Los Lonely Boys - Sacred

Or/Epic/Sony BMG

For any musician/band and the fans, it always comes down to one crucial moment: the second full-length studio album. With all new songs, Los Lonely Boys undertook the challenge of the second album with the same soul and flare as they did with the first. From their Latin (Santana influenced) style, great guitar soloing work and bilingual songs, Los Lonely Boys create another great culture bending album.
And, although their lyrics fall a little shy of creative or inspirational, their appeal does not lie in their lyrics. It lies in their soulful approach to rock 'n roll that has been lost somewhere along the way: the bounce in their strum, the ease in their solos and the way each of their songs has a distinct feel and stand out from each other. "Sacred" is as good as it gets for second releases.
(Editor's Note: Having been born in Harlem, and moving to Washington Heights, in upper Manhattan (where I spent the next 47 years), with Irish, Italian, Jewish, Puerto Rican and Dominican influences, I heard a tremendous amount of great Latin music. I miss it out here in California. When I hear Los Lonely Boys, our Tex-Mex heroes, it brings me all the way back to the good-old days. And I wonder why our racist media can't play more Latin music.)

Christina Milian - So Amazin

Island Def Jam/Universal

Christina Milian has a successful acting career on top of having released three albums. Still going strong, her new album is produced by Cool and Dre as well as featuring guest appearances by Three 6 Mafia ("Who's Gonna Ride"). While being extremely successful, I can't help but notice how she has limited talents.
She has billed herself as a singer while her singing talents are mediocre at best. She rarely stretches her voice and relies heavily on the remastering of her vocal tracks. These made-for-MTV albums are all the same, all boring; same shit today as yesterday.

Tom Petty - Highway Companion

American/Warner Bros

Petty is the master of the simple rock song. The rock song that's free to rock instead of worrying about the nuances of the gig too much. When you hear or sing a Petty song, you know exactly what he's talking about; he is never cryptic.
This straight forward approach is what has worked for him, and continues to work on "Highway Companion." Tunes such as "Turn This Car Around" are simply constructed and work around a central lyric. But, those lyrics are what stick with us ("I'm Learning To Fly...," "Free Falling..."). With Petty doing all the drum work on the album, the album has a very kicked back pace and feeling throughout as the drums weave slow and soft rhythms. Tom Petty has hardly ever had any bad albums, and he's not starting now.

The Zozo Sisters: Linda Ronstadt & Ann Savoy - Adieu False Heart

Vanguard

The Zozo Sisters are Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy. Separately they each play each their own unique styles. Ronstadt has always had a knack for beautifully sung folk songs, while Ann Savoy loves gettin' down with Cajun Zydeco craziness.
Together they sing illustrious and beautiful songs in harmony and accompanied most often by nothing but a guitar. But they do speed it up and crank up the volume a couple times with violins and percussion ("Plus Tu Tourne"). With personal touches about romance, love and love lost, The Zozo Sisters are nothing more than lovely voices and gently played guitars.
(Editor's Note: If we've ever been blessed with anyone that sounds as sweet and pure as Linda Ronstadt, you can let me know who I have missed. I'll be waiting.)
***Shelton's Single of The Week: "King of Bohemia"***

Guster - Ganging Up On The Sun

Reprise/Warner Bros

I have never heard of these guys, but this is their 5th studio album. The four piece group proudly wears their influences on their sleeve, from Pink Floyd, The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac to name a few. Their lyrics are mostly angry and frustrated fumings on the state of the union and the misadventures of the administration.
However, one song, in particular, takes a break from the serious ranting and focuses on the regrets in life, "One Man Wrecking Machine": "I built a time machine/I'm going to see the homecoming queen/take her to the christmas dance/maybe now I'll get in her pants, whatever." But, it's really the way that they can be creative within the pop rock genre that makes them great.

Micah P. Hinson - Micah P. Hinson and The Opera Circuit

Jade Tree

Well, Micah P. Hinson has certainly had a trying life: jail-time, bankruptcy, back surgery, telemarketing jobs... the point is, he has overcome these unfortunate circumstances and come out with 5 full length albums. His up and coming release with his band, The Opera Circuit, is like having an ear in a completely different universe.
I don't know if it is Hinson's background that drives him to make music like this. But, his odd sense of arrangement in a song really drives my point home. His arrangements are what many producers might call cluttered; however, this is done stylistically, with great skill and some clear forethought. Using the complete range of instruments approved for American music, Hinson makes music that makes sense to him, and it comes across with raw emotion that won't let you go.

