TEEN POP
Despite the ginormous success of the High School Musical soundtracks, none of the cast members who have released solo albums has seemed poised for pop mega-stardom. Not Ashley Tisdale, not Corbin Bleu and not Vanessa Hudgens, who, at 19, is held back in tween territory on her second album. She seems to be operating with the Disney police watching for fear that she turn into a Pussycat Doll. Even when Hudgens tries to add a little flavor to the bubblegum with dashes of hip-hop and R&B, it's bland enough to keep Mickey happy.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Identified," a bubbly synth-pop dance track
Seeing Sounds |
CRITIC'S CHOICE
ALT HIP-HOP
N.E.R.D.—the genre-defying group consisting of Neptunes producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, as well as Shae Haley—creates an ear-opening collage of musical styles on Seeing Sounds. Although not as visionary as their now-classic debut, 2002's In Search Of ..., the trio's third album has no shortage of must-hear moments. Most sensational is the dizzying single "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)," about party girls powdering their noses with more than makeup. It's one of several tracks on which these dudes rock it like the Beastie Boys 2.0. Elsewhere they incorporate punk and Princely funk, jazz and Latin beats, while "Sooner or Later" is a Beatles-by-way-of-Tears-for-Fears ballad. Sure, the laughable "Love Bomb" shows that their lyrics leave something to be desired. But for N.E.R.D., it's all about the sounds.
Forgiven |
POP-ROCK
Los Lonely Boys, who won a Grammy in 2005 for their hit "Heaven," show they still know their way to pop paradise on their third studio disc. The brothers Garza—Henry, JoJo and Ringo—smoothly integrate pop, rock, blues, country and Tex-Mex sounds into a breezy blend perfect for summer chilling. Highlights include the soulful "Love Don't Care About Me" and the remorseful title track, on which they make bittersweet harmony.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Staying with Me," the Santana-esque first single
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If you can't make it to New Orleans for the annual R&B fest starting July 4, EMF, Volume 1 (available only at Wal-Mart) with Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige and Chris Brown is the next best thing.
JOURNEY Revelation
Having discovered a Steve Perry soundalike, Arnel Pineda, on YouTube, the classic rockers rev up the nostalgia with a two-CD set (plus a DVD). But did they really need to rerecord all their hits with Pineda on one disc?
THREE 6 MAFIA Last 2 Walk
These rappers return with some serious bragging rights, having won the Best Original Song Oscar for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" in 2006. But, though solid, their new CD is unlikely to score them a Grammy.
THE OFFSPRING Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
The SoCal punks are definitely on the rise again thanks to their pile-driving hit "Hammerhead." They keep letting it rip on hook-heavy rockers like "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid."
AMOS LEE Last Days at the Lodge
Three albums in, this soulful singer-songwriter—still one of pop's best-kept secrets—has perfected the art of rootsy rainy-day music, soaking in blues, folk, country and gospel, as well as some Bill Withers-style R&B.
The soulful chanteuse, 20, hit No. 1 in the U.K. with her debut, 19, recently released in the U.S.
ON THOSE AMY WINEHOUSE COMPARISONS It's a complete compliment. I think she's great. We've both got big voices, and we're both from London. But she's the size of my thigh! And I don't do drugs. I'm scared of them.
ON BEING FULL-FIGURED I'm overweight, but I don't care. The British press makes sly remarks [about my weight] sometimes. Blogs mainly. But I don't care what some 12-year-old boy thinks in his bedroom.
ON HER DREAM MAN Colin Firth's my ideal man. I think it's 'cause he's Darcy in Bridget Jones. He's charming and very British. I want a British husband, but I would go with Justin [Timberlake] if he wanted me.
ON HER FIRST BIG SPLURGE I bought a Burberry bag for, like, [$800]. I used to sweat when I was buying a [designer] bag. The price is ridiculous. But now I'm given bags. It's great!
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!
