Nobody's Daughter |
ROCK
Fronting a new lineup of Hole 12 years after the band's last album, Courtney Love quickly erases any doubts about whether she's still one of the baddest chicks in rock. "You staggered here on broken glass/ So I could kick your scrawny ass," she taunts, snarl firmly intact, on "Skinny Little Bitch," the fierce first single. It's classic Courtney, in all her grunge glory. While the rest of the disc doesn't always pack the same vicious wallop-it's a bit heavy on power ballads-this is a welcome addition to Love's catalog. She gets some help from fellow '90s star Billy Corgan, who cowrote four cuts, including the ragged, Nirvana-esque "How Dirty Girls Get Clean." Meanwhile, Linda Perry, who co-wrote much of Love's 2004 solo disc America's Sweetheart, returns for five songs, among which is the confessional "Letter to God."
Miranda Cosgrove
Sparks Fly |
TEEN POP
With Miley Cyrus itching to ditch the tween crowd, Miranda Cosgrove, 16-year-old star of Nickelodeon's iCarly, has picked a smart time to make her full-length pop debut. And while Sparks Fly will hardly set the music world on fire, it finds Cosgrove holding her own with Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, if not the head Disney diva, Cyrus. Working with hitmakers like Dr. Luke, Max Martin and John Shanks (on the charmingly age-appropriate "Shakespeare"), she keeps things bubbling along.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Disgusting," a Ke$ha-cowritten electro whirl
Merle Haggard
I Am What I Am |
COUNTRY
"I believe Jesus is God/ And a pig is just ham," sings Merle Haggard on the unapologetic title cut of his latest. At 73, the country great has an ease with himself that lends these tunes a grizzled grace. On another key track, "I've Seen It Go Away," he reflects on all that he's witnessed come and go in his life. Let's be glad he's still around.
Rufus Wainwright
All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu |
CRITIC'S CHOICE
ART POP
Never one to shy away from his arty side, Rufus Wainwright revels in theatricality on his latest, drawing inspiration from opera and the Bard. One song, "Les Feux d'artifice t'appellent," is the final aria from his debut opera, Prima Donna, while three tracks are Shakespearean sonnets he originally set to music for a stage production. As grandiose as that sounds, he brings the album to a beautifully intimate level with just voice, piano and some deeply personal lyrics (some inspired by folk-singer mom Kate McGarrigle's losing battle with cancer). Bravo.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Sad with What I Have," a melancholy heartbreaker
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>• Whether it's fighting crime or fighting flab, the tunes on this disc-including two cuts by the Prodigy and the pumping "Kick Ass" with Mika-will give you plenty of reason to leap to action.
>DAVID BYRNE & FATBOY SLIM
Here Lies Love
The concept of a double disc about Imelda Marcos and her childhood servant may seem far-fetched. But somehow these two pull it off with an eclectic cast.
JEFF BECK
Emotion & Commotion
There's not enough emotion or commotion on the guitar wiz's latest. But at least things come alive when Joss Stone shows up on "I Put a Spell on You."
RAUL MIDON
Synthesis
Three albums in, Midon remains one of music's best-kept secrets. On Synthesis, the singer-guitarist deftly mixes R&B, reggae, jazz and Brazilian stylings.
AQUALUNG
Magnetic North
Bouncing back from 2008's listless Words and Music, brooding Brit Matt Hales (a.k.a. Aqualung) sounds newly energized on tracks like "Fingertip."
>• The R&B stud, 25, has not one but two hits on the charts now-"Say Aah" and "Neighbors Know My Name"-off his third album, Ready.
RIHANNA, "RUDE BOY"
It's edgy, sexy and has that Caribbean feel. And the video gets me a little warm.
LLOYD BANKS, "BEAMER, BENZ OR BENTLEY"
It's spring, baby-it's about cars!
USHER, "LIL FREAK"
The Stevie Wonder sample is crazy, and (guest rapper) Nicki Minaj is phenomenal.
LUDACRIS, "MY CHICK BAD"
The hook is big! His music is just as exciting as it was when he first came out.
SADE, "THE MOON AND THE SKY"
My favorite song on the new album. The music is soothing, but when you listen to (the lyrics), it's pretty deep.
DRAKE, "OVER"
That's my homie. We've worked on songs. I'm happy his album is coming soon.
