CRITIC'S CHOICE
R&B-POP
It must be something in the water: Following Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse and, more recently, Estelle, Duffy is the latest retro-soul chanteuse to emerge from the U.K.'s deep talent pool. The Welsh singer (full name: Aimee Ann Duffy) has already hit No. 1 in the U.K. with her smashing debut, which arrives in the States two months after being released overseas. You couldn't ask for a much better introduction than "Mercy," the first U.S. single. A '60s-girl-group throwback grooving with a "Stand by Me"-style bass line, it's the kind of knockout song that "Rehab" was for Winehouse. Other highlights include the bluesy "Hanging On Too Long" and the bittersweet "Delayed Devotion." While Duffy's torchy, tangy vocals are sometimes reminiscent of Winehouse's, she's more like the second coming of Dusty Springfield.
VYP: Voice of the Young People |
RAP
There hasn't been much to brag about from female rappers lately, so Lil Mama's arrival on the scene last summer with the popping hit "Lip Gloss" gave hip-hop a much-needed boost of estrogen. While there's nothing else as sparkling as "Lip Gloss" on this 18-year-old's debut, there's still more B-girl fun to be had on tracks like "Shawty Get Loose" (featuring Chris Brown and T-Pain), another Top 10 single. But when Lil Mama aims for a higher meaning on cuts like "Stand Up," she comes up short.
Narrow Stairs |
ALT-ROCK
The ghost of Joy Division seems to have inhabited Death Cab for Cutie on "I Will Possess Your Heart," the haunting highlight of their new album. Over a goth groove that stretches out to eight-plus minutes, lead singer Ben Gibbard sounds almost demonic, warning, "You reject my advances and desperate pleas/ I won't let you let me down so easily." There are plenty of other shades of black on Narrow Stairs, from "No Sunlight," which sets its bleak lyric against a relentlessly peppy beat, to the self-loathing "You Can Do Better Than Me."
Lady Antebellum |
COUNTRY
They've opened for everyone from Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride to Alan Jackson. Now, on this trio's debut CD, they don't have to play second fiddle. Lady Antebellum steps up with a likable effort that sometimes brings to mind Sugarland and Little Big Town, two other coed country groups. They're certainly versatile, incorporating rock, pop and soul influences, while Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley trade off on lead vocals. Though it's all pleasant enough, only a few songs (like the buoyant "Love's Lookin' Good on You") are truly memorable.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Love Don't Live Here," the snappy hit single
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OTIS REDDING, "I've Been Loving You Too Long" It's so honest. Love is something way out of your control.
GLEN CAMPBELL, "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" It's the imagery: a phone [that] keeps ringing. You can imagine it.
MGMT, Oracular Spectacular I really fancy the lead singer. He's just so cute.
TOKIO HOTEL Scream
If the Jonas Brothers were hotel-room-trashing headbangers, they might sound like these German teen rockers, two of whom are identical twins. Their English-language debut should have the fräuleins screaming.
CRAIG DAVID Trust Me
This Brit hasn't made much noise in the States since his 2001 debut, Born to Do It. But this smooth R&B-pop set, highlighted by the ballads "Awkward" and "Officially Yours," shows that he still deserves props.
MUDCRUTCH Mudcrutch
Tom Petty reunites with his pre-Heartbreakers band (also including HBs Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench) to finally record their debut. And the rootsy result, digging into country and blues, feels like a real labor of love.
SANTOGOLD Santogold Rolling Stone tapped this Brooklynite as one of "10 Artists to Watch" last fall. It's easy to hear why: Her debut CD offers a fresh mix of electronica, reggae and pop-punk, conjuring up a cross between M.I.A. and No Doubt-era Gwen.
This MySpace phenom, 21, has notched a debut CD, Don't Look Away, a role on One Tree Hill and a tour with Natasha Bedingfield starting May 21.
THE WHITEST LIGHT They're an awesome unsigned band who ended up opening for us. Their songs are really catchy and they have so much energy. "Miracle" is a really fun one.
PADDY CASEY He's from Ireland and reminds me of David Gray. Great rainy-day music, really unique voice.
AMY KUNEY I stumbled into an L.A. lounge she was playing at. She totally worked it! She's like Fiona Apple and Sarah McLachlan. An amazing lyricist.
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY They're an unbelievable instrumental band. When I need to chill out on tour, I paint, and I always listen to Explosions in the Sky when I'm painting.
BRANDON WHYDE I discovered him when I was playing side stage for Jack Johnson in Indianapolis while I was a freshman at Miami University of Ohio. He's kind of Bob Dylanish or Paul Simonish.
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!
