reggae (3), int'l (2), alt (1), hip-hop (1)
hi all--a chunk of stuff coming in this afternoon (monday):
Date: 28 Nov 2005 Label: VP
Artist: Junior Kelly
Title: Tough Life
Genre: reggae
Grade: A
There's nothing like a talented singjay to renew your faith in modern reggae music, and Junior Kelly is made to order in that department. His latest finds him continuing to develop his signature style, a roots-oriented yet sonically modern mix of cultural and lovers elements. The album opens powerfully with the energetically sung title track (01), admonishes his own brethren on "Rasta Should Be Deeper" (03) and shows considerable vocal prowess on "Receive" (04). The album's finest moment comes on a gorgeous combination track, a DJ cut of J.C. Lodge's "Somebody Loves You," here titled "Love You Like That" (05). It's hard to say which is more thrilling about that song -- Kelly's own fully committed performance or Lodge's seemingly ageless voice. "Not I" (09) and the unusually rockish "Youths Dem Nah Cool" (10) are also solid winners, as is the jazzy and funky "Jam for a While" (13). Highly recommended. (4 stars)
Choice Cuts: 05, 01, 04, 08, 13, 10
Reviewer: Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
Date: 28 Nov 2005 Label: VP
Artist: Warrior King
Title: Hold the Faith
Genre: reggae
Grade: B+
Of the two VP releases we got this week, I (and I) must admit I am less enamored with this one. Nothing bad—well, “Education” (13) is pretty bad—but just no fizz. Still, “Judgement Day” (05) and “They Don’t Know” (12) are solid places to start with this latest release from Warrior King.
Choice Cuts: 05, 12, 04, 09, 02
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Date: 28 Nov 2005 Label: Bossa Nova
Artist: Yashmin Charnet-Abler
Title: Jobim, etc.
Genre: int’l
Grade: B
Acoustic bossa nova with female vocals—a winning formula, but one that requires a little more sparkle than Charnet-Abler can muster to really make you sit up and notice. Smooth and sweet, the overall impression is, well, pleasant. Try the lead track, “Só tinha de ser com você” (01) for an upbeat number, or “Dindi” (09) for a quieter cut. Avoid the English-language tracks.
Choice Cuts: 01, 09, 08, 04
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Date: 28 Nov 2005 Label: EMI
Artist: Bebe
Title: Pafuera Telarañas
Genre: int’l / latin
Grade: A
It took about a year for Bebe's debut, Pafuera Telarañas, to get the attention it deserves. A colorful, creative, and catchy album that brazenly defies gender stereotypes as they exist in the Spanish-speaking world, Pafuera Telarañas shot from near-obscurity to become one of the most talked-about Latin albums of the year when it notched five Grammy nominations for the singer/songwriter, far and away the most nominations for any artist. Award hype aside, Pafuera Telarañas doesn't really fit neatly into any existing stylistic category -- alternative singer/songwriter dance-pop with a feminist-flamenco flair, perhaps? At its core, this is a dance-pop album, but with its incredible range of rhythms, sounds, and styles as well as its well-written, outspoken lyrics, there's significant depth, enough to make it radio-ready while also tickling the ears of discerning listeners looking for substance in addition to spice. (4 stars)
Choice Cuts: 14, 15, 02, 05, 03
Reviewer: Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
Date: 28 Nov 2005 Label: Island
Artist: Bob Marley & The Wailers
Title: Africa Unite: The Singles Collection
Genre: reggae
Grade: A-
What will generate some interest in this collection, essentially a collection of Bob Marley’s Island singles with a handful of his Lee "Scratch" Perry-era tracks added in, is the inclusion of a "new" song, "Slogans" (19), derived from a demo tape made in a Miami hotel room in 1979. The demo tape was rediscovered in 2003 by Marley's sons Ziggy and Stephen, who then worked to finish the song, calling in Eric Clapton and Marcia Ball, among others, to help with the process. The other two "new" tracks here are remixes, one by the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am of "Africa Unite" (18) and the other by Ashley Beedle, who grafts Marley and Peter Tosh's "Get Up, Stand Up" to Damian Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock" to create the atmospheric "Stand Up Jamrock" (20). Aside from the "new" material, Africa Unite: The Singles Collection offers up early Lee "Scratch" Perry gems like the still striking "Soul Rebel" (01), as well as strong tracks from Marley's Island period, including the original version of "Get Up, Stand Up" (06) and the majestic "Exodus" (09). ( 3 ½ stars )
“New” Stuff: 19, 20, 18 Old Faves: 01, 06, 09, 02
Reviewer: Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
Date: 28 Nov 2005 Label: Chocolate Industries
Artist: Lady Sovereign
Title: Vertically Challenged
Genre: hip-hop / RPM
Grade: A
CMJ cover-girl Lady Sovereign is a 5-foot MC from London, geared to make a stateside splash. The comparisons with M.I.A. are fair (and mutually complementary): drop “Random” (01) and watch the sparks fly. This 8-track EP includes several remixes that might be of more interest to specialty programmers. Vertically Challenged points the way to a full-on 2006 assault from the S.O.V. Can’t wait.
Choice Cuts: 01, 05, 06, 03
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Date: 28 Nov 2005 Label: Sire / Mute
Artist: Depeche Mode
Title: Playing The Angel
Genre: Alt-Indie?
Grade: A
There's no doubt this time: Playing the Angel is both the band's best album since Violator and, more significantly, an album that is near Violator in stature. Musically, a lot of analog gear was used, and it's apparent that the arrangements and extra sounds were less fussed over than they have been in the recent past. You get the sense that everything fell into place, as opposed to being forced or aimlessly manipulated. Despite the favoring of older gear, there's no other year in which any of the songs could've been made. Like the best Depeche Mode, almost everything on the album will make an initial wowing impact while remaining layered enough in subtle details to surprise and thrill with repeated listens. It is not the kind of album a 25-year-old band is supposed to make.
Choice Cuts: 02, 05, 03, 01, 07, 04
Reviewer: Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
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