Rise Against - The Sufferer and The Witness

Geffen/UMG

Rise Against is a schizophrenic rocker's dream. They play great speed punk ("Chamber The Cartridge"/"Bricks") while making new wave metal tracks ("Injection"). They can play fast and loud, and keep it together better than most new rock bands. Their dummer Brandon Barnes deserves tons of credit for keepin' them boys on the stings all in one place at one time while doing some tricky stunts at the same time.
When Rise Against sticks to their punk roots, they do awesome. It is when they stray and try to do metal or alt-rock that they trip and fall. "The Sufferer and The Witness" is truly a mixed album that features ear clogging crap such as "The Approaching Curve" while still creating fast paced, intricate songs such as "Chamber The Cartridge." Despite the mixed bag assortment of songs, when they get going, they are amazing.
***Sean's Single of The Week: "Chamber The Cartridge"***

Thomas Dybdahl - One Day You'll Dance For Me, New York City

Recall

Dybdahl has a very quiet and almost endearing nature to his music. The songs are lullabies sung to cities and to lovers. The music is likely to put you into a coma with it's nonchalant smoothness. Thomas Dybdahl's voice is just as calming. The entire effect leads one into a dreamlike state that is euphoric and nostalgic.
Often times, the music on the album is as simple as a slow arrangement of 3 different chords on the keyboard or guitar; but the feeling of the music will carry you away. Sparse arrangements mixed with intensely poetic lyrics is the recipe for this lo-fi album, and it sounds so, so sweet.

Bo Ramsey - Stranger Blues

Bo Ramsey

Bo Ramsey has that distinct style that is so desirable to so many musicians in the blues and folk business. He has done work for the likes of Iris DeMent, Ani DiFranco, Greg Brown as well as Joan Baez. His guitar and singing style isn't quite like anyone else. His style is slow and haunting. Even if a song isn't necessarily haunting, he adds a troubling ambiance just by his presence; even when singing "do the disco baby."
Stranger Blues is not what one would readily call a traditional blues album. But, then again, nothing that Ramsey does is traditional. He makes songs a little flatter than one would expect, but his gruff voice often pulls his music into a higher emotional plane, such as songs like "I Wanna Get Funky." Ramsey is one of the few artists who can do something new with the blues.

John Brannen - Twilight Tattoo

Sly Dog

John Brannen's music is spineless, which is probably a total misrepresentation of the man, a self-proclaimed vertebrate. But his style is that of a honky tonk country man. Which, in itself, isn't bad. However, it's just that he is the 501st-millionth person to think of that gig. And he sounds like it, too. Nothing in his musical or lyrical approach tells me that he is anything new or different to pay attention to. In fact, his voice is grating on the ears and his vocal and guitar work is mediocre at best.

Various Artists - The Devil Wears Prada

(Soundtrack) Fox/Warner Bros

I have said it before, I will say it again. One of the only Blockbuster movie soundtracks worth buying is "Snatch." On most soundtracks you get the problem where there is no flow for the music. One song does not necessarily, and most often does not, lead into the next song.
On "The Devil Wears Prada," we encounter a pleasant surprise. The music on the album works well together. If you are interested in a couple of songs on the album, you will most likely enjoy the entirety of the album. From Madonna and Alanis Morissette to U2 and Jamiroquai, the album maintains a variety of styles within the pop world to appeal to a number of listeners while maintaining a unity an album should convey.

Body Count - Murder 4 Hire

Escapi

The original allure of Body Count is that they were one of the first visible black, gangsta metal bands, and they stirred shit up with "Cop Killer." The cut upset so many white people that Time Warner cut that track from all Body Count album prints. The other major allure is the front man is old school rapper and now actor, Ice-T. He was there when gangsta rap began, and he's here now doing his best to make a metal album.
He makes his message loud and clear. Beyond his blatant messages visible in his lyrics, song titles ("9/11," "Dirty Bombs," "Murder 4 Hire") and album cover. As far as metal is concerned, Body Count wasn't great to begin with, but now they have gotten worse.

Odetta - Lookin For A Home: Thanks to Leadbelly

M.C.

Odetta became a prominent figure in the world of folk and blues during the '60s when she was performing with Pete Seeger. Her most recent album follows cues from her old albums by playing traditional and classic tunes. This time, however, she is playing all Leadbelly tunes, including "Goodnight Irene," "Bourgeois Blues," "Roberta" and "Jim Crow Blues." One of the most classic songs is the legendary song "New Orleans," which has been played by everyone, and their grandma. Odetta does a powerfully sung version accompanied by a single piano.
Leadbelly sang to a primarily white audience. However, he had very progressive ideas and songs that he recorded as well. "Bourgeois Blues" is written about the racist grand old city of Washington DC; "Jim Crow Blues" is very direct commentary on the far reaching effects of the racist Jim Crow act and the subsequent Jim Crow laws. Odetta has her own take on Leadbelly's classics, but she belts them out with force and soul.

Roc La Familia and Hector Bambino El Father - Los Rompe Discotekas

VI/Gold Star/Machete/Island Def Jam

Why?! Why do people listen to this music?! Why?! This gangsta oriented, money groping, crunk styled rapperes have got to go. This aspect of pop music is the epitome of the soullessness and manufacturing that runs rampant and unquestioned in this ridiculous world of industrialized arts.
(Editor's Note: I wonder if Hugo Chavez of Venezuela will enjoy this.)

