REVIEWED BY ANTOINETTE Y. COULTON
POP
Nearly 15 years after disbanding, New Kids on the Block's comeback offers few surprises while delivering on the nostalgia with their trademark sweet harmonies. Their first single "Summertime" is a scoop of pop confection. The guys really shine when pairing up with guest stars, as on the slinky-smooth "Single" with Ne-Yo or the bouncy "Put It on My Tab" with Akon. They even turn up the heat with the Pussycat Dolls on "Grown Man." And in a move that declares "What feud?" once and for all, the Kids share the mic with New Edition, their supposed '80s rivals, on "Full Service."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Big Girl Now," a hypnotic club jam
Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams |
CRITIC'S CHOICE
R&B-POP
She may share a last name with her superstar sister Beyoncé, but Solange Knowles, 22, proves she stands strong on her own with this sparkling sophomore album. From the opening "God Given Name," Knowles establishes her individuality with soulful beats, electronic sass and sultry vocals that could have come straight from the great girl groups of the '60s. She gets groovy on the piano-inflected hit "I Decided," produced by the Neptunes, and then just as easily switches into seduction mode with help from Bilal on "Cosmic Journey." Ladies and gentlemen: Solange has finally arrived.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Sandcastle Disco," a foot-tapping pop gem
How to Walk Away |
REVIEWED BY CHRIS STRAUSS
POP-ROCK
Almost two decades after her confessional lyrics and self-deprecating charm made Juliana Hatfield a college-radio darling, the Boston-based singer, 41, returns with a 10th solo album that lacks the appealing quirkiness of her previous efforts. As always, Hatfield is happy to share her self-examinations, such as the relationship-gone-stale story of "My Baby ..." but bland ballads like "Remember November" weigh the album down. And instead of Hatfield's uniquely childlike vocals, she seems to have settled for a generic, overpolished sound, especially on "This Lonely Love," which feels like a Sheryl Crow reject.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Now I'm Gone," a fun, danceable ode to an ex-boyfriend
LAX |
REVIEWED BY IVORY JEFF CLINTON
HIP-HOP
"I ain't buyin' that the best rappers is Kanye and [Lil] Wayne," the Game raps on "Ya Heard," from his third album. LAX makes a strong case for adding the Game to the hottest emcees short list. The hit "My Life" showcases his introspective rhymes ("Take me away from the hood like a state penitentiary/Take me away from the hood in a casket or a Bentley") and he spits fire on the synth-laced "Money." Despite the usual guns-and-girls shtick, LAX highlights a rapper who stepped up his game.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Letter to the King," a lament to MLK Jr.
That Lonesome Song |
REVIEWED BY RANDY VEST
COUNTRY
The singer-songwriter's second album comes off like a laid-back jam session with a few musician buddies. Johnson, who wrote or cowrote all but two of the songs, delivers dead-on observations of bad-boy behavior and hard-won redemption. "Mowin' Down the Roses" is a funky breakup tale, while "High Cost of Living" is a raw account of a life out of control. Throughout, Johnson's barroom baritone gives each line a Waylon-esque flavor. It's no coincidence: Johnson pays tribute to the country legend, one of his big influences, on "Between Jennings and Jones."
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Dreaming My Dreams," an ethereal look at a failed relationship
For more information on where to find our Download This picks, go to people.com/downloadthis
• Break out your rolled-up jeans and scrunchies! From the sugary sentiment of "I'll Be Loving You Forever" to the rousing concert anthem "Hangin' Tough," the Kids' most shriek-worthy hits are here.
B.B. KING One Kind Favor
At 82, the blues king still digs deep to soulfully cover songs of his heroes such as John Lee Hooker and Lemon Jefferson with a horn-driven, all-star band including pianist Dr. John.
JONATHA BROOKE The Works
The folk-pop singer's new album seamlessly pairs her original music with previously unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics. Brooke reigns supreme on the touching love song "King of My Heart."
DONNIE KLANG Just a Rolling Stone
It's an uneven debut for Klang, a winner of Diddy's reality show Making the Band 4, mainly because overproduction stifles his Justin-esque vocals. But he manages to break free on the bonus track "Beautiful Escape."
SONYA KITCHELL This Storm
The singer-songwriter's angelic voice and sharp lyrics make this versatile set of folk, rock and alternative songs a compelling listen. One standout? "Here to There," a country-tinged musing on the meaning of life.
• The Hootie and the Blowfish frontman goes country with his solo album Learn to Live
ON HIS CROSSOVER
I've always loved country music—Radney Foster, Patsy Cline. [The band] was ready for a break so the timing was perfect.
ON GREAT COUNTRY SONGS
If someone says, "I hate country," I say, "You haven't heard the right songs." Try Carrie Underwood's "Last Name." If you don't like it, I'll buy it from you.
ON HIS BFF TIGER WOODS
He's my boy. We met at a bar when he was 18. I sang at his wedding and at his father's funeral. I'll always be there for Tiger.
ON PEOPLE STILL CALLING HIM HOOTIE
It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I'm happy. I'm glad they still know who I am!
The 25th annual MTV Video Music Awards air live from Hollywood on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 9 p.m. ET. Here are the Moon Men hopefuls we're rooting for.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Chris Brown "Forever"
Jonas Brothers "Burnin Up"*
Pussycat Dolls "When I Grow Up"
Britney Spears "Piece of Me"
The Ting Tings "Shut Up and Let Me Go"
Alter-egos rock as the Brothers race a 007 speed boat, don Miami Vice pastels and fight ninjas. Burn on!
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Mariah Carey "Touch My Body"
Katy Perry "I Kissed a Girl" Rihanna Take a Bow
Jordan Sparks "No Air"
Britney Spears "Piece of Me"*
Brit's cheeky "screw the tabs" groove proves she can keep her sense of humor while staging a comeback.
BEST MALE VIDEO
Chris Brown "With You"
Flo Rida "Low"
Lil Wayne "Lollipop"
T.I. "No Matter What"
Usher "Love in This Club"*
Brown's dancing in the street came close, but Usher's syrupy swagger and pulsing lights won us over.
BEST ROCK VIDEO
Fall Out Boy "Beat It"*
Foo Fighters "The Pretender"
Linkin Park "Shadow of the Day"
Paramore "crushcrushcrush"
Slipknot "Psychosocial"
MJ's hit, rocked out Alien Ant Farm-style with sumo wrestlers and martial-arts dance lessons? It's a winner!
• The Oscar-nominated actor, 39, releases his debut album, Shine Through It, on Sept. 2.
MY FAVORITE SONG TO SING AS A KID
We'd all sing the Dramatics' version of "Me and Mrs. Jones." That's one way for the family to [bond]: Let's sing about adultery! I didn't know what it was about then.
MY FIRST CONCERT
[R&B group] The Whispers in New York City. I was 20 and with my mom, uncles, grandmother and great-grandmother. I saw my old uncle turn into a little boy watching them play.
WHAT I SING IN THE SHOWER
Bill Withers' "Hello Like Before." I like how it echoes inside the marble walls.
MY ALL-TIME SUMMER SONG
"Summertime" by Sam Cooke. It's has a hopeful feeling, but also a somber sadness. You can feel the heat.
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!
