pearl jam + (3 x intl) = ?
COMRADES! Summer Solstice draws near! The pools are open! What in God's name are you doing sitting at a computer?!?Artist: Pearl Jam
Title: Pearl Jam
Label: J
Genre: mainstream rock
Grade: A+
Nearly 15 years after Ten, Pearl Jam finally returned to the strengths of their debut with this self-titled release, a sharply focused set of impassioned hard rock. Gone are the arty detours (some call them affectations) that alternately cluttered and enhanced their albums from 1993's sophomore effort, Vs., all the way to 2002's Riot Act, and what's left behind is nothing but the basics: muscular, mildly meandering rock & roll, enlivened by Eddie Vedder's bracing sincerity. Pearl Jam has never sounded as hard, direct, purposeful, alive, or engaging as they do here. (4 ½ stars)
Reviewer: Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Artist: v / a
Title: The Rough Guide to Planet Rock
Label: WMN
Genre: int’l
Grade: A
Sorry, no Africa Bambaataa here—not even a Kraftwerk sample. We can divide up this disc into three categories: First, friendly reminders of albums that have seen ‘FHB rotation (e.g., Tinariwen’s Amassakoul [03]). Next, tracks from discs we wish we had (e.g., Konono No. 1’s Congotronics [15]). Finally, nice fresh cuts from around the world, led by the raï-ish Les Boukakes (02) and the Ukrainian ska of Haydamaky (12). Some clunkers, but plenty of good’ns, too.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Etran Finatawa
Title: Introducing Etran Finatawa
Label: Riverboat
Genre: int’l
Grade: A-
We are told that “etran finatawa” translates as “the stars of tradition,” a nice moniker for this Niger band, whose members are both Tuareg and Wodaabe. There are definite elements of both Tinariwen and Malian blues here, and while Etran Finatawa has yet to separate from the pack, this is a solid enough debut from a group that could go places.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Extra Golden
Title: Ok-Oyot System
Label: Thrill Jockey
Genre: int’l
Grade: A
Ok-Oyot System is a wonderful collaboration between Americans Ian Eagleson and Alex Minoff of Golden and Kenyans Otieno Jagwasi and Onyango Wuod Omari of Orchestra Extra Solar Africa. The sessions grew out of Eagleson's doctoral work on the Benga music of Kenya and Nairobi, but this isn't really an attempt at playing true Benga music. There's certainly an African feel throughout the album, but you can hear that everyone brought a little bit to the table. It's too bad more cross-cultural collaborations don't come off as naturally as this. Unfortunately, the passing of Otieno Jagwasi in May of 2005 probably put an end to Extra Golden, but Ok-Oyot System is an excellent album that will serve as a tribute to his memory. (4 stars)
Reviewer: Sean Westergaard, All Music Guide
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