>• The "Nothin' on You" rapper (real name: Bobby Ray Simmons), 21, spills on Eminem, learning the cello and being a preacher's kid.
ON HIS MONIKER
Bob is short for Bobby, and I made it B.o.B to give it style. Fans have said (it's for) "Blasting Out Babies," but I don't have kids!
ON WORKING WITH EMINEM
He was really down-to-earth (when recording "Airplanes (Part II)" for B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray). We were just eating pretzels-the whole bag. It was kind of weird because I'm a huge fan.
ON HIS MANY INSTRUMENTS
My focus is guitar and piano because those are (for) songwriting, but I'm learning trumpet and cello now. If I just do one thing, I get bored.
ON HIS PREACHER FATHER
He didn't want to impose religion on me. My parents just wanted me to find my own truth. And now they're grinning from ear to ear!
>MARY J. BLIGE unleashes her inner rock goddess on Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love." $0.89 each at lala.com.
DIDDY and his new group Dirty Money bring T.I. in to join the party on "Hello Good Morning," from Last Train to Paris, due June 22. $1.29 at rhapsody.com.
RY CUMING, a new singer-songwriter to watch, teams up with Sara Bareilles on the lilting folk-pop ballad "Always Remember Me." $1.29 at iTunes.com.
>• Whether it's fighting crime or fighting flab, the tunes on this disc—including two cuts by the Prodigy and the pumping "Kick Ass" with Mika—will give you plenty of reason to leap to action.
>DAVID BYRNE & FATBOY SLIM
Here Lies Love
The concept of a double disc about Imelda Marcos and her childhood servant may seem far-fetched. But somehow these two pull it off with an eclectic cast. [
JEFF BECK
Emotion & Commotion
There's not enough emotion or commotion on the guitar wiz's latest. But at least things come alive when Joss Stone shows up on "I Put a Spell on You." [
RAUL MIDÓN
Synthesis
Three albums in, Midón remains one of music's best-kept secrets. On Synthesis, the singer-guitarist deftly mixes R&B, reggae, jazz and Brazilian stylings. [
AQUALUNG
Magnetic North
Bouncing back from 2008's listless Words and Music, brooding Brit Matt Hales (a.k.a. Aqualung) sounds newly energized on tracks like "Fingertip." [
>• The R&B stud, 25, has not one but two hits on the charts now—"Say Aah" and "Neighbors Know My Name"—off his third album, Ready.
RIHANNA, "RUDE BOY"
It's edgy, sexy and has that Caribbean feel. And the video gets me a little warm.
LLOYD BANKS, "BEAMER, BENZ OR BENTLEY"
It's spring, baby—it's about cars!
USHER, "LIL FREAK"
The Stevie Wonder sample is crazy, and [guest rapper] Nicki Minaj is phenomenal.
LUDACRIS, "MY CHICK BAD"
The hook is big! His music is just as exciting as it was when he first came out.
SADE, "THE MOON AND THE SKY"
My favorite song on the new album. The music is soothing, but when you listen to [the lyrics], it's pretty deep.
DRAKE, "OVER"
That's my homie. We've worked on songs. I'm happy his album is coming soon.
>• The "Nothin' on You" rapper (real name: Bobby Ray Simmons), 21, spills on Eminem, learning the cello and being a preacher's kid.
ON HIS MONIKER
Bob is short for Bobby, and I made it B.o.B to give it style. Fans have said [it's for] "Blasting Out Babies," but I don't have kids!
ON WORKING WITH EMINEM
He was really down-to-earth [when recording "Airplanes (Part II)" for B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray]. We were just eating pretzels—the whole bag. It was kind of weird because I'm a huge fan.
ON HIS MANY INSTRUMENTS
My focus is guitar and piano because those are [for] songwriting, but I'm learning trumpet and cello now. If I just do one thing, I get bored.
ON HIS PREACHER FATHER
He didn't want to impose religion on me. My parents just wanted me to find my own truth. And now they're grinning from ear to ear!
>MARY J. BLIGE unleashes her inner rock goddess on Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love." $0.89 each at lala.com.
DIDDY and his new group Dirty Money bring T.I. in to join the party on "Hello Good Morning," from Last Train to Paris, due June 22. $1.29 at rhapsody.com.
RY CUMING, a new singer-songwriter to watch, teams up with Sara Bareilles on the lilting folk-pop ballad "Always Remember Me." $1.29 at iTunes.com.