Primal Scream - Riot City Blues

Columbia

Primal Scream is one of those bands who defy conventions by getting better with time instead of worse. Usually bands and musicians will depreciate their listenability with time. Primal Scream, on the other hand, just continues to change and get better each time. Over the last 20 years Primal Scream have done '80s metal, acid electronica rock, anarcho punk and even some southern styled blues (those cheeky Brits).
"Their latest is definitely contemporary rock. They mix pop rocker's sounds such as The Flaming Lips and Franz Ferndinand with the metal and blues background they have and come out with something original. Their name has not aged with the band, but the Primal Scream keeps getting louder.
***So Nice, Gotta Do It Up Twice (Created by the Original NYC DJ, Jocko, 1955)***

Eddie Turner - The Turner Diaries

NorthernBlues/Big Daddy

Eddie Turner has listened to a lot of Jimi Hendrix. Just listen to "Cost of Freedom" to understand what I mean. He imitates the voice and sloppy psychedelic blues of the acid man himself. On other tracks he explores other aspects of music including more acoustic blues as well as exploring the possibilities of electronic components of composition.
On the title track, Turner takes a diversion from the rest of the album and plays around with heavy Latin styled percussion, which sounds surprisingly smooth with his style of psycho-blues. With the lyrics sounding just as spacey as the guitar solos, Turner and his diaries sound as though they have been on a very long trip already.

Mark Brine - I Deliver

KJK

Mark Brine models his works off of the the songs of old 78 recordings from the '20s and '30s. He does country music that tells a story, such as in "Skinny Dippin' Blues". A story you can follow and take interest in; not this lovey crap you hear in modern pop country. But his repertoire does not stop there.
Mark Brine does early styled 12 bar blues ("I Deliver"), old saloon piano work and implements some great finger picking tunes. His final song, "In The Hands of God" he does his best with twangy vocals and beautiful guitar work. Mark Brine does the best traditional American roots music that I have heard in quite a while.

Corinne Bailey Rae - Corinne Bailey Rae

Capitol/EMI

Corinne Bailey Rae, right off the bat, strikes one with her soft and alluring voice on "Like A Star." But shows off her bronzy vocal abilities on "Put Your Records On." Her style shows that she's heavily influenced by the rock greats, but she has the sensibilities of a modern singer.
While she sounds like Billie Holiday as a nonsmoker, she sings ballads and R&B like she's been doing it all her life. She has a way of making smooth jazz likable. And if anyone has so much as read any of my reviews for smooth jazz albums, they will know how I feel about that.
She can mix modern smooth jazz with R&B and rock and come out with something completely danceable, but soft enough to play in the background. On top of this, her lyrics are refreshing in their overall optimistic, yet realistic and true outlooks on life. Corinne Bailey Rae is a wonderful Artist with a unique vision.

John Gorka - Writing In The Margins

Red House

John Gorka has made a constant flow of albums that are fairly consistent in quality. Gorka has always been quiet, vague and poetic. Nothing has changed that much. On "Writing In The Margins," Gorka covers Townes Van Zandt's "Snow Don't Fall" as a duet with Nanci Griffith. Lucy Kaplansky also makes an appearance on "Broken Place" as well as "The Lockkeeper" by Stan Rogers. John Gorka has created a soft and almost entrancing songbook with this brilliant new release.

Anne Kerry Ford - Weill

mfh

This is theatric cabaret-opera. With lyrics written by Ira Gershwin, Langston Hughes and, of course, Bertold Brecht. All the pieces are extremely dated to the time period. All the cuts here actually fit into a play that is performed by Anne Kerry Ford live in front of audiences, and recorded on stage as well.
While this isn't exactly my cup of tea, it is indeed a cultural relic and represents the time period extremely well. I cannot comment of the performance of Anne Kerry Ford, but if she is as excited about acting as she is about singing, it should be one hell-of-a show.

George Jones - 50 Years of Hits

(3 CD SET) Bandit/Welk Music Group

Yes, indeed, George Jones is still around and kicking as well as still recording. This three disc set of "50 Years of Hits" from George Jones, chronicles a song from every year since 1955. Jones, the man who pioneered modern country pop as we know it today, was an avid fan of Hank Williams and began his career in direct imitation. But, as time wore on, Jones created what was known as "countrypolitan."
Songs such as "She Thinks I Still Care," "A Picture of Me Without You," "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and even the contemporary duet with Garth Brooks, "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)," show his wide range of styles and the way that his styles have shaped and formed the country world, but changed none-the-less over time. George Jones' influence on country music will forever be felt in country ballads and slide string guitars as well as that lonesome baritone voice that is so coveted in country singers.

Artist: Johnny Cash
Song: Oney