features Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. and Sick Jacken from Psycho Realm, is mellow hip-hop, while “This Time” is more of a soft rock song.
“Let You Down” is a disappointment. It is pop rock that just does not sound like P.O.D, while “If You Could See Me Now” is notable for its weak vocal delivery and disjointed music.
It’s not P.O.D.’s best
album, but it’s acceptable.
Great tracks: Roots in Stereo; Lights Out; Sounds Like War;
Mistakes & Glories; Say Hello
OK tracks: Goodbye For Now; On the Grind; This Time; Teachers;
Strength of My Life; Mark My Words
Weak tracks: If You Could See Me Now; Let You Down
The Streets is not a group, as the name might imply, but rather one person – English rapper Mike Skinner.
At the time of writing, The Streets has released three albums, of which The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living (2006) is his third. The previous two were Original Pirate Material (2002) and A Grand Don’t Come For Free (2004). All three have done very well in the UK charts.
Even though Skinner is from Birmingham, he fakes a Cockney accent on his albums. Although he has taken some flak for that, really – who cares? It sounds good and his raps work, even though the accent does take some getting used to if all you know is American hip-hop.
The subject matter of Hardest Way is not always something I can relate to – much of it is about the life of a celebrity. But it still makes a good listen, primarily because of the excellent wit displayed. And not everything is about fame – it does also deal with things like the differences between the UK (“Two Nations) and the US, and even personal matters like the death of Skinner’s father (“Never Went to Church”).
The most amusing track on the CD is “Can’t Con an Honest John”, which is a kind of “Idiot’s Guide to Pulling off a Scam”. It’s really fantastic.
On the opposite end of the scale is “Memento Mori”. Not only is the melody line weak, but I really do not want to have Latin in my hip hop – “Memento mori, memento mori / It's Latin and it says we must all die,” Skinner raps. It sounds like a school Latin lesson, not entertainment.
It’s a fun album. The music is OK, nothing
special, but the lyrics are worth listening to.
Great tracks:
The Hardest Way
to Make an Easy Living; Can’t Con an Honest John; When You Wasn’t Famous; Two
Nations
OK tracks:
Prangin Out; War of the Sexes; All Goes out the Window; Hotel Expressionism; Never
Went to Church; Fake Streets Hats
Weak tracks:
Memento Mori
Recent Comments
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Scotty said:
Excellent! Thanks for the link! read more
on Panic! At The Disco: A Fever You Can't Sweat Out -
forindie said:
"Nine in the Afternoon" premiered on mtvU this week. Amazing video: http://www.mtvu.com/music/video_premiere/panic_at_the_disco/ read more
on Panic! At The Disco: A Fever You Can't Sweat Out -
Alasdair Stuart said:
There you go, Purple PEZ! As requested, and with permission, here are two Skincage songs. Le me know what you... read more
on Skincage: Hush? -
Alasdair Stuart said:
I'll try to get permission from the lead singer. Watch this space! read more
on Skincage: Hush?
Links
Audiophile SA - Music Revie...
A must for lovers of music, all ages and tastes.
Indeed, and thank you for the heads-up! read more
on Panic! At The Disco: A Fever You Can't Sweat Out