REVIEWED BY RANDY VEST
COUNTRY
Eleven years into her career, LeAnn Rimes finally joins the ranks of singer-songwriters, cowriting 12 of the 14 songs on this disc. Clearly drawing on her own experiences, she has a knack for transferring down-home imagery into lyrics on contemplative tracks like "What I Cannot Change," but Rimes's efforts are too often overshadowed by arrangements heavy with screeching electric guitars and crashing drums. Fortunately, "One Day Too Long," a horns-driven, back-to-Stax slice of soul, provides some welcome relief.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Pretty Things," a bittersweet nod to Mama's wise words.
Chrome Dreams II |
REVIEWED BY CHRIS STRAUSS
CRITIC'S CHOICE
FOLK-ROCK
Following the fiery political-protest anthems of 2006's Living with War, the 61-year-old rock legend turns his focus inward. Chrome Dreams II finds a positive Young contemplating mortality and spirituality, fitting for a newly qualified AARP member nearly killed by a brain aneurysm two years ago. A throwback to his After the Gold Rush-era material—he seamlessly mixes the fragility of "The Believer" with the searing guitars of "Dirty Old Man"—the album's most transfixing cut is the previously unreleased "Ordinary People," a driving narrative that chronicles human behavior through the prism of various common man types.
Back of My Lac' |
REVIEWED BY ERICKA SÓUTER
R&B
On this debut disc, J. Holiday is clearly taking cues from the R. Kelly school of grooves, delivering his hit "Bed" and the tender "Fatal" with the same sensual charm. While it's enough to earn him bump 'n' grind cred among other R&B heartthrobs, he fails to display a style uniquely his own. He also gets bogged down with too many cliché slow jams. The bluesy "Fallin'" is a nice departure but, while irresistibly sultry, sounds too much like an Usher impersonation.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Suffocate," a silky ballad about infatuation.
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• On the thoroughly enjoyable two-disc collection Goin' Home, artists such as Corinne Bailey Rae, Willie Nelson and Lenny Kravitz offer fresh takes on classics by the rock and roll pioneer.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Magic
After a pair of folk-oriented releases, the Boss reunites with the E Street Band for the first time in five years on this set of crowd-pleasing rock, featuring the rousing, arena-ready standout track "Livin' in the Future."
KT TUNSTALL Drastic Fantastic
On this superior follow-up to her duly acclaimed debut, the lyrically gifted artist revisits, with winning results, the funky folk and rootsy pop that made the Scottish singer-songwriter a critical favorite.
JAMES BLUNT All the Lost Souls
The sensitive troubadour channels '70s-era James Taylor and Elton John, yet proves a true original, particularly on "Same Mistake," which rivals the loveliness of his signature mega-hit "You're Beautiful."
JILL SCOTT The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3
This is without a doubt the sexiest album of the year. The soulful songstress captivates with gems like the sultry "Whenever You're Around" and the rock-tinged "The Real Thing."
• The 26-year-old producer of Britney Spears's 'Gimme More' previews his upcoming projects with everyone from Madonna to Duran Duran
ON WORKING WITH BRITNEY We joke around. She'll chew ice in the booth, so all you hear is crunching on the mic. The songs we did are hard-hitting, darker and sexier. She wants to create things that will constantly have you moving.
ON MARIAH CAREY, THE PRO She came to the studio really dressed, like she was going to the club. She was way cooler than what I thought. One song is 808 [drum machine] driven, but she still did her Mariah thing. I was blown away at how good she sounded. And I think she was sick.
ON BRAINSTORMING WITH DURAN DURAN It was a fun vibe. Everyone—the drummer, the bassist, the keyboard player—dumped ideas into the pot. It's dance clubby with some rock and Simon [LeBon] sounds as good as ever.
ON GIVING MADONNA EDGE The songs are crazy. It's harder with a hip-hop influence but you can still dance to it.
ON MISSY ELLIOTT'S SOFTER SIDE There's hot dance stuff, but she's a whole new person. She's more melodic, but she can still come with raps.
ON SIMPLE PLAN'S COMPLEX SOUND They're groundbreaking, [mixing] rock, pop, R&B and techno without losing focus.
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!
