REVIEWED BY CHUCK ARNOLD
CRITIC'S CHOICE
HIP-HOP
Timbaland has been so busy producing hits for everyone from Justin Timberlake to Nelly Furtado that it's a wonder he had any time to record this, his hot second solo album. With guest artists like 50 Cent, Missy Elliott and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger featured on all but one track, though, it's not really a solo project. In fact, Timbaland, rapping and doing what he passes off as singing, barely makes a cameo on some of these songs, while on a couple of cuts he doesn't appear at all. No matter, his presence is always felt behind the boards, where it counts. Some of it is what you have come to expect: "Give It to Me," featuring Furtado and Timberlake, is one of his trademark tribal grooves, and "Release," one of two other tunes with JT, brings back the futuristic funk of "SexyBack." But Timbaland is still full of sonic surprises, getting his rock on with the Hives and Fall Out Boy. Even he, though, can't make the collaboration click with Elton John on "2 Man Show."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Scream"
Elliott Yamin
R&B-POP
An unassuming appeal and a genuinely soulful voice that could make Paula Abdul weep helped Elliott Yamin go all the way to a surprising third-place finish in last season's American Idol. Yamin doesn't disappoint the fans who voted for him with his self-titled debut, which plays to the old-school R&B strengths he demonstrated on the Idol stage. On cuts like the jazzy opener "Movin' On" and the socially conscious "Find a Way," he shows his love for Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway. But Yamin is less convincing when he attempts to bring his sound into the 21st century on tracks such as the hip-hop-inflected slow jam "Wait for You," on which he comes off like just another Usher wannabe.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Find a Way"
Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge
ALT-POP
Allison and Catherine Pierce make for an alluring sister act on their new album, which finds the Alabama-bred duo spinning stories about the bitter and sweet sides of love. On "Lights On," a breezy slice of come-hither pop, they revel in the joy of sex, having some kinky fun: "Here's my dress to try on baby/Let me be your man." But on another highlight, the folky ballad "Ruin," they turn their seductive harmonies to a revenge fantasy: "This is the first day of many years of sorrow/You won't forget my name/But I'll forget your face tomorrow." Musically, the Pierces are just as hard to pin down, going from the spooky waltz of the opener "Secret" to the belly-dance beats of the Shakira-esque "Lies."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Ruin"
Sound of Silver
ELECTRONICA
The Grammy-nominated single "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" had LCD Soundsystem rocking many cribs—and clubs—in 2005. Now LCD—the one-man outfit of producer, remixer and deejay James Murphy—is back with a second disc that has plenty of pulsating beats but lacks real heart. Opener "Get Innocuous!," which unfortunately is accurately titled, sets the chilly tone for these nine tracks. Things pick up on the punkish, Bowie-tinged "North American Scum," while the synth-poppy "Someone Great" matches its melancholy mood to the album's best melody. But after all the cool blips and bleeps, it takes "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down," a piano-based ballad that closes the CD, to breathe some real life into things.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Someone Great"
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Check out these essential tracks from his 13 years of producing:
AALIYAH "Are You That Somebody?" (1998)
JAY-Z "Big Pimpin'" (1999)
AALIYAH "Try Again" (2000)
MISSY ELLIOTT "Work It" (2002)
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE FEATURING T.I. "My Love" (2006)
MISSY ELLIOTT "Get Ur Freak On" (2001)
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE "Cry Me a River" (2002)
NELLY FURTADO FEATURING TIMBALAND "Promiscuous" (2006)
JAY-Z "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" (2003)
Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion
At turns bringing to mind Freddie Mercury, George Michael and the Scissor Sisters, this Beirut-born, London-based singer-songwriter breathes refreshing Life into pop music on his animated debut.
James Morrison, Undiscovered
This 22-year-old Englishman arrives Stateside with a brand of bluesy pop that paints him as the British answer to John Mayer. Best of all is his soul-kissed single "You Give Me Something."
Martina McBride, Waking Up Laughing
McBride demonstrates that she has mastered the art of conversational singing on this intimate set. On cuts like "I'll Still Be Me," she's like a friend speaking to you artfully and intelligently.
Alabama, Songs of Inspiration II
Like last year's Songs of Inspiration, this is an uncluttered, understated collection of Christian songs such as "Down by the Riverside."
Ne-Yo
In addition to releasing his second CD, Know Me, on May 1, the R&B star, 27, has been tapped to work on the comeback discs by Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Britney Spears.
ON MICHAEL JACKSON "As of now it's just about finding the time to do it. This is beyond huge. The man is responsible for my whole sound. I'm looking forward to meeting him. I heard that he's an interesting guy—to say the least."
ON WHITNEY HOUSTON "Let me tell you, I've heard Whitney. Vocally it's like she never left. When she comes out with her new music, everyone is going to be happy to see that she got it back together, that the diva is back!"
ON BRITNEY SPEARS "I've heard a lot of Britney's new music and she definitely [can] come back. When she brings back what's familiar to people she'll be all right."
JACK INGRAM This Is It: While the country singer's aw-shucks tone on songs like "Measure of a Man" seems disingenuous, there's honest affection in "Maybe She'll Get Lonely." And "Easy as 1,2,3 (Part II)" has a contagious energy. The highlight: "Hold On," a poignant duet with Sheryl Crow.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Hold On"
MARQUES HOUSTON Veteran: At 25, this R&B singer is indeed an old pro, having begun his recording career as a tween in the group Immature. He brings a newfound maturity to his third solo CD, a solid if unspectacular set of smooth soul that will please ladies of all ages.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Always & Forever"
VARIOUS ARTISTS Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire: This loving tribute shows how important EWF was to a generation that grew up on them. Neo-soulster Musiq Soulchild channels Philip Bailey's falsetto on "Reasons," while gospel star Kirk Franklin turns "September" into a rousing celebration of faith.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "September"
David Cassidy
Come on, get happy and dust off that Tiger Beat poster. On the new CD David Cassidy Part II: The Remix, the former Partridge Family idol, 57, revamps his hits to a dance beat.
ON MIDDLE-AGED FANS It's so wonderful to know that you've impacted their lives. Katie Couric walked up to me and, as fast as she could, [sang] "I Think I Love You." She did at least three or four [Partridge Family] songs like that.
ON HAVING A TEENAGE SON The acid test for me was playing the [new CD] for my 16-year-old son [Beau] and his friends. I put on "I'll Meet You Halfway," which is one of my favorites, and told them, "If you don't like it, just say so. Be honest." They turned to me and said, "Wow, Mr. Cassidy, that's really cool!"
ON HIS ADVICE FOR CURRENT TEEN IDOLS Today people don't care how they become famous. It's the Paris Hilton syndrome. What does she do? Well, she doesn't really do anything except go to nightclubs. For me it was always about the work.
ON HIS HIGH HORSE AMBITIONS I have a very small breeding operation, but in 2006 I was No. 56 in North America. My dream is one day I'll breed a horse that ends up in the [Kentucky] Derby.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
