Up All Night: The Live Tour |
DVD
It might seem a little soon for One Direction to be releasing a concert DVD. After all, Up All Night, the hit debut album from the U.K. boy band, just arrived in the States in March. But since then, these lads have caused such a commotion that their gigs have been a scalping-hot ticket. So this DVD-filmed in January in front of a screaming, sign-waving crowd of English girls-may be the only way that many fans are able to see Harry, Zayn, Louis, Niall and Liam perform live this year. Their show is split into three sections with different seasonal themes: first summer, then fall, then winter. (What, no love for spring?) Of course, they make costume changes for each season, looking like they could be Abercrombie & Fitch models as the camera provides many adoring close-ups of their supercute faces. But aside from video screens, there isn't much production. Unlike, say, 'N Sync or the Backstreet Boys, these guys don't dance-the most they do is jump around. That gives them the chance to really sing instead of resorting to vocal trickery. And when they throw some faux snowballs while crooning "One Thing," they will make you melt.
Haley Reinhart
Listen Up! |
SOUL-POP
Showing more personality and artistry than most Idol alums on their debut albums, Haley Reinhart, last year's third-place finisher, makes her retro soul-pop an easy listen. With her bluesy, slinky delivery on Motown-inspired standouts like "Wasted Tears," Reinhart comes off like Amy Winehouse's good little sister. Though her songs may lack the delicious drama of Winehouse's tunes, tracks like "Free"-the piano-led first single-will work their old-fashioned charms on you and not let go.
YOUR NEW ALBUM AFTER HOURS IS A SET OF STANDARDS. HOW COME?
It's for my parents, who are still alive. My mom loves Sarah Vaughan, Rosemary Clooney, all that. She named me after Glenn Miller! So it was nice to give this back to them. They said, "Glennie, you did good."
ANY NEW MUSIC YOU'VE BEEN INTO?
Oh yeah! Bruno Mars; he's the real deal. And Adele-she just burns.
WHAT ARE THE EAGLES PLANNING FOR THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR?
We're working on a documentary, which will open the door on the Eagles and show what we were doing in the '70s. And we'll do a handful of shows this year. We're not nearly mercenary enough to put together some massive campaign to capitalize on our anniversary.
THE EAGLES USED TO CALL AFTERPARTIES THE THIRD ENCORE OF THE SHOW. STILL TRUE?
Nowadays it's room service, television, book and nighttime meds. The most unattractive thing is middle-aged adolescence.
SCISSOR SISTERS
Magic Hour
As we mourn the recent loss of Donna Summer and Robin Gibb, these New York club kids show that disco is still alive and well. One pulsating party track, "Let's Have a Kiki," recalls Dee-Lite, while "Inevitable" is a Bee Gees-esque ballad.
REBECCA FERGUSON
Heaven
In the wake of Adele, those soulful British divas just keep coming. On her divine debut, Ferguson-who finished third on the U.K.'s X Factor in '10-displays an Aretha-tinged voice that takes everything she touches higher.
BEACH HOUSE
Bloom
It takes a few listens for this boy-girl duo's new album to blossom to full effect, but it's a dreamy tapestry that will suck in fans of Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes. While some songs can fade into the background, "Other People" makes you pay attention.
SOULSAVERS
The Light the Dead See
Now this English production duo have a secret weapon: Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan, who supplies both vocals and lyrics. Haunting highlights like "Just Try," fusing goth and gospel, illuminate the singer in a deep way.
1 MARIAH CAREY
"Make It Happen" With an inspirational message and Mimi's take-it-to-church delivery, this 1992 hit has been my personal theme song recently. It's just one of many gems rediscovered on The Essential Mariah Carey.
2 RIHANNA
"Where Have You Been" Currently onscreen in Battleship, Ri-Ri launches a dance-floor assault on Talk That Talk's latest hit.
3 SANTIGOLD
"The Keepers" Amid all the crazy beats on Master of My Make-Believe, Santigold delivers a melody worth hooking onto.
4 ADAM LAMBERT
"Trespassing" Somewhere Freddie Mercury is breaking out the spandex and working it to the stomping, Queen-like title tune from Lambert's latest.
5 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
"Out of the Game" Wainwright sounds like he's having a ball on the breezy, Bacharach-esque title cut from his latest.
6 JACK WHITE
"Love Interruption" A rootsy beauty from Blunderbuss, the rocker's at-long-last solo debut.
7 SILVERSUN PICKUPS
"Busy Bees" Dreamy atmospherics and intricate rhythms take this Neck of the Woods track into Radiohead territory.
8 WILLIE NELSON
"The Scientist" Making like an outlaw Chris Martin, the country legend brings a grizzled grace to this Coldplay cover on Heroes.
9 DRAKE
"Doing It Wrong" In smooth crooner mode, Drake-now on tour-lets a lover down ever so gently on this Take Care slow jam.
10 DONNA SUMMER
"Last Dance" One final turn with the late Queen of Disco. Hopefully she's twirling under the big mirror ball in the sky.
