POP-ROCK
CRITIC'S CHOICE
The Rolling Stones could never record another lick and still sell out stadiums with their considerable catalog. But eight years after releasing their last studio CD, 1997's Bridges to Babylon, the boys are back with a bang, proving that they are more than just the world's biggest oldies act. Indeed, with 16 tracks, the Stones' latest is their longest-running disc since their classic 1972 double album Exile on Main St. Even better, it is long on quality. They sound more fired-up than they have in years on bluesy, raw rockers like "Rough Justice" and "Oh No, Not You Again," on which pouty-mouthed frontman Mick Jagger, at 62, still boasts that same sexy swagger. Meanwhile, twangy ballads such as the achingly regretful "Biggest Mistake" demonstrate that the Stones were alt-country before alt-country was cool. Guitarist Keith Richards takes the lead on two songs, including the forlorn "This Place Is Empty," while the Stones take on President Bush on the biting "Sweet Neo Con": "You call yourself a Christian/ I think that you're a hypocrite/ You say you are a patriot/ I think that you're a crock of s—-." After all this time, they can still out-rebel and out-rock the competition.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Rough Justice"
Back Home
POP-ROCK
Everybody knows that Eric Clapton can do blues, but on Back Home—his first album of original material since 2001—Slowhand displays a sure hand with other forms of black music like R&B, reggae and even a bit of gospel. Clapton, who hit No. 1 in 1974 with his cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff," gets back in a reggae riddim with the first single "Revolution" (featuring Bob's son Stephen Marley on percussion). Elsewhere he revisits '70s R&B, putting his own twist on the Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody" and doing a nice turn on Syreeta's "I'm Going Left." And on tracks such as the Vince Gill-cowritten "One Day," he employs gospel-infused backup vocals, proving that soul knows no color.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Revolution"
Plans
ALT-POP
Blame it on The O.C.'s Seth Cohen: Death Cab is no longer one of indie rock's best-kept secrets. The Seattle-based quartet, which became known as the favorite band of Adam Brady's character (they even appeared on the show last April), finally makes its major-label debut after releasing four previous discs. The hail-worthy result is a beautifully woven tapestry of dreamy, downbeat alt-pop. First single "Soul Meets Body" recalls New Order at its most sweetly melancholy, while the Smiths-like jangle-rocker "Your Heart Is an Empty Room" envisions a place "with walls of the deepest blue."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Soul Meets Body"
Hillbilly Deluxe
COUNTRY
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn don't just play the hillbilly card on their calculated new disc, they slam it down on the table like someone in a bad western. The multiplatinum pair scoot their pricey boots honky-tonk style through most of the 13 tracks, typified by the Dunn-Terry McBride romp "Play Something Country," on which they sing about a female bar patron who's "a whiskey-drinkin', cowboy-chasin' hell of a time/I like Kenny, Keith, Alan and Patsy Cline." "I May Never Get Over You," which does have some thoughtful moments, is about as close as the boys get to a ballad. Deluxe this isn't.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Play Something Country"
Herbie Hancock, Possibilities: Pop stars from Carlos Santana to Christina Aguilera sit in with the innovative jazz keyboardist on this genre-defying disc.
Rodney Crowell, The Outsider: Veteran Crowell is still writing intelligent and intensely evocative songs, confirming his high standing in the country-pop community.
Kanye West, Late Registration: The rapper-producer has a few new tricks in his back-pack on this soulful, sumptuous disc that improves on his freshman outing, 2004's The College Dropout.
The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema: Vancouver's naughtily named indie-rock collective reels you in with a versatile cast on trademark high-energy tracks such as the upbeat anthem "Use It."
Toni Braxton
After taking time off to be with her husband, musician Keri Lewis, and their two sons, six-time Grammy winner Toni Braxton, 38, returns with her seventh CD, Libra, on Sept. 27.
ON HER NEW ALBUM'S TITLE I am a Libra, and I'm always trying to find balance in my life between motherhood and my career.
ON IF HER KIDS LIKE HER MUSIC They don't particularly like my singing voice. It's too heavy. When I sing for them, I have to sing in a mousey voice. They like Barney and Elmo.
ON GETTING OLDER I'm very comfortable with my age. Sometimes musicians hit their 30s and people go, "Oh, she's older." But I'm not dead. It's really strange, especially for women. You have to remind people that you're still sexy.
ON BEING DIAGNOSED WITH PERICARDITIS IN 2003 It's scary to have heart disease in my 30s. I realized that I'm a mom and a wife, and I want to be around in my 80s and 90s, so I have to take care of myself.
ON HER FAVRORITE TONI BRAXTON SONG "Breathe Again." When I first heard it, I fell in love.
For information on where to find our Download This picks, go to www.people.com/downloadthis or AOL (Keyword: People)
- Contributors:
- Chuck Arnold,
- Ralph Novak,
- Lisa Ingrassia.
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!
