For better or, mostly, for worse, Cagle is reminiscent of midperiod Hank Williams Jr. On his second album, which debuted at the top of the country chart, he shares Williams's common-man touch on tracks such as the hit first single, "What a Beautiful Day," a somewhat charming account of a romance from day one, a chance meeting, to day 18,253, 50 years later. Unfortunately Cagle also shares Williams's humorlessness and macho strutting on songs like the crass "Chicks Dig It," which encourages reckless driving as a way for young guys to impress girls: "Thought I was Earnhardt/ Drivin' fast but I didn't see the ditch/ Took out a mailbox, then a fence and then a barn/ The police came and called my father/ But I met the farmer's daughter."
Cagle cowrote "Chicks Dig It" and all but two of the disc's other 10 tracks, which are generally short on invention, heavy on the routine. As a singer he has an unschooled, nasal delivery devoid of subtlety. Born in Louisiana but raised in Texas, Cagle captures neither state's essence in his music. Nor does he seem to draw much inspiration from his real-life experience working as an oil-field hand, mechanic, cook, bartender and construction worker. As a result, Cagle's follow-up to his 2000 debut, Play It Loud, is downright sophomoric.
BOTTOM LINE: A not-so-good old boy
Les Nubians (Om Town/Higher Octave)
Critic's Choice
Imagine if Sade had grown up in France and had a singing sister. They might sound a lot like these Paris-based siblings, who showcase a certain je ne sais quoi on this stylish, style-hopping CD. While rooted in the American traditions of jazz, soul and hip-hop, Hélène and Célia Faussart, who are of French-Cameroonian descent, don't stop there, taking listeners on a musical journey from Europe to Africa, from Jamaica to Brazil. Although they sing mostly in French and occasionally in English, their sound is uniquely universal. On the effervescent first single, "Temperature Rising," Les Nubians effortlessly blend a sunny pop melody, sprightly hip-hop beats and their ethereal harmonies. Elsewhere the duo mixes '70s funk with Latin rhythms, lilting reggae with African vocal textures, ambient electronica with oh-so-smooth jazz. It all makes for one enticing pop potpourri.
BOTTOM LINE: Magnifique
The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley, a.k.a. Mr. Biggs (DreamWorks)
R. Kelly has become an honorary Isley Brother. First he contributed three songs to the Isleys' 1996 album Mission to Please; then he wrote and produced their 2001 comeback hit "Contagious." Now the prolific Kelly has written and produced 11 of 12 tracks as well as supplied guest vocals on the Isleys' latest effort in their 48-year career. Not surprisingly, the respectable result sounds like a cross between a Kelly CD and a vintage Isley Brothers disc. One cut, "Showdown Vol. 1," is even a different version of a song that originally appeared on Kelly's latest, Chocolate Factory. At times Body Kiss tries a little too hard to be contemporary, bringing in Snoop Dogg and Lil' Kim for guest raps. But the Isleys, led by Ronald's buttery falsetto, can still do their thing on their trademark slow jams and refreshingly retro midtempo numbers such as "Superstar," which cleverly updates their 1973 hit "That Lady (Part 1)."
BOTTOM LINE: A sound Body
Peter Cincotti (Concord)
Nineteen-year-old jazz singer-pianist Peter Cincotti is a new and improved version of Harry Connick Jr. The precocious Columbia University sophomore is all the singer and twice the piano player Connick is, without all the look-how-cool-I-am attitude. With his fluid vocal and piano style, Cincotti is actually more reminiscent of the great Nat "King" Cole. On this noteworthy debut, he even tips his hat to Cole with a stirring rendition of "Nature Boy," weaving in piano fills that evoke a similarly haunting tune, the Beatles' "Fool on the Hill." Working with Billy Joel's longtime producer Phil Ramone, Cincotti shifts between well-chosen standards like the 1957 Billie Holiday chestnut "Comes Love" and more mediocre original tunes that he co-wrote with his mother, Cynthia (whose amateurish lyrics are a downside). Cincotti even pulls off an ingenious instrumental version of Blood, Sweat and Tears' "Spinning Wheel."
BOTTOM LINE: An artist to get jazzed about
Amanda Perez (Virgin)
On her hip-hop soul debut, Amanda Perez doesn't have to resort to using guest rappers to boost her street cred. The 22-year-old Fort Wayne, Ind., native does double duty as both a singer and rhymer throughout Angel, as well as writing and producing all 12 cuts and playing most of the instruments. Unfortunately, though versatile, Perez doesn't do anything particularly well. Her awkward singing sounds like Jennifer Lopez trying to do a Mary J. Blige imitation; at times she even struggles to stay on pitch. Meanwhile, with her cheesy rapping, Perez, despite all her thuggish posturing, is unconvincing as a girl gangsta (although she previously sold drugs to support herself and her family). While her D.I.Y. approach is certainly admirable, Perez's lackluster writing and production show that she could use some outside help. Only the hit title track, a bitter-sweet ballad written in memory of her cousin Mike, who died of heart failure at 31, really takes off.
BOTTOM LINE: Nothing heavenly
Four hot current clips that will reel you in
JENNIFER LOPEZ, "I'm Glad" J.Lo's dead-on homage to the 1983 cheesefest Flashdance captures all of the film's best moments in 4½ minutes. Plus, unlike Jennifer Beals, the former Fly Girl does all her own hoofing.
CHRISTINA AGUILERA, "Fighter" Madonna's "Frozen" meets Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People" in this spooky, visual-effects-laden video, in which Aguilera gets up-close and personal with some real live moths.
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, "Can't Stop" Giving new meaning to "performance art," this clip is like an exhibit come to life as the Chili Peppers strike poses inspired by the sculptures of Austrian artist Erwin Wurm.
SNOOP DOGG, "Beautiful" This gorgeous video, which was shot on location in Rio de Janeiro, might do more for the country's tourism than Carnivale. Favorite shot: Snoop getting his hair combed by one of the local lovelies.
- Contributors:
- Ralph Novak,
- Chuck Arnold.
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!
