Shakira
Oral Fixation Vol. 2
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This has been a prolific year for some major artists: Kenny Chesney and System of a Down have both released two CDs, and Ryan Adams is putting out his third disc of 2005 in December. But none of those acts can match what Shakira has done: two albums in two different languages. The Colombian star came out with the Spanish recording Fijación Oral Vol. 1 in June, and now she's back with its English sequel. We knew she was one flexible chica from those belly-dancing moves, but this is something else! Unfortunately, Vol. 2 fails to hook you as much as Vol. 1 or Shakira's English-language debut, 2001's Laundry Service. There's nothing here as totally irresistible—or as rhythmically propulsive—as her hit "Whenever, Wherever" or Vol.1's Latin smash "La Tortura." No doubt she would have been better off releasing a single disc in both English and Spanish versions with the best of Vol. 1 and the best of Vol. 2. In fact, two of the better tunes on Vol. 2, the breezily romantic "The Day and the Time" and the '60s-tinged "Something," are English translations of songs on Vol. 1. Elsewhere, the Alanisesque "Don't Bother" is a good solid pop-rocker and "Illegal," featuring Carlos Santana, is a soulful ballad that shows off the quirky colors of Shakira's voice. But it's just plain strange when she yelps along with a children's choir on "Timor" and adds cheesy jungle noises on "Animal City."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Don't Bother"
HEAVY METAL
The Darkness
One Way Ticket to Hell...And Back
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Great things can come out of creative tension: Just look at Lennon and McCartney. And apparently things got so testy between the members of England's the Darkness while they were making this disc that the band broke up for a while (and changed bassists). Thankfully, these dudes saw the light, because One Way Ticket is one wild, thrilling ride. While other U.K. buzz bands like Franz Ferdinand have looked to '80s new wave for inspiration, this quartet is on a mission to bring back hair metal. Leading the way is frontman Justin Hawkins, a spandexed dynamo with an ear-piercing falsetto reminiscent of Freddie Mercury's. Interestingly, the Darkness worked with former Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker. He gets a lot of pomp (sitar, bagpipes and grand piano!) and power chords out of the group on hook-heavy, arena-ready rockers like "Is It Just Me?" and the title cut, an antidrug anthem to which you just can't say no.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "One Way Ticket"
COUNTRY-POP
Carrie Underwood
Some Hearts
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The fiddle at the beginning of Carrie Underwood's debut album tells you that you can take the gal out of Checotah, Okla., but you can't take Checotah out of the gal. No doubt this disc shows exactly where the American Idol champ's heart is, as she fulfills Simon Cowell's prediction by becoming a credible country-pop artist. Leave the pop-rock to Kelly and the R&B to Fantasia—Underwood carves out her own niche with some help from Nashville players like producer-guitarist Dann Huff and songwriter Hillary Lindsey (both of whom have worked with Faith Hill). Lindsey cowrote the single "Jesus, Take the Wheel," a gospel-tinged story song that Underwood navigates nicely. She also fares well on the nostalgic "Don't Forget to Remember Me" and the bluesy revenge song "Before He Cheats." But "Lessons Learned" shows that Underwood has yet to master the art of nuance; she oversings on overproduced ballads like "I Just Can't Live a Lie." Still, her southern charm shines through, especially on "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore," the only tune she had a hand in writing, where she confesses, "I'd rather be tipping cows in Tulsa than hailing cabs here in New York."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Before He Cheats"
R&B
Chris Brown
Chris Brown
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If Chris Brown has dreams of becoming the next Usher, then the 16-year-old singer is off to a fast start with "Run It!" The song, which raced to the top of the pop and R&B charts, is a thumping, crunked-up clubber in the vein of Usher's monster 2004 hit "Yeah!" Similarly, "Say Goodbye," another highlight of Brown's debut, is a tender breakup ballad reminiscent of "Burn," which Usher also took to No. 1 last year. But while this Tappahannock, Va., native may owe a big chunk of his lunch money to Usher and other past teen heartthrobs like Michael Jackson and Tevin Campbell (whatever happened to him?), he's clearly more than just your average wannabe. From the funky stroll of "Poppin' " to the old-school sweetness of "Young Love," the disc showcases Brown's rich, precociously soulful vocals and a fresh-scrubbed appeal that should win over kiddies and grownups alike.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Run It!"
COUNTRY
Clint Black
Drinkin' Songs & Other Logic
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"If there's a bullet, I can dodge it with a shot of 90 proof," sings Black on the title song of his latest disc. While enjoyable, this really isn't an album of drinking songs. "Longnecks & Rednecks" and "A Big One" are the only other tunes about alcohol. In fact there is more of a cowboy theme. Black has always cultivated the "western" part of what used to be called country and western, and he's obviously comfortable with songs like "Code of the West" and "Undercover Cowboy." His fans will be too.
"DOWNLOAD THIS: "Drinkin' Songs"
ALT-METAL
System of a Down
Hypnotize
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Take it from someone who put this on first thing in the morning: This quartet's hyperagitated attack of ripping guitars, pummeling drums and manic vocals might provide a shock to your system. But on Hypnotize—the second of a two-part metalfest that began in May with Mezmerize—SOAD brings a real musicality to the mayhem with intricate arrangements and interesting dynamics. This is also head-banging with a brain: "Soldier Side," which closes this disc after "Soldier Side-Intro" opened Mezmerize, is a topical reflection on "young men standing on the top of their own graves."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Soldier Side"
>SOUNDS OFF
Parton, 59, covers gems from the '60s and '70s on Those Were the Days, with a little help from friends like Norah Jones and Keith Urban. Here she talks about why she will always love these songs.
"ME AND BOBBY McGEE" I was there when Kris Kristofferson wrote the song with Fred Foster. I don't think that anyone ever will touch Janis Joplin's version of it. But I tried to have some of her flavor without blowing my throat out.
"WHERE DO THE CHILDREN PLAY" Cat Stevens has always been one of my favorite writers and singers. I wore out my 8-tracks of Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat. I knew every song. They were similar to the types of stuff that I wrote and played myself.
"CRIMSON AND CLOVER" It doesn't matter that nobody knows what it means. I just love the sound of it. I sung it years ago in my sets and had always wanted to record a more country version.
"IMAGINE" It's saying imagine one love. I love people, and I wish they could all get along. But I'm not protesting anything.
- Contributors:
- Oliver Jones.
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!
